铜绿假单胞菌氨基糖苷16SrRNA甲基化酶基因分析

目的调查215株湖州地区临床分离铜绿假单胞菌对氨基糖苷类抗生素的耐药性和16S rRNA甲基化酶基因分布情况。方法收集2011年1月至2012年12月湖州地区临床分离铜绿假单胞菌215株,琼脂稀释法测定5种氨基糖苷类抗菌药物（庆大霉素、阿米卡星、妥布霉素、伊帕米星、奈替米星）的MIC值;PCR检测armA、rmtA、rmtB、rmtC、rmtD和npmA六种氨基糖苷类16S rRN甲基化酶基因,序列分析明确基因型。测定产16S rRNA甲基化酶菌株对常见抗菌的敏感性,并检测碳青霉烯耐药株产碳青霉烯酶情况。结果铜绿假单胞菌对异帕米星敏感率最高为81.4%,对5种氨基糖苷类抗生素全部耐药的22株菌株中,17株检出armA基因;未发现其他16S rRNA甲基化酶基因阳性菌株。17株armA阳性菌株对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药5株（耐药率为29.4%）,对头孢他啶、头孢吡肟、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、环丙沙星耐药率均超过40%。5株碳青霉烯耐药菌株中检测到2株产VIM-2型金属碳青霉烯酶。结论铜绿假单胞菌对氨基糖苷类抗生素耐药率高,检测到16S rRNA甲基化酶基因armA。产16S rRNA甲基化酶铜绿假单胞菌耐药性强,部分菌株同时产金属碳青霉烯酶,给临床抗感染治疗及院内感染控制带来挑战。     

耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌相关耐药基因的检测

目的对耐亚胺培南（IMP）的铜绿假单胞菌（IRPa）相关耐药基因进行检测。方法 2003年至2009年从临床标本中分离到（P.aeruginosa）共220株,采用三维试验筛选产β-内酰胺酶的铜绿假单胞菌,应用普通PCR和多重PCR分别检测碳青霉烯酶基因和质粒携带的C类头孢菌素酶（AmpC酶）耐药基因,应用荧光定量RT-PCR的方法检测oprD2基因的表达情况。结果共检出43株产β-内酰胺酶的菌株,其中产AmpC酶、超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）、金属β-内酰胺酶（MBLs）和未知酶菌株的构成比分别58.14%（25/43）、18.60%（8/43）、4.65%（2/43）和16.28%（7/43）。74株耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌中,有2株菌携带IMP-9基因,1株菌携带DHA质粒型AmpC酶基因,其他碳青霉烯酶基因检测为阴性。40株菌株oprD2基因表达蛋白量降低,34株oprD2基因表达蛋白量正常。结论 oprD2基因的突变或蛋白表达量降低是IRPa对亚胺培南耐药的主要原因,AmpC酶可水解亚胺培南可能与铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南的耐药有一定的关系,而KPC-1酶和MBLs在铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南耐药机制中不是主要因素。     

耐碳青霉烯类铜绿假单胞菌金属β-内酰胺酶和基因捕获元件基因检测及同源性分析

目的了解大连地区分离的耐碳青霉烯类铜绿假单胞菌的金属β-内酰胺酶、整合子I和ISCR1的分布情况,并分析其基因多态性特征。方法收集临床分离的89株耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌,PCR检测金属酶、整合子I、ISCR1耐药基因。脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)进行细菌基因分型。结果 89株亚胺培南耐药的铜绿假单胞菌中,ISCR1基因阳性菌25株(25/89,28%),其中84%(21/25)为多重耐药,5类及以上药物耐药的菌株占64%(16/25),金属酶基因阳性为11株(11/89,12%),其中有8株携带IMP-1基因,3株携带VIM-2,整合子I基因阳性43株(43/89,48%)。但携带金属酶的菌株整合子I、ISCR1基因扩增均为阴性;PFGE分型结果显示:89株耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌分为15个基因型(A~O),其中A型46株、B型16株、C型4株、D型5株、E型4株、F型3株、G型2株、H型2株,I型~O型各有1株。基因型集中的A型~G型,各型中的菌株来源于不同医院,呈多态性,每群均存在克隆株。结论基因捕获元件整合子I基因及ISCR1广泛分布在大连地区耐碳青霉烯类铜绿假单胞菌中,并与细菌的多重耐药、泛耐药显著相关,特别是ISCR1基因;大连地区整合子I、ISCR1并未携带金属酶基因盒。PFGE结果提示本地区铜绿假单胞菌具有基因多态性,但仍存在高度同源性的流行优势基因型。     

