bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Activities of Anidulafungin against More than 2,500 Clinical Isolates of
Candida
spp., Including 315 Isolates Resistant to Fluconazole
Authors: Pfaller M. A. , Boyken L. , Hollis R. J. , Messer S. A. , Tendolkar S. , Diekema D. J. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Anidulafungin is an echinocandin antifungal agent with potent activity against
Candida
spp. We assessed the in vitro activity of anidulafungin against 2,235 clinical isolates of
Candida
spp. using the CLSI broth microdilution method. Anidulafungin was very active against
Candida
spp. (the MIC at which 90% of strains are inhibited [MIC
90
] was 2 μg/ml when MIC endpoint criteria of partial inhibition [MIC-2] were used).
Candida albicans
,
C. glabrata
,
C. tropicalis
,
C. krusei
, and
C. kefyr
were the most susceptible species of
Candida
(MIC
90
, 0.06 to 0.12 μg/ml), and
C. parapsilosis
,
C. lusitaniae
, and
C. guilliermondii
were the least susceptible (MIC
90
, 0.5 to 2 μg/ml). In addition, 315 fluconazole-resistant isolates were tested, and 99% were inhibited by ≤1 μg/ml of anidulafungin. These results provide further evidence for the spectrum and potency of anidulafungin activity against a large and geographically diverse collection of clinically important isolates of
Candida
spp.
Rapid Detection of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
in Respiratory Samples by Transcription-Reverse Transcription Concerted Reaction with an Automated System
Authors: Takakura Shunji , Tsuchiya Shigeo , Isawa Yuichi , Yasukawa Kiyoshi , Hayashi Toshinori , Tomita Motohisa , Suzuki Katsuhiro , Hasegawa Tatsuro , Tagami Takanori , Kurashima Atsuyuki , Ichiyama Satoshi 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the transcription-reverse transcription concerted (TRC) method for the detection of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (MTC) 16S rRNA in clinical respiratory samples for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. TRC is a novel method that enables the rapid and the completely homogeneous real-time monitoring of isothermal sequence RNA amplification without any postamplification procedure. The detection limit of the TRC method for MTC was one organism per 100 μl of sputum. The specificity of the method was confirmed by the absence of positive signals for sputum containing 10
6
M. avium
or
M. kansasii
organisms per 100 μl. A total of 201 respiratory samples from patients diagnosed with or suspected of having tuberculosis were tested. Of the 72 MTC culture-positive samples, the TRC method was positive for 52 (sensitivity, 72.2%), whereas the Roche COBAS AMPLICOR PCR was positive for 58 (sensitivity, 80.6%). Both the TRC method and the COBAS AMPLICOR PCR showed no positive identification for any of the 129 culture-negative samples. The percent agreement between the two methods was 95% (191 of 201 samples). The high sensitivity and specificity together with shorter detection time (within 1 h) of the TRC method allow it to be proposed as a useful method for the rapid detection of MTC in respiratory samples.
Clonal Association between
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Serotype 23A, Circulating within the United States, and an Internationally Dispersed Clone of Serotype 23F
Authors: Pai Rekha , Gertz Robert E. , Whitney Cynthia G. , Beall Bernard 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is an important pathogen in the United States and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Since the introduction of the seven-valent conjugate vaccine, a significant decline in pneumococcal disease has been reported. However, surveillance for pneumococcal disease remains essential, as the extent of cross protection against vaccine-related serotypes is still unclear. Further, any increase in non-vaccine-related serotypes also needs monitoring. We report on a new clonal association between a vaccine-related serotype, serotype 23A, obtained as part of the Active Bacterial Core surveillance, with an established internationally dispersed Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network (PMEN) clone, clone Colombia
23F
-26. Sixty-two isolates of serotype 23A collected from sterile sites during a 2-year period (2002 and 2003) were characterized. Twenty-one (34%) isolates were penicillin nonsusceptible, although none were fully resistant. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing analysis showed that 24 (39%) of the serotype 23A isolates shared either genetic identity or high genetic relatedness with PMEN clone Colombia
23F
-26. Extensive variability was noted within the sequenced region of
pbp2b
in two penicillin-nonsusceptible isolates as well as in PMEN clone Colombia
23F
-26, suggesting that these isolates probably acquired penicillin resistance independently. The emergence of such new serotype and genotype associations highlights the dynamic nature of the pneumococcal population, necessitating continuous monitoring in the post-vaccine era.
