Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infection linked to the international ice hockey tournament

SUMMARYIn April 2015, Finnish public health authorities alerted European Union member states of a possible multi-country Salmonella enteritidis outbreak linked to an international youth ice-hockey tournament in Latvia. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Finnish and Latvian authorities initiated an outbreak investigation to identify the source. The investigation included a description of the outbreak, retrospective cohort study, microbiological investigation and trace-back. We identified 154 suspected and 96 confirmed cases from seven countries. Consuming Bolognese sauce and salad at a specific event arena significantly increased the risk of illness. Isolates from Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian cases had an identical multiple-locus variable-number of tandem repeats analysis-profile (3-10-6-4-1). Breaches in hygiene and food storing practices in the specific arena's kitchen allowing for cross-contamination were identified. Riga Cup participants were recommended to follow good hand hygiene and consume only freshly cooked foods. This investigation demonstrated that the use of ECDC's Epidemic Intelligence Information System for Food- and Waterborne Diseases and Zoonoses platform was essential to progress the investigation by facilitating information exchange between countries. Cross-border data sharing to perform whole genome sequencing gave relevant information regarding the source of the outbreak.

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An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, 2008

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/ese.14.10.19147-en ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

Author(s):

T Bruun ◽

G Sørensen ◽

L P Forshell ◽

T Jensen ◽

K Nygård ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Safety ◽

Salmonella Typhimurium ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

International Communication ◽

Variable Number ◽

Outbreak Strain ◽

Cross Border ◽

Trace Back ◽

Outbreak Investigations ◽

Minced Meat

In November-December 2008, Norway and Denmark independently identified outbreaks of Salmonella Typhimurium infections characterised in the multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) by a distinct profile. Outbreak investigations were initiated independently in the two countries. In Denmark, a total of 37 cases were identified, and multiple findings of the outbreak strain in pork and pigs within the same supply chain led to the identification of pork in various forms as the source. In Norway, ten cases were identified, and the outbreak investigation quickly indicated meat bought in Sweden as the probable source and the Swedish authorities were alerted. Investigations in Sweden identified four human cases and two isolates from minced meat with the distinct profile. Subsequent trace-back of the meat showed that it most likely originated from Denmark. Through international alert from Norway on 19 December, it became clear that the Danish and Norwegian outbreak strains were identical and, later on, that the source of the outbreaks in all three countries could be traced back to Danish pork. MLVA was instrumental in linking the outbreaks in the different countries and tracing the source. This outbreak illustrates that good international communication channels, early alerting mechanisms, inter-sectoral collaboration between public health and food safety authorities and harmonised molecular typing tools are important for effective identification and management of cross-border outbreaks. Differences in legal requirements for food safety in neighbouring countries may be a challenge in terms of communication with consumers in areas where cross-border shopping is common.

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Investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks in South Africa using multi-locus variable-number tandem-repeats analysis, 2013-2015

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-017-2751-8 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Munyadziwa Muvhali ◽

Anthony Marius Smith ◽

Andronica Moipone Rakgantso ◽

Karen Helena Keddy

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Salmonella Enteritidis ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Variable Number ◽

Variable Number Tandem Repeats

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A Snapshot of the Genetic Diversity of Salmonella Enteritidis Population Involved in Human Infections in Romania Taken in the European Epidemiological Context

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1490

Author(s):

Codruta-Romanita Usein ◽

Mihaela Oprea ◽

Adriana Simona Ciontea ◽

Sorin Dinu ◽

Daniela Cristea ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Salmonella Enteritidis ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Minimum Spanning Tree ◽

Public Health Practice ◽

National Level ◽

Variable Number ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Sequencing Data

In the absence of consistent national molecular typing data to enhance the surveillance of Salmonella Enteritidis, it was considered useful to collect baseline information on the genetic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility of strains isolated in Romania between January 2016 and April 2020 and compare them to strains described in major international outbreaks of the same period. A collection of 245 clinical isolates were genotyped by a standardised multiple-locus variable-number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) 5-loci protocol and screened for antimicrobial resistance against 15 compounds. Twenty strains were further subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS) and compared to epidemiologically relevant high-throughput sequencing data available in European databases. Twenty-seven MLVA genotypes were identified, of which three, commonly reported in Europe between 2016–2020, covered 72% of the collection. Antibiotic resistance was detected in 30% of the strains, with resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin as the most common phenotype, and also associated with two prevalent MLVA clones. WGS-derived multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed a single sequence type (ST11) further resolved into 10 core-genome MLST complex types. The minimum spanning tree constructed from the cgMLST data clustered Romanian and international strains, which shared more than 95% of the core genes, revealing links with a contemporaneous multi-country outbreak. This study could be regarded as a forerunner to the advent of using this integrative approach in the public health practice at a national level and thus contribute to the concerted actions at a European level to stop outbreaks.