呼吸监护室下呼吸道铜绿假单胞菌β-内酰胺类抗生素耐药相关基因研究

目的了解呼吸监护室下呼吸道分离的铜绿假单胞菌中β-内酰胺类抗生素耐药相关基因存在状况。方法自呼吸监护室下呼吸道感染患者的痰标本中分离37株铜绿假单胞菌,采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测耐药基因(TEM、SHV、OXA-1群、OXA-10群、PER、VEB、GES、CARB、IMP、VIM、SPM、GIM、DHA和oprD2)。结果37株铜绿假单胞菌中CARB阳性15株(40.5%),oprD2基因缺失33株(89.2%),其余基因均阴性。结论呼吸监护室下呼吸道分离的铜绿假单胞菌CARB基因携带率高,oprD2基因缺失严重。     

铜绿假单胞菌外膜蛋白缺失合并qacE△12sul1与耐药性的研究

目的 对临床分离的54株铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa,PAE)进行耐药基因检测,分析的PAE耐药性,为临床合理用药提供依据.方法 应用MIC法和K-B法检测PAE对22种药物的耐药性,采用PCR法检测PAE的消毒剂磺胺类qacE△12sul1基因和外膜蛋白oprD2基因,并对阳性菌株进行序列分析.结果 54株PAE中oprD2膜缺失、qacE△12sul1、多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌(Multi-drug Resistant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,MRPA)菌株的检出率分别为77.8％、14.8％、37.0％;20株MRPA菌株中,qacE△12sul1、oprD2膜缺失阳性率分别为40.0％、50.0％;54株PAE对氨苄西林和头孢唑啉完全耐药,对头孢呋辛钠、头孢呋辛酯、复方新诺明的耐药率均为98.1％、对多粘菌素B敏感率为100％;MRPA与非MRPA对qacE△12sul1基因阳性菌株的检出率差异有统计学意义;oprD2阴性和阳性菌株对亚胺培南和美洛培南的耐药率差异有统计学意义.结论 临床分离的铜绿假单胞菌耐药严重,oprD2基因的缺失可能是亚胺培南和美洛培南耐药的主要原因.     

大连地区耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌金属β-内酰胺酶检测及耐药性分析

目的了解大连地区分离的耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌的耐药特征,金属β-内酰胺酶携带情况,提供大连地区院内控制铜绿假单胞菌感染的依据。方法选取2013年1月至2014年9月临床分离的400株铜绿假单胞菌,进行菌种鉴定和药物敏感试验;金属酶检测采用E-test试验;PCR法扩增产金属β-内酰胺酶的基因,并对扩增阳性产物进行测序确认。结果 400株铜绿假单胞菌的标本以呼吸道分泌物最多,占81.5%;分布以呼吸内科和ICU病房最高,占总数的19.8%和25.5%;药敏结果发现有89株铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南耐药,且多数为多重耐药菌株;400株铜绿假单胞菌经E-test试验进行金属酶表型筛查,有17株金属酶阳性,检出率为19.1%;经PCR扩增金属酶基因阳性的有11株,其中8株为IMP-1,3株为VIM-2,其他几种基因均未检出。结论大连地区耐亚胺培南的89株铜绿假单胞菌多数是多重耐药菌株;产金属β-内酰胺酶在大连地区铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南耐药中发挥重要作用,酶的基因型主要为IMP-1和VIM-2。     

