Genetic diversity and variation in antimicrobial-resistance determinants of non-serotype 2 Streptococcus suis isolates from healthy pigs

Streptococcus suis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in South-East Asia, with frequent zoonotic transfer to humans associated with close contact with pigs. A small number of invasive lineages are responsible for endemic infection in the swine industry, causing considerable global economic losses. A lack of surveillance and a rising trend in clinical treatment failure has raised concerns of growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among invasive S. suis. Gene flow between healthy and disease isolates is poorly understood and, in this study, we sample and sequence a collection of isolates predominantly from healthy pigs in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. Pangenome characterization identified extensive genetic diversity and frequent AMR carriage in isolates from healthy pigs. Multiple AMR genes were identified, conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, lincosamides, tetracycline and macrolides. All isolates were non-susceptible to three or more different antimicrobial classes, and 75 % of non-serotype 2 isolates were non-susceptible to six or more classes (compared to 37.5 % of serotype 2 isolates). AMR genes were found on integrative and conjugative elements previously observed in other species, suggesting a mobile gene pool that can be accessed by invasive disease isolates. This article contains data hosted by Microreact

Host ecology regulates interspecies recombination in bacteria of the genus Campylobacter

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) can allow traits that have evolved in one bacterial species to transfer to another. This has potential to rapidly promote new adaptive trajectories such as zoonotic transfer or antimicrobial resistance. However, for this to occur requires gaps to align in barriers to recombination within a given time frame. Chief among these barriers is the physical separation of species with distinct ecologies in separate niches. Within the genus there are species with divergent ecologies, from rarely isolated single host specialists to multi-host generalist species that are among the most common global causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis. Here, by characterising these contrasting ecologies, we can quantify HGT among sympatric and allopatric species in natural populations. Analysing recipient and donor population ancestry among genomes from 30 species we show that cohabitation in the same host can lead to a 6-fold increase in HGT between species. This accounts for up to 30% of all SNPs within a given species and identifies highly recombinogenic genes with functions including host adaptation and antimicrobial resistance. As described in some animal and plant species, ecological factors are a major evolutionary force for speciation in bacteria and changes to the host landscape can promote partial convergence of distinct species through HGT. [Abstract copyright: © 2022, Mourkas et al.

Local accessory gene sharing among Egyptian Campylobacter potentially promotes the spread of antimicrobial resistance

Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, and diarrhoeal disease is a major cause of child morbidity, growth faltering and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Despite evidence of high incidence and differences in disease epidemiology, there is limited genomic data from studies in developing countries. In this study, we aimed to quantify the extent of gene sharing in local and global populations. We characterized the genetic diversity and accessory-genome content of a collection of Campylobacter isolates from the Cairo metropolitan area, Egypt. In total, 112 Campylobacter isolates were collected from broiler carcasses (n=31), milk and dairy products (n=24), and patients suffering from gastroenteritis (n=57). Among the most common sequence types (STs), we identified the globally disseminated host generalist ST-21 clonal complex (CC21) and the poultry specialists CC206, CC464 and CC48. Notably, CC45 and the cattle-specialist CC42 were under-represented, with a total absence of CC61. Core- and accessory-genome sharing was compared among isolates from Egypt and a comparable collection from the UK (Oxford). Lineage-specific accessory-genome sharing was significantly higher among isolates from the same country, particularly CC21, which demonstrated greater local geographical clustering. In contrast, no geographical clustering was noted in either the core or accessory genome of CC828, suggesting a highly admixed population. A greater proportion of Campylobacter coli isolates were multidrug resistant compared to Campylobacter jejuni. Our results suggest that there is more horizontal transfer of accessory genes between strains in Egypt. This has strong implications for controlling the spread of antimicrobial resistance among this important pathogen

Planning for Prosperity: Understanding the Economic Perceptions and Community Preferences of the Millennial Generation

Recently, I walked past a door in downtown Durham and saw our economic future flash before my eyes. There was a sign with a red and white icon, and the words “Two Toasters” written on it. This was not an appliance retailer with a limited inventory, but rather a high-tech start-up that develops cutting-edge mobile apps for customers such as Airbnb, Zumba Fitness, and Ebates. This start-up could be located in Mumbai or Moscow, but instead its founders chose downtown Durham. The reason? Talent attraction. What I saw also highlighted the fundamental importance of planning in ensuring our economic prosperity. More and more, companies cite the importance of skilled labor in achieving success in a global economy. Millennials are now the largest segment of the population nationally, and are close to surpassing Gen X in total numbers in North Carolina, where the population is slightly older than the national average. Millennials are also a highly mobile population. Understanding what they want and how they make their locational decisions has become an undertaking of fundamental importance to our state’s economic well-being. To better understand how to attract and retain Millennials, the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC) worked with APA National in 2014 to conduct a special poll. APA hired HarrisPoll, now part of Nielsen, to conduct a scientific survey focusing on the economic perceptions and community preferences of Millennials (ages 21-34), both in North Carolina and nationwide. HarrisPoll also surveyed Generation Xers (ages 35-49) and Active Boomers (ages 50-65). More details on the polling methodology are included in the corresponding sidebar. Here are the results, along with selected commentary on their implications for planning and economic development initiatives

Acting For Equity: [Introduction to] Planning for Equity in a Local Context: Case Studies from the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association Contributors

Introduction to Planning for Equity in a Local Context: Case Studies from the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association Contributors. Carolina Planning regularly publishes a feature highlighting projects from members of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (NCAPA). This year’s submissions focus on initiatives that are addressing equity issues in North Carolina communities. From case studies discussing health impact assessments to articles highlighting the importance of using data to help inform equitable planning activities and funding, these writers provide valuable insights into the important role North Carolina planners play in shaping the futures of their communities

Innovative Partnerships

An introduction to Local and Regional North Carolina Collaborations: Case Studies from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association. Carolina Planning regularly publishes a feature highlighting projects from members of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC). This year’s submissions range from multi-county visioning efforts to small-town transportation planning, demonstrating that planning at any scale can benefit from innovative collaboratio

Ten Lessons on Catalyzing Entrepreneurship and Innovation: How Planners Can Support Business Development in the New Economy

As communities re-tool their economic development strategies in the wake of the Great Recession, catalyzing innovation is all the rage, but promoting entrepreneurship may be more impactful.1 From business incubators to maker spaces to innovation districts, local governments are discovering new opportunities to support business development in the New Economy. Professional planners have an important role to play in helping communities understand the benefits of these activities and which ones hold the greatest economic development potential for their jurisdictions

Expanding Our Influence: Embracing Controversy and Seizing Opportunity

Two factors often shape the outcome of community planning efforts – how planners handle controversy and how they seize opportunity. This article characterizes these factors, identifies strategies to address them, and presents several case studies to illustrate these techniques in practice. In so doing, it offers insights on how to turn a community’s passions to productive use and expand our influence as planning professionals