Genome analysis of Lachnoclostridium phocaeense isolated from a patient after kidney transplantation in Marseille.

Lachnoclostridium phocaeense is a new species in the genus Lachnoclostridium. Lachnoclostridium phocaeense is a Gram-positive anaerobic rod. This strain, Marseille-P3177T (CSUR = P3177) with the below described genome was isolated from the urine sample of a women after kidney transplantation. The strain genome is 3 500 754 bp long with 50.62% G + C content and consists of a single contig (GenBank accession number NZ_LT635479.1).

Luxibacter massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from the human gut microbiota.

An anaerobic facultative Gram-stain positive bacterium was isolated from human gut microbiota. Strain Marseille-P5551T was considered to be a new genus within the phylum Firmicutes, as it exhibits a 91.87% similarity level with Faecalicatena orotica (NR_117129.1), the phylogenetically closest related species. The draft genome size of strain Marseille-P5551T is 4 142 938 bp with 44.4% of G + C content. We hereby suggest the creation of Luxibacter massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., as a new bacterial genus.

Evaluating the serological status of COVID-19 patients using an indirect immunofluorescent assay, France.

An indirect in-house immunofluorescent assay was developed in order to assess the serological status of COVID-19 patients in Marseille, France. Performance of IFA was compared to a commercial ELISA IgG kit. We tested 888 RT-qPCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients (1302 serum samples) and 350 controls including 200 sera collected before the pandemic, 64 sera known to be associated with nonspecific serological interference, 36 sera from non-coronavirus pneumonia and 50 sera from patient with other common coronavirus to elicit false-positive serology. Incorporating an inactivated clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolate as the antigen, the specificity of the assay was measured as 100% for IgA titre ≥ 1:200, 98.6% for IgM titre ≥ 1:200 and 96.3% for IgG titre ≥ 1:100 after testing a series of negative controls. IFA presented substantial agreement (86%) with ELISA EUROIMMUN SARS-CoV-2 IgG kit (Cohen's Kappa = 0.61). The presence of antibodies was then measured at 3% before a 5-day evolution up to 47% after more than 15 days of evolution. We observed that the rates of seropositivity as well as the titre of specific antibodies were both significantly higher in patients with a poor clinical outcome than in patients with a favourable evolution. These data, which have to be integrated into the ongoing understanding of the immunological phase of the infection, suggest that detection anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies is useful as a marker associated with COVID-19 severity. The IFA assay reported here is useful for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 exposure at the individual and population levels.

Description of Gracilibacillus phocaeensis sp. nov., a new halophilic bacterium isolated from Senegalian human stool.

Using the taxonogenomics method, we describe Gracilibacillus phocaeensis strain Marseille-P3801, a new species previously isolated from a salty stool of a 20-year-old man from N'Diop, Senegal. It is a Gram-positive, aerobic and motile bacillus. The major fatty acids are C15:0-anteiso (59%), C16:0 (16%) and C17:0-anteiso (11%). Strain Marseille-P3801 exhibits a 98.45% sequence similarity with Gracilibacillus thailandensis strain TP2-8, the phylogenetically closest species. Its genome is 4.66 Mb with 39.6 mol% G + C content.

Clinical efficacy of chloroquine derivatives in COVID-19 infection: comparative meta-analysis between the big data and the real world.

In the context of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we conducted a meta-analysis on the effects of chloroquine derivatives in patients, based on unpublished and published reports available publicly on the internet as of 27 May 2020. The keywords 'hydroxychloroquine', 'chloroquine', 'coronavirus', 'COVID-19' and 'SARS-Cov-2' were used in the PubMed, Google Scholar and Google search engines without any restrictions as to date or language. Twenty studies were identified involving 105 040 patients (19 270 treated patients) from nine countries (Brazil, China, France, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain and the USA). Big data observational studies were associated with conflict of interest, lack of treatment dosage and duration, and absence of favourable outcome. Clinical studies were associated with favourable outcomes and details on therapy. Among clinical studies, three of four randomized controlled trials reported a significant favourable effect. Among clinical studies, a significant favourable summary effect was observed for duration of cough (OR 0.19, p 0.00003), duration of fever (OR 0.11, p 0.039), clinical cure (OR 0.21, p 0.0495), death (OR 0.32, p 4.1 × 10-6) and viral shedding (OR 0.43, p 0.031). A trend for a favourable effect was noted for the outcome 'death and/or intensive care unit transfer' (OR 0.29, p 0.069) with a point estimate remarkably similar to that observed for death (∼0.3). In conclusion, a meta-analysis of publicly available clinical reports demonstrates that chloroquine derivatives are effective to improve clinical and virological outcomes, but, more importantly, they reduce mortality by a factor of 3 in patients with COVID-19. Big data are lacking basic treatment definitions and are linked to conflict of interest. The retraction of the only big data study associated with a significantly deleterious effect the day after (June 5, 2020) the acceptance of the present work (June 4, 2020) confirms the relevance of this work.

