Plasmid-Mediated Sulfamethoxazole Resistance Encoded by the sul2 Gene in the Multidrug-Resistant Shigella flexneri 2a Isolated from Patients with Acute Diarrhea in Dhaka,Bangladesh

In this study, mechanisms of plasmid-mediated sulfamethoxazole resistances in the clinical strains of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri 2a were elucidated for the first time in Bangladesh. From 2006 to 2011, a total of 200 S. flexneri 2a strains were randomly selected from the stock of the Enteric and Food Microbiology Laboratory of icddr,b. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains showed 73%, 98%, 93%, 58%, 98%, 64% and 4% resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone respectively. Plasmid profiling revealed heterogeneous patterns and interestingly, all the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistant (SXT^R) strains yielded a distinct 4.3 MDa plasmid compared to that of the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole susceptible (SXT^S) strains. Curing of this 4.3 MDa plasmid resulted in the susceptibility to sulfamethoxazole alone suggesting the involvement of this plasmid in the resistance of sulfamethoxazole. Moreover, PCR analysis showed the presence of sul2 gene in SXT^R strains which is absent in SXT^S strains as well as in the 4.3 MDa plasmid-cured derivatives, confirming the involvement of sul2 in the resistance of sulfamethoxazole. Furthermore, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis revealed that both the SXT^R and SXT^S strains were clonal. This study will significantly contributes to the knowledge on acquired drug resistance of the mostly prevalent S. flexneri 2a and further warrants continuous monitoring of the prevalence and correlation of this resistance determinants amongst the clinical isolates of Shigella and other enteric pathogens around the world to provide effective clinical management of the disease.     

痢疾杆菌酸抗性系统相关基因缺失突变体的构建

依赖于谷氨酸脱羧酶的酸抗性系统对痢疾杆菌在宿主细胞内的生存和繁殖至关重要,hdeA、hdeB、yhiE和yhiF是其中几个重要的酸抗性基因。借助Red系统的重组功能,PCR扩增两翼与目的基因上下游同源的抗性基因片段,电击转化痢疾杆菌2457T,对筛选到的阳性转化子再导入编码FLP位点特异性重组酶的质粒pCP20以去除抗性基因。结果成功的敲除了hdeA、hdeB、yhiE和yhiF等4个酸抗性系统相关基因,为深入研究痢疾杆菌酸抗性基因的调控网络奠定了基础.     

Antimicrobial Resistance of Shigella flexneri Serotype 1b Isolates in China

Shigella flexneri serotype 1b is among the most prominent serotypes in developing countries, followed by serotype 2a. However, only limited data is available on the global phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of S. flexneri 1b. In the present study, 40 S. flexneri 1b isolates from different regions of China were confirmed by serotyping and biochemical characterization. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that 85% of these isolates were multidrug-resistant strains and antibiotic susceptibility profiles varied between geographical locations. Strains from Yunnan were far more resistant than those from Xinjiang, while only one strain from Shanghai was resistant to ceftazidime and aztreonam. Fifteen cephalosporin resistant isolates were identified in this study. ESBL genes (bla _SHV, bla _TEM, bla _OXA, and bla _CTX-M) and ampC genes (bla _MOX, bla _FOX, bla _MIR(ACT-1), bla _DHA, bla _CIT and bla _ACC) were subsequently detected among the 15 isolates. The results showed that these strains were positive only for bla _TEM, bla _OXA, bla _CTX-M, intI1, and intI2. Furthermore, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis showed that the 40 isolates formed different profiles, and the PFGE patterns of Xinjiang isolates were distinct from Yunnan and Shanghai isolates by one obvious, large, missing band. In summary, similarities in resistance patterns were observed in strains with the same PFGE pattern. Overall, the results supported the need for more prudent selection and use of antibiotics in China. We suggest that antibiotic susceptibility testing should be performed at the start of an outbreak, and antibiotic use should be restricted to severe Shigella cases, based on resistance pattern variations observed in different regions. The data obtained in the current study might help to develop a strategy for the treatment of infections caused by S. flexneri 1b in China.     

Analysis of Different Prognostic Indicators for Malnutrition and Shigella flexneri Infection Among the Children in Bangladesh

The present study investigates into some socio-economic, demographic, and nutritional features that can predispose Bangladeshi children to malnutrition and Shigella flexneri infection. Significant prognostic indicators associated with malnutrition were mother’s illiteracy (unadjusted odds ratio, OR = 2.580; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.134–5.867 and adjusted odds ratio, ORa, 3.814; 95% CI = 1.124–12.943), low birth weight (OR = 3.143; 95% CI = 1.2–8.232 and ORa = 2.404; 95% CI = 0.870–6.644) and poor socioeconomic status (OR = 2.549; 95% CI = 1.382–4.701 and ORa = 1.808; 95% CI = 0.852–3.838). Age was the strongest predictor for the acquisition of S. flexneri infection in the studied population (OR = 5.472; 95% CI = 2.583–11.592 and ORa = 5.808; 95% CI = 2.420–13.942). The severity of malnutrition was significantly (P = 0.033) related to seroprevalence of S. flexneri infection. To reduce malnutrition emphasis should be given on controlling the incidence of low birth weight, improving the literacy status especially of mothers and narrowing the gap between different socio-economic levels. Malnourished children should be examined for severity and direct intervention therapy should be given when necessary.     

