# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 5815 | 0 | 1.0000 | Pangenome Analysis of Helicobacter pylori Isolates from Selected Areas of Africa Indicated Diverse Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Genes. The challenge facing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection management in some parts of Africa is the evolution of drug-resistant species, the lack of gold standard in diagnostic methods, and the ineffectiveness of current vaccines against the bacteria. It is being established that even though clinical consequences linked to the bacteria vary geographically, there is rather a generic approach to treatment. This situation has remained problematic in the successful fight against the bacteria in parts of Africa. As a result, this study compared the genomes of selected H. pylori isolates from selected areas of Africa and evaluated their virulence and antibiotic drug resistance, those that are highly pathogenic and are associated with specific clinical outcomes and those that are less virulent and rarely associated with clinical outcomes. 146 genomes of H. pylori isolated from selected locations of Africa were sampled, and bioinformatic tools such as Abricate, CARD RGI, MLST, Prokka, Roary, Phandango, Google Sheets, and iTOLS were used to compare the isolates and their antibiotic resistance or susceptibility. Over 20 k virulence and AMR genes were observed. About 95% of the isolates were genetically diverse, 90% of the isolates harbored shell genes, and 50% harbored cloud and core genes. Some isolates did not retain the cagA and vacA genes. Clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, and tinidazole were resistant to most AMR genes (vacA, cagA, oip, and bab). Conclusion. This study found both virulence and AMR genes in all H. pylori strains in all the selected geographies around Africa with differing quantities. MLST, Pangenome, and ORF analyses showed disparities among the isolates. This in general could imply diversities in terms of genetics, evolution, and protein production. Therefore, generic administration of antibiotics such as clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin as treatment methods in the African subregion could be contributing to the spread of the bacterium's antibiotic resistance. | 2024 | 38469580 |
| 4936 | 1 | 0.9998 | A New Tool for Analyses of Whole Genome Sequences Reveals Dissemination of Specific Strains of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium in a Hospital. A new easy-to-use online bioinformatic tool analyzing whole genome sequences of healthcare associated bacteria was used by a local infection control unit to retrospectively map genetic relationship of isolates of E. faecium carrying resistance genes to vancomycin in a hospital. Three clusters of isolates were detected over a period of 5 years, suggesting transmission between patients. Individual relatedness between isolates within each cluster was established by SNP analyses provided by the system. Genetic antimicrobial resistance mechanisms to antibiotics other than vancomycin were identified. The results suggest that the system is suited for hospital surveillance of E. faecium carrying resistance genes to vancomycin in settings with access to next Generation Sequencing without bioinformatic expertise for interpretation of the genome sequences. | 2021 | 34778297 |
| 5519 | 2 | 0.9998 | Antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence potential and sequence types associated with Arcobacter strains recovered from human faeces. PURPOSE: The genus Arcobacter includes bacteria that are considered emergent pathogens because they can produce infections in humans and animals. The most common symptoms are bloody and non-bloody persistent diarrhea but cases with abdominal cramps without diarrhea or asymptomatic cases have also been described as well as cases with bacteremia. The objective was to characterize Arcobacter clinical strains isolated from the faeces of patients from three Spanish hospitals. METHODOLOGY: We have characterized 28 clinical strains (27 of A. butzleri and one of A. cryaerophilus) isolated from faeces, analysing their epidemiological relationship using the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach and screening them for their antibiotic susceptibility and for the presence of virulence genes.Results/Key findings. Typing results showed that only one of the 28 identified sequence types (i.e. ST 2) was already present in the MLST database. The other 27 STs constituted new records because they included new alleles for five of the seven genes or new combinations of known alleles of the seven genes. All strains were positive for the ciaB virulence gene and sensitive to tetracycline. However, 7.4 % of the A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus strains showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSION: The fact that epidemiological unrelated strains show the same ST indicates that other techniques with higher resolution should be developed to effectively recognize the infection source. Resistance to ciprofloxacin, one of the antibiotics recommended for the treatment of Arcobacter intestinal infections, demonstrated in 10.7 % of the strains, indicates the importance of selecting the most appropriate effective treatment. | 2017 | 29120301 |
