Identification and serotyping of atypical Legionella pneumophila strains isolated from human and environmental sources

AIMS: To validate identification methods for Legionella pneumophila strains that cannot be serotyped into the known serogroups and to characterize their antigenic diversity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty L. pneumophila strains that could not be serogrouped, but which had been confirmed as L. pneumophila by mip gene sequencing, were further identified phenotypically. We used (i) MONOFLUO anti-Legionella Staining Reagent (Bio-Rad) (50/50), (ii) an in-house prepared immunoblot assay for the detection of L. pneumophila- specific Mip protein epitope (50/50), (iii) fatty acid analysis using the Microbial Identifications System (MIDI) (47/50) and (iv) Oxoid agglutination tests (44/50). The serological diversity was further characterized by testing with five serogroup-cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies, resulting in nine phenons. CONCLUSIONS: The division of L. pneumophila into 15 serogroups does not reflect the serogroup heterogeneity. Results of these tests indicate that there are more serogroups. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: MONOFLUO anti-Legionella Staining Reagent is the only commercially available tool for identifying atypical strains of L. pneumophila. If necessary for epidemiological purposes, the antigenic heterogeneity of these strains can be analysed by monoclonal antibodies.     

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction

There are over 90 different capsular serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus). As well as being a tool for understanding pneumococcal epidemiology, capsular serotyping can provide useful information for vaccine efficacy and impact studies. The Quellung reaction is the gold standard method for pneumococcal capsular serotyping. The method involves testing a pneumococcal cell suspension with pooled and specific antisera directed against the capsular polysaccharide. The antigen-antibody reactions are observed microscopically. The protocol has three main steps: 1) preparation of a bacterial cell suspension, 2) mixing of cells and antisera on a glass slide, and 3) reading the Quellung reaction using a microscope. The Quellung reaction is reasonably simple to perform and can be applied wherever a suitable microscope and antisera are available.     

Typing of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated in Italy by inlA gene characterization and evaluation of a new cost‐effective approach to antisera selection for serotyping

Aims: In this study, 105 Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from humans, foods and environmental samples were characterized using several typing methods. Moreover, serotyping procedure was evaluated, and a cost‐effective methodological approach based on preliminary PCRs screening was proposed. Methods and Results: The isolates were analysed by conventional serotyping, multiplex‐PCRs for serogroup and lineage identification and PCR–RFLP of inlA gene to identify potentially noninvasive L. monocytogenes. Among the strains, only the serotypes 1/2a, 1/2c, 1/2b, 4b and 3a were identified. The isolates were classified into serogroups I (58·10%), II (22·85%), III (12·38%) and IV (6·67%). Among clinical strains, lineage I was more represented (68·75%) than lineage II; whereas, lineage II was more associated with food (90·24%) and environmental (85·72%) isolates. Most of food (89·02%) and environmental (85·71%) isolates were classified into truncated InlA profiles, whereas the 93·75% of clinical strains were associated with a complete form of the protein. Conclusion: Molecular techniques were sensitive and specific for classifying strains into serogroup and lineage and in agreement with the serotyping. Moreover, a preliminary PCRs‐based screening was proposed to select only the necessary antisera by a flow chart; this methodological approach allows cost saving up to 42%. Our results further suggest the role of InlA protein in human listeriosis, particularly in immunocompetent individuals, and a correlation between truncated protein and serotype. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study further validates molecular methods for L. monocytogenes analysis and proposed a new cost‐effective approach for serotyping. It could help to improve a national surveillance network for L. monocytogenes infections in Italy.     

Molecular serotype identification of Streptococcus agalactiae of bovine origin by multiplex PCR-based reverse line blot (mPCR/RLB) hybridization assay

We used a multiplex PCR-based reverse line blot (mPCR/RLB) hybridization assay and sequencing of a variable region of the cps cluster to identify serotypes of 140 Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus; GBS) isolates from cattle. Only 71 (51%) isolates were typeable using antisera, but molecular serotypes (MS) were assigned to 133 (95%) and 139 (99%) isolates by partial cpsE-cpsF-cpsG sequencing and mPCR/RLB, respectively. Ninety-four isolates (67%) belonged to MS III and most belonged to a molecular serosubtype (msst) III-3, which is uncommon among GBS isolates from humans. Our results demonstrate that cps clusters of bovine GBS differ significantly from those of GBS isolates from humans.     

Serotypes and virutypes of enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains from stool samples of children with diarrhoea in Germany

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of traditional and emerging types of enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains in stool samples from children with diarrhoea and to characterize their virulence genes involved in the attaching and effacing (A/E) phenotype. Methods and Results: Serological and PCR‐based methods were used for detection and isolation of EPEC and EHEC strains from 861 stool samples from diarrhoeic children. Agglutination with traditional EPEC and EHEC O‐group‐specific antisera resulted in detection of 38 strains; 26 of these carried virulence factors of EPEC or EHEC. PCR screening for the eae gene resulted in isolation of 97 strains, five carried genes encoding Shiga toxins (stx), one carried the bfpA gene and 91 were atypical EPEC. The 97 EPEC and EHEC strains were divided into 36 O‐serogroups and 21 H‐types, only nine strains belonged to the traditional EPEC O‐groups O26, O55, O86 and O128. In contrast, EPEC serotypes O28:H28, O51:H49, O115:H38 and O127:H40 were found in multiple cases. Subtyping the virulence factors intimin, Tir and Tir‐cytoskeleton coupling effector protein (TccP)/TccP2 resulted in further classification of 93·8% of the 97 strains. Conclusions: Our findings show a clear advantage of the eae‐PCR over the serological detection method for identification of EPEC and EHEC strains from human patients. Significance and Impact of the Study: Molecular detection by the eae‐PCR followed by serotyping and virutyping is useful for monitoring trends in EPEC and EHEC infections and to discover their possible reservoirs.     

