A new serotype 14 variant of the pneumococcal Spain9V-3 international clone detected in the central region of Argentina

The penicillin-resistant Spain9V-3 clone of Streptococcus pneumoniae is widespread and presents different serotype variants originating from recombination of the capsular genes. In this work, the genetic relatedness of 29 invasive pneumococci isolated from the central region of Argentina (Cordoba, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and La Pampa provinces) was assessed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). All of the penicillin-non-susceptible isolates studied (21/29) belonged to a serotype 14 variant of the Spain 9V-3 clone. This clone was predominant, suggesting that it was responsible for the penicillin resistance spread in this region. Interestingly, this serotype 14 variant (named Cordoba S14V) could be differentiated from the European one by its pbp1a gene, suggesting a different recombinational replacement of the capsular genes. The putative recombination sites were analysed, resulting in the proximal crossover point being clearly localized in the spr0309 gene, with the distal site restricted to the recU gene, confirming a different recombination event. Analysis of the dexB, cpsB, aliA and pbp1a genes from these strains showed a high similarity with the corresponding genes of the Spain14-5 clone, suggesting that the capsular genes were provided by this international clone. Analysis of the genetic polymorphisms of the pbp1a (nt 1473-1922) and spr0309 (nt 1-790) genes is proposed as an epidemiological tool to help recognize the Cordoba S14V of the Spain9V-3 clone. On the other hand, BOX-repeat-based PCR and MLST analyses of serotype 14 strains revealed a divergent epidemiology of the Cordoba S14V, suggesting a non-recent dissemination in the paediatric population. It is suggested that this molecular epidemiology work will be a reference for monitoring the evolution of S14Vs of Spain9V-3, the emergence of new clones and the impact of pneumococcal vaccination programmes in Argentina.Fil: Albarracín Orio, Andrea Georgina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad José Sanchez Labrador S. J. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad José Sanchez Labrador S. J.; ArgentinaFil: Cortes, Paulo. Hospital Pediátrico del Niño Jesús; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Tregnaghi, Miguel. Centro de Desarrollo de Proyectos Avanzados en Pediatria; ArgentinaFil: Piñas, German Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Echenique, Jose Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Yudowski, Silvia. Centro de Desarrollo de Proyectos Avanzados en Pediatria; ArgentinaFil: Carvajal, Lydia. Centro de Desarrollo de Proyectos Avanzados en Pediatria; ArgentinaFil: Culasso, Catalina. Centro de Desarrollo de Proyectos Avanzados en Pediatria; ArgentinaFil: Nobile, Carmen Beatriz. Centro de Desarrollo de Proyectos Avanzados en Pediatria; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa, Myriam Haydee. Centro de Desarrollo de Proyectos Avanzados en Pediatria; ArgentinaFil: Lopardo, Horacio. Fundacion Hospital de Pediatria Professor Dr. Juan P. Garrahan; ArgentinaFil: Hernández, Claudia. Fundacion Hospital de Pediatria Professor Dr. Juan P. Garrahan; ArgentinaFil: Regueira, Mabel. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentin

Normally occurring human Anti-GM1immunoglobulin M antibodies and the Immune response to bacteria

Fil: Alaniz, María E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Departamento de Química Biológica Dr. Ranwel Caputto; Argentina.Fil: Lardone, Ricardo D. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Departamento de Química Biológica Dr. Ranwel Caputto; Argentina.Fil: Yudowski, Silvia L. Hospital Infantil Municipal. Servicio de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Farace, María Isabel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Servicio Bacteriología Sanitaria; Argentina.Fil: Nores, Gustavo A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Departamento de Química Biológica Dr. Ranwel Caputto; Argentina.Anti-GM1 antibodies of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) isotype are normal components of the antibody repertoire of adult human serum. Using a sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) immunostaining assay, we found that these antibodies were absent in the umbilical vein and children <1 month of age but could be detected after 1 month of age. Although most of the children older than 6 months of age were positive, there were still a few negative children. The appearance of anti-GM1 IgM antibodies showed a perfect concordance with two well-characterized antibacterial antibodies, anti-Forssman and anti-blood group A, which indicates a similar origin. We also studied IgM reactivity with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from gram-negative bacteria isolated from stool samples from healthy babies and from Escherichia coli HB101 in serum from individuals of different ages. We found a positive reaction with both LPSs in all the children more than 1 month of age analyzed, even in those that were negative for anti-GM1 antibodies. Anti-GM1 IgM antibodies were purified from adult serum by affinity chromatography and tested for the ability to bind LPSs from different bacteria. This highly specific preparation showed reactivity only with LPS from a strain of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from a patient with diarrhea. We conclude that normally occurring IgM antibodies are generated after birth, probably during the immune defense against specific bacterial strains

