Dutch patients, retail chicken meat and poultry share the same ESBL genes, plasmids and strains

Intestinal carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) -producing bacteria in food-producing animals and contamination of retail meat may contribute to increased incidences of infections with ESBL-producing bacteria in humans. Therefore, distribution of ESBL genes, plasmids and strain genotypes in Escherichia coli obtained from poultry and retail chicken meat in the Netherlands was determined and defined as ‘poultry-associated’ (PA). Subsequently, the proportion of E. coli isolates with PA ESBL genes, plasmids and strains was quantified in a representative sample of clinical isolates. The E. coli were derived from 98 retail chicken meat samples, a prevalence survey among poultry, and 516 human clinical samples from 31 laboratories collected during a 3-month period in 2009. Isolates were analysed using an ESBL-specific microarray, sequencing of ESBL genes, PCR-based replicon typing of plasmids, plasmid multi-locus sequence typing (pMLST) and strain genotyping (MLST). Six ESBL genes were defined as PA (blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2, blaSHV-2, blaSHV-12, blaTEM-20, blaTEM-52): 35% of the human isolates contained PA ESBL genes and 19% contained PA ESBL genes located on IncI1 plasmids that were genetically indistinguishable from those obtained from poultry (meat). Of these ESBL genes, 86% were blaCTX-M-1 and blaTEM-52 genes, which were also the predominant genes in poultry (78%) and retail chicken meat (75%). Of the retail meat samples, 94% contained ESBL-producing isolates of which 39% belonged to E. coli genotypes also present in human samples. These findings are suggestive for transmission of ESBL genes, plasmids and E. coli isolates from poultry to humans, most likely through the food chain

Complete genome sequences of Incl1 Plasmids carrying extended-spectrum B-Lactamase genes

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) confer resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. Often, the resistance genes are carried by conjugative plasmids which are responsible for dissemination. Five IncI1 plasmids carrying ESBLs from commensal and clinical Escherichia coli isolates were completely sequenced and annotated along with a non-ESBL carrying IncI1 plasmid

The influence of the accessory genome on bacterial pathogen evolution

Bacterial pathogens exhibit significant variation in their genomic content of virulence factors. This reflects the abundance of strategies pathogens evolved to infect host organisms by suppressing host immunity. Molecular arms-races have been a strong driving force for the evolution of pathogenicity, with pathogens often encoding overlapping or redundant functions, such as type III protein secretion effectors and hosts encoding ever more sophisticated immune systems. The pathogens’ frequent exposure to other microbes, either in their host or in the environment, provides opportunities for the acquisition or interchange of mobile genetic elements. These DNA elements accessorise the core genome and can play major roles in shaping genome structure and altering the complement of virulence factors. Here, we review the different mobile genetic elements focusing on the more recent discoveries and highlighting their role in shaping bacterial pathogen evolution

PRRSV antigenic sites identifying peptide sequences of PRRS virus for use in vaccines or diagnostic assays

The invention provides antigenic sites of PRRSV isolates. The antigenic sites are neutralizing, conserved, non-conserved and conformational, can elicit antibodies and are found on protein GP4 and N encoded by ORF4 and ORF7 of PRRSV. The peptide sequences identified by the sites can be incorporated in vaccines directed against PRRS and in diagnostic tests for PRRS. Also, discriminating tests can be developed that can be used next to marker vaccines in programs designed to eradicate PRRS from pig herds

PRRSV antigenic sites identifying peptide sequences of PRRS virus for use in vaccines or diagnostic assays

The invention provides antigenic sites of PRRSV isolates. The antigenic sites are neutralizing, conserved, non-conserved and conformational, can elicit antibodies and are found on protein GP4 and N encoded by ORF4 and ORF7 of PRRSV. The peptide sequences identified by the sites can be incorporated in vaccines directed against PRRS and in diagnostic tests for PRRS. Also, discriminating tests can be developed that can be used next to marker vaccines in programs designed to eradicate PRRS from pig herds

Il conflitto di interessi in Italia alla luce degli ultimi interventi in materia con specifica attenzione al fenomeno del pantouflage.

