Recent Increase in the Incidence of TEM-135 β-Lactamase-harboring Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Korea

BACKGROUND: We investigated the molecular epidemiological characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG) isolates to monitor the change in distribution of bla(TEM) in Korea. METHODS: We collected 804 PPNG isolates from diverse hospitals and clinics mainly located in Seoul, Korea, over a period of 11 years (2005–2015). Isolate susceptibility to seven antimicrobials was determined using the agar dilution test. The molecular epidemiological characteristics of the isolates were determined by Sanger sequencing of bla(TEM), N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) and plasmid typing. RESULTS: Among 72 fully sequenced PPNG isolates, sixteen (22.2%) possessed TEM-135. All TEM-135 isolates had a common silent mutation (c.18C>T), which was previously unreported. We observed a pattern of continuous increase in the number of TEM-135 isolates since 2012. The median and 90% minimum inhibitory concentration of azithromycin were substantially lower in the TEM-135 group than in the non-PPNG and TEM-1 groups. All TEM-135 isolates showed different NG-MAST types and predominantly harbored Toronto/Rio (75%) plasmids. A comprehensive comparative analysis of PPNG with TEM-135 according to NG-MAST, plasmid type, and year of isolation revealed a wide distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of TEM-135 PPNG has continuously increased since 2012, in association with clonal spread. The difference at position 18 of the TEM-135 sequence can be interpreted as the existence of multiple clonal complexes. The possibility that TEM-135 was acquired via foreign plasmids requires careful follow-up and continuous monitoring of TEM-135 to ascertain whether it constitutes a step towards evolutionary change.

Prevalence of blaZ Gene and Performance of Phenotypic Tests to Detect Penicillinase in Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Japan

Guidelines recommend that clinical laboratories perform phenotypic tests (nitrocefin-based test and penicillin 10-U [P10] or 1-U [P1] zone edge tests) to detect penicillinase in Staphylococcus aureus isolates. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of blaZ encoding penicillinase and perform various phenotypic tests in S. aureus isolates from Japan. We prospectively collected 200 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates from June 2015 to January 2016 and performed six phenotypic tests (nitrocefin-based test, P10 zone edge test/P10 diffusion test, penicillin 2-U [P2] zone edge test/P2 diffusion test, and cloverleaf test) on each sample. We confirmed the presence of blaZ (two blaZ-positive isolates) using PCR. Using blaZ PCR as a standard, we observed a low sensitivity (50%) and positive predictive value (PPV, 50%) of the nitrocefin-based test, low PPV (18.2%) of the P10 zone edge test, low sensitivity (50%) of the P10 diffusion test, low PPV (50% and 22.2%) of the P2 zone edge test and P2 diffusion test, respectively, and low sensitivity (50%) of the cloverleaf test. These data suggest a low performance (sensitivity and PPV) of these six phenotypic tests because of the low prevalence (1%) of blaZ in S. aureus isolates from Japan.

Rising trend of antimicrobial resistance among Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and the emergence of N. gonorrhoeae isolate with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone.

Context: Gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in developing countries and is a global health problem. Aims: To analyze the trend of antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates over the years, in a tertiary care hospital of North India. Settings and Design: The study population comprised males with urethritis and females with endocervicitis attending STI clinic of our hospital. Materials and Methods: In our STI laboratory, all gonococcal isolates are subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines. ß-lactamase production is determined by chromogenic cephalosporin test. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for ceftriaxone is determined by E-test. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were expressed as percentages. The differences in percentages were tested for statistical signifi cance by using χ2 test and P values were determined. Results: The percentage of penicillinase producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) increased from 8% in 1995-96 to 20% in 2004-05 and 88% in 2011-2013. Quinolone-resistant N. gonorrhoeae (QRNG) showed a signifi cant increase from 12% in 1995-96 to 98.3% in 2004-05, while 84% isolates were found to be QRNG by 2011-2013. In January 2013 we detected our fi rst gonococcal isolate with decreased susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins; Ceftriaxone, Cefi xime and Cefpodoxime (MIC for ceftriaxone = 0.19 μg/ml). Conclusions: The results of our study highlighted an alarming increase in the percentage of PPNG and QRNG strains over the years. Emergence of N. gonorrhoeae isolates with decreased susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins is a cause of concern and thus emphasises the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Metalo-ß-lactamasas en aislamientos clínicos de pseudomonas aeruginosa en Lima, Perú / Metalo-ß-lactamases in clinical isolates of pseudomonas aeruginosa in Lima, Peru

