Modellentwicklung eines ganzheitlichen Projektmanagementsystems für kerntechnische Rückbauprojekte (MogaMaR) : Schlussbericht des Forschungsvorhabens

Die Entwicklung eines ganzheitlichen und integrierten Projektplanungssystems ist dringend notwendig, um Abweichungen von der Planung kerntechnischer Rückbauprojekte zu vermeiden und bestehende Unsicherheiten in die Planung zu integrieren. Im Rahmen des Forschungsprojekts MogaMaR wurden Besonderheiten kerntechnischer Rückbauprojekte und Schwachstellen im Projektmanagement identifiziert. Darauf aufbauend wurde ein ganzheitliches Projektplanungssystem für kerntechnische Rückbauprojekte entwickelt

Listeria pathogenesis and molecular virulence determinants

The gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis, a highly fatal opportunistic foodborne infection. Pregnant women, neonates, the elderly, and debilitated or immunocompromised patients in general are predominantly affected, although the disease can also develop in normal individuals. Clinical manifestations of invasive listeriosis are usually severe and include abortion, sepsis, and meningoencephalitis. Listeriosis can also manifest as a febrile gastroenteritis syndrome. In addition to humans, L. monocytogenes affects many vertebrate species, including birds. Listeria ivanovii, a second pathogenic species of the genus, is specific for ruminants. Our current view of the pathophysiology of listeriosis derives largely from studies with the mouse infection model. Pathogenic listeriae enter the host primarily through the intestine. The liver is thought to be their first target organ after intestinal translocation. In the liver, listeriae actively multiply until the infection is controlled by a cell-mediated immune response. This initial, subclinical step of listeriosis is thought to be common due to the frequent presence of pathogenic L. monocytogenes in food. In normal indivuals, the continual exposure to listerial antigens probably contributes to the maintenance of anti-Listeria memory T cells. However, in debilitated and immunocompromised patients, the unrestricted proliferation of listeriae in the liver may result in prolonged low-level bacteremia, leading to invasion of the preferred secondary target organs (the brain and the gravid uterus) and to overt clinical disease. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii are facultative intracellular parasites able to survive in macrophages and to invade a variety of normally nonphagocytic cells, such as epithelial cells, hepatocytes, and endothelial cells. In all these cell types, pathogenic listeriae go through an intracellular life cycle involving early escape from the phagocytic vacuole, rapid intracytoplasmic multiplication, bacterially induced actin-based motility, and direct spread to neighboring cells, in which they reinitiate the cycle. In this way, listeriae disseminate in host tissues sheltered from the humoral arm of the immune system. Over the last 15 years, a number of virulence factors involved in key steps of this intracellular life cycle have been identified. This review describes in detail the molecular determinants of Listeria virulence and their mechanism of action and summarizes the current knowledge on the pathophysiology of listeriosis and the cell biology and host cell responses to Listeria infection. This article provides an updated perspective of the development of our understanding of Listeria pathogenesis from the first molecular genetic analyses of virulence mechanisms reported in 1985 until the start of the genomic era of Listeria research

Heterogeneity of Genotype-Phenotype Correlation among Macrolide-Resistant Streptococcus agalactiae Isolates

Seventy-four erythromycin-resistant group B Streptococcus isolates were analyzed regarding their phenotype-genotype and phenotype-serotype correlation. Four different phenotypes were assessed, one of them for the first time. ermB and ermTR were the most frequent genotypes (80%). The most prevalent serotype III showed great phenotypic variability while serotype V was strongly associated only with two different phenotypes

A Serotype V Clone Is Predominant among Erythromycin-Resistant Streptococcus agalactiae Isolates in a Southwestern Region of Germany

One hundred ninety-three Streptococcus agalactiae isolates of neonatal origin and 146 isolates from adult women were analyzed for macrolide resistance and investigated for clonality. Among erythromycin-resistant isolates, serotype V turned out to be the most frequent. Comparative pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed genetic clustering of resistant strains and predominance of a single clone family within an otherwise heterogeneous serotype V population