Molecular Evolution of Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
in the Metropolitan Area of Cologne, Germany, from 1984 to 1998
Authors: Wisplinghoff Hilmar , Ewertz Birgitta , Wisplinghoff Susanne , Stefanik Danuta , Plum Georg , Perdreau-Remington Francoise , Seifert Harald 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

To investigate the molecular evolution of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) in a large metropolitan area in Germany, 398 nonrepetitive MRSA isolates recovered from patients from various teaching and nonteaching hospitals in Cologne between 1984 and 1998 were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). On this basis, 95 representative isolates were selected and further investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST),
spa
typing, and staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
) typing. Overall, there were 9 MLST types and 16
spa
types. The most prevalent sequence types (STs) were ST239 (38% of isolates), ST247 (29%), and ST228 (18%); the most prevalent
spa
types were 37 (32%) and 51 (29%). ST239 comprised five major PFGE types and various unique PFGE patterns, and ST5 comprised two PFGE types. While the same PFGE pattern was not observed among strains with different STs,
spa
type 37 was observed among strains representing two different STs (ST239 and ST241), and these belonged to the same clonal complex as single-locus variants. ST239 was the earliest predominant ST, with the highest prevalence from 1984 to 1988 (96%), followed by ST247 from 1989 to 1993 (83%) and ST228 from 1994 to 1998 (40%).
Spa
type 37 was the most prevalent from 1984 to 1988 (96%),
spa
type 51 was the most prevalent from 1989 to 1993 (83%), and
spa
types 1 and 458 were the most prevalent from 1994 to 1998 (26% and 14%, respectively). The prevalence of SCC
mec
type III decreased from 96% from 1984 to 1988 to 8% from 1989 to 1993, the prevalence of SCC
mec
type I increased from 4% from 1984 to 1988 to 97% from 1989 to 1993 and decreased to 62% from 1994 to 1998. While the genetic diversity of MRSA increased from 1984 to 1998, one prevalent ST usually accounted for most of the isolates in a given time period.
Antigenic Divergence of
Bordetella pertussis
Isolates in Taiwan
Authors: Yao Shu-Man , Lin Yu-Chi , Chou Chen-Ying , Chen Ying-Yan , Hsiao Miao-Ju , Chen Hour-Young , Yan Jer-Jea , Su Hsun-Pi , Li Shu-Ying 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

In recent studies, antigenic divergence has been observed in
Bordetella pertussis
circulating isolates. We collected 80
Bordetella pertussis
isolates in Taiwan from 1998 to 2004 and analyzed them using a combination of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and sequencing of the
ptxS1
and
prn
genes. The incidence of pertussis increases every 3 years, and most of the isolates prevalent since 1998 have expressed nonvaccine
ptxS1A
and
prn2
alleles. Through PFGE analysis, all isolates could be classified into four major groups, and the incidence of these groups exhibited a correlation with the
prn
allele expressed by the isolates. We found that PFGE is more discriminative than gene sequencing, since it could divide the isolates expressing the
prn2
allele into two groups: one group circulating from 1998 to 2001 and another group circulating from 2001 to 2004. The transition between the two groups in 2000 coincided with an outbreak of 326 cases. This research indicates that the antigenic divergence of
B. pertussis
circulating isolates has evolved over time in Taiwan. Such information will have implications for vaccine policy in Taiwan.
Characterization of a Serodiagnostic Complement Fixation Antigen of
Coccidioides posadasii
Expressed in the Nonpathogenic Fungus
Uncinocarpus reesii
Authors: Yu J.-J. , Kirkland T. N. , Hall L. K. , Wopschall J. , Smith R. C. , Hung C.-Y. , Chen X. , Tarcha E. , Thomas P. W. , Cole G. T. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Coccidioides
spp. (
immitis
and
posadasii
) are the causative agents of human coccidioidomycosis. In this study, we developed a novel system to overexpress coccidioidal proteins in a nonpathogenic fungus,
Uncinocarpus reesii
, which is closely related to
Coccidioides
. A promoter derived from the heat shock protein gene (
HSP60
) of
Coccidioides posadasii
was used to control the transcription of the inserted gene in the constructed coccidioidal protein expression vector (pCE). The chitinase gene (
CTS1
) of
C. posadasii
, which encodes the complement fixation antigen, was expressed using this system. The recombinant Cts1 protein (rCts1
Ur
) was induced in pCE-CTS1-transformed
U. reesii
by elevating the cultivation temperature. The isolated rCts1
Ur
showed chitinolytic activity that was identical to that of the native protein and had serodiagnostic efficacy comparable to those of the commercially available antigens in immunodiffusion-complement fixation tests. Using the purified rCts1
Ur
, 74 out of the 77 coccidioidomycosis patients examined (96.1%) were positively identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The rCts1
Ur
protein showed higher chitinolytic activity and slightly greater seroreactivity than the bacterially expressed recombinant Cts1. These data suggest that this novel expression system is a useful tool to produce coccidioidal antigens for use as diagnostic antigens.