Il presente studio si propone di esaminare in modo sistematico i profili generali della legislazione italiana sul conflitto di interessi dei titolari di cariche di governo, previsto nella legge 20 luglio 2004, n. 215, con particolare attenzione al regime delle incompatibilità post-carica. Il tema oggetto dell'indagine deve necessariamente fondarsi su un'analisi profonda dell'attuale sistema democratico, alla luce degli ultimi interventi in materia, e con particolare attenzione alle esperienze straniere, in considerazione della necessaria omogeneizzazione della disciplina per una maggiore tutela del cittadino in un contesto socio-economico dove i confini territoriali sono sempre più labili. Servire l'interesse generale è la missione primaria dei governi e delle istituzioni pubbliche ed i cittadini si aspettano che ogni titolare di cariche pubbliche eserciti le funzioni a lui demandate con integrità, equità ed imparzialità. Sempre più spesso, invece, i governi sono tenuti a vigilare i loro agenti perché non compromettano con interessi privati le decisioni e la gestione della cosa pubblica: in una società sempre più esigente, una mala gestio dei conflitti di interesse pregiudica la fiducia dei cittadini nelle istituzioni. In considerazione dell'entità che il fenomeno del conflitto di interessi ha preso all'interno della vita economica, finanziaria e pubblica, un tentativo di riforma sembra dunque utile e necessario: nuovi tipi di relazioni si sono creati tra il settore pubblico e quello privato, potenzialmente capaci di creare nuovi conflitti di interessi, e in grado di compromettere la necessaria separazione tra gli interessi privati e i doveri pubblici dei titolari di funzioni pubbliche tanto da degenerare, talora, in casi di corruzione . In questo scenario, dove l'opinione pubblica sollecita il legislatore a vigilare sull'integrità delle decisioni di Governo, per ricostruire il rapporto eletto/elettore l'analisi si prefigge di focalizzare l'attenzione su di un istituto spesso trascurato e sottovalutato nel nostro Paese, ma che, come dimostrato nell'esperienza straniera e segnatamente statunitense, risponde ad un'esigenza coessenziale nella disciplina del conflitto di interessi che guardi non solo al presente, ma anche al futuro: promuovere una maggiore trasparenza in seno alle istituzioni pubbliche deve partire dunque dall'instaurazione di un regime di incompatibilità che seguono alla dismissione dell'incarico pubblico in capo all'ex titolare di funzioni di governo adeguato soprattutto sotto il profilo sanzionatorio . Con tale istituto infatti, in applicazione del principio generale di salvaguardia dell'imparzialità dell'azione pubblica ex art. 97 Cost., il legislatore si pone il precipuo fine di scongiurare il rischio che l'attività di governo possa essere utilizzata dall'interessato con il fine di precostituirsi un beneficio futuro, consistente, in ipotesi, nell'attribuzione di incarichi successivi alla cessazione della carica . Tuttavia, l'attuale disciplina in materia, come la dottrina ha più volte sottolineato, presenta forti elementi di criticità che motivano, dunque, una rinnovata attenzione al tema del conflitto di interessi, col fine primario di una imprescindibile revisione

Posttranslational processing and identification of a neutralization domain of the GP4 protein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus

GP4 is a minor structural glycoprotein encoded by ORF4 of Lelystad virus (LV). When it was immunoprecipitated from cell lysates and extracellular virus of CL2621 cells infected with LV, it was shown to have an apparent molecular mass of approximately 28 and 31 kDa, respectively. This difference in size occurred because its core N-glycans were modified to complex type N-glycans during the transport of the protein through the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi compartment. A panel of 15 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reacted with the native GP4 protein expressed by LV and the recombinant GP4 protein expressed in a Semliki Forest virus expression system. However, these MAbs did not react with the GP4 protein of U.S. isolate VR2332. To map the binding site of the MAbs, chimeric constructs composed of ORF4 of LV and VR2332 were generated. The reactivity of these constructs indicated that all the MAbs were directed against a region spanning amino acids 40 to 79 of the GP4 protein of LV. Six MAbs reacted with solid-phase synthetic dodecapeptides. The core of this site consists of amino acids 59 to 67 (SAAQEKISF). Comparison of the amino acid sequences of GP4 proteins from various European and North American isolates indicated that the neutralization domain spanning amino acids 40 to 79 is the mast variable region of GP4. The neutralization domain of GP4, described here, is the first identified for LV

In vivo transfer of an incFIB plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron with gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1