Hepatitis A outbreak in HIV-infected patients in Southeastern France: questions and responses?

During the 2017 European hepatitis A (HA) outbreak we assessed HA incidence in our cohort of 2300 HIV-infected patients, implemented preventive measures and evaluated practices and knowledge on sexually transmitted diseases (STD). HA incidence was assessed between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017 and included all symptomatic patients with virologically confirmed HA. Preventive measures consisted in identifying at risk and not immunised patients to propose them a free HAV vaccination, and an anonymous survey related to transmission routes of STD and to sexual behaviours. Twenty HA were diagnosed. All were homosexual men recently diagnosed with HIV and another STD. None were vaccinated against hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hospitalisation was required for 52%. We identified 250 patients at risk to acquire HAV and invited them to a free immunisation program. A total of 110 (44%) were vaccinated, of whom 74 responded to our survey. A majority of them (84%) reported recent active anal and oral sexuality with multiple (52%) male partners (81%), and ChemSex consumption (14%). Internet was the meeting link for 58%. Another STD history was found in 69%. One third of these individuals had no idea about STD transmission modes. This HA outbreak pointed the insufficient vaccine coverage against HAV and knowledge on STD, which may be improved by Internet.

Bacterial culture through selective and non-selective conditions: the evolution of culture media in clinical microbiology.

Microbiology has been largely developed thanks to the discovery and optimization of culture media. The first liquid artificial culture medium was created by Louis Pasteur in 1860. Previously, bacterial growth on daily materials such as some foods had been observed. These observations highlighted the importance of the bacteria's natural environment and their nutritional needs in the development of culture media for their isolation. A culture medium is essentially composed of basic elements (water, nutrients), to which must be added different growth factors that will be specific to each bacterium and necessary for their growth. The evolution of bacterial culture through the media used for their culture began with the development of the first solid culture medium by Koch, allowing not only the production of bacterial colonies, but also the possibility of purifying a bacterial clone. The main gelling agent used in solid culture media is agar. However, some limits have been observed in the use of agar because of some extremely oxygen-sensitive bacteria that do not grow on agar media, and other alternatives were proposed and tested. Then, the discovery of antimicrobial agents and their specific targets prompted the emergence of selective media. These inhibiting agents make it possible to eliminate undesirable bacteria from the microbiota and select the bacteria desired. Thanks to a better knowledge of the bacterial environment, it will be possible to develop new culture media and new culture conditions, better adapted to certain fastidious bacteria that are difficult to isolate.

Taxono-genomics and description of Haloimpatiens massiliensis sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from the gut of a healthy infant.

A polyphasic taxono-genomic strategy was used to describe a new bacterium, strain Marseille-P1935; isolated from the gut of a healthy infant. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that the isolate belongs to the genus Haloimpatiens in the family Clostridiaceae. Phenotypic analysis and whole-genome sequence analyses confirm the status of the new species. We propose the creation of the new species Haloimpatiens massiliensis strain Marseille-P1935T (= CSURP1935T; = DSM100591T).

The University Hospital Institute Mediterrannée Infection from Marseille to Dakar.

In Senegal, we have developed technology-driven research based on observation and technology transfer especially in molecular biology, genomics, culturomics, and proteomics with the use of the first Maldi-TOF mass spectrometer in clinical microbiology in Africa. This strategy is associated with a policy of training students from the South and helping them to return back. This technology transfer and expertise has enabled us to explore the causes of non-malarial fevers of unknown causes, with the study of the repertoire of infectious pathogens in humans and arthropod vectors, to diagnose infectious diseases in rural areas with Point of Care laboratories, to isolate new bacteria, and to study pathologies linked to mass gatherings. They have also allowed us to develop transdisciplinary research including the study of the microbiota in malnourished children. We wish to continue this technological development, which provides the foundation for high-level research in Senegal.

Study of Human Gastrointestinal Microbiota by Culturomics in Africa.