Cultivable Oral Microbiota of Domestic Dogs
Authors: Elliott David R. , Wilson Michael , Buckley Catherine M. F. , Spratt David A. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Bacteria were isolated from the dental plaques of nine dogs and a sample of pooled saliva from five other dogs and were then identified by comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Among 339 isolates, 84 different phylotypes belonging to 37 genera were identified. Approximately half of the phylotypes were identified to the species level, and 28% of these were considered members of the indigenous oral microbiota of humans. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the remaining 44 phylotypes were not represented in GenBank, and most of these phylotypes were tentatively identified as candidate new species. The genera most frequently isolated from saliva were
Actinomyces
(26%),
Streptococcus
(18%), and
Granulicatella
(17%). The genera most frequently isolated from plaque were
Porphyromonas
(20%),
Actinomyces
(12%), and
Neisseria
(10%). A comparison of the DNA sequences from this study with sequences of the human microbiota available in GenBank showed that, on average, canine and human microbiotas differed by almost 7% in the 16S rRNA gene. In conclusion, this study has shown that the cultivable oral microbiotas of dogs and humans show significant differences.
Detection of Mutations Associated with Isoniazid Resistance in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Isolates from China
Authors: Zhang Min , Yue Jun , Yang Yan-ping , Zhang Hong-mei , Lei Jian-qiang , Jin Rui-liang , Zhang Xue-lian , Wang Hong-hai 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Nine structural genes (
furA
,
katG
,
inhA
,
kasA
, Rv0340,
iniB
,
iniA
,
iniC
, and
efpA
) and two regulatory regions (the
oxyR-ahpC
intergenic region and the promoter of
mabA-inhA
) in 87 isoniazid (INH)-monoresistant and 50 INH-susceptible
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates collected from five provinces of China were analyzed by sequencing. Eighty-two (94.3%) INH-resistant isolates had mutations in the
katG
gene, with the
katG
Ser315Thr mutation predominant (55.2%). No mutation at codon 463 of
katG
was detected among the 50 INH-susceptible isolates with different IS
6110
fingerprints. In addition, there were 35 (40.2%) INH-resistant isolates that had a mutation at codon 463 of
katG
. Of the INH-resistant strains, 20 (23.0%) isolates harbored double mutations at two separate loci of
katG
. Mutations in the
inhA
promoter region occurred in 13 (14.9%) isolates; 4.6% of the isolates had
inhA
structural gene mutations, and 11.5% harbored mutations in the
oxyR-ahpC
intergenic region. Drug resistance-associated mutations were detected in the
iniBAC
region and
efpA
.
Comparison of Real-Time PCR Protocols for Differential Laboratory Diagnosis of Amebiasis
Authors: Qvarnstrom Yvonne , James Cleve , Xayavong Maniphet , Holloway Brian P. , Visvesvara Govinda S. , Sriram Rama , da Silva Alexandre J. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Specific identification of
Entamoeba
spp. in clinical specimens is an important confirmatory diagnostic step in the management of patients who may be infected with
Entamoeba histolytica
, the species that causes clinical amebiasis. Distinct real-time PCR protocols have recently been published for identification of
E. histolytica
and differentiation from the morphologically identical nonpathogenic
Entamoeba dispar
. In this study, we compared three
E. histolytica
real-time PCR techniques published by December 2004. The limits of detection and efficiency of each real-time PCR assay were determined using DNA extracted from stool samples spiked with serially diluted cultured
E. histolytica
trophozoites. The ability of each assay to correctly distinguish
E. histolytica
from
E. dispar
was evaluated with DNA extracted from patients' stools and liver aspirates submitted for confirmatory diagnosis. Real-time PCR allowed quantitative analysis of the spiked stool samples, but major differences in detection limits and assay performance were observed among the evaluated tests. These results illustrate the usefulness of comparative evaluations of diagnostic assays.
