Publications

development of a rapid pcr assay specific for staphylococcus saprophyticus and application to direct detection from urine samples.	staphylococcus saprophyticus is one of the most frequently encountered microorganisms associated with acute urinary tract infections (utis) in young, sexually active female outpatients. conventional identification methods based on biochemical characteristics can efficiently identify s. saprophyticus, but the rapidities of these methods need to be improved. rapid and direct identification of this bacterium from urine samples would be useful to improve time required for the diagnosis of s. saproph ...	2000	10970371
automated 5' nuclease pcr assay for identification of salmonella enterica.	a simple and ready-to-go test based on a 5' nuclease (taqman) pcr technique was developed for identification of presumptive salmonella enterica isolates. the results were compared with those of conventional methods. the taqman assay was evaluated for its ability to accurately detect 210 s. enterica isolates, including 100 problematic "rough" isolates. an internal positive control was designed to use the same salmonella primers for amplification of a spiked nonrelevant template (116 bp) in the sa ...	2000	10970396
microbial evaluation of spanish potato omelette and cooked meat samples in university restaurants.	the focus of this study was to evaluate the microbial quality of spanish potato omelette and cooked meat samples including pork loin, chicken croquettes, long pork sausage, chicken breast, and meatballs from university restaurants. microbiological analyses of spanish potato omelette and cooked meat samples resulted in aerobic plate counts from <1.00 to 2.90 and from <1.00 to 6.04 log10 cfu g(-1), respectively. total coliforms ranged from <3 to 43 most probable number (mpn) g(-1) and from <3 to > ...	2000	10983805
animal and human multidrug-resistant, cephalosporin-resistant salmonella isolates expressing a plasmid-mediated cmy-2 ampc beta-lactamase.	salmonella spp. are important food-borne pathogens that are demonstrating increasing antimicrobial resistance rates in isolates obtained from food animals and humans. in this study, 10 multidrug-resistant, cephalosporin-resistant salmonella isolates from bovine, porcine, and human sources from a single geographic region were identified. all isolates demonstrated resistance to cephamycins and extended-spectrum cephalosporins as well as tetracycline, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, and sulfisoxazol ...	2000	10991860
cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 of uropathogenic escherichia coli kills cultured human uroepithelial 5637 cells by an apoptotic mechanism.	pathogenic escherichia coli associated with urinary tract infections (utis) in otherwise healthy individuals frequently produce cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 (cnf1), a member of the family of bacterial toxins that target the rho family of small gtp-binding proteins. to gain insight into the function of cnf1 in the development of e. coli-mediated utis, we examined the effects of cnf1 intoxication on a panel of human cell lines derived from physiologically relevant sites (bladder, ureters, a ...	2000	10992497
dna methylation at the cfrbi site is involved in expression control in the cfrbi restriction-modification system.	we have previously found that genes of the cfr:bi restriction-modification (r-m) system from citrobacter freundii are oriented divergently and that their promoter regions overlap. the overlapping promoters suggest regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional level. in this study the transcription regulation of cfr:bi r-m genes was analyzed in vivo and in vitro in escherichia coli. it was shown that in the presence of cfr:bi methyltransferase (m.cfr:bi), cell galactokinase activity decrea ...	2000	11000275
bacterial penetration across the blood-brain barrier during the development of neonatal meningitis.	bacterial pathogens may breach the blood-brain barrier (bbb) and invade the central nervous system through paracellular and/or transcellular mechanisms. transcellular penetration, e.g., transcytosis across the bbb has been demonstrated for escherichia coli k1, group b streptococcus, listeria monocytogenes, citrobacter freundii and streptococcus pneumonia strains. genes contributing to invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells include e. coli k1 genes ompa, ibea, ibeb, and yijp. understan ...	2000	11008113
field evaluation of a semiautomated method for rapid and simple analysis of recreational water microbiological quality.	an early warning system using a rapid enzymatic semiautomated method suitable for fecal coliform detection in recreational waters within 8 h was developed further and evaluated in this study. this rapid method was compared to the standard method followed in the united kingdom. we used 1,011 samples originating from 206 different locations in wales. when we assessed the presence or absence of fecal coliforms, targeting very low levels of contamination, we obtained 83.9% agreement between the rapi ...	2000	11010890