铜绿假单胞菌对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药相关基因的筛选

为了在基因组水平筛选获得铜绿假单胞菌PAO1对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药相关基因,本研究通过构建PAO1转座突变体文库、筛选对亚胺培南、美罗培南和比亚培南耐药及敏感突变株;通过随机PCR、核苷酸测序及序列比对的手段,确定了突变体中转座子的插入位点及其破坏的基因,获得了48个PAO1中对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药和敏感相关的基因,其中27个基因突变后表现为耐药性增强,21个基因突变后表现为药物敏感性增强.本实验筛选获得的48个基因中有5个与Alvarez-Ortega和Dotsch等人筛选的基因重复.通过对PA0011,PA0667及PA3901进行基因敲除及遗传互补,进一步确证这3个基因均与PAO1对碳青霉烯类的耐药性相关.本次筛选发现了38个新的与碳青霉烯类耐药相关的基因,其中包括13个class4类基因.对这些新基因的进一步研究,不仅有利于全面了解铜绿假单胞菌的耐药机制及其调控网络,而且有利于药物作用靶点的发现,为有效治疗铜绿假单胞菌的感染提供新思路.     

铜绿假单胞菌外膜蛋白缺失合并 qac E△12sul1与耐药性的研究

【摘 要】 目的 对临床分离的54株铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa,PAE)进行耐药基因检测,分析的PAE耐药性,为临床合理用药提供依据。 方法 应用MIC法和K-B法检测PAE对22种药物的耐药性,采用PCR法检测PAE的消毒剂磺胺类qac E△12 sul 1基因和外膜蛋白oprD2基因,并对阳性菌株进行序列分析。 结果 54株PAE中oprD2膜缺失、qac E△12 sul 1、多重耐药铜绿假单胞菌(Multi-drug Resistant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,MRPA)菌株的检出率分别为77.8%、14.8%、37.0%;20株MRPA菌株中,qac E△12 sul 1、oprD2膜缺失阳性率分别为40.0%、50.0%;54株PAE对氨苄西林和头孢唑啉完全耐药,对头孢呋辛钠、头孢呋辛酯、复方新诺明的耐药率均为98.1%、对多粘菌素B敏感率为100%;MRPA与非MRPA对 qac E△12 sul 1基因阳性菌株的检出率差异有统计学意义;oprD2阴性和阳性菌株对亚胺培南和美洛培南的耐药率差异有统计学意义。 结论 临床分离的铜绿假单胞菌耐药严重,oprD 2基因的缺失可能是亚胺培南和美洛培南耐药的主要原因。     

耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌的耐药性特征及oprD基因突变分析

为了分析亚胺培南耐药铜绿假单胞菌(IMPRPAE)临床分离株的耐药性及oprD基因变异情况,本研究收集了2014年1月至2017年12月临床标本中分离的35株IMPRPAE,采用VITEK2-compact系统分析IMPRPAE的耐药性;PCR法扩增基因oprD并测序分析其序列突变类型。IMPRPAE共15株,其中1株oprD基因PCR扩增阴性。余14株阳性菌株进行oprD基因测序发现其中1株无突变,11株有框码移位(其中有2株发现携带插入序列ISPpu21, IS1394),2株有终止密码子提前出现。本研究中铜绿假单胞菌oprD基因突变是亚胺培南耐药的主要原因。     

mCIM试验检测临床产碳青霉烯酶革兰阴性杆菌的应用价值

目的评估改良碳青霉烯灭活试验(mCIM)在检测临床产碳青霉烯酶革兰阴性杆菌中的应用价值。方法采用mCIM、改良Hodge(MHT)及Carba NP试验分别检测106株碳青霉烯酶基因阳性的革兰阴性杆菌(36株肠杆菌科细菌、26株铜绿假单胞菌及44株鲍曼不动杆菌),并比较差异。同时,收集湘雅医院2016年1月-12月临床分离的非重复性耐碳青霉烯类革兰阴性杆菌106株,同期随机选取100株分离的碳青霉烯类敏感菌株作为对照组,mCIM试验检测碳青霉烯酶,PCR检测碳青霉烯酶基因,分析其敏感性及特异性。结果 (1)106株碳青霉烯酶基因阳性菌株,mCIM试验:肠杆菌科细菌的敏感性、特异性为88.9%(32/36),铜绿假单胞菌均为阴性。MHT试验:肠杆菌科细菌的敏感性、特异性为77.8%(28/36),铜绿假单胞菌的敏感性、特异性为69.2%(18/26)。Carba NP试验:肠杆菌科细菌的敏感性、特异性为97.2%(35/36),铜绿假单胞菌的敏感性、特异性为57.7%(15/26)。鲍曼不动杆菌3种方法均为阴性。肠杆菌科细菌中,MHT与Carba NP试验差异有统计学意义(χ~2=6.222,P=0.028),MHT与mCIM试验差异无统计学意义(χ~2=1.600,P=0.343),Carba NP与mCIM试验差异无统计学意义(χ~2=1.934,P=0.357);铜绿假单胞菌中,MHT与Carba NP试验阳性,二者差异无统计学意义(χ~2=0.746,P=0.565)。(2)144株临床分离肺炎克雷伯菌(碳青霉烯类耐药及敏感菌株分别为44株、100株),采用美罗培南和亚胺培南分别做mCIM试验,其敏感性和特异性均为100%,且与PCR的结果一致。结论 mCIM试验在肠杆菌科细菌中敏感性高、特异性强,操作简单,结果易于判断,具有良好的临床应用价值。     