A Novel Bacterial Mucinase, Glycosulfatase, Is Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Roberton Anthony M. , Wiggins Rebecca , Horner Patrick J. , Greenwood Rosemary , Crowley Theresa , Fernandes Arnold , Berry Monica , Corfield Anthony P. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

The modifications to the vaginal habitat accompanying a change to vaginal flora in bacterial vaginosis (BV) are poorly understood. In this study enzymes involved in mucin degradation were measured, including a novel glycosulfatase assay. Women attending an emergency walk-in sexually transmitted disease clinic were studied. One high vaginal swab (HVS) was used to prepare a gram-stained smear to determine BV status, using Ison and Hay's criteria, and a separate swab was used for the purposes of the assays. The median glycosulfatase activity was 8.5 (range, −1.2 to 31.9) nmol h
−1
1.5 ml
−1
of HVS suspension in patients with BV compared to 0.5 (range, −0.7 to 9.4) nmol h
−1
1.5 ml
−1
of HVS suspension in patients without BV (
P
= <0.001). The median glycoprotein sialidase activity was 29.2 (range, −17 to 190) nmol h
−1
1.5 ml
−1
of HVS suspension in patients with BV compared to −1.1 (range, −41 to 48) nmol h
−1
1.5 ml
−1
of HVS suspension in patients without BV (
P
< 0.001). A rapid spot test for sialidase was positive in 22/24 patients with BV (sensitivity, 91.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 73 to 99%) and negative in 32/35 patients without BV (specificity, 91.4%; 95% CI, 76.9 to 98.2%) (
P
< 0.001). Glycosulfatase activity significantly correlated with both glycoprotein sialidase activity and the sialidase spot test (
P
= 0.006 and
P
< 0.001, respectively). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the consortium of bacteria present in BV requires the ability to break down mucins in order to colonize the vagina and replace the normal lactobacilli.
Rapid Identification of Human Adenovirus Types 3 and 7 from Respiratory Specimens via Multiplex Type-Specific PCR
Authors: Lee Jin A , Kim Nam Hee , Kim Sun Jung , Choi Eun Hwa , Lee Hoan Jong 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT
The rapid diagnosis of human adenovirus (Ad) infection is crucial for the timely recognition of epidemics. Moreover, identification of the serotypes known to cause serious disease can be helpful in therapeutic intervention. A multiplex PCR assay was developed for the rapid detection of adenovirus type 3 (Ad3) and Ad7 directly from clinical specimens. For this assay, three primer pairs (primers were based on the conserved and hypervariable regions of the hexon) were designed in order to simultaneously amplify all adenoviral serotypes and discriminate between Ad3 and Ad7. In our preliminary analysis, this multiplex PCR assay generated amplicons of the consensus primers from all 106 adenoviral isolates of diverse serotypes and proved able to correctly identify Ad3 and Ad7. This assay was subsequently applied to the detection of Ad3 and Ad7 in respiratory specimens. Among the 127 nasal aspirates from which an adenovirus was grown, the sensitivity with which any serotype could be detected was 91% (115/127). Two of the 53 nasal aspirates which did not grow Ads yielded adenovirus-specific bands, which were confirmed by sequencing analysis. Among the 115 specimens which produced common adenoviral bands, the sensitivity with which Ad3 could be detected was 93% (26/28), and the sensitivity with which Ad7 could be detected was 100% (35/35). Five out of the 115 specimens were proved to harbor more than one type of Ad via sequencing analysis of the amplicons, suggesting mixed infection with at least two different serotypes. In conclusion, this multiplex PCR system can be utilized in the rapid identification of Ad3 and Ad7 directly from clinical specimens. Furthermore, this method constitutes a diagnostic strategy for the detection of coinfection by different Ad serotypes.
Epidemiological Survey of Human Metapneumovirus Infection in a Large Pediatric Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Chano Frédéric , Rousseau Céline , Laferrière Céline , Couillard Michel , Charest Hugues 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT
The human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was recently identified and linked to acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI). To assess the clinical importance of this virus in infants and children, we developed a rapid and efficient reverse transcription-PCR-based screening method for a large volume of samples and tested retrospectively a collection of 1,132 respiratory specimens submitted over a full year period to the virology laboratory of a large tertiary care pediatric center in Montreal, Canada. A total of 41 samples from 37 patients were positive by this method. During the winter months of 2001, up to 8% of specimens submitted for respiratory virus testing were hMPV positive. Sequencing data of the hMPV M gene revealed that two genogroups of the virus, each of which can be divided into two subgroups, cocirculated during this time period. A case-controlled study was conducted to compare the symptoms associated with hMPV infection with those involving other etiologic agents causing ARTI. Symptoms most frequently observed in hMPV-positive patients were cough, wheezing, and dyspnea, although the symptomatology could differ substantially from patient to patient. No distinct symptom profile could be associated with hMPV. Three nosocomial cases of hMPV infection were identified. Together, our data suggest that hMPV is a significant cause of symptomatic respiratory tract infections in infants and children. The incidence of the disease and the morbidity associated with the infection justify adding hMPV to the list of common respiratory viruses routinely screened for by clinical laboratories.
