Draft Genome Sequence of the First Confirmed Isolate of Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Tasmania

The spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) has become amajor global challenge. In 2016, Tasmania recorded its first known incidence ofMDR-TB. Here, we report the draft whole-genome sequence of the Mycobacteriumtuberculosis isolate from this case, TASMDR1, and describe single-nucleotide polymorphismsassociated with its drug resistance

Fourteen Draft Genome Sequences for the First Reported Cases of Azithromycin-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Ireland

Here, we report the draft genome assemblies of 14 azithromycin-resistantNeisseria gonorrhoeaeclinical isolates, representing the first such strains identified in Ireland. Among these isolates are the first reported highly resistant strains (MIC >256mg/liter), which both belonged to the ST1580 sequence type

Draft Genome Sequence of the First Isolate of Extensively Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Ireland.

Extensive drug resistance is an emerging threat to the control of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, even in countries with low TB incidence. We report the draft whole-genome sequence of the first reported extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) strain isolated in Ireland (a low-incidence setting) and describe a number of single-nucleotide variations that correlate with its XDR phenotype

Microbiomes in respiratory health and disease: An Asia-Pacific perspective

© 2017 Asian Pacific Society of Respirology There is currently enormous interest in studying the role of the microbiome in health and disease. Microbiome's role is increasingly being applied to respiratory diseases, in particular COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. The changes in respiratory microbiomes that occur in these diseases and how they are modified by environmental challenges such as cigarette smoke, air pollution and infection are being elucidated. There is also emerging evidence that gut microbiomes play a role in lung diseases through the modulation of systemic immune responses and can be modified by diet and antibiotic treatment. There are issues that are particular to the Asia-Pacific region involving diet and prevalence of specific respiratory diseases. Each of these issues is further complicated by the effects of ageing. The challenges now are to elucidate the cause and effect relationships between changes in microbiomes and respiratory diseases and how to translate these into new treatments and clinical care. Here we review the current understanding and progression in these areas

Memory Th1 Cells Are Protective in Invasive Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Mechanisms of protective immunity to Staphylococcus aureus infection in humans remain elusive. While the importance of cellular immunity has been shown in mice, T cell responses in humans have not been characterised. Using a murine model of recurrent S. aureus peritonitis, we demonstrated that prior exposure to S. aureus enhanced IFN gamma responses upon subsequent infection, while adoptive transfer of S. aureus antigen-specific Th1 cells was protective in naive mice. Translating these findings, we found that S. aureus antigen-specific Th1 cells were also significantly expanded during human S. aureus bloodstream infection (BSI). These Th1 cells were CD45RO(+), indicative of a memory phenotype. Thus, exposure to S. aureus induces memory Th1 cells in mice and humans, identifying Th1 cells as potential S. aureus vaccine targets. Consequently, we developed a model vaccine comprising staphylococcal clumping factor A, which we demonstrate to be an effective human T cell antigen, combined with the Th1-driving adjuvant CpG. This novel Th1-inducing vaccine conferred significant protection during S. aureus infection in mice. This study notably advances our understanding of S. aureus cellular immunity, and demonstrates for the first time that a correlate of S. aureus protective immunity identified in mice may be relevant in humans