mcr-1 colistin resistance gene sharing between Escherichia coli from cohabiting dogs and humans, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018 to 2020

Background The emergence of colistin resistance is a One Health antimicrobial resistance challenge worldwide. The close contact between companion animals and humans creates opportunities for transmission and dissemination of colistin-resistant bacteria. Aim To detect potential animal reservoirs of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli and investigate the possible sharing of these bacteria between dogs, cats and their cohabiting humans in the community in Lisbon, Portugal. Methods A prospective longitudinal study was performed from 2018 to 2020. Faecal samples from dogs and cats either healthy or diagnosed with a skin and soft tissue or urinary tract infection, and their cohabiting humans were screened for the presence of colistin-resistant E. coli. All isolates were tested by broth microdilution against colistin and 12 other antimicrobials. Colistin-resistant isolates were screened for 30 resistance genes, including plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-9), and typed by multilocus sequence typing. Genetic relatedness between animal and human isolates was analysed by whole genome sequencing. Results Colistin-resistant E. coli strains harbouring the mcr-1 gene were recovered from faecal samples of companion animals (8/102; 7.8%) and humans (4/125; 3.2%). No difference between control and infection group was detected. Indistinguishable multidrug-resistant E. coli ST744 strains harbouring the mcr-1 gene were found in humans and their dogs in two households. Conclusions The identification of identical E. coli strains containing the plasmid-mediated mcr-1 gene in companion animals and humans in daily close contact is of concern. These results demonstrate the importance of the animal–human unit as possible disseminators of clinically important resistance genes in the community setting

mcr-1 colistin resistance gene sharing between Escherichia coli from cohabiting dogs and humans, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018 to 2020.

BackgroundThe emergence of colistin resistance is a One Health antimicrobial resistance challenge worldwide. The close contact between companion animals and humans creates opportunities for transmission and dissemination of colistin-resistant bacteria.AimTo detect potential animal reservoirs of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli and investigate the possible sharing of these bacteria between dogs, cats and their cohabiting humans in the community in Lisbon, Portugal.MethodsA prospective longitudinal study was performed from 2018 to 2020. Faecal samples from dogs and cats either healthy or diagnosed with a skin and soft tissue or urinary tract infection, and their cohabiting humans were screened for the presence of colistin-resistant E. coli. All isolates were tested by broth microdilution against colistin and 12 other antimicrobials. Colistin-resistant isolates were screened for 30 resistance genes, including plasmid-mediated colistin resistance genes (mcr-1 to mcr-9), and typed by multilocus sequence typing. Genetic relatedness between animal and human isolates was analysed by whole genome sequencing.ResultsColistin-resistant E. coli strains harbouring the mcr-1 gene were recovered from faecal samples of companion animals (8/102; 7.8%) and humans (4/125; 3.2%). No difference between control and infection group was detected. Indistinguishable multidrug-resistant E. coli ST744 strains harbouring the mcr-1 gene were found in humans and their dogs in two households.ConclusionsThe identification of identical E. coli strains containing the plasmid-mediated mcr-1 gene in companion animals and humans in daily close contact is of concern. These results demonstrate the importance of the animal-human unit as possible disseminators of clinically important resistance genes in the community setting

A MIQE-Compliant Real-Time PCR Assay for Aspergillus Detection

PMCID: PMC3393739This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Revision and Update of the Consensus Definitions of Invasive Fungal Disease From the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium.

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) remain important causes of morbidity and mortality. The consensus definitions of the Infectious Diseases Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group have been of immense value to researchers who conduct clinical trials of antifungals, assess diagnostic tests, and undertake epidemiologic studies. However, their utility has not extended beyond patients with cancer or recipients of stem cell or solid organ transplants. With newer diagnostic techniques available, it was clear that an update of these definitions was essential. METHODS: To achieve this, 10 working groups looked closely at imaging, laboratory diagnosis, and special populations at risk of IFD. A final version of the manuscript was agreed upon after the groups' findings were presented at a scientific symposium and after a 3-month period for public comment. There were several rounds of discussion before a final version of the manuscript was approved. RESULTS: There is no change in the classifications of "proven," "probable," and "possible" IFD, although the definition of "probable" has been expanded and the scope of the category "possible" has been diminished. The category of proven IFD can apply to any patient, regardless of whether the patient is immunocompromised. The probable and possible categories are proposed for immunocompromised patients only, except for endemic mycoses. CONCLUSIONS: These updated definitions of IFDs should prove applicable in clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiologic research of a broader range of patients at high-risk

Interleukin-6 gene amplification and shortened survival in glioblastoma patients

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is known to promote tumour growth and survival. We evaluated IL-6 gene amplification in tumours from 53 glioma patients using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. Amplification events were detected only in glioblastomas (15 out of 36 cases), the most malignant tumours, and were significantly associated with decreased patient survival

Relationship Between Sonic Hedgehog Protein, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is not well known but oxidative stress has been suggested to play a pathological role. We report here that the serum levels of Sonic hedgehog (SHH) protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) might be linked to oxidative stress in ASD. By using the whole blood or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, we demonstrated that autistic children produced a significantly higher level of oxygen free radicals (OFR). In addition, we found significantly higher levels of serum SHH protein in children with mild as well as severe form of autism. We also found that the serum level of BDNF was significantly reduced in autistic children with mild form of the disorder but not with severe form of the disorder. Our findings are the first to report a correlation between SHH, BDNF and OFR in autistic children, suggesting a pathological role of oxidative stress and SHH in autism spectrum disorders

Formation of unsaturated hydrocarbons in interstellar ice analogs by cosmic rays

The formation of double and triple C-C bonds from the processing of pure c-C6H12 (cyclohexane) and mixed H2O:NH3:c-C6H12 (1:0.3:0.7) ices by highly-charged, and energetic ions (219 MeV O^{7+} and 632 MeV Ni^{24+}) is studied. The experiments simulate the physical chemistry induced by medium-mass and heavy-ion cosmic rays in interstellar ices analogs. The measurements were performed inside a high vacuum chamber at the heavy-ion accelerator GANIL (Grand Accel\'erat\'eur National d'Ions Lourds) in Caen, France. The gas samples were deposited onto a polished CsI substrate previously cooled to 13 K. In-situ analysis was performed by a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry at different ion fluences. Dissociation cross section of cyclohexane and its half-life in astrophysical environments were determined. A comparison between spectra of bombarded ices and young stellar sources indicates that the initial composition of grains in theses environments should contain a mixture of H2O, NH3, CO (or CO2), simple alkanes, and CH3OH. Several species containing double or triple bounds were identified in the radiochemical products, such as hexene, cyclohexene, benzene, OCN-, CO, CO2, as well as several aliphatic and aromatic alkenes and alkynes. The results suggest an alternative scenario for the production of unsaturated hydrocarbons and possibly aromatic rings (via dehydrogenation processes) in interstellar ices induced by cosmic ray bombardment.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables. Accepted to be published in MNRA