光唇鱼源无乳链球菌的分离鉴定及遗传特征

【目的】为查明浙江养殖光唇鱼大量死亡的病原,了解病原的遗传特征。【方法】本工作对患病光唇鱼进行病原分离,结合形态特征、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列同源性,对分离菌株进行鉴定;采用人工回感试验确定其病原性,并对分离株的血清型、多位点序列分型(multilocus sequence typing,MLST)、毒力基因型和表面蛋白抗原基因型等遗传特征进行分析;此外,还测试了菌株的药敏特性。【结果】从患病光唇鱼体中分离得到优势菌株ACRO-0708,为革兰氏阳性球菌,不溶血,分子与生化鉴定为无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae);人工感染试验证实其对光唇鱼有较强的致病性,LD50为6.47×10~3CFU/g,属于血清型Ⅰb和MLST型ST261,毒力基因型为sip~+bibA~+cfb~+hylB~+iagA~+fbsA~+fbsB~+bac~–bca~–cylE~–scpB~–lmb~–,不携带所检测的6种表面蛋白基因。药敏试验结果显示,对青霉素、氨苄西林等8种药物较敏感,对氯霉素、复方新诺明等7种药物耐药。【结论】引起浙江养殖光唇鱼死亡的病原菌为无乳链球菌,其分子特征与水产动物主要流行的无乳链球菌株具有显著差异,生产中可选用氨苄西林、氟苯尼考等药物进行防治。     

Random mutagenesis of Legionella pneumophila reveals genes associated with lipopolysaccharide synthesis and recognition by typing monoclonal antibodies

AIMS: To use random mutagenesis for the characterization of Legionella pneumophila lipopolysaccharide (LPS) components and serotypes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five strains belonging to different serogroups and/or monoclonal subgroups were mutagenized using a mini-Tn10 transposon. Exactly 11 819 mutants were checked for alterations in LPS using at least 11 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that define L. pneumophila serotypes. Among the mutants, five different mini-Tn10 insertions were identified. Four mutants originating from serogroup-1 did not lose their serogroup-specific epitope, but did sustain subtler changes that resulted in switches to different mAb subgroups. In contrast, a mutant from serogroup-6 lost its serogroup-specific epitope, while retaining a serogroup-cross-reacting epitope. CONCLUSIONS: Random mutagenesis is a valuable tool for LPS epitope mapping. While some characteristics of L. pneumophila LPS can be altered, others appear resistant to mutagenesis. This underscores both the flexibility and rigidity of LPS architecture in L. pneumophila. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Losses of L. pneumophila LPS epitopes can result in new serotypes, changes that might escape detection by current DNA-based typing schemes. But, as the frequency of these changes is rare, based upon our observations, serotyping should remain an important tool for identifying L. pneumophila in water systems that are implicated in human infection.     

The characterization of Listeria spp. isolated from food products and the food‐processing environment

Aim: To enhance the information pertaining to the epidemiology of a collection of 378 Listeria spp. isolates obtained from several food‐processing plants in Ireland over a 3‐ year period (2004–2007). Methods and results: The collection was characterized by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The most prevalent pulse‐type was PFGE profile I (n = 14·5%) that consisted mainly of environmental Listeria spp. samples. Serotyping of 145 Listeria monocytogenes isolates was performed. The most common serovar was 1/2a and comprised 57·4% (n = 77) of the L. monocytogenes collection. The other serovars were as follows: 4b (14·1%, n = 19), 1/2b (9·7%, n = 13), 4c (4·4%, n = 6) and 1/2c (6·7%, n = 9), respectively. Eleven isolates were identified as non‐Listeria spp., the remaining ten L. monocytogenes isolates were nontypeable. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed the antibiotic that isolates displayed the most resistance to was gentamicin (5%) followed by sulfamethoxazole‐trimethoprim (2%), tetracycline and ciprofloxacin (1·5%). Conclusions: The subtyping has indicated the diversity of the Listeria spp. The presence of serotype 1/2a, 1/2b and 4b in both raw and cooked ready‐to‐eat food products is a public health concern, as these serotypes are frequently associated with foodborne outbreaks and sporadic cases of human listeriosis. In addition, the emergence of antimicrobial‐resistant L. monocytogenes isolates could have serious therapeutic consequences. Significance and Impact of Study: The molecular subtyping and the further characterization of these isolates may be valuable particularly in the context of a suspected common source outbreak in the future.