| 4967 | 3 | 0.9998 | Whole-genome sequencing of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile reveals multidrug resistance and virulence genes in strains of environmental and animal origin. BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile has been recognized as an emerging pathogen in both humans and animals. In this context, antimicrobial resistance plays a major role in driving the spread of this disease, often leading to therapeutic failure. Moreover, recent increases in community-acquired C. difficile infections have led to greater numbers of investigations into the animal origin of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic similarities between 23 environmental and animal isolates by using whole-genome sequencing and to determine antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor genes in toxigenic C. difficile strains to provide important data for the development of diagnostic methods or treatment guidelines. RESULTS: The most common sequence type was ST11 (87%), followed by ST2 (9%) and ST19 (4%). In addition, 86.95% of the strains exhibited multidrug resistance, with antimicrobial resistance to mainly aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracycline and B-lactams; nevertheless, one strain also carried other resistance genes that conferred resistance to lincosamide, macrolides, streptogramin a, streptogramin b, pleuromutilin, oxazolidinone and amphenicol. In addition, a wide range of virulence factor genes, such as those encoding adherence factors, exoenzymes and toxins, were found. However, we observed variations between toxinotypes, ribotypes and sequence types. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated significant genetic similarity between ST11 strains isolated from environmental sampling and from animal origin; these strains may represent a reservoir for community-acquired C. difficile infection, which is becoming a growing public health threat due to the development of multridug resistant (MDR) bacteria and the number of virulence factors detected. | 2024 | 39434132 |
| 5816 | 4 | 0.9998 | Comparison of virulence and resistance genes in Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida from dairy cattle with and without bovine respiratory disease. Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida are two of the main bacterial pathogens associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD represents one of the most significant health challenges in the cattle industry, causing substantial economic losses through animal morbidity and mortality while raising serious welfare concerns. The objectives of this project were to (i) characterize virulence factor (VF) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in M. haemolytica and P. multocida isolates from dairy cattle of different ages with and without BRD using whole-genome sequencing (WGS); (ii) evaluate associations between microbial genetic elements and animal disease status; and (iii) assess the accuracy of genome-based predictions for the antimicrobial resistance phenotype. Using a case-control study, AMR and VF genes were characterized from 149 P. multocida and 68 M. haemolytica isolates from preweaned calves, weaned heifers, and cows with and without BRD. The large genetic diversity observed in both bacterial species prevented the identification of unique genetic markers associated with disease status or age group. AMR genes (22 genes) from 12 antimicrobial classes were identified in P. multocida isolates, while 11 AMR genes for seven antimicrobial classes were identified in M. haemolytica isolates. Additionally, 28 and 15 virulence genes were identified in P. multocida and M. haemolytica, respectively. The ability of WGS-based predictions to predict phenotypic antimicrobial resistance showed variable accuracy across different antimicrobials, achieving moderate levels of agreement overall. Findings from this project demonstrate that identifying genomic markers based on gene presence/absence lacks discriminatory power within this population for identifying unique genotypes associated with disease status in these genomically diverse organisms. IMPORTANCE: This case-control study provides key microbial ecological advances by elucidating the role of bacteria in the bovine respiratory disease complex in dairy cattle. Previous research has identified specific virulence factors in both bacterial genomes that resulted in disease. Our results challenge this perception and are of high impact, revealing that the pan-genome of both bacteria did not differentiate among the clinical cases or age groups, and a specific pathogenic pathotype was not evident in the isolates from this study, and it did not emerge when including additional public whole-genome sequences to increase the analytical power of the analysis (the first study to use this approach to evaluate bovine respiratory disease in cattle). In addition to these novel discoveries, this study describes the first population-scale genomic comparison of both Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida genomes collected from affected and healthy dairy cattle from different age groups and from multiple farms. | 2025 | 40522106 |