Acid tolerance of Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri

AIMS: Determination of the behaviour of Shigella sonnei and Sh. flexneri under acid conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The growth and survival of Shigella spp. (9 isolates) in acidified Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) (pH 5.0-3.25 with pH intervals of 0.25) was determined after 6, 24 and 30 h incubation at 37 degrees C. Subsequently, survival of shigellae was studied in apple juice and tomato juice stored at 7 degrees C and 22 degrees C for up to 14 days and in strawberries and a fresh fruit salad, kept at 4 degrees C for 4 and 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: The minimum pH for growth in acidified BHI for Sh. flexneri and Sh. sonnei was, respectively, pH 4.75 and pH 4.50. Survival in fruit juices and fresh fruits depended upon their pH, the type of strain and the incubation temperature. Shigella spp. Survived for up to 14 days in tomato juice and apple juice stored at 7 degrees C. The shortest survival time (2-8 d) was observed in apple juice at 22 degrees C. Sh. sonnei but not Sh. flexneri was recovered after 48 h from strawberries and fruit salad kept at 4 degrees C. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Acid foods, especially if kept at refrigeration temperatures, support survival of Shigella spp. and may cause Shigella food poisoning.     

Complete genome sequence of Shigella flexneri 5b and comparison with Shigella flexneri 2a

Background

On most common microarray platforms many genes are represented by multiple probes. Although this is quite common no one has systematically explored the concordance between probes mapped to the same gene.

Results

Here we present an analysis of all the cases of multiple probe sets measuring the same gene on the Affymetrix U133a GeneChip and found that although in the majority of cases both measurements tend to agree there are a significant number of cases in which the two measurements differ from each other. In these cases the measurements can not be simply averaged but rather should be handled individually.

Conclusion

Our analysis allows us to provide a comprehensive list of the correlation between all pairs of probe sets that are mapped to the same gene and thus allows microarray users to sort out the cases that deserve further analysis. Comparison between the set of highly correlated pairs and the set of pairs that tend to differ from each other reveals potential factors that may affect it.     

Chemoprophylaxis of Shigella flexneri Keratoconjunctivitis in Rabbits

Chloramphenicol, chlortetracycline, streptomycin, and sulfisoxazole prevented keratoconjunctivitis in rabbit eyes infected with Shigella flexneri. The route of administration of the agent and the dose were important variables in controlling the infectious process. This assay system appears to be a useful technique for the in vivo evaluation of chemotherapeutic agents.     

The pho regulon of Shigella flexneri

Growth of Escherichia coli K-12 in low-phosphate conditions results in the induction of the synthesis of many proteins, including the outer membrane porin PhoE, alkaline phosphatase, and the Pst system for the transport of phosphate (P_i). This response is controlled by a two-component regulatory system of which PhoB and PhoR are the response-regulator and the sensor/kinase, respectively. When Shigella flexneri was starved for P_i, neither PhoE nor alkaline phosphatase was produced. However, induction of the synthesis of the PstS protein was observed, indicating that S. flexneri contains a functional PhoB/PhoR regulatory system. Consistent with this notion, the introduction of the B. coli phoA gene in S. flexneri resulted in the induction of alkaline phosphatase synthesis under phosphate limitation. However, introduction of phoE on a plasmid did not lead to the expression of PhoE protein, indicating that S. flexneri PhoB does not recognize the phoE promoter region. The phoB gene was cloned and sequenced and in the deduced amino acid sequence two deviations from that of E. coli PhoB were detected. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that one of these deviations, i.e. Leu-172, which is Arg in E. coli PhoB, is responsible for the lack of expression of the PhoE protein in S. flexneri.     

Formation of Polyisoprenol Phosphate Glucose in Shigella flexneri

Lipid-linked glucose is formed from uridine diphosphate-glucose and ficaprenol phosphate only in strains of Shigella flexneri with glucosylated O antigen.     

弗氏2a志贺菌htrA基因突变体的构建

目的:构建弗氏2a志贺菌2457T的htrA基因缺失突变株及HtrA酶失活突变株,以便进一步研究HtrA蛋白的功能。方法:用PCR扩增htrA基因上下游同源臂,构建含有kan基因的打靶片段,采用λ-Red重组系统对htrA基因进行缺失,用PCR进行验证;通过定点突变的方法构建HtrA酶失活突变株,并测序验证。结果与结论:构建了2457T htrA缺失突变株和2457T/htrAFSA酶失活突变株。