椒样薄荷、薄荷和苏格兰留兰香精油与抗生素的协同抑菌功能

以开花期的椒样薄荷（Mentha×piperita）、薄荷（M.haplocalyx）和苏格兰留兰香（M.×gentilis）叶片部位提取的精油为研究对象,通过GC-MS分析,并采用纸片扩散法研究了3种精油单独使用及与抗生素联合使用时对金黄色葡萄球菌、蜡状芽孢杆菌、大肠杆菌、绿脓杆菌和肺炎克雷伯氏菌的抑制情况。结果表明,（1）椒样薄荷与薄荷精油中含量最高的成分为薄荷醇、薄荷酮和异薄荷酮,苏格兰留兰香精油的主要成分为香芹酮和柠檬烯。薄荷和苏格兰留兰香精油符合欧洲药典与ISO标准,椒样薄荷需要继续改良以提高其精油品质与抑菌功能。（2）精油单独使用时,Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC15442对椒样薄荷精油和薄荷精油敏感;P.aeruginosa ATCC27853对薄荷精油和苏格兰留兰香精油敏感。精油与抗生素联合使用时抑菌范围和强度均有所改变：绿脓杆菌的2个菌株对精油与抗生素的组合最为敏感,其中,椒样薄荷精油与头孢他啶的组合对P.aeruginosa ATCC15442显示出最强的增效作用,薄荷精油与头孢他啶混合之后对P.aeruginosa ATCC27853出现拮抗作用。Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923对所有精油以及精油与抗生素混合物均有抗性。（3）椒样薄荷、薄荷和苏格兰留兰香精油的不同成分及其含量差异不仅对精油品质有影响,而且影响精油对测试菌种的抑制作用,可考虑将其作为薄荷属植物品质育种的参考指标。     

椒样薄荷、薄荷和苏格兰留兰香精油与抗生素的协同抑菌功能

以开花期的椒样薄荷(Mentha × piperita)、薄荷(M. haplocalyx)和苏格兰留兰香(M. × gentilis)叶片部位提取的精油为研究对象, 通过GC-MS分析, 并采用纸片扩散法研究了3种精油单独使用及与抗生素联合使用时对金黄色葡萄球菌、蜡状芽孢杆菌、大肠杆菌、绿脓杆菌和肺炎克雷伯氏菌的抑制情况。结果表明, (1) 椒样薄荷与薄荷精油中含量最高的成分为薄荷醇、薄荷酮和异薄荷酮, 苏格兰留兰香精油的主要成分为香芹酮和柠檬烯。薄荷和苏格兰留兰香精油符合欧洲药典与ISO标准, 椒样薄荷需要继续改良以提高其精油品质与抑菌功能。(2) 精油单独使用时, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442对椒样薄荷精油和薄荷精油敏感; P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853对薄荷精油和苏格兰留兰香精油敏感。精油与抗生素联合使用时抑菌范围和强度均有所改变: 绿脓杆菌的2个菌株对精油与抗生素的组合最为敏感, 其中, 椒样薄荷精油与头孢他啶的组合对P. aeruginosa ATCC 15442显示出最强的增效作用, 薄荷精油与头孢他啶混合之后对P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853出现拮抗作用。Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923对所有精油以及精油与抗生素混合物均有抗性。(3) 椒样薄荷、薄荷和苏格兰留兰香精油的不同成分及其含量差异不仅对精油品质有影响, 而且影响精油对测试菌种的抑制作用, 可考虑将其作为薄荷属植物品质育种的参考指标。     

