Occurrence of enterotoxic Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk from yaks and cattle in Mongolia.

Staphylococcal food poisoning is considered one of the leading foodborne illnesses in humans worldwide and is associated with contaminated foods of animal origin, such as milk and dairy products. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of staphylococci and the enterotoxigenic properties of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from raw milk from yaks (Bos mutus) and cattle in Mongolia. Staphylococci were isolated from 72 (74%) of the 97 raw milk samples. Of the samples containing staphylococci, 69% (50 of 72) were from yaks and 30.5% (22 of 72) were from cattle. S. aureus was detected in 10% of yak (7 of 72) and 21% of cattle (15 of 72) milk samples. Staphylococcal enterotoxin C was detected in 23% (5 of 22) of the S. aureus strains investigated, based on the reverse passive latex agglutination technique. Three of the five enterotoxigenic strains were from yaks and two were from cattle. None of the S. aureus strains tested produced staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, or D. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of staphylococci and enterotoxigenic S. aureus in milk from yaks and cattle in Mongolia

Molecular detection of Cyclospora in water, soil, vegetables and humans in southern Italy signals a need for improved monitoring by health authorities

To date, in Europe, there is scant information on the occurrence of Cyclospora in water from treatment plants and in humans, and no data are available on soil or fresh plant products. Here, we undertook the first molecular survey of Cyclospora in multiple biological matrices collected from the Apulia region of southern Italy. Samples of irrigation water from four municipal treatment plants, eight different types of vegetables or fruit (cucumber, lettuce, fennel, celery, tomato, melon, endive and chicory) and soil from the same farms on which these plants were grown, as well as faecal samples from humans living in the same region were tested by qPCR-coupled single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. Cyclospora was detected in 15.5% of all 213 samples tested. Specifically, this protist was detected in (i) treated water (21.3% of 94 samples), well water (6.2% of 16), but not drinking water (0% of 3); (ii) soil (11.8% of 51 samples) and vegetables (12.2% of 49),with the highest prevalence (18.7%) on fennel; and (iii) human stools (27.5% of 40 samples). In environmental and food samples, Cyclosporawas detectedmainly in autumn and was significantly more prevalent in the faeces from humans of 40–50 years of age. This is the first comprehensive molecular survey of Cyclospora in environmental, food and human faecal samples in Europe. These data suggest that irrigation water, soil and vegetables might be contaminated by Cyclospora cayetanensis, which might represent a source of infection to humans in the study area and calls for monitoring by health authorities

Verocytotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli O26 in raw water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) milk products in Italy

Escherichia coli 026 is known as a verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) organism that causes severe foodborne diseases such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Although cattle are the most important reservoir of VTEC, only a few reports on the role of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as a reservoir of VTEC and on the presence of these organisms in their milk are available. However, in Southern Italy, where water buffalo are intensively reared, an outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome due to E. coli 026 has recently been reported, in which the consumption of typical dairy products was considered to be a common risk factor. The aims of this work were to assess the prevalence of E. coli 026 in raw water buffalo milk, to characterize the virulence gene profiles of the isolates, and to evaluate their phenotypic antimicrobial resistance pattern. Of 160 analyzed samples, 1 (0.6%) tested positive for E. coli 026, and the isolate showed the stx1+ lstx2+leae-lhlyA+ genotypic profile. The strain showed resistance against glycopeptides, macrolides, and penicillins. The presence of VTEC organisms in raw water buffalo milk could be considered to be a potential threat to consumers; however, the strict adherence to the processes used in the preparation of the most common buffalo dairy products could strongly mitigate the foodborne risk. To our knowledge, this article reports the first isolation and characterization of E. coli 026 VTEC in raw water buffalo milk. Copyright ©, International Association for Food Protectio

Toxoplasma gondii lineages circulating in slaughtered industrial pigs and potential risk for consumers

Toxoplasma gondii is a cosmopolitan zoonotic protozoan parasite, and the consumption of raw or undercooked pig meat is one of the most important sources of T. gondii infection. Three predominant lineages, types I, II, and III, are widespread in Europe. Although still poorly understood, a relationship between each type and the severity of illness represents a public health issue. To gain further knowledge of the genotypes in circulation and of the potential risk for consumers, one heart sample and one diaphragm sample (206 total) were taken from each of 103 pig carcasses at an abattoir in Italy. Then, we used 529-bp repetitive element PCR and a B1 real-time PCR high-resolution melting assay coupled with sequencing to detect and genotype T. gondii isolates. T. gondii DNA was detected in 14 pigs (13.6%, 95% confidence interval ¼ 7 to 20.2%), and types I (3.9%), II (5.8%), and III (3.9%) were identified. We found that heart tissue had a significantly higher PCR positivity rate for T. gondii than did diaphragm tissue. This is Europe’s largest study on genotyping of T. gondii from pigs, and it demonstrates that all three main lineages are present in carcasses of industrially reared pigs in Italy. There is a potential risk to consumers of infection with any or all of the three lineages, and the related clinical consequences should be taken into account. This study suggests that monitoring of T. gondii types in meat is essential, especially in meat that is traditionally eaten raw or that is minimally processed

