Genotypic Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus in Pediatric Transplant Recipients From India.

Objective: To determine the rate of occurrence and genotypes of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) among pediatric renal and liver transplants recipients. Design: Observational study. Setting: Vision Research Foundation referral center and Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Chennai, India. Participants: 70 pediatric solid organ transplant recipients and 60 voluntary healthy donors. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection and genotyping of EBV were carried out using genes targeting Viral capsid antigen, Nuclear antigen 1, 2 and 3, followed by real time PCR for viral load determination and further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Results: EBV was detected in 35 (51.4%) samples (32 liver and 4 renal transplants) with high viral load. Type A was detected in 33 samples, Type B in 2 liver transplant patients, and co-infection in one liver transplant patient who developed Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD). Real time PCR results correlated with conventional PCR. The mean viral load for patients who did not develop PTLD was 50,424 copies/mL. Overall EBV load in patient with PTLD ranged from 1,40,392 copies/mL prior to PTLD diagnosis to 62,124 copies /mL post treatment. Conclusion: EBV infection is the high risk factor for PTLD after liver transplantation. PCR targeting of EBV can be applied to diagnose EBV infections and monitor treatment for EBV in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.

Draft genome sequence of blaVeb-1, blaoxa-10producing multi-drug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosastrain VRFPA09 recovered from bloodstream infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) bacteremia causes significant mortality rate due to emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections. We report the draft genome sequence of P. aeruginosa strain VRFPA09, a human bloodstream isolate, phenotypically proven as MDR strain. Whole genome sequencing on VRFPA09, deciphered betalactamase encoding bla_veb-1 and bla_OXA-10genes and multiple drug resistance, virulence factor encoding genes.

Application of PCR-based DNA sequencing technique for the detection of Leptospira in peripheral blood of septicemia patients

Aim: Isolation, dark field detection and microscopic agglutination test (MAT) are considered ―gold standard‖ tests for diagnosis of Leptospirosis. Several PCR assays are reported but very few have been evaluated for detection of Leptospirosis. Therefore, this study was undertaken. This study aims to design and standardize polymerase chain reaction (PCR) -based DNA sequencing technique for the detection of pathogenic Leptospira from peripheral blood of patients clinically diagnosed with septicemia. Methodology and Results: Two hundred and seven (207) blood samples from patients were diagnosed with septicemia which includes 100 bacterial (other than Leptospira) culture positive and 107 bacterial culture negative samples were studied. Primers for Nested PCR targeting LipL32 gene of Leptospira interrogans were designed and the specificity of primers was tested against serum samples positive/negative by either MAT or dark field microscopy. PCR amplified products were further confirmed by DNA sequencing. The standardized nPCR was sensitive and specific to Leptospira interrogans. Twenty-one (21%) out of 100 culture positive blood samples, three (2.8%) out of 107 culture negative samples showed nPCR positivity and were confirmed as Leptospira interrogans by DNA sequencing (p<0.001). A sensitive nPCR specific to Leptospira interrogans was developed. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The p value (<0.001) signifies that Leptospira is commonly associated with other bacteria circulating in blood indicating that a decreased immune status is created primarily by a bacterium with enhanced possibility of development of Leptospiral infection probably be of an endogenous origin.