Normally occurring human Anti-GM1immunoglobulin M antibodies and the Immune response to bacteria

Fil: Alaniz, María E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Departamento de Química Biológica Dr. Ranwel Caputto; Argentina.Fil: Lardone, Ricardo D. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Departamento de Química Biológica Dr. Ranwel Caputto; Argentina.Fil: Yudowski, Silvia L. Hospital Infantil Municipal. Servicio de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Farace, María Isabel. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Servicio Bacteriología Sanitaria; Argentina.Fil: Nores, Gustavo A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Departamento de Química Biológica Dr. Ranwel Caputto; Argentina.Anti-GM1 antibodies of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) isotype are normal components of the antibody repertoire of adult human serum. Using a sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) immunostaining assay, we found that these antibodies were absent in the umbilical vein and children <1 month of age but could be detected after 1 month of age. Although most of the children older than 6 months of age were positive, there were still a few negative children. The appearance of anti-GM1 IgM antibodies showed a perfect concordance with two well-characterized antibacterial antibodies, anti-Forssman and anti-blood group A, which indicates a similar origin. We also studied IgM reactivity with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from gram-negative bacteria isolated from stool samples from healthy babies and from Escherichia coli HB101 in serum from individuals of different ages. We found a positive reaction with both LPSs in all the children more than 1 month of age analyzed, even in those that were negative for anti-GM1 antibodies. Anti-GM1 IgM antibodies were purified from adult serum by affinity chromatography and tested for the ability to bind LPSs from different bacteria. This highly specific preparation showed reactivity only with LPS from a strain of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from a patient with diarrhea. We conclude that normally occurring IgM antibodies are generated after birth, probably during the immune defense against specific bacterial strains

Normally Occurring Human Anti-GM(1) Immunoglobulin M Antibodies and the Immune Response to Bacteria

Anti-GM(1) antibodies of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) isotype are normal components of the antibody repertoire of adult human serum. Using a sensitive high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) immunostaining assay, we found that these antibodies were absent in the umbilical vein and children <1 month of age but could be detected after 1 month of age. Although most of the children older than 6 months of age were positive, there were still a few negative children. The appearance of anti-GM(1) IgM antibodies showed a perfect concordance with two well-characterized antibacterial antibodies, anti-Forssman and anti-blood group A, which indicates a similar origin. We also studied IgM reactivity with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from gram-negative bacteria isolated from stool samples from healthy babies and from Escherichia coli HB101 in serum from individuals of different ages. We found a positive reaction with both LPSs in all the children more than 1 month of age analyzed, even in those that were negative for anti-GM(1) antibodies. Anti-GM(1) IgM antibodies were purified from adult serum by affinity chromatography and tested for the ability to bind LPSs from different bacteria. This highly specific preparation showed reactivity only with LPS from a strain of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from a patient with diarrhea. We conclude that normally occurring IgM antibodies are generated after birth, probably during the immune defense against specific bacterial strains