| 5736 | 5 | 0.9998 | Comparative Genomic Analysis and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Enterococcus Strains Isolated from Raw Sheep Milk. The role of Enterococcus spp. in food is debated since this group of lactic acid bacteria contains opportunistic pathogenic strains, some of which exhibit a multidrug-resistant profile. In livestock farms, the use of antibiotics is the most common practice to deal with mastitis-causing bacteria. However, the heavy usage and/or misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to genetically and phenotypically characterize Enterococcus strains isolated from raw sheep milk. Samples were collected over one year from the bulk tank of a dairy sheep farm and cultured on selective media. Isolates were purified and analyzed by whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The isolates were divided into clusters and the corresponding species were identified along with their genes related to virulence and antibiotic resistance. The pan-, core- and accessory-genomes of the strains were determined. Finally, the antibiotic-resistant profile of selected strains was examined and associated with their genomic characterization. These findings contribute to a better understanding of Enterococci epidemiology, providing comprehensive profiles of their virulence and resistance genes. The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in raw sheep milk destined for the production of cheese should raise awareness. | 2025 | 40872636 |
| 5645 | 6 | 0.9998 | Antibiotic Resistance of Bacillus cereus in Plant Foods and Edible Wild Mushrooms in a Province. Bacillus cereus is a common pathogen causing foodborne diseases, secreting and producing a large number of toxins that can cause a variety of diseases and pose many threats to human health. In this study, 73 strains of Bacillus cereus were isolated and identified from six types of foods from seven different cities in a province, and the antibiotic-resistant phenotype was detected by using the Bauer-Kirby method. Results showed that the 73 isolates were completely sensitive to gentamicin and 100% resistant to chloramphenicol, in addition to which all strains showed varying degrees of resistance to 13 other common antibiotics, and a large number of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics were found. A bioinformatic analysis of the expression of resistance genes in Bacillus cereus showed three classes of antibiotic-resistant genes, which were three of the six classes of antibiotics identified according to the resistance phenotype. The presence of other classes of antibiotic-resistant genes was identified from genome-wide information. Antibiotic-resistant phenotypes were analyzed for correlations with genotype, and remarkable differences were found among the phenotypes. The spread of antibiotic-resistant strains is a serious public health problem that requires the long-term monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in Bacillus cereus, and the present study provides important information for monitoring antibiotic resistance in bacteria from different types of food. | 2023 | 38138092 |
| 5817 | 7 | 0.9997 | Comparative genomics reveals the correlations of stress response genes and bacteriophages in developing antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is the second most common bacteria associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women. The antimicrobial treatment regimen for uncomplicated UTI is normally nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), or a fluoroquinolone without routine susceptibility testing of S. saprophyticus recovered from urine specimens. However, TMP-SMX-resistant S. saprophyticus has been detected recently in UTI patients, as well as in our cohort. Herein, we investigated the understudied resistance patterns of this pathogenic species by linking genomic antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) content to susceptibility phenotypes. We describe ARG associations with known and novel SCCmec configurations as well as phage elements in S. saprophyticus, which may serve as intervention or diagnostic targets to limit resistance transmission. Our analyses yielded a comprehensive database of phenotypic data associated with the ARG sequence in clinical S. saprophyticus isolates, which will be crucial for resistance surveillance and prediction to enable precise diagnosis and effective treatment of S. saprophyticus UTIs. | 2023 | 38051037 |
| 5508 | 8 | 0.9997 | Genomic and phenotypic comparison of environmental and patient-derived isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa suggest that antimicrobial resistance is rare within the environment. Patient-derived isolates of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa are frequently resistant to antibiotics due to the presence of sequence variants in resistance-associated genes. However, the frequency of antibiotic resistance and of resistance-associated sequence variants in environmental isolates of P. aeruginosa has not been well studied. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, meropenem, tobramycin) of environmental (n=50) and cystic fibrosis (n=42) P. aeruginosa isolates was carried out. Following whole genome sequencing of all isolates, 25 resistance-associated genes were analysed for the presence of likely function-altering sequence variants. Environmental isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics with one exception, whereas patient-derived isolates had significant frequencies of resistance to each antibiotic and a greater number of likely resistance-associated genetic variants. These findings indicate that the natural environment does not act as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa, supporting a model in which antibiotic susceptible environmental bacteria infect patients and develop resistance during infection. | 2019 | 31553303 |