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Salmonellosis

10.1093/med/9780198570028.003.0030 ◽

2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. J. Threlfall ◽

J. Wain ◽

C. Lane

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enteritidis ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Local Level ◽

Food Poisoning ◽

Variable Number ◽

Human Infection ◽

Control Measures ◽

Antimicrobial Drugs ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

Phenotypic Methods

Salmonellosis remains the second most common form of bacterial food-poisoning in the UK and in most of the developed economies. Although the number of isolations per annum has declined since 2000, over 10,000 laboratory-confirmed cases are recognised each year in England and Wales, and over 150,000 in Europe. Most of infections are associated with contaminated food, particularly of poultry origin, but also may originate from cattle and pigs, and to a lesser extent, sheep. The most common serovars from cases of human infection is Enteritidis, followed by Typhimurium. Contact with pets, particularly reptiles and amphibians is becoming an increasing problem and infections can be severe, particularly in children. Accurate and reproducible methods of identification and subtyping are crucial for meaningful epidemiological investigations, and traditional phenotypic methods of typing are now being supplemented by DNA- based methods such as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, variable number of tandem repeats analysis, and multilocus sequence typing. The use of such methods in combination with phenotypic methods has been invaluable for outbreak control at the international level. The occurrence of resistance to antimicrobial drugs is an increasing problem, particularly in relation to the development of resistance to antimicrobials regarded as ‘critically-important’ for last resort therapy in humans. Control measures such as vaccination of poultry flocks appear to have had a substantial impact on the number of infections with Salmonella Enteritidis. Nevertheless good hygiene practices in both catering establishments and the home remain essential for the control of infections at the local level.

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Molecular Epidemiology of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria Strains from the Balkan Peninsula Revealed by a New Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis Scheme

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9030536 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 536 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Taca Vancheva ◽

Nevena Bogatzevska ◽

Penka Moncheva ◽

Sasa Mitrev ◽

Christian Vernière ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tandem Repeat ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Variable Number Tandem Repeat ◽

Balkan Peninsula ◽

Variable Number ◽

Bacterial Spot ◽

Size Homoplasy ◽

Trace Back ◽

Analysis Scheme ◽

Xanthomonas Euvesicatoria

Bacterial spot of pepper and tomato is caused by at least three species of Xanthomonas, among them two pathovars of Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, which are responsible for significant yield losses on all continents. In order to trace back the spread of bacterial spot pathogens within and among countries, we developed the first multilocus variable number of tandem repeat analyses (MLVA) scheme for pepper- and tomato-pathogenic strains of X. euvesicatoria. In this work, we assessed the repeat numbers by DNA sequencing of 16 tandem repeat loci and applied this new tool to analyse a representative set of 88 X. euvesicatoria pepper strains from Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The MLVA-16 scheme resulted in a Hunter–Gaston Discriminatory Index (HGDI) score of 0.944 and allowed to resolve 36 MLVA haplotypes (MTs), thus demonstrating its suitability for high-resolution molecular typing. Strains from the different regions of Bulgaria and North Macedonia were found to be widespread in genetically distant clonal complexes or singletons. Sequence types of the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) amplicons revealed cases of size homoplasy and suggested the coexistence of different populations and different introduction events. The large geographical distribution of MTs and the existence of epidemiologically closely related strains in different regions and countries suggest long dispersal of strains on pepper in this area.

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Dopamine D4 receptor gene variation is associated with context-dependent attention for emotion stimuli

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1017/s1461145712000478 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 525-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tony T. Wells ◽

Christopher G. Beevers ◽

Valerie S. Knopik ◽

John E. McGeary

Keyword(s):

Tandem Repeats ◽

Mood State ◽

Receptor Gene ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Variable Number ◽

Intermediate Phenotype ◽

Dopamine D4 Receptor ◽

Gene Variation ◽

Sad Mood ◽

D4 Receptor

Abstract Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene variation has been associated with biased attention for contextually relevant information (e.g. images of cigarettes among smokers). No research has examined whether DRD4 variation is associated with biased attention for contextually cued emotion stimuli, an important putative intermediate phenotype for a number of pathologies (e.g. depression and anxiety). We conducted two studies examining the relationship between the DRD4 variable number tandem repeats polymorphism and attention bias for facial expressions of emotion following a mood-state manipulation in healthy young adult samples. Study 1 demonstrated that long (i.e. seven or greater tandem repeats) DRD4 allele carriers vs. short DRD4 homozygotes had increased attention for sad facial stimuli, but only after a sad mood provocation. Study 2 demonstrated an association between the long DRD4 allele and attention for negative stimuli (sad and fear expressions) following a sad mood provocation. These studies are the first to demonstrate an association between the long DRD4 allele and biased attention for contextually cued emotion stimuli, an important cognitive mechanism thought to increase risk for affective psychopathology. Implications of these studies for vulnerability and plasticity models of psychiatric genetics are discussed.

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Exploring Molecular Contacts of MUC1 at CIN85 Binding Interface to Address Future Drug Design Efforts

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22042208 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 2208

Author(s):

Maria Rita Gulotta ◽

Serena Vittorio ◽

Rosaria Gitto ◽

Ugo Perricone ◽

Laura De Luca

Keyword(s):

Cancer Progression ◽

Protein Interactions ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Structural Information ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Variable Number ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Transmembrane Glycoprotein ◽

Binding Interface ◽

Future Drug

The modulation of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) by small molecules represents a valuable strategy for pharmacological intervention in several human diseases. In this context, computer-aided drug discovery techniques offer useful resources to predict the network of interactions governing the recognition process between protein partners, thus furnishing relevant information for the design of novel PPI modulators. In this work, we focused our attention on the MUC1-CIN85 complex as a crucial PPI controlling cancer progression and metastasis. MUC1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose extracellular domain contains a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) regions that are highly glycosylated in normal cells and under-glycosylated in cancer. The hypo-glycosylation fosters the exposure of the backbone to new interactions with other proteins, such as CIN85, that alter the intracellular signalling in tumour cells. Herein, different computational approaches were combined to investigate the molecular recognition pattern of MUC1-CIN85 PPI thus unveiling new structural information useful for the design of MUC1-CIN85 PPI inhibitors as potential anti-metastatic agents.

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