Draft genome sequence of a dominant, multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain, TCDC-NG08107, from a sexual group at high risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus infection and syphilis.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection is the second major cause of sexually transmitted diseases worldwide. Development of resistance to multiple classes of antimicrobials in N. gonorrhoeae has compromised treatment and disease control. Herein, we report the availability of the draft genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae isolate, TCDC-NG08107, which spread in groups of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Taiwan.

A duplex PCR method to identify mosaic penA gene and predict reduced susceptibility to oral cephalosporins in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae with mosaic penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2) is associated with reduced susceptibility to third-generation oral cephalosporins. A simple and rapid PCR method using three primers was designed to identify mosaic PBP2, which could help predict reduced susceptibility to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins in N. gonorrhoeae.

Characteristics and dissemination of mosaic penicillin-binding protein 2-harboring multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates with reduced cephalosporin susceptibility in northern Taiwan.

Among 254 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in northern Taiwan, 69 isolates were found to contain the mosaic penA (MA) gene and were associated with elevated cefixime and ceftriaxone MICs. Most of these MA gene-harboring isolates were also resistant to penicillin (71.4%) and ciprofloxacin (100%) and were from men who have sex with men (MSM) or from bisexual men (81.2%). Three major sequence types (ST835, ST2180, and ST2253) constituted 55.7% of these isolates. The major sequence types harboring the mosaic penA gene may represent major sexual networks responsible for the emergence/introduction and the spread of the multidrug-resistant clones in Taiwan.

Molecular epidemiological identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae clonal clusters with distinct susceptibility profiles associated with specific groups at high risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis.

From April 2006 to August 2007, a total of 146 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates collected from 139 male patients in Taipei, Taiwan, were analyzed by N. gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The resistance rates of all isolates to ciprofloxacin, cefpodoxime, and cefixime were 76.7 (112/146), 21.2 (31/146), and 16.4% (24/146), respectively. NG-MAST identified 71 sequence types (STs), of which 21 STs contained 2 to 21 isolates. The isolates that belonged to the three major ST clusters typically were from patients who had specific epidemiological characteristics (such as sexual orientation and human immunodeficiency virus status). The major ST clones exhibited distinct resistance profiles and are associated with specific groups at high risk of human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis infections.

Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis by microsphere suspension array.

The identification of Chlamydia trachomatis genotypes is important for both the study of molecular epidemiology and infection control. We have developed a microsphere suspension array assay that can identify C. trachomatis genotypes rapidly and accurately and also discriminate among multiple genotypes in one clinical specimen.

Chlamydia pneumoniae respiratory infections in Taiwan.

To understand the epidemiology of Chlamydia pneumoniae acute infections in Taiwan, we collected 116 paired and 244 single sera from patients suspected of C. pneumoniae infection and conducted microimmunofluorescence test. Eighty-three patients (83/360, 23%) met the diagnostic criteria of current C. pneumoniae infection. The C. pneumoniae infections were significantly higher in men than in women (P< or =0.0001) and were most frequent in the group of 40-49 year-olds, and the people older than 70 years old. C. pneumoniae infection often occurred in the late autumn lasting to the cold winter and in the transition period between the spring and summer.

Molecular epidemiology of group A streptococcus causing scarlet fever in northern Taiwan, 2001-2002.

In this study, 830 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates collected between 2001 and 2002 from patients with scarlet fever in northern Taiwan were analyzed by M protein gene (emm) sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 21 emm types and 56 PFGE patterns were identified. The most frequent emm types were emm1 (29.2%), emm4 (24.1%), emm12 (19.0%), emm6 (15.8%), stIL103 (5.7%), and emm22 (1.9%). Antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined, and resistance to erythromycin (24.6%), clindamycin (2.0%), and chloramphenicol (1.3%) was detected. Five major emm types (emm4, emm12, emm1, emm22, and emm6) accounted for 95.6% of the erythromycin-resistant isolates. The decreased prevalence of erythromycin-resistant emm12 strains coincided with the overall decrease in erythromycin resistance from 32.1% in 2001 to 21.1% in 2002 in Taiwan. Five major clones (emm4/2000, emm12/0000, emm4/2010, emm1/1000, and emm22/8100) represented 72.1% of the erythromycin-resistant isolates. The survey of group A Streptococcus emm types, genetic diversity, and antibiotic resistance has direct relevance to current antimicrobial use policies and potential vaccine development strategies.

Surveillance of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae in Taiwan, 2002-2003.

A total of 522 Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive isolates from diverse sources were collected from January 2002 to December 2003 in Taiwan in order to understand the serotype distribution of invasive isolates in Taiwan. The most frequently isolated serotypes of S. pneumoniae were types 14 (18.4%), 23F (15.1%), 3 (13.8%), 19F (13.4%), 6B (8.2%), 9V (3.6%) and 4 (2.5%). The majority of cases were either under 5 years of age (24.1%) or older than 65 years (36.6%). Serotype distribution in adults aged over 14 years and children aged under 2 years was similar, except for that of type 3, which was more prevalent in adults. Penicillin-non-susceptible strains accounted for 67.7% of all strains and were the predominant strains of serotypes 23F, 19F, 6B and 14. Most strains were susceptible to cephem drug, 85.7% of isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime and 92.9% were susceptible to ceftriaxone. A total of 72.6% (379/522) of the isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics. The 23-valent vaccine in the current commercial market would cover 87.2% of the serotypes and 100% of the penicillin-non-susceptible serotypes of S. pneumoniae in Taiwan. The coverage of 7- and 11-valent protein conjugate vaccines of the serotypes in children under 2 years of age would be 78.8 and 86.5%, respectively. These results will help to assess the adequacy of the vaccine formulations marketed in Taiwan.

Characterization of the Soj/Spo0J chromosome segregation proteins and identification of putative parS sequences in Helicobacter pylori.

The Soj and Spo0J proteins, together with one or more parS sequences, are crucial to chromosome segregation and the progression of cell cycle in many bacteria. In Helicobacter pylori, genes coding for Soj and a plasmid replication-partition-related protein containing a Spo0J or ParB conserved domain, together with two putative parS sites identified in this study, were found to be located within the origin-proximal 20-30% of the circular chromosome. Recombinant H. pylori Spo0J bound specifically to the two putative parS sequences and that of Bacillus subtilis. In addition, hydrolysis of ATP by H. pylori Soj was accelerated in the presence of parS and/or Spo0J. Protein-protein interactions, intracellular levels, and subcellular localization of Soj and Spo0J were analyzed through polyclonal antibodies directed against recombinant Soj and Spo0J. This study was the first implication of the existence of a functional parABS system in H. pylori.