| 5673 | 9 | 0.9997 | Antimicrobial Resistance, Genetic Lineages, and Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Human Infections: An Emerging One Health Concern. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a leading nosocomial pathogen and has great versatility due to a complex interplay between antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors. PA has also turned into one the most relevant model organisms for the study of biofilm-associated infections. The objective of the study focused on analyzing the antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance genes, virulence factors, and biofilm formation ability of thirty-two isolates of PA. PA isolates were characterized by the following analyses: susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents, the presence of resistance genes and virulence factors in PCR assays, and the quantification of biofilm production as evaluated by two distinct assays. Selected PA isolates were analyzed through multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Thirty PA isolates have a multi-resistant phenotype, and most of the isolates showed high levels of resistance to the tested antibiotics. Carbapenems showed the highest prevalence of resistance. Various virulence factors were detected and, for the quantification of biofilm production, the effectiveness of different methods was assessed. The microtiter plate method showed the highest accuracy and reproducibility for detecting biofilm-producing bacteria. MLST revealed four distinct sequence types (STs) in clinical PA, with three of them considered high-risk clones of PA, namely ST175, ST235, and ST244. These clones are associated with multidrug resistance and are prevalent in hospitals worldwide. Overall, the study highlights the high prevalence of antibiotic resistance, the presence of carbapenemase genes, the diversity of virulence factors, and the importance of biofilm formation in PA clinical isolates. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective infection control measures and the development of targeted treatment strategies. | 2023 | 37627668 |
| 4931 | 10 | 0.9997 | Delineating the Acquired Genetic Diversity and Multidrug Resistance in Alcaligenes from Poultry Farms and Nearby Soil. Alcaligenes faecalis is one of the most important and clinically significant environmental pathogens, increasing in importance due to its isolation from soil and nosocomial environments. The Gram-negative soil bacterium is associated with skin endocarditis, bacteremia, dysentery, meningitis, endophthalmitis, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia in patients. With emerging antibiotic resistance in A. faecalis, it has become crucial to understand the origin of such resistance genes within this clinically significant environmental and gut bacterium. In this research, we studied the impact of antibiotic overuse in poultry and its effect on developing resistance in A. faecalis. We sampled soil and faecal materials from five poultry farms, performed whole genome sequencing & analysis and identified four strains of A. faecalis. Furthermore, we characterized the genes in the genomic islands of A. faecalis isolates. We found four multidrug-resistant A. faecalis strains that showed resistance against vancomycin (MIC >1000 μg/ml), ceftazidime (50 μg/ml), colistin (50 μg/ml) and ciprofloxacin (50 μg/ml). From whole genome comparative analysis, we found more than 180 resistance genes compared to the reference sequence. Parts of our assembled contigs were found to be similar to different bacteria which included pbp1A and pbp2 imparting resistance to amoxicillin originally a part of Helicobacter and Bordetella pertussis. We also found the Mycobacterial insertion element IS6110 in the genomic islands of all four genomes. This prominent insertion element can be transferred and induce resistance to other bacterial genomes. The results thus are crucial in understanding the transfer of resistance genes in the environment and can help in developing regimes for antibiotic use in the food and poultry industry. | 2024 | 38904697 |
| 4630 | 11 | 0.9997 | Genome Analysis of the Enterococcus faecium Entfac.YE Prophage. BACKGROUND: Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. Bacteriophages are widely distributed in various environments. The prevalence of bacteriophages in water sources, especially wastewaters, is naturally high. These viruses affect evolution of most bacterial species. Bacteriophages are able to integrate their genomes into the chromosomes of their hosts as prophages and hence transfer resistance genes to the bacterial genomes. Enterococci are commensal bacteria that show high resistance to common antibiotics. For example, prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci has increased within the last decades. METHODS: Enterococcal isolates were isolated from clinical samples and morphological, phenotypical, biochemical, and molecular methods were used to identify and confirm their identity. Bacteriophages extracted from water sources were then applied to isolated Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium). In the next step, the bacterial genome was completely sequenced and the existing prophage genome in the bacterial genome was analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, E. faecium EntfacYE was isolated from a clinical sample. The EntfacYE genome was analyzed and 88 prophage genes were identified. The prophage content included four housekeeping genes, 29 genes in the group of genes related to replication and regulation, 25 genes in the group of genes related to structure and packaging, and four genes belonging to the group of genes associated with lysis. Moreover, 26 genes were identified with unknown functions. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, genome analysis of prophages can lead to a better understanding of their roles in the rapid evolution of bacteria. | 2022 | 35509366 |
