scholarly journals Whole-Genome Sequencing Analysis of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Isolates in Chile Provides Insights into Possible Transmission between Gulls, Poultry, and Humans

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (20) ◽  
pp. 6223-6232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magaly Toro ◽  
Patricio Retamal ◽  
Sherry Ayers ◽  
Marlen Barreto ◽  
Marc Allard ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSalmonella entericasubsp.entericaserotype Enteritidis is a major cause of human salmonellosis worldwide; however, little is known about the genetic relationships betweenS. Enteritidis clinical strains andS. Enteritidis strains from other sources in Chile. We compared the whole genomes of 30S. Enteritidis strains isolated from gulls, domestic chicken eggs, and humans in Chile, to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and to establish their relatedness to international strains. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) analysis showed that only 246/4,065 shared loci differed among these Chilean strains, separating them into two clusters (I and II), with cluster II being further divided into five subclusters. One subcluster (subcluster 2) contained strains from all surveyed sources that differed at 1 to 18 loci (of 4,065 loci) with 1 to 18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), suggesting interspecies transmission ofS. Enteritidis in Chile. Moreover, clusters were formed by strains that were distant geographically, which could imply that gulls might be spreading the pathogen throughout the country. Our cgMLST analysis, using otherS. Enteritidis genomes available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, showed thatS. Enteritidis strains from Chile and the United States belonged to different lineages, which suggests thatS. Enteritidis regional markers might exist and could be used for trace-back investigations.IMPORTANCEThis study highlights the importance of gulls in the spread ofSalmonellaEnteritidis in Chile. We revealed a close genetic relationship between some human and gullS. Enteritidis strains (with as few as 2 of 4,065 genes being different), and we also found that gull strains were present in clusters formed by strains isolated from other sources or distant locations. Together with previously published evidence, this suggests that gulls might be spreading this pathogen between different regions in Chile and that some of those strains have been transmitted to humans. Moreover, we discovered that ChileanS. Enteritidis strains clustered separately from most ofS. Enteritidis strains isolated throughout the world (in the GenBank database) and thus it might be possible to distinguish the geographical origins of strains based on specific genomic features. This could be useful for trace-back investigations of foodborne illnesses throughout the world.

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea J. Etter ◽  
Alyssa M. West ◽  
John L. Burnett ◽  
Sophie Tongyu Wu ◽  
Deklin R. Veenhuizen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSalmonella entericaserovar Heidelberg is currently the 12th most common serovar ofSalmonella entericacausing salmonellosis in the United States and results in twice the average incidence of blood infections caused by nontyphoidal salmonellae. Multiple outbreaks of salmonellosis caused bySalmonellaHeidelberg resulted from the same poultry processor, which infected 634 people during 2013 and 2014. The hospitalization and invasive illness rates were 38% and 15%, respectively. We hypothesized that the outbreak strains ofSalmonellaHeidelberg had enhanced stress tolerance and virulence capabilities. We sourced nine food isolates collected during the outbreak investigation and three reference isolates to assess their tolerance to heat and sanitizers, ability to attach to abiotic surfaces, and invasivenessin vitro. We performed RNA sequencing on three isolates (two outbreak-associated isolates and a referenceSalmonellaHeidelberg strain) with various levels of heat tolerance to gain insight into the mechanism behind the isolates’ enhanced heat tolerance. We also performed genomic analyses to determine the genetic relationships among the outbreak isolates. Ultimately, we determined that (i) sixSalmonellaHeidelberg isolates associated with the foodborne outbreak had enhanced heat tolerance, (ii) one outbreak isolate with enhanced heat tolerance also had an enhanced biofilm-forming ability under stressful conditions, (iii) exposure to heat stress increased the expression ofSalmonellaHeidelberg multidrug efflux and virulence genes, and (iv) outbreak-associated isolates were likely transcriptionally primed to better survive processing stresses and, potentially, to cause illness.IMPORTANCEThis study provides a deep analysis of the intrinsic stress tolerance and virulence capabilities ofSalmonellaHeidelberg that may have contributed to the length and severity of a recent salmonellosis outbreak. Additionally, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptomic response ofS. entericastrains to heat stress conditions and compares baseline stationary-phase gene expression among outbreak- and non-outbreak-associatedSalmonellaHeidelberg isolates. These data can be used in assay development to screen isolates for stress tolerance and subsequent survival. This study adds to our understanding of the strains associated with the outbreak and informs ongoing regulatory discussions onSalmonellain poultry.


