Project description:Functionality of the accessory gene regulator (agr) quorum sensing system is an important switch promoting either acute or chronic infections, mediated by the notorious opportunistic human and veterinary pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Spontaneous alterations of the agr system are known to frequently occur in human healthcare-associated S. aureus lineages. However, data on agr integrity and function are sparse regarding other major lineages. Here we report on the agr system functionality and activity level in mecC-carrying methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) of various animal origins (n=33) in Europe together with closely related isolates of human patients (n=12). Whole genome analysis assigned all isolates to four clonal complexes (CC) with distinct agr types (CC599 agr I, CC49 agr II, CC130 agr III and CC1943 agr IV). Different levels of agr functionality were detected by use of different phenotype assays and proteomics for isolates of each CC, including completely non-functional variants. Genomic comparison of the agr I-IV encoding regions revealed that variants of AgrA and AgrC were associated with these phenotype changes, especially among the isolates of pet- and wild animal origin. Since a role in adaptation is most likely when genomic changes occur independently in divergent lineages, agr variation might foster viability and niche adjustment capacities of rare MRSA lineages.
Project description:Co-occurrence of benzylpenicillin-producing Trichophyton erinacei and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying the mecC gene on Europeaus erineaus (European hedgehog)
Project description:Since the discovery of filoviruses, comprised of Marburg and Ebola species, seemingly random, sporadic fatal outbreaks of disease in humans and non-human primates have evoked interest in delineation of host tropisms and potential reservoirs. We now describe identification of Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) by microarray, in domestic swine from the Philippines experiencing unusually severe outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory disease syndrome. While REBOV is the only member of Filoviridae that has not been associated with disease in humans, its emergence in the human food chain heightens concerns for public health, swine agriculture and international trade. REBOV isolates were found to be significantly more divergent from each other than from the original virus isolate from 1989, indicating polyphyletic origins in swine. This further suggests that REBOV has been circulating since, and possibly before, the initial discovery of REBOV in monkeys. These results identify swine as the first non-primate susceptible host for REBOV.
2009-07-10 | GSE15687 | GEO
Project description:First European report of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica in a domestic cat
Project description:understanding the biology of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is crucialto unlocking insights for new targets in the fight against this pathogen, there is howeverlimited reports of methadological approaches for carrying proteomic and metabolomic profiling in S.aureus. Therefore, we describe the use of a dual-functionality methanol extraction method for the concurrent extraction of protein and metabolites from S.aureus and reporton the comparative analysis of the proteomic and metabolomic profiles of MRSA versus methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). Using a reference strain from MRSA and MSSA, we first compared the MRSA proteome extracted using the methanol method to the one from the traditionally used urea method. Then using the methanol extraction method, we compared the proteome and metabolome of MRSA versus MSSA. Through this study, we demonstrated the effectivnessof the methanol-based-dual-extraction method, providing simultaneous insights into the proteomic and metabolomic landscapes of S.aureus strains, demonstrating the utility of proteomic and metabolomic profiling for elucidating the biological basis of antimicrobial resistance