| 5642 | 12 | 0.9997 | Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of obligate anaerobic bacteria from clinical samples of animal origin. The etiology of veterinary infectious diseases has been the focus of considerable research, yet relatively little is known about the causative agents of anaerobic infections. Susceptibility studies have documented the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and indicate distinct differences in resistance patterns related to veterinary hospitals, geographic regions, and antibiotic-prescribing regimens. The aim of the present study was to identify the obligate anaerobic bacteria from veterinary clinical samples and to determinate the in vitro susceptibility to eight antimicrobials and their resistance-associated genes. 81 clinical specimens obtained from food-producing animals, pets and wild animals were examined to determine the relative prevalence of obligate anaerobic bacteria, and the species represented. Bacteroides spp, Prevotella spp and Clostridium spp represented approximately 80% of all anaerobic isolates. Resistance to metronidazole, clindamycin, tetracycline and fluoroquinolones was found in strains isolated from food-producing animals. Ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin and cephalotin showed the highest resistance in all isolates. In 17%, 4% and 14% of tetracycline-resistant isolates, the resistance genes tetL, tetM and tetW were respectively amplified by PCR whereas in 4% of clindamycin-resistant strains the ermG gene was detected. 26% of the isolates were positive for cepA, while only 6% harbored the cfxA (resistance-conferring genes to beta-lactams). In this study, the obligate anaerobic bacteria from Costa Rica showed a high degree of resistance to most antimicrobials tested. Nevertheless, in the majority of cases this resistance was not related to the resistance acquired genes usually described in anaerobes. It is important to address and regulate the use of antimicrobials in the agricultural industry and the empirical therapy in anaerobic bacterial infections in veterinary medicine, especially since antibiotics and resistant bacteria can persist in the environment. | 2015 | 26385434 |
| 4965 | 13 | 0.9997 | Genomic Analysis Reveals the Genetic Determinants Associated With Antibiotic Resistance in the Zoonotic Pathogen Campylobacter spp. Distributed Globally. The genus Campylobacter groups 32 Gram-negative bacteria species, several being zoonotic pathogens and a major cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide. Antibiotic resistant Campylobacter is considered by the World Health Organization as a high priority pathogen for research and development of new antibiotics. Genetic elements related to antibiotic resistance in the classical C. coli and C. jejuni species, which infect humans and livestock, have been analyzed in numerous studies, mainly focused on local geographical areas. However, the presence of these resistance determinants in other Campylobacter species, as well as in C. jejuni and C. coli strains distributed globally, remains poorly studied. In this work, we analyzed the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance factors in 237 Campylobacter closed genomes available in NCBI, obtained from isolates collected worldwide, in different dates, from distinct hosts and comprising 22 Campylobacter species. Our data revealed 18 distinct genetic determinants, genes or point mutations in housekeeping genes, associated with resistance to antibiotics from aminoglycosides, β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, lincosamides, macrolides, phenicols or tetracyclines classes, which are differentially distributed among the Campylobacter species tested, on chromosomes or plasmids. Three resistance determinants, the bla (OXA-493) and bla (OXA-576) genes, putatively related to β-lactams resistance, as well as the lnu(AN2) gene, putatively related to lincosamides resistance, had not been reported in Campylobacter; thus, they represent novel determinants for antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter spp., which expands the insight on the Campylobacter resistome. Interestingly, we found that some of the genetic determinants associated with antibiotic resistance are Campylobacter species-specific; e.g., the bla (OXA-493) gene and the T86V mutation in gyrA were found only in the C. lari group, whereas genes associated with aminoglycosides resistance were found only in C. jejuni and C. coli. Additional analyses revealed how are distributed the resistance and multidrug resistance Campylobacter genotypes assessed, with respect to hosts, geographical locations, and collection dates. Thus, our findings further expand the knowledge on the factors that can determine or favor the antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter species distributed globally, which can be useful to choose a suitable antibiotic treatment to control the zoonotic infections by these bacteria. | 2020 | 33042043 |
