Genotypic and phenotypic variation among Staphylococcus saprophyticus from human and animal isolates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The main aim of this study was to examine the genotypic and phenotypic diversity of <it>Staphylococcus saprophyticus </it>isolates from human and animal origin.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In total, 236 clinical isolates and 15 animal isolates of <it>S. saprophyticus </it>were characterized in respect of the occurrence of 9 potential virulence genes and four surface properties. All strains were PCR positive for the regulatory genes <it>agr</it>, <it>sar</it>>it>A and <it>rot </it>as well as for the surface proteins UafA and Aas. Nearly 90% of the clinical isolates were found to possess the gene for the surface-associated lipase Ssp and 10% for the collagen binding MSCRAMM SdrI. All animal isolates were negative for<it>sdrI</it>. Lipolytic activity could be detected in 66% of the clinical and 46% of the animal isolates. Adherence to collagen type I was shown of 20% of the clinical strains and 6% of the strains of animal origin. Most <it>S. saprophyticus </it>strains showed hydrophobic properties and only few could agglutinate sheep erythrocytes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We described a broad analysis of animal and human <it>S. saprophyticus </it>isolates regarding virulence genes and phenotypic properties such as lipase activity, hydrophobicity, and adherence. While <it>S. saprophyticus </it>strains from animal sources have prerequisites for colonization of the urinary tract like the D-serine-deaminase, out findings suggested that they need to acquire new genes e.g. MSCRAMMS for adherence like sdrI and to modulate their existing properties e.g. increasing the lipase activity or reducing hydrophobicity. These apparently important new genes or properties for virulence have to be further analyzed.</p

Prion-like Doppel gene (PRND) in the goat: Genomic structure, cDNA, and polymorphisms

The genomic structure of the caprine Doppel gene (PRND) was determined using the ovine sequence as a scaffold to generate PCR fragments that were aligned with a cDNA sequence obtained from testicular mRNA. The caprine gene contains two exons, 89 and >2291 bp long, separated by a 1689-bp intron. Two mRNA isoforms of 3.2 and 4.8 kb were identified in the testis, as well as the exact transcription start site by fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide extension (FLOE). Like in sheep and cattle, the open reading frame (ORF) (537 bp) lies within exon 2 and is very much conserved in sheep (99.3%) and cattle (97%). The intronic sequence is also highly conserved (95.3%) compared with sheep, with the only exception of a 47-bp insertion. The PRND ORF was sequenced in 47 healthy and 17 TSE-affected goats of the Italian Ionica breed. Seven nucleotide positions showed variation: T28C, C65T, A151G, G286A, C385G, T451C, and T528C. Five were commonly represented polymorphisms: T28C, T451C, and T528C are silent mutations at codons L10, L151, and I176, respectively, while A151G and C385G determine a T51A and L129V amino acid change, respectively. The two remaining variants, C65T and G286A, were rare, leading to the amino acid substitutions S22F and E96K, respectively. None of the polymorphisms was significantly relatable to the TSE status, and the same result was obtained by the analysis of the combined haplotypes at the five major polymorphic sites, namely, T28C, C65T, A151G, G286A, and C385G.[...

Prion-like Doppel gene (PRND) in the goat: genomic structure, cDNA and polymorphisms.

The genomic structure of the caprine Doppel gene (PRND) was determined using the ovine sequence as a scaffold to generate PCR fragments that were aligned with a cDNA sequence obtained from testicular mRNA. The caprine gene contains two exons, 89 and >2291 bp long, separated by a 1689-bp intron. Two mRNA isoforms of 3.2 and 4.8 kb were identified in the testis, as well as the exact transcription start site by fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide extension (FLOE). Like in sheep and cattle, the open reading frame (ORF) (537 bp) lies within exon 2 and is very much conserved in sheep (99.3%) and cattle (97%). The intronic sequence is also highly conserved (95.3%) compared with sheep, with the only exception of a 47-bp insertion. The PRND ORF was sequenced in 47 healthy and 17 TSE-affected goats of the Italian Ionica breed. Seven nucleotide positions showed variation: T28C, C65T, A151G, G286A, C385G, T451C, and T528C. Five were commonly represented polymorphisms: T28C, T451C, and T528C are silent mutations at codons L10, L151, and I176, respectively, while A151G and C385G determine a T51A and L129V amino acid change, respectively. The two remaining variants, C65T and G286A, were rare, leading to the amino acid substitutions S22F and E96K, respectively. None of the polymorphisms was significantly relatable to the TSE status, and the same result was obtained by the analysis of the combined haplotypes at the five major polymorphic sites, namely, T28C, C65T, A151G, G286A, and C385G

On-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery in high-risk patients: Operative results of a prospective randomized trial (on-off study)

To analyze the risk reduction of cardiopulmonary bypass complications between on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in high-risk patients