The interest in studying gut microbiota has been rekindled with the advent of molecular techniques, in particular, metagenomics. Culturomics (high throughput microbial culture with identification of the colonies by Maldi-TOF) has demonstrated its complementarity with metagenomics for comprehensive study of the microbiota. The main metagenomic studies have revealed an increase in biodiversity, with in particular an increase of Spirochaetes and Prevotella in subjects of African origin compared with Western subjects. Studies on malnutrition have shown a reduction of all bacteria and in particular of anaerobic bacteria and methanogenic archaea. Of the 1,162 bacteria isolated by culturomics studies, 476 were isolated only from non-African samples, 445 were isolated in African and non-African groups, and 241 bacteria were isolated from samples of African origin including 68 new species. Further studies of African microbiota by culturomics and metagenomics will make it possible to assess whether some bacteria have particular specificities and if these might play a role in certain pathologies such as malnutrition.

Neoactinobaculum massilliense gen. nov., a new genesis and Pseudopropionibacterium massiliense sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from the human oral microbiota.

Neoactinobaculum massilliense gen. nov., strain Marseille-P6182T (= CSUR P6182) and Pseudopropionibacterium massiliense sp. nov., strain Marseille-P6184T (= CSUR P6184) are a new bacterial genus and new bacterial species belonging to the Actinobacteria phylum that have been isolated from the human oral microbiota.

Corynebacterium pacaense sp. nov., Alistipes megaguti sp. nov., Alistipes provencensis sp. nov., 3 new bacteria isolated from fresh human stool specimens.

Here we describe the basic characteristics of Corynebacterium pacaense strain Marseille-P2417T (= CSUR P2417), Alistipes megaguti strain Marseille-P5997T (= CSUR P5997) and Alistipes provencensis strain Marseille-P2431T (= CSUR P2431 = DSM 102308). The phenotypic criteria, the 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS spectra analysis were used to identify and characterize these new bacteria species, which were isolated from fresh human stool specimens.

Vaginisenegalia massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from the vagina flora and its taxono-genomic description.

Strain Marseille-P5643T was isolated from a vaginal sample of a healthy Senegalese woman. It is an anaerobic Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. Strain Marseille-P5643T exhibits 93.7% similarity levels with the Facklamia hominis strain ATCC 700628T, the phylogenetically closest related species with standing in nomenclature. The draft genome size of strain Marseille-P5643T is 1.79 Mb with 39.0 mol% of G+C content. We propose here the creation of Vaginisenegalia massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., as a new bacterial genus from the phylum Firmicutes.

Brachybacterium massiliense sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from stool from a healthy Senegalese child.

Based on our phenotypic and genotypic analyses, Brachybacterium massiliense strain Marseille-P2240T (= CSURP2240; = DSM 101766) is a new species isolated from stool of a healthy subject. The strain was stained Gram-positive. It was aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Its optimal growth occurs at 37°C in aerobic condition. The 16S ribosomal RNA sequence analysis revealed that strain Marseille-P2240T shown 98.18% similarity with Brachybacterium saurashtrense strain JG 06, the more closely related species with standing in nomenclature.

Arcanobacterium ihumii sp. nov., Varibaculum vaginae sp. nov. and Tessaracoccus timonensis sp. nov., isolated from vaginal swabs from healthy Senegalese women.

Culturomics studies the microbial variety of the human microbiome by combining diversified culture conditions, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene identification. This study identifies three putative new bacterial species: Arcanobacterium ihumii sp. nov. strain Marseille-P5647T, Varibaculum vaginae sp. nov. strain Marseille-P5644T and Tessaracoccus timonensis sp. nov. strain Marseille-P5995T, which we describe according to the concept of taxonogenomics.

Corynebacterium senegalense sp. nov. and Arthrobacter senegalensis sp. nov., two new Actinobacteria isolated from skin swab from the palm of hand.

Corynebacterium senegalense strain Marseille-P4329T (= CSURP4329) and Arthrobacter senegalensis strain Marseille-P4329T (= CSURP4198) are new species first isolated from human skin. A culturomics approach and taxonogenomics methods were used for these new bacterial species.

Lysinibacillus timonensis sp. nov., Microbacterium timonense sp. nov., and Erwinia mediterraneensis sp. nov., three new species isolated from the human skin.

Lysinibacillus timonensis strain Marseille-P5727T (=CSURP5727), Microbacterium timonense strain Marseille-P5731T (=CSURP5731) and Erwinia mediterraneensis strain Marseille-P5165T (=CSURP5165) are three new species isolated from the human skin.