Significance Last week, its partners in the ‘Quad’ grouping -- the United States, Japan and Australia -- agreed to help increase its vaccine manufacturing and exporting capacity. Each of the Quad members is wary of China, which like India is gifting and selling coronavirus jabs around the world. Impacts India’s manufacturing sector will attract more foreign direct investment. Greater cooperation over supply chains will help strengthen India-Australia ties. Indian pharma will in the long term aim to ease dependence on imports of active pharmaceutical ingredients from China.


2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 3985-3989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Sjölund-Karlsson ◽  
Kevin Joyce ◽  
Karen Blickenstaff ◽  
Takiyah Ball ◽  
Jovita Haro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTDue to emerging resistance to traditional antimicrobial agents, such as ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and chloramphenicol, azithromycin is increasingly used for the treatment of invasiveSalmonellainfections. In the present study, 696 isolates of non-TyphiSalmonellacollected from humans, food animals, and retail meats in the United States were investigated for antimicrobial susceptibility to azithromycin. Seventy-twoSalmonella entericaserotype Typhi isolates from humans were also tested. For each isolate, MICs of azithromycin and 15 other antimicrobial agents were determined by broth microdilution. Among the non-TyphiSalmonellaisolates, azithromycin MICs among human isolates ranged from 1 to 32 μg/ml, whereas the MICs among the animal and retail meat isolates ranged from 2 to 16 μg/ml and 4 to 16 μg/ml, respectively. AmongSalmonellaserotype Typhi isolates, the azithromycin MICs ranged from 4 to 16 μg/ml. The highest MIC observed in the present study was 32 μg/ml, and it was detected in three human isolates belonging to serotypes Kentucky, Montevideo, and Paratyphi A. Based on our findings, we propose an epidemiological cutoff value (ECOFF) for wild-typeSalmonellaof ≤16 μg/ml of azithromycin. The susceptibility data provided could be used in combination with clinical outcome data to determine tentative clinical breakpoints for azithromycin andSalmonella enterica.


2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (22) ◽  
pp. 8062-8066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell D. Hamilton ◽  
Holly J. Hulsebus ◽  
Samina Akbar ◽  
Jeffrey T. Gray

ABSTRACTSalmonellosis is one of the most common causes of food-borne disease in the United States. Increasing antimicrobial resistance and corresponding increases in virulence present serious challenges. Currently, empirical therapy for invasiveSalmonella entericainfection includes either ceftriaxone or ciprofloxacin (E. L. Hohmann, Clin. Infect. Dis. 32:263–269, 2001). TheblaCMY-2gene confers resistance to ceftriaxone, the antimicrobial of choice for pediatric patients with invasiveSalmonella entericainfections, making these infections especially dangerous (J. M. Whichard et al., Emerg. Infect. Dis. 11:1464–1466, 2005). We hypothesized thatblaCMY-2-positiveSalmonella entericawould exhibit increased MICs to multiple antimicrobial agents and increased resistance gene expression following exposure to ceftriaxone using a protocol that simulated a patient treatmentin vitro. SevenSalmonella entericastrains survived a simulated patient treatmentin vitroand, following treatment, exhibited a significantly increased ceftriaxone MIC. Not only would these isolates be less responsive to further ceftriaxone treatment, but because theblaCMY-2genes are commonly located on large, multidrug-resistant plasmids, increased expression of theblaCMY-2gene may be associated with increased expression of other drug resistance genes located on the plasmid (N. D. Hanson and C. C. Sanders, Curr. Pharm. Des. 5:881–894, 1999). The results of this study demonstrate that a simulated patient treatment with ceftriaxone can alter the expression of antimicrobial resistance genes, includingblaCMY-2andfloRinS. entericaserovar Typhimurium andS. entericaserovar Newport. Additionally, we have shown increased MICs following a simulated patient treatment with ceftriaxone for tetracycline, amikacin, ceftriaxone, and cefepime, all of which have resistance genes commonly located on CMY-2 plasmids. The increases in resistance observed are significant and may have a negative impact on both public health and antimicrobial resistance ofSalmonella enterica.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1491-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estela Trebicka ◽  
Susan Jacob ◽  
Waheed Pirzai ◽  
Bryan P. Hurley ◽  
Bobby J. Cherayil