structure and species composition of mercury-reducing biofilms.	mercury-reducing biofilms from packed-bed bioreactors treating nonsterile industrial effluents were shown to consist of a monolayer of bacteria by scanning electron microscopy. droplets of several micrometers in diameter which accumulated outside of the bacterial cells were identified as elemental mercury by electron-dispersive x-ray analysis. the monospecies biofilms of pseudomonas putida spi3 initially present were invaded by additional strains, which were identified to the species level by th ...	2000	11010917
evaluation of the microscan rapid neg id3 panel for identification of enterobacteriaceae and some common gram-negative nonfermenters.	the microscan rapid neg id3 panel (dade behring, inc., west sacramento, calif.) is designed for the identification of gram-negative bacilli. we evaluated its ability to accurately identify enterobacteriaceae that are routinely encountered in a clinical laboratory and glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli. using 511 stock cultures that were maintained at -70 degrees c and passaged three times before use, we inoculated panels according to the manufacturer's instructions and processed them in ...	2000	11015366
rapid differentiation of fermentative from nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli in positive blood cultures by an impedance method.	rapid differentiation of fermentative gram-negative bacilli (fermenters) from nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (nonfermenters) in positive blood cultures may help physicians to narrow the choice of appropriate antibiotics for empiric treatment. an impedance method for direct differentiation of fermenters from nonfermenters was investigated. the bacterial suspensions (or positive culture broths containing gram-negative bacteria) were inoculated into the module wells of a bactometer (biomérie ...	2000	11015369
16s ribosomal dna sequence analysis of a large collection of environmental and clinical unidentifiable bacterial isolates.	some bacteria are difficult to identify with phenotypic identification schemes commonly used outside reference laboratories. 16s ribosomal dna (rdna)-based identification of bacteria potentially offers a useful alternative when phenotypic characterization methods fail. however, as yet, the usefulness of 16s rdna sequence analysis in the identification of conventionally unidentifiable isolates has not been evaluated with a large collection of isolates. in this study, we evaluated the utility of 1 ...	2000	11015374
detection and characterization of autoagglutination activity by campylobacter jejuni.	in several gram-negative bacterial pathogens, autoagglutination (aag) activity is a marker for interaction with host cells and virulence. campylobacter jejuni strains also show aag, but this property varies considerably among strains. to examine the characteristics of c. jejuni aag, we developed a quantitative in vitro assay. for strain 81-176, which shows high aag, activity was optimal for cells grown for < or = 24 h, was independent of growth temperature, and was best measured for cells suspen ...	2000	11035721
contribution of plasmid-encoded fimbriae and intimin to capacity of rabbit-specific enteropathogenic escherichia coli to attach to and colonize rabbit intestine.	attachment to the intestinal mucosa is an essential step in the pathogenesis of diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic escherichia coli (epec). fimbriae and intimin, the outer membrane protein product of the chromosomal eae gene, contribute to this process, but their relative roles and the nature of their interaction are not known. the aim of this study was to determine the relative contribution of plasmid-encoded fimbriae, termed ral, and intimin to the capacity of rabbit-specific epec (repec) to ...	2000	11035762
nucleotide sequence of the chromosomal ampc gene of enterobacter aerogenes.	the ampc beta-lactamase gene and a small portion of the regulatory ampr sequence of enterobacter aerogenes 97b were cloned and sequenced. the beta-lactamase had an isoelectric point of 8 and conferred cephalosporin and cephamycin resistance on the host. the sequence of the cloned gene is most closely related to those of the ampc genes of e. cloacae and c. freundii.	2000	11036041
a 1998 survey of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in enterobacteriaceae in france. the french study group.	in a 3-month period in 1998, 79 consecutive isolates of enterobacteriaceae producing an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (esbl) were collected. esbls were predominantly tem derivatives (74 of 79): tem-24-like (40 isolates), tem-3-like (29 isolates), tem-21 (3 isolates), and tem-4 and tem-52 (1 isolate each). four isolates produced shv derivatives shv-4 (three isolates) and shv-5 (one isolate), and one strain produced a ctx-m-3 enzyme. the high proportion of tem-24-like-producing enterobacter aer ...	2000	11036046
heterogeneity of ampc cephalosporinases of hafnia alvei clinical isolates expressing inducible or constitutive ceftazidime resistance phenotypes.	ten unrelated hafnia alvei clinical isolates were grouped according to either their low-level and inducible cephalosporinase production or their high-level and constitutive cephalosporinase production phenotype. their ampc sequences shared 85 to 100% amino acid identity. the immediate genetic environment of ampc genes was conserved in h. alvei isolates but was different from that found in other ampc-possessing enterobacterial species.	2000	11036059