Con el objetivo de detectar y caracterizar molecularmente las metalo-ß-lactamasas (MßL) en aislamientos clínicos de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, se realizó un estudio trasversal en seis hospitales de referencia de Lima (Perú) en agosto de 2011. Se evaluó 51 aislamientos de P. aeruginosa, resistentes a ceftazidima y con sensibilidad reducida a carbapenémicos. El ensayo fenotípico se realizó con el método de aproximación de discos con sustratos (ceftazidima, imipenem y meropenem) y con ácido etilendiaminotetraacético (EDTA). La detección de genes MßL se realizó mediante la técnica de reacción en cadena de polimerasa multiplex. A través del método fenotípico se detectaron MßL en el 15,7% de los aislamientos, en todos ellos la detección de genes mostró la presencia del gen blaIMP. La descripción del primer reporte de MßL en aislamientos de P. aeruginosa en el Perú debería alertar a los equipos de vigilancia epidemiológica intrahospitalaria para promover su control y prevenir su diseminación.

The aim of this study was to detect and characterize molecularly metallo-ß-lactamase (MßL) in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We carry out a cross sectional study in six publics hospital in Lima on August 2011. 51 isolates of P. aeruginosa resistant to ceftazidime and reduced susceptibility to carbapenemes were evaluated.The phenotypic assay was performed using the approximation method with substrate disks (ceftazidime, imipenem and meropenem) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). MßL gene detection was performed using the technique of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplex. Through MßL detected phenotypic method in 15.7% of isolates. Detection of genes revealed the presence of the gene in the 8 isolates blaIMP. The first report of MßL in P. aeruginosa in Peru was described, this should alert the monitoring equipment in the institutions to promote control their spread.

High-Level Expression of Penicillinase Gene in Bacillus Subtilis / 中国生物工程杂志

To obtain a number of extracellular penicillinase,the gene(penp)encoding penicillinse of Bacillus cereus ATCC10987 was cloned into expression vector in Bacillus subtilis,transformed into Bacillus subtilis DB104 deficient in two proteases.When recombinant bacteria was cultured in LB medium for 24 hours,the result of SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weight of the protein was 28kDa and the penicillinase activity reached 339U/ml.By screening seven different fermentation media,the result showed that 4# medium is favorable to producing penicillinase by the recombinant cells than the others,with the yield of the enzyme being 1580U/ml.When the recombinant cells was cultured in 7 liter fermentor for 24h,the penicillinase activity reached 1255.8U/ml.

Figures of penicillinase - producing neisseria gonorrhoeae at the Institute of Dermato-venereology, Hanoi, from 1992 to 2001

From 1992 to 2001, penicillin resistance of betalactamase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae was supervised by Institute of Dermato-Venereology. Results: the rate of penicillin-resistant gonococcal strains was highest in1995 (about 76%), and in 1996 (73.11%), especially in 3 years (1999-2001) this rate decreased significantly: 51.3%, 47.10%, and 35.54%, respectively

Study on Heterologous Expression of Penicillinase Gene and the Penicillinase Degrading Residual Penicillin in Milk / 微生物学通报

To obtain a number of penicillinases and degrade penicillin in milk by using the penicillinases,the gene encoding penicillinase was amplified by PCR from Bacillus cereus ATCC10987,cloned into pET28a(+) ,transformed into E. coli BL21;analysis of SDS-PAGE and penicillinase activity of the recombinant protein were done under induction of IPTG and the result showed that the maximum penicillinase activity reached 480 U/mL;the purity of penicillinase purified by Ni2+ Purification System was more than 90%;the immobilized penicillinases were obtained by sodium periodate method and the residual quantity of penicillin in milk(containing 0.5 U penicillin G/mL) was less than 4 ppb after degraded by the immobilized penicillinase.

Stick enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the avidin–biotin system for detection of circulating antigen in bancroftian filariasis.

Detection of filarial antigen in different groups of sera was carried out by sandwich as well as inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using antibody-coated sticks. Both systems were found to be equally sensitive in detecting antigen in 90% of microfilariae carriers. Incorporation of avidin-biotin in the sandwich assay system increased the sensitivity of antigen detection from 10–6 to 10–16 pg. A 67% decrease in the number of false negative results was observed when the sensitive avidin-biotin inhibition enzymelinked immunosorbent assay system was used for analysis of filaria blood samples.