Characterisation of clinical manifestations of and treatment strategies for invasive beta-haemolytic streptococcal infections in a Swiss tertiary hospital

AIMS OF THE STUDY Invasive streptococcal infections affect more than half a million patients worldwide every year and have a high lethality. Little is known about the epidemiology and microbiological characteristics of streptococcal infections in Switzerland. This case series study aims to describe the demographics, known risk factors for streptococcal skin and soft tissue infections, clinical presentations, treatment and outcomes of patients admitted to the University Hospital Zurich between 2000 and 2014 with invasive streptococcal infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus), Streptococcus dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis or the Streptococcus anginosus group, as well as the microbiological characteristics of the clinical isolates. METHODS Data collected retrospectively from patients hospitalised between 2000 and 2014 with invasive streptococcal infections were analysed. M protein gene (emm) typing of the bacterial clinical isolates was carried out according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. RESULTS A total of 86 patients with invasive beta-haemolytic streptococcal infections were included in this study, of which 49% presented with necrotising fasciitis. The median age was 44 years and half were female. The most common risk factor was acute skin lesions. C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in patients with necrotising fasciitis, as were acute renal failure and distributive shock. Beta-lactam antibiotics were given to most patients, and intravenous immunoglobulins were given to 18% of patients within the first 24 hours. All patients suffering from necrotising fasciitis underwent surgery. The overall case fatality rate was 8.1% at 30 days post admission. All Group A Streptococcus strains were susceptible to penicillin and clindamycin, and we found resistance to tetracycline in 11.9% of strains. The most common emm-type isolated was emm1 (44.4%). CONCLUSIONS Invasive beta-haemolytic streptococcal infections, the most severe presentation of which is necrotising fasciitis, remain a serious clinical issue and require rapid diagnosis and treatment. This is the first representative analysis monitoring clinical and microbiological characteristics of patients with a severe invasive beta-haemolytic streptococcal infection and treated in Zurich, Switzerland. In addition to the detailed reporting of various clinical and microbiological characteristics, we show that C-reactive protein levels, acute renal failure and distributive shock were higher in the patients with necrotising fasciitis. We also found a low case fatality rate compared to other reports. The detailed clinical data and microbiological characteristics depicted in this study will lead to a better understanding of regional differences in severe invasive streptococcal infections

Planung, Auslegung und Betriebsoptimierung von energieeffizienten Neu- und Bestandsbauten durch Modellierung und Simulation auf Basis von Bauwerkinformationsmodellen

Die Lösung komplexer Fragestellungen der Energieeffizienz – sowohl auf Bauwerks- wie auch auf urbaner Ebene – erfordert einen ganzheitlichen integralen Ansatz. Die Realisierung eines solchen integralen Planungsprozesses impliziert eine durchgängige planungsbegleitende Evaluierung und Optimierung des Planungsgegenstandes. Der frühzeitige Einsatz von Simulations- und Bewertungswerkzeugen stellt dabei eine wichtige Basis dar, um Planungsentscheidungen bereits auf konzeptioneller Ebene auf ihre Auswirkungen für den gesamten Lebenszyklus eines Gebäudes beurteilen und eine gute energetische Performance sicherstellen zu können. IT-gestützte Planungs- und Simulationswerkzeuge spielen so eine entscheidende Rolle bei der integralen Planung, Auslegung und Betriebsoptimierung von Gebäuden und städtischen (Energie-)Systemen [TRE2014]. Speziell zur Analyse des dynamischen Zusammenspiels aktiver und passiver Komponenten bei der Planung, Auslegung, Inbetriebnahme wie auch Betriebsoptimierung von energieeffizienten Gebäuden hat sich der Einsatz numerischer Simulationswerkzeuge als sinnvoll erwiesen