铜绿假单胞菌parC基因突变与耐氟喹诺酮的关系

研究了成都地区临床分离的铜绿假单胞菌拓扑异构酶ⅣparC基因突变与耐氟喹诺酮类药物的关系。测定临床分离的55株铜绿假单胞菌的MIC值,从中筛选出1株敏感菌和8株耐药菌,以标准敏感菌株ATCC27853作为质控菌株。用PCR反应扩增parC基因的喹诺酮耐药决定区(QRDR),扩增产物片段长度为396bp,同时对上述10株菌的PCR产物进行测序分析。临床分离敏感菌和标准菌株ATCC27853的parC基因序列与国外报道的序列相同,而R25,R42,R43,R44等4株耐药菌株在87位(TCGCG→TTG)均有突变,该单位点突变引起氨基酸由Ser→Leu的改变,此外,新发现在所有耐药菌株115位有一静止突变(GCT→GCG),该突变未引起氨基酸的改变。拓扑异构酶ⅣparC基因突变是铜绿假单胞菌对氟喹诺酮类药物产生耐药性的机制之一,以87位的突变最为常见。     

Screening antimicrobial activity of various extracts of Artemisia dracunculus L

The antimicrobial activities of chloroform, acetone and two different concentrations of methanol extracts of Artemisia dracunculus L. were studied. These extracts were tested against nine bacteria and four yeasts strains by the disc diffusion method. The results indicated that the methanol extract of A. dracunculus is more effective against tested microorganisms than chloroform or acetone extracts. The chloroform and acetone extracts were inhibitory only towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). While the methanol extract that was diluted with 10 ml distilled water showed inhibition zones against Shigella (RSHI), Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), the methanol extract that was diluted with 5 ml distilled water showed inhibition zones against two different strains of Escherichia coli (RSHI, ATCC 25922), Shigella (RSHI), L. monocytogenes (ATCC 7644), and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The cells of microorganisms treated with plant extracts and normal microorganism cells were observed by scanning electron microscope. It was apparent that cells are damaged after treatment with A. dracunculus.     

Genetic definition of the substrate selectivity of outer membrane porin protein OprD of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Earlier studies proved that Pseudomonas aeruginosa OprD is a specific porin for basic amino acids and imipenem. It was also considered to function as a nonspecific porin that allowed the size-dependent uptake of monosaccharides and facilitation of the uptake of quinolone and other antibiotics. In the present study, we utilized P. aeruginosa strains with genetically defined levels of OprD to characterize the in vivo substrate selectivity of this porin. An oprD::omega interposon mutant was constructed by gene replacement utilizing an in vitro mutagenized cloned oprD gene. In addition, OprD was overexpressed from the lac promoter by cloning the oprD gene into the broad-host-range plasmid pUCP19. To test the substrate selectivity, strains were grown in minimal medium with limiting concentrations of the carbon sources glucose, gluconate, or pyruvate. In minimal medium with 0.5 mM gluconate, the growth rates of the parent strain H103 and its oprD::omega mutant H729 were only 60 and 20%, respectively, of that of the OprD-overexpressing strain H103(pXH2). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the growth rates of these three strains on glucose or pyruvate, indicating that OprD selectively facilitated the transport of gluconate. To determine the role of OprD in antibiotic uptake, nine strains representing different levels of OprD and OprF were used to determine the MICs of different antibiotics. The results clearly demonstrated that OprD could be utilized by imipenem and meropenem but that, even when substantially overexpressed, it could not be significantly utilized by other beta-lactams, quinolones, or aminoglycosides. In addition, competition experiments confirmed that imipenem had common binding sites with basic amino acids in the OprD channel, but not with gluconate or glucose.     

耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌金属酶的筛选及基因型研究

目的研究重庆医科大学附属第一医院分离的29株耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌中金属酶（Metallo-β-Lactamase,MBL）的基因型分布情况。方法用亚胺培南-EDTA纸片法筛选29株铜绿假单胞菌中产MBL的铜绿假单胞菌,用PCR扩增法检测29株菌中金属酶VIM和IMP基因。结果29株耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌中,亚胺培南-EDTA纸片法筛选出MBL阳性菌株5株,阳性率为17％。PCR扩增出IMP基因型有4株,阳性率为14％,均为金属酶IMP-9型,未扩增出VIM基因。以PCR法结果为判定标准,亚胺培南-EDTA纸片法敏感性100％,特异性96％。结论IMP-9型为该院分离的这29株耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌中主要MBL基因型。本实验中所用的亚胺培南一EDTA纸片法能简单有效的筛选出产MBL的铜绿假单胞菌。     

Molecular characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates resistant to all antimicrobial agents, but susceptible to colistin, in Daegu, Korea

Multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been implicated in a variety of serious therapeutic problems in clinical environments. Among the 968 P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from two hospitals in Daegu, Korea, we acquired 17 isolates that were resistant to all available tested antimicrobial agents, with the exception of colistin (colistin-only sensitive). We characterized the antimicrobial susceptibilities, metallo-beta-lactamases, and epidemiological relatedness among the colistin-only sensitive P. aeruginosa isolates. All colistin-only sensitive isolates were positive in the modified Hodge test and imipenem-EDTA synergy test, thereby indicating the production of metallo-beta-lactamases. 11 isolates from the secondary hospital and six isolates from the tertiary teaching hospital harbored blaVIM-2 and blaIMP-1, respectively. The pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analysis of the SpeI-digested DNA from P. aeruginosa isolates indicated that two different clones of colistin-only sensitive P. aeruginosa originated from each hospital, and had spread within the hospital environment. Overall, colistin-only sensitive P. aeruginosa was detected in Korea for the first time, but no pan-drug resistant bacteria were identified. Nationwide surveillance is required in order to monitor the emergence of colistin-only sensitive or pan-drug resistant bacteria.     

Species-identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests by the fully automated RAISUS using an early-harvested cell suspension]

We evaluated the usefulness of an early-harvested bacterial cell suspension to the fully automated RAISUS (Nissui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Tokyo) to provide the results of species-identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testings within a day after overnight-incubation of the primary cultures. A single, well-separated colony appeared on the primary culture plate was transferred onto a blood agar or chocolate agar plates, then incubated for 3 to 6 hours. The cell suspension to the RAISUS was properly prepared to the McFarland 0.5 turbidity from the early-harvested bacterial cells. When the five ATCC reference strains, consisting of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, were repeatedly tested for the species-identification, all the identification results were acceptable. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were evaluated with the above five strains and Haemophilus influenzae ATCC 49247. The results obtained indicated that the most susceptibility test results were comparable to those MICs obtained by the standard test procedure, but some strains, in particular, H. influenzae and P. aeruginosa gave significantly discrepant MICs for certain antimicrobial agents. The significant discrepancy in MIC determinations regarded the difference of viable cell concentrations in the cell suspension prepared respectively. Through the analysis of laboratory workflow, it became to apparent that 18S to 20S of the tests were completed by 5:00 p.m., and it required to wait until 3:00 a.m. to complete 90S of the tests. With these results, the early-harvested bacterial cell suspension is applicable to species-identification by RAISUS, but it is necessary to adjust viable cell concentrations to antimicrobial susceptibility test. Also, it is urgent to reconstitute a daily workflow to improve the rapidity of RAISUS test function.     

Analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa oprD gene from clinical and environmental isolates

Genomes are constantly evolving. Our report highlights the wide mutational diversity of clinical as well as environmental isolates, compared with the laboratory strain(s), through the systematic genetic analysis of a chromosomal porin gene (oprD) in relation to a specific antibiotic resistance. Mutational inactivation of the oprD gene is associated with carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The sequence of the oprD gene of 55 Pseudomonas aeruginosa natural isolates obtained from across the world--from sources as diverse as patients and rhizospheres--was analysed. A microscale mosaic structure for this gene--resulting from multiple intra- and possibly interspecies recombinational events--is reported. An array of independent and seemingly fast-occurring defective oprD mutations were found, none of which had been described before. A burn wound isolate demonstrated unusually high overall sequence variability typical of mutator strains. We also present evidence for the existence of OprD homologues in other fluorescent pseudomonads.