Transfer of resistance genes from bacteria from food producing animals to human pathogens is a potential risk to human health. The aim of this study was to determine in vivo transfer of a plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron containing gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1 from Salmonella to Escherichia coli and the influence of the use of antimicrobials on this transfer. Thirty four-day-old SPF chickens colonized with E. coli K12 were divided into 3 groups of 10 animals each, and placed in separate isolators. Eleven days after inoculation with E. coli K12 the chickens were inoculated orally with 10(4) CFU of S. enterica spp. enterica serovar Typhimurium containing a plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron with gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1. Two days after the administration of S. Typhimurium 1 group was treated orally with doxycycline, 1 group orally with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole and I group remained untreated (control group). E. coli K12, S. Typhimurium and the transconjugants were isolated from cloacal samples on selective MacConkey agar plates. Transfer of the plasmid was confirmed by plasmid characterization, PCR, PFGE and hybridization. Plasmid mediated transfer of a class 1 integron was observed almost immediately after inoculation with S. Typhimurium. Treatment of the chickens with antibiotics had neither a positive nor a negative effect on the transfer rates. In addition to the resistance genes located on the integron, resistance genes encoding for tetracycline and amoxicillin resistance transferred from the donor strain as well. The resistance genes and the integron were located on a 130 kb sized IncFIB plasmid. Our data demonstrate in vivo transfer of an IncFIB plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron containing gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1 from Salmonella to E. coli, with or without selective pressure of antibiotics in chickens

Occurance and characteristics of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons in Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. in the Netherlands

Objectives: To determine the occurrence and transmission of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons in multidrug-resistant or sulfamethoxazole-resistant Salmonella from human and animal sources and in Campylobacter spp. and Escherichia coli from broilers isolated in the Netherlands in 2004. Methods: PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing were used to detect integrase genes and gene cassettes within 234 E. coli isolates, 40 Campylobacter isolates and 228 Salmonella isolates. Results: Class 1 integrons were found in 76% of the E. coli and in 43% of the Salmonella isolates. Class 2 integrons were found in 11% of the E. coli and 1% of the Salmonella isolates. No class 1 or 2 integrons were detected in the Campylobacter isolates, and no class 3 integrons were detected in any of the bacterial species examined. The 22 different integrons detected harboured 20 different gene cassettes. The cassette arrays dfrA1-aadA1 and dfrA1-sat2-aadA1 were most frequently associated with class 1 and 2 integrons, respectively. For the first time linF was found to be associated with a class 2 integron as part of the linF-sat2-aadA1 cassette. The gene cassettes found within the integrons explain only a part of the resistance profile of the isolates. Conjugation experiments demonstrated transfer of class 1 and 2 integrons. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate the importance of integrons for the occurrence and transmission of multidrug resistance. Identical predominant class 1 and 2 integrons in E. coli and Salmonella serovars indicate horizontal transfer between these species

In vivo transfer of an incFIB plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron with gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1

Transfer of resistance genes from bacteria from food producing animals to human pathogens is a potential risk to human health. The aim of this study was to determine in vivo transfer of a plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron containing gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1 from Salmonella to Escherichia coli and the influence of the use of antimicrobials on this transfer. Thirty four-day-old SPF chickens colonized with E. coli K12 were divided into 3 groups of 10 animals each, and placed in separate isolators. Eleven days after inoculation with E. coli K12 the chickens were inoculated orally with 10(4) CFU of S. enterica spp. enterica serovar Typhimurium containing a plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron with gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1. Two days after the administration of S. Typhimurium 1 group was treated orally with doxycycline, 1 group orally with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole and I group remained untreated (control group). E. coli K12, S. Typhimurium and the transconjugants were isolated from cloacal samples on selective MacConkey agar plates. Transfer of the plasmid was confirmed by plasmid characterization, PCR, PFGE and hybridization. Plasmid mediated transfer of a class 1 integron was observed almost immediately after inoculation with S. Typhimurium. Treatment of the chickens with antibiotics had neither a positive nor a negative effect on the transfer rates. In addition to the resistance genes located on the integron, resistance genes encoding for tetracycline and amoxicillin resistance transferred from the donor strain as well. The resistance genes and the integron were located on a 130 kb sized IncFIB plasmid. Our data demonstrate in vivo transfer of an IncFIB plasmid harbouring a class 1 integron containing gene cassettes dfrA1-aadA1 from Salmonella to E. coli, with or without selective pressure of antibiotics in chickens