ABSTRACTRecent observations from Africa have rekindled interest in the role of serum bactericidal antibodies in protecting against systemic infection withSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium. To determine whether the findings are applicable to other populations, we analyzed serum samples collected from healthy individuals in the United States. We found that all but 1 of the 49 adult samples tested had robust bactericidal activity againstS. Typhimurium in a standardin vitroassay. The activity was dependent on complement and could be reproduced by immunoglobulin G (IgG) purified from the sera. The bactericidal activity was inhibited by competition with soluble lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fromS. Typhimurium but not fromEscherichia coli, consistent with recognition of a determinant in the O-antigen polysaccharide. Sera from healthy children aged 10 to 48 months also had bactericidal activity, although it was significantly less than in the adults, correlating with lower levels of LPS-specific IgM and IgG. The lone sample in our collection that lacked bactericidal activity was able to inhibit killing ofS. Typhimurium by the other sera. The inhibition correlated with the presence of an LPS-specific IgM and was associated with decreased complement deposition on the bacterial surface. Our results indicate that healthy individuals can have circulating antibodies to LPS that either mediate or inhibit killing ofS. Typhimurium. The findings contrast with the observations from Africa, which linked bactericidal activity to antibodies against anS. Typhimurium outer membrane protein and correlated the presence of inhibitory anti-LPS antibodies with human immunodeficiency virus infection.


mSphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Frisch ◽  
S. Castillo-Ramírez ◽  
R. A. Petit ◽  
M. M. Farley ◽  
S. M. Ray ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTUSA500 isolates are clonal complex 8 (CC8)Staphylococcus aureusstrains closely related to the prominent community- and hospital-associated USA300 group. Despite being relatively understudied, USA500 strains cause a significant burden of disease and are the third most common methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) strains identified in the U.S. Emerging Infections Program (EIP) invasiveS. aureussurveillance. To better understand the genetic relationships of the strains, we sequenced the genomes of 539 USA500 MRSA isolates from sterile site infections collected through the EIP between 2005 and 2013 in the United States. USA500 isolates fell into three major clades principally separated by their distribution across different U.S. regions. Clade C1 strains, found principally in the Northeast, were associated with multiple IS256insertion elements in their genomes and higher levels of antibiotic resistance. C2 was associated with Southern states, and E1 was associated with Western states. C1 and C2 strains all shared a frameshift in the gene encoding AdsA surface-attached surface protein. We propose that the term “USA500” should be used for CC8 strains sharing a recent common ancestor with the C1, C2, and E1 strains but not in the USA300 group.IMPORTANCEIn this work, we have removed some of the confusion surrounding the use of the name “USA500,” placed USA500 strains in the context of the CC8 group, and developed a strategy for assignment to subclades based on genome sequence. Our new phylogeny of USA300/USA500 will be a reference point for understanding the genetic adaptations that have allowed multiple highly virulent clonal strains to emerge from within CC8 over the past 50 years.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 463-480
Author(s):  
Enrique Ogliastri ◽  
John Ickis ◽  
Ramiro Casó

