Transferable plasmid mediating resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Greece

AbstractObjective To investigate the underlying resistance mechanisms in 10 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates.Methods Ten K. pneumoniae strains according to distinct bacteriocin typing and REP-PCR, were examined for their plasmid content, their ability to transfer their resistance to aminoglycosides and third-generation cephalosporins, and their production of aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes and β-lactamases.Results Transfer of resistance to the above-mentioned antibiotics as well as to co-trimoxazole and tetracycline in Escherichia coli strain RC 85 at a frequency of 5–106 was achieved for all strains by conjugation. Similar strains harbor a self-transferable multiresistant plasmid (80 kb) with similar EcoRI and HindIII restriction patterns. This plasmid encodes an extended-spectrum β-lactamase which confers high-level resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and aztreonam. It produces SHV-5 β-lactamase, as demonstrated by isoelectric focusing and DNA sequencing. Aminoglycoside resistance was co-transferred, and AAC(6′)-I, mediating resistance to gentamicin, tobramycin, netilmicin and amikacin, and AAC(3)-I, mediating resistance to gentamicin and sisomycin, were encoded in all isolates and their transconjugants, while APH(3′)-I, mediating resistance to kanamycin and neomycin, was encoded in seven strains.Conclusions It appears that a multiresistant transferable plasmid encoding the SHV-5 β-lactamase, causing unusually high resistance to ceftazidime and aztreonam, and the combination AAC(6′)-I + AAC(3)-I of acetylating enzymes causing, also resistance to all clinically available aminoglycosides, is established in K. pneumoniae in Greece

Phytosanitary practices and evaluation of 17 pesticides residues in tomatoes fruits produced in Foumbot District Western Highland-Cameroon

The involvement of pesticides in agriculture requires the implementation of best phytosanitary practices in order to guarantee the health of populations and preserve the environment. This study focused on the assessment of phytosanitary practices of tomato producers in Foumbot, Western Highlands-Cameroon, and evaluated the residues of 17 pesticides in tomatoes. The methodological approach consisted of field investigations by survey, collection of samples, pesticide residue extraction using QuEChERS method, and their analysis by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Survey of 100 farmers showed that, they did not comply with the instructions for the use of plant protection products: 56% of farmers interviewed increased the dose of products when they noticed its ineffectiveness; 93% did not the respect pre-harvest intervals; while 77% increased the application frequency at the time of fruiting. All the producers work without personal protective equipment (PPE) and 68% of them use empty packaging for packaging consumable including water, red oil and palm wine. The reuse of empty packaging could expose populations (producers and consumers) to numerous health risks. Regarding pesticides residues, 03 actives ingredients were detected and quantified in the samples, all the samples were contaminated by lambda-cyhalothrin, 86.66% by cypermethrin and 66.66% by acetamiprid. Moreover, residue concentrations above the maximum residue limit (MRL) were found in all the positive samples of lambda-cyhalothrin, and 92.30% of cypermethrin positive samples. This study shows that utilization of plant protection products in Foumbot requires extensive monitoring with producers, in order to reduce risk of consumers exposure

Sampling of an STT event over the Eastern Mediterranean region by lidar and electrochemical sonde

International audienceA two-wavelength ultraviolet (289?316nm) ozone Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system is used to perform ozone measurements in the free troposphere in the Eastern Mediterranean (Northern Greece). The ozone DIAL profiles obtained during a Stratosphere-to-Troposphere Transport (STT) event are compared to that acquired by an electrochemical ozonesonde, in the altitude range between 2 and 10 km. The measurement accuracy of these two instruments is also discussed. The mean difference between the ozone profiles obtained by the two techniques is of the order of 1.11 ppbv (1.86%), while the corresponding standard deviation is 4.69 ppbv (8.16%). A case study of an STT event which occurred on 29 November 2000 is presented and analyzed, using ozone lidar, satellite and meteorological data, as well as air mass back-trajectory analysis. During this STT event ozone mixing ratios of 55?65 ppbv were observed between 5 and 7 km height above sea level (a.s.l.). Stratospheric air was mixed with tropospheric air masses, leading to potential vorticity (PV) losses due to diabatic processes. The ozone DIAL system can be used for following STT events and small-scale mixing phenomena in the free troposphere, and for providing sequences of vertical ozone profiles in the free troposphere. Keywords. Atmospheric composition and structure (Evolution of the atmosphere; Instruments and techniques) ? Meteorology and atmospheric dynamics (Middle atmosphere dynamics; Turbulence

Genetic divergence in common bean genotypes from the IRAD gene bank: morpho-agronomic characteristics, fungal and bacterial disease resistance, and opportunities for genetic improvement