identification by 16s ribosomal rna gene sequencing of an enterobacteriaceae species from a bone marrow transplant recipient.	to ascertain the clinical relevance of a strain of enterobacteriaceae isolated from the stool of a bone marrow transplant recipient with diarrhoea. the isolate could not be identified to the genus level by conventional phenotypic methods and required 16s ribosomal rna (rrna) gene sequencing for full identification.	2000	11040945
characterization of sepl of enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli.	the sepl gene is expressed in the locus of enterocyte effacement and therefore is most likely implicated in the attaching and effacing process, as are the products encoded by open reading frames located up- and downstream of this gene. in this study, the sepl gene of the enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli (ehec) strain edl933 was analyzed and the corresponding polypeptide was characterized. we found that sepl is transcribed monocistronically and independently from the esp operon located downstre ...	2000	11053395
detection and distribution of insertion sequence 1 (is1)-containing bacteria in the freshwater environment(1).	the distribution of insertion sequence 1 (is1)-containing bacteria was investigated in windermere (cumbria, uk), a freshwater body impacted by treated sewage discharge and run-off from the surrounding catchment. culturable is1-containing bacteria were recovered from the water column at three depths in windermere north basin (wnb) and south basin (wsb), and from sediment at both sites (at the sediment surface in wsb and to a depth of 12-13 cm in wnb). polymerase chain reaction amplification of is ...	2000	11053739
cloning and random mutagenesis of the erwinia herbicola tyrr gene for high-level expression of tyrosine phenol-lyase.	tyrosine phenol-lyase (tpl), which can synthesize 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine from pyruvate, ammonia, and catechol, is a tyrosine-inducible enzyme. previous studies demonstrated that the tpl promoter of erwinia herbicola is activated by the tyrr protein of escherichia coli. in an attempt to create a high-tpl-expressing strain, we cloned the tyrr gene of e. herbicola and then randomly mutagenized it. mutant tyrr proteins with enhanced ability to activate tpl were screened for by use of the lac re ...	2000	11055921
use of hydrostatic pressure for inactivation of microbial contaminants in cheese.	the objective of this study was to determine the effect of high pressure (hp) on the inactivation of microbial contaminants in cheddar cheese (escherichia coli k-12, staphylococcus aureus atcc 6538, and penicillium roqueforti imi 297987). initially, cheese slurries inoculated with e. coli, s. aureus, and p. roqueforti were used as a convenient means to define the effects of a range of pressures and temperatures on the viability of these microorganisms. cheese slurries were subjected to pressures ...	2000	11055940
a novel selenite- and tellurite-inducible gene in escherichia coli.	selenium is both an essential and a toxic trace element, and the range of concentrations between the two is extremely narrow. although tellurium is not essential and is only rarely found in the environment, it is considered to be extremely toxic. several hypotheses have been proposed to account for the toxic effects of selenite and tellurite. however, these potential mechanisms have yet to be fully substantiated. through screening of an escherichia coli luxab transcriptional gene fusion library, ...	2000	11055951
outbreak of nosocomial infections due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing strains of enteric group 137, a new member of the family enterobacteriaceae closely related to citrobacter farmeri and citrobacter amalonaticus.	a member of the enterobacteriaceae initially identified as kluyvera cryocrescens by the microscan gram-negative combo 13 panel caused an outbreak of nosocomial infections in four patients (pneumonia, n = 2; urinary tract infection, n = 1; wound infection, n = 1) and urinary tract colonization in one patient. when the strains were tested by the enteric reference laboratory of the centers for disease control and prevention, biochemical results were most compatible with yersinia intermedia, kluyver ...	2000	11060050
detection and identification of mycobacteria by amplification of the internal transcribed spacer regions with genus- and species-specific pcr primers.	we evaluated the usefulness of pcr assays that target the internal transcribed spacer (its) region for identifying mycobacteria at the species level. the conservative and species-specific its sequences of 33 species of mycobacteria were analyzed in a multialignment analysis. one pair of panmycobacterial primers and seven pairs of mycobacterial species-specific primers were designed. all pcrs were performed under the same conditions. the specificities of the primers were tested with type strains ...	2000	11060072
gatifloxacin: a new fluoroquinolone.	gatifloxacin is a new 8-methoxy-fluoroquinoline antimicrobial agent. it has enhanced activity against gram-positive and atypical agents, while retaining broad-spectrum antigram-negative activity. for example, the mic(90) values for respiratory tract pathogens are < or = 0.5 microg/ml for organisms such as streptococcus pneumoniae (regardless of penicillin susceptibility), haemophilus influenzae (beta-lactamase positive or negative), moraxella catarrhalis (beta-lactamase positive or negative), le ...	2000	11060784