| 4592 | 14 | 0.9997 | The Genetic Diversity and Antimicrobial Resistance of Pyogenic Pathogens Isolated from Porcine Lymph Nodes. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, pork remains the most consumed meat in the world. Consequently, it is very important to ensure that it is of the highest microbiological quality. Many of the pathogens that cause lymph node lesions in pigs are zoonotic agents, and the most commonly isolated bacteria are Mycobacterium spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Rhodococcus equi (synonymous with Prescottella equi). The prevention and treatment of zoonotic infections caused by these bacteria are mainly based on antimicrobials. However, an overuse of antimicrobials contributes to the emergence and high prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant strains, which are becoming a serious challenge in many countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of the Streptococcus spp. (n = 48), S. aureus (n = 5) and R. equi (n = 17) strains isolated from swine lymph nodes with and without lesions. All isolates of S. dysgalactiae, S. aureus and R. equi were subjected to PFGE analysis, which showed the genetic relatedness of the tested bacteria in the studied pig populations. Additionally, selected tetracycline and macrolide resistance genes in the streptococcal strains were also studied. The results obtained in the present study provide valuable data on the prevalence, diversity, and antimicrobial resistance of the studied bacteria. Numerous isolated bacterial Streptococcus spp. strains presented resistance to doxycycline, and almost half of them carried tetracycline resistance genes. In addition, R. equi and S. aureus bacteria presented a high level of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and to cefotaxime, respectively. | 2023 | 37370345 |
| 5002 | 15 | 0.9997 | Genomic Diversity of Hospital-Acquired Infections Revealed through Prospective Whole-Genome Sequencing-Based Surveillance. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) cause mortality, morbidity, and waste of health care resources. HAIs are also an important driver of antimicrobial resistance, which is increasing around the world. Beginning in November 2016, we instituted an initiative to detect outbreaks of HAIs using prospective whole-genome sequencing-based surveillance of bacterial pathogens collected from hospitalized patients. Here, we describe the diversity of bacteria sampled from hospitalized patients at a single center, as revealed through systematic analysis of bacterial isolate genomes. We sequenced the genomes of 3,004 bacterial isolates from hospitalized patients collected over a 25-month period. We identified bacteria belonging to 97 distinct species, which were distributed among 14 groups of related species. Within these groups, isolates could be distinguished from one another by both average nucleotide identity (ANI) and principal-component analysis of accessory genes (PCA-A). Core genome genetic distances and rates of evolution varied among species, which has practical implications for defining shared ancestry during outbreaks and for our broader understanding of the origins of bacterial strains and species. Finally, antimicrobial resistance genes and putative mobile genetic elements were frequently observed, and our systematic analysis revealed patterns of occurrence across the different species sampled from our hospital. Overall, this study shows how understanding the population structure of diverse pathogens circulating in a single health care setting can improve the discriminatory power of genomic epidemiology studies and can help define the processes leading to strain and species differentiation. IMPORTANCE Hospitalized patients are at increased risk of becoming infected with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used whole-genome sequencing to survey and compare over 3,000 clinical bacterial isolates collected from hospitalized patients at a large medical center over a 2-year period. We identified nearly 100 different bacterial species, which we divided into 14 different groups of related species. When we examined how genetic relatedness differed between species, we found that different species were likely evolving at different rates within our hospital. This is significant because the identification of bacterial outbreaks in the hospital currently relies on genetic similarity cutoffs, which are often applied uniformly across organisms. Finally, we found that antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements were abundant and were shared among the bacterial isolates we sampled. Overall, this study provides an in-depth view of the genomic diversity and evolutionary processes of bacteria sampled from hospitalized patients, as well as genetic similarity estimates that can inform hospital outbreak detection and prevention efforts. | 2022 | 35695507 |
| 5681 | 16 | 0.9997 | Molecular Epidemiology of Neonatal-Associated Staphylococcus haemolyticus Reveals Endemic Outbreak. Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a major cause of late-onset sepsis in neonates, and endemic clones are often multidrug-resistant. The bacteria can also act as a genetic reservoir for more pathogenic bacteria. Molecular epidemiology is important in understanding bacterial pathogenicity and preventing infection. To describe the molecular epidemiology of S. haemolyticus isolated from neonatal blood cultures at a Swedish neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over 4 decades, including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors, and comparison to international isolates. Isolates were whole-genome sequenced, and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the core genome were used to map the relatedness. The occurrence of previously described ARGs and virulence genes were investigated. Disc diffusion and gradient tests were used to determine phenotypic resistance. The results revealed a clonal outbreak of S. haemolyticus at this NICU during the 1990s. Multidrug resistance was present in 28 (82%) of all isolates and concomitant resistance to aminoglycoside and methicillin occurred in 27 (79%). No isolates were vancomycin resistant. Genes encoding ARGs and virulence factors occurred frequently. The isolates in the outbreak were more homogenous in their genotypic and phenotypic patterns. Genotypic and phenotypic resistance combinations were