74 research outputs found
Unusual small plasmids carrying the novel resistance genes dfrK or apmA isolated from methicillin-resistant or -susceptible staphylococci
Objectives: The aims of this study were to identify small staphylococcal plasmids that carry either the trimethoprim resistance gene dfrK or the apramycin resistance gene apmA and analyse them for their structure and organization with regard to their potential role as precursors of large multiresistance plasmids that carry these genes. Methods: Trimethoprim- or apramycin-resistant staphylococci from the strain collections of the two participating institutions were investigated for the presence of plasmid-borne dfrK or apmA genes. The dfrK- or apmA-carrying plasmids were sequenced completely and compared with sequences deposited in the databases. Results: Two small plasmids, the 4957 bp dfrK-carrying plasmid pKKS966 from porcine Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus and the 4809 bp apmA-carrying plasmid pKKS49 from porcine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were identified. Structural analysis revealed that both plasmids had a similar organization, comprising a single resistance gene (dfrK or apmA), a plasmid replication gene (rep) and three partly overlapping genes for mobilization proteins (mobA, mobB and mobC). Comparisons showed 71%-82% amino acid identity between the Rep and Mob proteins of these two plasmids; however, distinctly lesser percentages of identity to Rep and Mob proteins of staphylococci and other bacteria deposited in the databases were detected. Conclusions: Both plasmids, pKKS966 and pKKS49, appeared not to be typical staphylococcal plasmids. The homology to larger plasmids that harbour the genes apmA and/or dfrK was limited to these resistance genes and their immediate upstream and downstream regions and thus suggested that these small plasmids were not integrated into larger plasmids
Dogs as carriers of virulent and resistant genotypes of Clostridioides difficile
While previous research on zoonotic transmission of community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (CA-CDI) focused on food-producing animals, the present study aimed to investigate whether dogs are carriers of resistant and/or virulent C. difficile strains. Rectal swabs were collected from 323 dogs and 38 C. difficile isolates (11.8%) were obtained. Isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and a DNA hybridization assay. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), core genome MLST (cgMLST) and screening for virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were performed based on WGS. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, vancomycin and metronidazole were determined by E-test. Out of 38 C. difficile isolates, 28 (73.7%) carried genes for toxins. The majority of isolates belonged to MLST sequence types (STs) of clade I and one to clade V. Several isolates belonged to STs previously associated with human CA-CDI. However, cgMLST showed low genetic relatedness between the isolates of this study and C. difficile strains isolated from humans in Austria for which genome sequences were publicly available. Four isolates (10.5%) displayed resistance to three of the tested antimicrobial agents. Isolates exhibited resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and metronidazole. These phenotypic resistances were supported by the presence of the resistance genes erm(B), cfr(C) and tet(M). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Our results indicate that dogs may carry virulent and antimicrobial-resistant C. difficile strains
Dogs as carriers of virulent and resistant genotypes of Clostridioides difficile
Abstract While previous research on zoonotic transmission of community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (CA-CDI) focused on food-producing animals, the present study aimed to investigate whether dogs are carriers of resistant and/or virulent C. difficile strains. Rectal swabs were collected from 323 dogs and 38 C. difficile isolates (11.8%) were obtained. Isolates were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and a DNA hybridization assay. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), core genome MLST (cgMLST) and screening for virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were performed based on WGS. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, vancomycin and metronidazole were determined by E-test. Out of 38 C. difficile isolates, 28 (73.7%) carried genes for toxins. The majority of isolates belonged to MLST sequence types (STs) of clade I and one to clade V. Several isolates belonged to STs previously associated with human CA-CDI. However, cgMLST showed low genetic relatedness between the isolates of this study and C. difficile strains isolated from humans in Austria for which genome sequences were publicly available. Four isolates (10.5%) displayed resistance to three of the tested antimicrobial agents. Isolates exhibited resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and metronidazole. These phenotypic resistances were supported by the presence of the resistance genes erm(B), cfr(C) and tet(M). All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Our results indicate that dogs may carry virulent and antimicrobial-resistant C. difficile strains.1 Introduction 2 Methods 2.1 Sampling and ethics 2.2 Isolation and identification of Clostridioides difficile 2.3 Antimicrobial susceptibility testing 2.4 Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis 2.5 Statistical analysis 3 Results 3.1 Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile and risk factors for shedding 3.2 Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and detection of antimicrobial resistance determinants 3.3 Genomic characterization of canine Clostridioides difficile 3.4 Genome annotation and comparison 4 Discussio
First results of the air shower experiment KASCADE
The main goals of the KASCADE (KArlsruhe Shower Core and Array DEtector)
experiment are the determination of the energy spectrum and elemental
composition of the charged cosmic rays in the energy range around the knee at
ca. 5 PeV. Due to the large number of measured observables per single shower a
variety of different approaches are applied to the data, preferably on an
event-by-event basis. First results are presented and the influence of the
high-energy interaction models underlying the analyses is discussed.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures included, to appear in the TAUP 99 Proceedings,
Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.), ed. by M. Froissart, J. Dumarchez and D.