Multicenter Evaluation of BBL CHROMagar MRSA Medium for Direct Detection of Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
from Surveillance Cultures of the Anterior Nares
Authors: Flayhart Diane , Hindler Janet F. , Bruckner David A. , Hall Geraldine , Shrestha Rabin K. , Vogel Sherilynn A. , Richter Sandra S. , Howard Wanita , Walther Rhonda , Carroll Karen C. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Active surveillance for methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) is among the strategies recommended by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America for control of nosocomial MRSA infections. Infection control and laboratory personnel desire rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive methods to enhance surveillance activities. A multicenter study was performed to evaluate a new selective and differential chromogenic medium, BBL CHROMagar MRSA (C-MRSA) medium (BD Diagnostics, Sparks, MD), which enables recovery and concomitant identification of MRSA strains directly from nasal swab specimens taken from the anterior nares. Specimens were inoculated to C-MRSA and Trypticase soy agar with 5% sheep blood agar (TSA II, BD Diagnostics). Mauve colonies on C-MRSA at 24 h and 48 h and suspicious colonies on TSA II were confirmed as
Staphylococcus aureus
by Gram stain morphology and a coagulase test. In addition, the results of C-MRSA were compared to results of susceptibility testing (five different methods) of
S. aureus
strains isolated on TSA II. A total of 2,015 specimens were inoculated to C-MRSA and TSA II. Three hundred fifty-four
S. aureus
isolates were recovered; 208 (59%) were oxacillin (methicillin) susceptible and 146 (41%) were oxacillin resistant (MRSA). On C-MRSA, 139/146 or 95.2% of MRSA isolates were recovered, whereas recovery on TSA II was 86.9% (127/146) (
P
= 0.0027). The overall specificity of C-MRSA was 99.7%. When C-MRSA was compared to each susceptibility testing method, the sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were as follows: oxacillin MIC by broth microdilution, 94.4% and 96.7%; oxacillin screen agar, 94.3% and 96.7%; PBP2′ latex agglutination, 93.7% and 98.5%; cefoxitin disk diffusion, 95.0% and 98.1%; and
mecA
PCR, 95.1% and 98.1%. In this study, C-MRSA was superior to TSA II for recovery of MRSA from surveillance specimens obtained from the anterior nares and was comparable to conventional, rapid, and molecular susceptibility methods for the identification of MRSA isolates.
Relationship between MIC and Minimum Sterol 14α-Demethylation-Inhibitory Concentration as a Factor in Evaluating Activities of Azoles against Various Fungal Species
Authors: Shimokawa Osamu , Niimi Masakazu , Kikuchi Ken , Saito Mitsumasa , Kajiwara Hideko , Yoshida Shin-ichi 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

The minimum growth-inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of azole antifungals were compared to their minimum sterol 14α-demethylation-inhibitory concentrations (MDICs) for clinical fungal isolates. The ascomycetous
Candida
yeasts tested were clearly divided into two groups: group I, consisting of
C. albicans
,
C. tropicalis
, and
C. lusitaniae
, had MICs that were much higher than the MDICs, whereas group II, comprising
C. glabrata
,
C. parapsilosis
,
C. guilliermondii
, and
C. krusei
, had MICs that were approximately equal to the MDICs. In the ascomycetous fungi
Aspergillus fumigatus
and
Sporothrix schenckii
, the MICs were indistinguishable from the MDICs. In the basidiomycetous fungi
Cryptococcus
(
Filobasidiella
)
neoformans
,
C. curvatus
, and
Trichosporon asahii
, the MICs and the MDICs were practically identical. These results support the notion that there are two distinct classes of fungi differing in their degree of tolerance to sterol 14α-demethylation deficiency. These findings have significant implications for both fungal physiology and antifungal chemotherapy.