For successful plant breeding in any crop species, the importance of diversity in the available germplasm population is known and established. Thirty-two common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) genotypes from the IRAD gene bank in Cameroon were evaluated for divergence in terms of their morpho-agronomic traits, fungal disease resistance, and bacterial disease resistance to assess the opportunity for genetic improvement of the crop. The trait associations were estimated using correlation coefficients and genotypes were classified into groups using cluster and principal component analyses. Seven qualitative and 16 quantitative traits comprising growth, phenological, yield, and disease variables were evaluated in this study. The qualitative markers revealed the degree of polymorphism among the 32 common bean genotypes. The number of phenotypic classes per character (Na) ranged from 2 to 18, with an average of 5.14. The expected gene diversity (He) ranged from 0.37 to 0.93 (mean = 0.56). The number of effective phenotypic classes (Ne) ranged from 1.82 to 14.22, with a mean of 3.85. An extensive range of variation was evident for the majority of traits, highlighting their utility for characterizing common bean germplasm. Many qualitative traits, including seed coat color, seed shape, and seed size, and also some quantitative traits of economic importance including seed yield, were found to be highly variable within the collection, with the MAC55 genotype displaying the highest yield (32.65 g per plant). Four genotypes, namely MAC55, BOA-5-1M6, FEB 192, and Banguem showed resistance to the two main common bean diseases, angular leaf spot and common blight. We detected highly significant correlations among several traits related to yield. A high broad-sense heritability was found for most of the quantitative traits. We carried out two-dimensional principal component analysis and used hierarchical clustering to group the analyzed germplasm according to their phenotypic similitudes. The evidence of agro-morphological diversity in the present collection and the identification of discriminant characters between the available germplasm through the use of PCA analysis have significant implications for establishing breeding schemes in common bean

Phytosanitary Practices And Evaluation Of 17 Pesticides Residues In Tomatoes Fruits Produced In Foumbot District Western Highland-Cameroon

The involvement of pesticides in agriculture requires the implementation of best phytosanitary practices in order to guarantee the health of populations and preserve the environment. This study focused on the assessment of phytosanitary practices of tomato producers in Foumbot, European Scientific Journal, ESJ ISSN: 1857-7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857-7431 January 2021 edition Vol.17, No.3 www.eujournal.org 31 Western Highlands-Cameroon, and evaluated the residues of 17 pesticides in tomatoes. The methodological approach consisted of field investigations by survey, collection of samples, pesticide residue extraction using QuEChERS method, and their analysis by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Survey of 100 farmers showed that, they did not comply with the instructions for the use of plant protection products: 56% of farmers interviewed increased the dose of products when they noticed its ineffectiveness; 93% did not the respect pre-harvest intervals; while 77% increased the application frequency at the time of fruiting. All the producers work without personal protective equipment (PPE) and 68% of them use empty packaging for packaging consumable including water, red oil and palm wine. The reuse of empty packaging could expose populations (producers and consumers) to numerous health risks. Regarding pesticides residues, 03 actives ingredients were detected and quantified in the samples, all the samples were contaminated by lambda-cyhalothrin, 86.66% by cypermethrin and 66.66% by acetamiprid. Moreover, residue concentrations above the maximum residue limit (MRL) were found in all the positive samples of lambda-cyhalothrin, and 92.30% of cypermethrin positive samples. This study shows that utilization of plant protection products in Foumbot requires extensive monitoring with producers, in order to reduce risk of consumers exposure

Teaching Modern Languages on Ancient Roots. Anche le pietre parlano

Possono le pietre raccontarci qualcosa? Si possono imparare le lingue osservando i resti archeologici di Verona, Tarragona e Kalamata? Perché le lingue hanno una storia? Perché abbiamo bisogno di rappresentare le parole? In questo volume poniamo anche altri interrogativi e cerchiamo alcune risposte

A statistical model to describe longitudinal and correlated metabolic risk factors: the Whitehall II prospective study.

Background Novel epidemiology models are required to link correlated variables over time, especially haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) for diabetes prevention policy analysis. This article develops an epidemiology model to correlate metabolic risk factor trajectories. Method BMI, fasting plasma glucose, 2-h glucose, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were analysed over 16 years from 8150 participants of the Whitehall II prospective cohort study. Latent growth curve modelling was employed to simultaneously estimate trajectories for multiple metabolic risk factors allowing for variation between individuals. A simulation model compared simulated outcomes with the observed data. Results The model identified that the change in BMI was associated with changes in glycaemia, total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. The statistical analysis quantified associations among the longitudinal risk factor trajectories. Growth in latent glycaemia was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure and negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol. The goodness-of-fit analysis indicates reasonable fit to the data. Conclusions This is the first statistical model that estimates trajectories of metabolic risk factors simultaneously for diabetes to predict joint correlated risk factor trajectories. This can inform comparisons of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of preventive interventions, which aim to modify metabolic risk factors

Selective immunolesions of CH4 cholinergic neurons do not disrupt spatial memory in rats

Adult male Long-Evans rats were subjected to bilateral lesions of the cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) by injection of 0.2 or 0.4 microg 192-IgG-saporin in 0.4 microl phosphate-buffered saline. Control rats received an equivalent amount of phosphate-buffered saline. Starting 2 weeks after surgery, all rats were tested for locomotor activity in their home cage, beam-walking performance, T-maze alternation rates (working memory), reference and working memory performance in a water-maze task, and memory capabilities in the eight-arm radial maze task using uninterrupted and interrupted (delay of 2 min, 2 h and 6 h after four arms had been visited) testing procedures. Histochemical analysis showed a significant decrease of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive reaction products (30-66%) in various cortical regions at the 0.2-microg dose. At the dose of 0.4 microg, there was an additional, although weak, damage to the hippocampus (17-30%) and the cingulate cortex (34%). The behavioral results showed only minor impairments in spatial memory tasks, and only during initial phases of the tests (reference memory in the water maze, working memory in the radial maze). The behavioral effects of the dramatic cholinergic lesions do not support the idea of a substantial implication of cholinergic projections from the NBM to the cortex in the memory processes assessed in this study, but they remain congruent with an involvement of these projections in attentional functions