consistent. Pathogenic traits previously described in S. haemolyticus occurred frequently in the present isolates, perhaps due to the hospital selection pressure resulting in epidemiological success. The clonal outbreak revealed by this study emphasizes the importance of adhering to hygiene procedures in order to prevent future endemic outbreaks. IMPORTANCE This study investigated the relatedness of Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolated from neonatal blood and revealed a clonal outbreak in the 1990s at a Swedish neonatal intensive care unit. The outbreak clone has earlier been isolated in Japan and Norway. Virulence and antibiotic resistance genes previously associated with clinical S. haemolyticus were frequently occuring in the present study as well. The majority of the isolates were multidrug-resistant. These traits should be considered important for S. haemolyticus epidemiological success and are probably caused by the hospital selection pressure. Thus, this study emphasizes the importance of restrictive antibiotic use and following the hygiene procedures, to prevent further antibiotic resistance spread and future endemic outbreaks. | 2022 | 36314976 |
| 4629 | 17 | 0.9997 | Screening and in silico characterization of prophages in Helicobacter pylori clinical strains. The increase of antibiotic resistance calls for alternatives to control Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium associated with various gastric diseases. Bacteriophages (phages) can be highly effective in the treatment of pathogenic bacteria. Here, we developed a method to identify prophages in H. pylori genomes aiming at their future use in therapy. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique tested five primer pairs on 74 clinical H. pylori strains. After the PCR screening, 14 strains most likely to carry prophages were fully sequenced. After that, a more holistic approach was taken by studying the complete genome of the strains. This study allowed us to identify 12 intact prophage sequences, which were then characterized concerning their morphology, virulence, and antibiotic-resistance genes. To understand the variability of prophages, a phylogenetic analysis using the sequences of all H. pylori phages reported to date was performed. Overall, we increased the efficiency of identifying complete prophages to 54.1 %. Genes with homology to potential virulence factors were identified in some new prophages. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship among H. pylori-phages, although there are phages with different geographical origins. This study provides a deeper understanding of H. pylori-phages, providing valuable insights into their potential use in therapy. | 2025 | 39368610 |
| 5156 | 18 | 0.9997 | Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from animal with high virulence genes content and highly sensitive to antimicrobials. OBJECTIVES: P. aeruginosa is one of the most metabolically versatile bacteria having the ability to survive in multiple environments through its accessory genome. An important hallmark of P. aeruginosa is the high level of antibiotic resistance, which often makes eradication difficult and sometimes impossible. Evolutionary forces have led to this bacterium to develop high antimicrobial resistance with a variety of elements contributing to both intrinsic and acquired resistance. The objectives were to genetically and phenotypically characterizer P. aeruginosa strains isolated from companion animals of different species. METHODS: We characterized a collection of 39 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from infected animals. The genetic characterization was in relation to chromosomal profile by PFGE; content of virulence gene; presence of genomic islands (GIs); genes of the cytotoxins exported by T3SS: exoU, exoS, exoT and exoY; and type IV pili allele. The phenotypic characterization was based on patterns of susceptibility to different antimicrobials. RESULTS: Each strain had a PFGE profile, a high virulence genes content, and a large accessory genome. However, most of the strains presented high sensitivity to almost all antimicrobials tested, showing no acquired resistance (no β-lactamases). The exception to this lack of resistance was seen with penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: P. aeruginosa could be a naturally sensitive bacterium to standard antimicrobials but could rapidly develop intrinsic and acquired resistance when the bacterium is exposed to pressure exerted by antibiotics, as observed in hospital settings. | 2024 | 38452900 |
| 5972 | 19 | 0.9997 | Method of Selection of Bacteria Antibiotic Resistance Genes Based on Clustering of Similar Nucleotide Sequences. A new method for selection of bacterium antibiotic resistance genes is proposed and tested for solving the problems related to selection of primers for PCR assay. The method implies clustering of similar nucleotide sequences and selection of group primers for all genes of each cluster. Clustering of resistance genes for six groups of antibiotics (aminoglycosides, β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, glycopeptides, macrolides and lincosamides, and fusidic acid) was performed. The method was tested for 81 strains of bacteria of different genera isolated from patients (K. pneumoniae, Staphylococcus spp., S. agalactiae, E. faecalis, E. coli, and G. vaginalis). The results obtained by us are comparable to those in the selection of individual genes; this allows reducing the number of primers necessary for maximum coverage of the known antibiotic resistance genes during PCR analysis. | 2017 | 29063318 |