Vignau
Electron, Muon, and Hadron Lateral Distributions Measured in Air-Showers by the KASCADE Experiment
Measurements of electron, muon, and hadron lateral distributions of extensive
air showers as recorded by the KASCADE experiment are presented. The data cover
the energy range from about 5x10^14 eV up to almost 10^17 eV and extend from
the inner core region to distances of 200 m. The electron and muon
distributions are corrected for mutual contaminations by taking into account
the detector properties in the experiment. All distributions are well described
by NKG-functions. The scale radii describing the electron and hadron data best
are approx. 30 m and 10 m, respectively. We discuss the correlation between
scale radii and `age' parameter as well as their dependence on shower size,
zenith angle, and particle energy threshold.Comment: 28 pages, 14 figures, Accepted for publication in Astroparticle
Physic
KASCADE: Astrophysical results and tests of hadronic interaction models
KASCADE is a multi-detector setup to get redundant information on single air
shower basis. The information is used to perform multiparameter analyses to
solve the threefold problem of the reconstruction of (i)the unknown primary
energy, (ii) the primary mass, and (iii) to quantify the characteristics of the
hadronic interactions in the air-shower development. In this talk recent
results of the KASCADE data analyses are summarized concerning cosmic ray
anisotropy studies, determination of flux spectra for different primary mass
groups, and approaches to test hadronic interaction models. Neither large scale
anisotropies nor point sources were found in the KASCADE data set. The energy
spectra of the light element groups result in a knee-like bending and a
steepening above the knee. The topology of the individual knee positions shows
a dependency on the primary particle. Though no hadronic interaction model is
fully able to describe the multi-parameter data of KASCADE consistently, the
more recent models or improved versions of older models reproduce the data
better than few years ago.Comment: to appear in Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.), Proc. of the XIII
ISVHECRI, Pylos 2004 - with a better quality of the figure
Cosmic Ray Energy Spectra and Mass Composition at the Knee - Recent Results from KASCADE -
Recent results from the KASCADE experiment on measurements of cosmic rays in
the energy range of the knee are presented. Emphasis is placed on energy
spectra of individual mass groups as obtained from an two-dimensional unfolding
applied to the reconstructed electron and truncated muon numbers of each
individual EAS. The data show a knee-like structure in the energy spectra of
light primaries (p, He, C) and an increasing dominance of heavy ones (A > 20)
towards higher energies. This basic result is robust against uncertainties of
the applied interaction models QGSJET and SIBYLL which are used in the shower
simulations to analyse the data. Slight differences observed between
experimental data and EAS simulations provide important clues for further
improvements of the interaction models. The data are complemented by new limits
on global anisotropies in the arrival directions of CRs and by upper limits on
point sources. Astrophysical implications for discriminating models of maximum
acceleration energy vs galactic diffusion/drift models of the knee are
discussed based on this data.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Nuclear Physics B, Proceedings
Supplements, as part of the volume for the CRIS 2004, Cosmic Ray
International Seminar: GZK and Surrounding
Dissecting the knee - Air shower measurements with KASCADE
Recent results of the KASCADE air shower experiment are presented in order to
shed some light on the astrophysics of cosmic rays in the region of the knee in
the energy spectrum. The results include investigations of high-energy
interactions in the atmosphere, the analysis of the arrival directions of
cosmic rays, the determination of the mean logarithmic mass, and the unfolding
of energy spectra for elemental groups
The KASCADE-Grande Experiment and the LOPES Project
KASCADE-Grande is the extension of the multi-detector setup KASCADE to cover
a primary cosmic ray energy range from 100 TeV to 1 EeV. The enlarged EAS
experiment provides comprehensive observations of cosmic rays in the energy
region around the knee. Grande is an array of 700 x 700 sqm equipped with 37
plastic scintillator stations sensitive to measure energy deposits and arrival
times of air shower particles. LOPES is a small radio antenna array to operate
in conjunction with KASCADE-Grande in order to calibrate the radio emission
from cosmic ray air showers. Status and capabilities of the KASCADE-Grande
experiment and the LOPES project are presented.Comment: To appear in Nuclear Physics B, Proceedings Supplements, as part of
the volume for the CRIS 2004, Cosmic Ray International Seminar: GZK and
Surrounding
KASCADE measurements of energy spectra for elemental groups of cosmic rays: Results and open problems
A composition analysis of KASCADE air shower data is performed by means of
unfolding the two-dimensional frequency spectrum of electron and muon numbers.
Aim of the analysis is the determination of energy spectra for elemental groups
representing the chemical composition of primary cosmic rays. Since such an
analysis depends crucially on simulations of air showers the two different
hadronic interaction models QGSJet and SIBYLL are used for their generation.
The resulting primary energy spectra show that the knee in the all particle
spectrum is due to a steepening of the spectra of light elements but, also,
that neither of the two simulation sets is able to describe the measured data
consistently over the whole energy range with discrepancies appearing in
different energy regions.Comment: 39 pages, accepted for publication in Astropart. Phy
- …