Rotavirus laboratory network: results after one year of observation

Fil: Bok, Karin. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Virología; Argentina.Fil: Castagnaro, N C. Instituto de Virología Luis C. Verna, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, N E. Departamento de Inmunoquímica, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; Cuba.Fil: Borsa, Ana. Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital Infantil Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Nates, Silvia V. Instituto de Virología JM Vanella, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Espul, Carlos. Sección Sección Virología, Hospital Central de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Cuello, Héctor. Hospital Central. Sección Virología; Argentina.Fil: Fay O. Centro Tecnológico de Salud Pública, Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Brunet, B. Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Infantil Víctor J. Vilela, Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Ues, O C. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Epidemiología; Argentina.Fil: Santoro, R. Departamento de Mecanismos Moleculares de Enfermedades, DMMD, Universidad de Zurich; Suiza.Fil: Grinstein, S. Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital de Niños, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, F. Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Miceli, Isabel N. P. Dirección de Epidemiología, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Jorge A. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Virología; Argentina.Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children and it has been estimated that in Argentina Rotavirus is responsible for 21,000 hospitalizations, 85,000 medical attentions and an annual medical cost of US$ 27 millions. Given that a Rotavirus vaccine is about to be approved, a laboratory network based surveillance system was organized. Herein, we present the results after one year of study. Severe diarrhea was responsible for 9% of pediatric hospitalizations and rotavirus was detected in 42.1% of the diarrhea cases. We estimated that Rotavirus causes 3.8% of pediatric hospitalizations. The number of diarrhea and Rotavirus diarrhea hospitalizations was greater during the first year of life (62% and 71.3%, respectively). The number of diarrhea hospitalizations during the December-May semester was significantly higher than the rest of the year. A Rotavirus diarrhea peak was detected between April and June. These results indicate that Rotavirus is the most important etiological agent of severe diarrhea in Argentine children and show the importance of performing Rotavirus diagnosis in every pediatric hospital. The additional costs will be compensated by many benefits such as better use of antibiotics, improved nosocomial spread control, better handling of hospital beds and of laboratory resources and of the hospitalized patient

Rotavirus laboratory network: results after one year of observation

Fil: Bok, Karin. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Virología; Argentina.Fil: Castagnaro, N C. Instituto de Virología Luis C. Verna, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, N E. Departamento de Inmunoquímica, Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología; Cuba.Fil: Borsa, Ana. Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital Infantil Sor María Ludovica, La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Nates, Silvia V. Instituto de Virología JM Vanella, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Espul, Carlos. Sección Sección Virología, Hospital Central de Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Cuello, Héctor. Hospital Central. Sección Virología; Argentina.Fil: Fay O. Centro Tecnológico de Salud Pública, Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Brunet, B. Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Infantil Víctor J. Vilela, Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Ues, O C. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Epidemiología; Argentina.Fil: Santoro, R. Departamento de Mecanismos Moleculares de Enfermedades, DMMD, Universidad de Zurich; Suiza.Fil: Grinstein, S. Laboratorio de Virología, Hospital de Niños, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, F. Instituto de Virología, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Miceli, Isabel N. P. Dirección de Epidemiología, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Jorge A. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Virología; Argentina.Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children and it has been estimated that in Argentina Rotavirus is responsible for 21,000 hospitalizations, 85,000 medical attentions and an annual medical cost of US$ 27 millions. Given that a Rotavirus vaccine is about to be approved, a laboratory network based surveillance system was organized. Herein, we present the results after one year of study. Severe diarrhea was responsible for 9% of pediatric hospitalizations and rotavirus was detected in 42.1% of the diarrhea cases. We estimated that Rotavirus causes 3.8% of pediatric hospitalizations. The number of diarrhea and Rotavirus diarrhea hospitalizations was greater during the first year of life (62% and 71.3%, respectively). The number of diarrhea hospitalizations during the December-May semester was significantly higher than the rest of the year. A Rotavirus diarrhea peak was detected between April and June. These results indicate that Rotavirus is the most important etiological agent of severe diarrhea in Argentine children and show the importance of performing Rotavirus diagnosis in every pediatric hospital. The additional costs will be compensated by many benefits such as better use of antibiotics, improved nosocomial spread control, better handling of hospital beds and of laboratory resources and of the hospitalized patient