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to test the universality of the behavioral theory of negotiation developed in the United States, particularly the integrative/distributive models, and to find negotiators' prototypes in international negotiations conducted in a Latin American country.Design/methodology/approachAn open questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 104 resident foreigners (expatriates) who reported the negotiation patterns of Costa Ricans. The qualitative data were coded in 52 variables (inte-rater reliability Fleiss' Kappa K= 0.65). A total of ten variables were selected to measure distributive/integrative patterns of negotiations. Latent class analysis (LCA) uncovered the latent structure of negotiations.Findings(1) The distributive (70% found in the sample) and integrative (30%) negotiation models hold in this culture. (2) The incorporation of handling emotions and interpersonal orientation in the integrative model seem to be an important theoretical and practical trend.Research limitations/implications(1) A larger sample size is needed to compare with data from other countries of the region and the world. (2) The use of emotions and interpersonal orientation in the integrative negotiation paradigm require further investigation. As practical implications, detailed negotiation advice is offered to Costa Ricans as well as to expatriates working there.Originality/valueTo identify negotiation patterns in an understudied region of the world, the distributive/integrative models of the behavioral theory of negotiations are a key focus with which to extend the literature. There are important elements of culture within the negotiation patterns, in line with trends of an evolving paradigm of integrative crosscultural negotiations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Andrea Azcarate-Peril ◽  
Natasha Butz ◽  
Maria Belen Cadenas ◽  
Matthew Koci ◽  
Anne Ballou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Salmonella is estimated to cause one million foodborne illnesses in the United States every year. Salmonella -contaminated poultry products are one of the major sources of salmonellosis. Given the critical role of the gut microbiota in Salmonella transmission, a manipulation of the chicken intestinal microenvironment could prevent animal colonization by the pathogen. In Salmonella , the global regulator gene fnr ( f umarate n itrate r eduction) regulates anaerobic metabolism and is essential for adapting to the gut environment. This study tested the hypothesis that an attenuated Fnr mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (attST) or prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) could improve resistance to wild-type Salmonella via modifications to the structure of the chicken gut microbiome. Intestinal samples from a total of 273 animals were collected weekly for 9 weeks to evaluate the impact of attST or prebiotic supplementation on microbial species of the cecum, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. We next analyzed changes to the gut microbiome induced by challenging the animals with a wild-type Salmonella serovar 4,[5],12:r:− (Nal r ) strain and determined the clearance rate of the virulent strain in the treated and control groups. Both GOS and the attenuated Salmonella strain modified the gut microbiome but elicited alterations of different taxonomic groups. The attST produced significant increases of Alistipes and undefined Lactobacillus , while GOS increased Christensenellaceae and Lactobacillus reuteri . The microbiome structural changes induced by both treatments resulted in a faster clearance after a Salmonella challenge. IMPORTANCE With an average annual incidence of 13.1 cases/100,000 individuals, salmonellosis has been deemed a nationally notifiable condition in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Earlier studies demonstrated that Salmonella is transmitted by a subset of animals (supershedders). The supershedder phenotype can be induced by antibiotics, ascertaining an essential role for the gut microbiota in Salmonella transmission. Consequently, modulation of the gut microbiota and modification of the intestinal microenvironment could assist in preventing animal colonization by the pathogen. Our study demonstrated that a manipulation of the chicken gut microbiota by the administration of an attenuated Salmonella strain or prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) can promote resistance to Salmonella colonization via increases of beneficial microorganisms that translate into a less hospitable gut microenvironment.


Subject The implications of new regulations on fracking. Significance The Department of the Interior on March 20 unveiled the first comprehensive federal rule to cover hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') operations on federally-owned and Native American lands. The rule adjusts construction standards to protect water resources and requires companies to disclose the chemical content of fracking fluid, as well as to give advance public notice of fracking activity. Impacts The United States may provide the template for shale regulations in other parts of the world. Water scarcity will lead to additional public policy constraints on fracking. The California drought will imperil the viability of the Monterey shale basin for years to come.


Significance The FAA's proposed regulations will open up drone use in the United States to commercial exploitation. While in some respects less rigorous than they might have been, the draft regulations will initially limit drone use. This could leave the United States in a less advantageous position than operators elsewhere in the world to develop drone-based services. Impacts The potential market for these larger drones is put at over 89 billion dollars over the next ten years. Military sales will be 72 billion dollars in that period. End-use control on military exports will help Washington influence allied foreign policy.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document