A unified approach to molecular epidemiology investigations: tools and patterns in California as a case study for endemic shigellosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Shigellosis causes diarrheal disease in humans from both developed and developing countries, and multi-drug resistance is an emerging problem. The objective of this study is to present a unified approach that can be used to characterize endemic and outbreak patterns of shigellosis using use a suite of epidemiologic and molecular techniques. The approach is applied to a California case study example of endemic shigellosis at the population level.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Epidemiologic patterns were evaluated with respect to demographics, multi-drug resistance, antimicrobial resistance genes, plasmid profiles, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) fingerprints for the 43 <it>Shigella </it>isolates obtained by the Monterey region health departments over the two year period from 2004-2005.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The traditional epidemiologic as well as molecular epidemiologic findings were consistent with endemic as compared to outbreak shigellosis in this population. A steady low level of cases was observed throughout the study period and high diversity was observed among strains. In contrast to most studies in developed countries, the predominant species was <it>Shigella flexneri </it>(51%) followed closely by <it>S. sonnei </it>(49%). Over 95% of <it>Shigella </it>isolates were fully resistant to three or more antimicrobial drug subclasses, and 38% of isolates were resistant to five or more subclasses. More than half of <it>Shigella </it>strains tested carried the <it>tetB</it>, <it>catA</it>, or <it>bla</it>_TEMgenes for antimicrobial resistance to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study shows how epidemiologic patterns at the host and bacterial population levels can be used to investigate endemic as compared to outbreak patterns of shigellosis in a community. Information gathered as part of such investigations will be instrumental in identifying emerging antimicrobial resistance, for developing treatment guidelines appropriate for that community, and to provide baseline data with which to compare outbreak strains in the future.</p

Valley Fever on the Rise—Searching for Microbial Antagonists to the Fungal Pathogen <i>Coccidioides immitis</i>

The incidence of coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is increasing in the Southwestern United States and Mexico. Despite considerable efforts, a vaccine to protect humans from this disease is not forthcoming. The aim of this project was to isolate and phylogenetically compare bacterial species that could serve as biocontrol candidates to suppress the growth of Coccidioides immitis, the causative agent of coccidioidomycosis, in eroded soils or in areas close to human settlements that are being developed. Soil erosion in Coccidioides endemic areas is leading to substantial emissions of fugitive dust that can contain arthroconidia of the pathogen and thus it is becoming a health hazard. Natural microbial antagonists to C. immitis, that are adapted to arid desert soils could be used for biocontrol attempts to suppress the growth of the pathogen in situ to reduce the risk for humans and animals of contracting coccidioidomycosis. Bacteria were isolated from soil samples obtained near Bakersfield, California. Subsequently, pairwise challenge assays with bacterial pure cultures were initially performed against Uncinocarpus reesii, a non-pathogenic relative of C. immitis on media plates. Bacterial isolates that exhibited strongly antifungal properties were then re-challenged against C. immitis. Strongly anti-C. immitis bacterial isolates related to Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces spp. were isolated, and their antifungal spectrum was investigated using a selection of environmental fungi

La scène punk en France

Le dynamisme des études sur le punk n’a que très faiblement touché la France, alors même que dans un grand nombre de pays a été produit, plus ou moins récemment, un travail scientifique considérable qui démontre ce qu’il a pu apporter aux sociétés contemporaines du point de vue historique et social. Tirant partie des possibilités offertes par le prisme d’analyse qu’est la notion de scène, ce dossier, divisé en quatre grandes parties (Émergence de la scène punk en France/Groupes et trajectoires/Le corps punk et sa vulnérabilité/Héritage et mémoire) auquel viennent s’ajouter deux témoignages, offre un premier regard croisé sur un phénomène encore assez largement méconnu et faiblement investi de reconnaissance dans le champ académique. The dynamism of punk studies has barely hit France, while in an important number of countries, considerable scientific work has been produced on it, demonstrating what punk has brought to contemporary societies from a historical and social perspective. Based on the possibilities offered by the concept of scene, this special issue offers a first look on a phenomenon which, to a great extent, still remains little known and scarcely recognized within the academic field