COVID-19 epidemic strongly affected cancer research in Italy: a survey of the Italian Cancer Society (SIC)

Background: Italy was among the first countries hit by the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The application of strict lockdown measures disproportionately affected both cancer patient care as well as basic and translational cancer research. Materials and methods: The Italian Cancer Society (SIC) conducted a survey on the effect of lockdown on laboratories involved in cancer research in Italy. The survey was completed by 570 researchers at different stages of their career, working in cancer centers, research institutes and universities from 19 Italian regions. Results: During the lockdown period, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency on face-to-face research activities was high, with a complete (47.7%) or partial (36.1%) shutdown of the laboratories. In the post-lockdown period, research activities were resumed in most of the respondents’ institutions (80.4%), though with some restrictions (77.2%). COVID-19 testing was offered to research personnel only in ~50% of research institutions. Overall, the response to the pandemic was fragmented as in many cases institutions adopted different strategies often aimed at limiting possible infections without a clearly defined contingency plan. Nevertheless, research was able to provide the first answers and possible ways out of the pandemic, also with the contribution of many cancer researchers that sacrificed their research programs to help overcome the pandemic by offering their knowledge and technologies. Conclusions: Given the current persistence of an emergency situation in many European countries, a more adequate organization of research centers will be urgent and necessary to ensure the continuity of laboratory activities in a safe environment

Escherichia coli O26 IN RAW BUFFALO MILK: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Escherichia coli O26 is considered to be one of the most important food-borne pathogen. In this study, 120 buffalo milk samples collected in Lazio and in Apulia regions were tested for the presence of E. coli O26. One buffalo milk sample (0,8%) tested positive for E. coli O26; the isolate was positive at the verocytotoxicity test and it showed resistance properties to different antimicrobial classes. These preliminary results highlight the need to monitor the foods of animal origin used for production and eaten by a wide range of persons, respect VTEC organism

Implementing anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer: challenges and future perspectives

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are valuable therapeutics in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), such as cetuximab or panitumumab, in combination with chemotherapy are effective treatment options for patients with RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC. Nevertheless, several issues are still open concerning the optimal use of anti-EGFR drugs in the continuum of care of mCRC. Novel approaches for increasing the efficacy of anti-EGFR therapies include better molecular selection of EGFR-dependent mCRC, intensification of chemotherapy, combination of anti-EGFR MoAbs and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and reintroduction of EGFR blockade or 'rechallenge' in selected patients who have previously responded to anti-EGFR MoAb therapy. An extensive translational research program was conducted in the Cetuximab After Progression in KRAS wIld-type colorectal cancer patients-Gruppo Oncologico dell' Italia Meridionale (CAPRI-GOIM) study with the aims of determining which subgroups of patients could benefit from the continuous inhibition of EGFR, from evaluating the role of liquid biopsy-based and its concordance with tissue-based molecular testing, and from investigating novel potential mechanisms of resistance to anti-EGFR therapies. In this review, we summarize the translational and clinical findings of the CAPRI-GOIM program in the context of the current knowledge of therapeutic strategies and of ongoing research on more appropriate uses of anti-EGFR therapies in RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC patients

axl has a prognostic role in metastatic colorectal cancer mcrc and is a predictive biomarker of lack of efficacy of chemotherapy ct cetuximab in ras wild type wt patients pts

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Sex ratio biases in termites provide evidence for kin selection

Contains fulltext : 142755.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)Molecular testing of tumor samples to guide treatment decisions is of increasing importance. Several drugs have been approved for treatment of molecularly defined subgroups of patients, and the number of agents requiring companion diagnostics for their prescription is expected to rapidly increase. The results of such testing directly influence the management of individual patients, with both false-negative and false-positive results being harmful for patients. In this respect, external quality assurance (EQA) programs are essential to guarantee optimal quality of testing. There are several EQA schemes available in Europe, but they vary in scope, size and execution. During a conference held in early 2012, medical oncologists, pathologists, geneticists, molecular biologists, EQA providers and representatives from pharmaceutical industries developed a guideline to harmonize the standards applied by EQA schemes in molecular pathology. The guideline comprises recommendations on the organization of an EQA scheme, defining the criteria for reference laboratories, requirements for EQA test samples and the number of samples that are needed for an EQA scheme. Furthermore, a scoring system is proposed and consequences of poor performance are formulated. Lastly, the contents of an EQA report, communication of the EQA results, EQA databases and participant manual are given