[antibacterial activities of piperacillin in several fresh clinical isolates].	we investigated activity of piperacillin (pipc) in comparison with 8 antibacterial reference drugs against several fresh clinical strains isolated from patients with infectious diseases in the respiratory tract and after surgical interventions in 1999. the following results were obtained: 1. pipc had its mic90 of 0.12-6 micrograms/ml in gram-positive bacteria (methicillin susceptible staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococcus pyogenes, streptococcus agalactiae, streptococcu ...	2000	11070819
induction of angiogenesis by hyperplastic colonic mucosa adjacent to colon cancer.	we determined whether hyperplastic mucosa adjacent to colon cancer contributes to neoplastic angiogenesis. surgical specimens of human colon cancer (40 dukes' stage b and 34 dukes' stage c) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of proliferative and angiogenic molecules. the mucosa adjacent to dukes' stage c tumors (but not dukes' stage b tumors) had a higher ki-67 labeling index and a higher expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor-alpha than d ...	2000	11073812
antibacterial spectrum of a novel des-fluoro(6) quinolone, bms-284756.	the in vitro spectrum of a novel des-fluoro(6) quinolone, bms-284756, was compared with those of five fluoroquinolones (trovafloxacin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin). bms-284756 was among the most active and often was the most active quinolone against staphylococci (including methicillin-resistant strains), streptococci, pneumococci (including ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible and penicillin-resistant strains), and enterococcus faecalis. bms-284756 inhibited approximately 6 ...	2000	11083639
levofloxacin pharmacokinetics and serum bactericidal activities against five enterobacterial species.	after oral administration of 500 mg of levofloxacin to 12 volunteers, we investigated the pharmacokinetics and serum bactericidal activities (sbas) against five strains of members of the family enterobacteriaceae. pharmacokinetic data were as follows: maximum concentration in serum, 6.36 +/- 0.57 mg/liter; area under the concentration-time curve, 43.6 +/- 6.23 mg. h/liter; elimination half-life 4.23 +/- 0.87 h. sbas were present for 24 h against escherichia coli and citrobacter freundii. the sba ...	2000	11083664
sialylation of lipooligosaccharide cores affects immunogenicity and serum resistance of campylobacter jejuni.	three genes involved in biosynthesis of the lipooligosaccharide (los) core of campylobacter jejuni msc57360, the type strain of the hs:1 serotype, whose structure mimics gm(2) ganglioside, have been cloned and characterized. mutation of genes encoding proteins with homology to a sialyl transferase (cstii) and a putative n-acetylmannosamine synthetase (neuc1), part of the biosynthetic pathway of n-acetylneuraminic acid (neunac), have identical phenotypes. the los cores of these mutants display id ...	2000	11083778
gamma interferon influences intestinal epithelial hyperplasia caused by lawsonia intracellularis infection in mice.	lawsonia intracellularis is a recently identified bacterial pathogen which causes disease in a broad range of animals. invasion of intestinal epithelial cells and the resultant hyperplasia of infected cells are central processes in disease pathogenesis. in this study, we aimed to establish whether immunocompetent mice were susceptible to infection and whether gamma interferon (ifn-gamma) contributed to the pathogenesis of infection. wild-type 129-sv-ev mice (129 mice) and ifn-gamma receptor knoc ...	2000	11083789
coliform bacteria and nitrogen fixation in pulp and paper mill effluent treatment systems.	the majority of pulp and paper mills now biotreat their combined effluents using activated sludge. on the assumption that their wood-based effluents have negligible fixed n, and that activated-sludge microorganisms will not fix significant n, these mills routinely spend large amounts adding ammonia or urea to their aeration tanks (bioreactors) to permit normal biomass growth. n(2) fixation in seven eastern canadian pulp and paper mill effluent treatment systems was analyzed using acetylene reduc ...	2000	11097883
evaluation of p-naphtholbenzein-beta-d-galactoside as a substrate for bacterial beta-galactosidase.	we describe the synthesis of a new substrate for the detection of beta-galactosidase and evaluate its performance in comparison with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside (x-gal) and cyclohexenoesculetinbeta-d-galactoside (che-gal). of 206 enterobacteriaceae strains able to hydrolyze x-gal, 194 (94.2%) hydrolyzed che-gal and 192 (93.2%) hydrolyzed p-naphtholbenzein-beta-d-galactoside (pnb-gal). we conclude that pnb-gal is an effective substrate for the detection of beta-galactosida ...	2000	11097942
dissemination of ctx-m-3 and cmy-2 beta-lactamases among clinical isolates of escherichia coli in southern taiwan.	a total of 1,210 clinical isolates of escherichia coli collected from a university hospital in southern taiwan were screened for production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (esbls). expression of classical esbls (resistant to extended-spectrum beta-lactam agents and susceptible to beta-lactam inhibitors) was inferred in 18 isolates by the phenotypic confirmatory test. these included 10 isolates producing ctx-m-3, 2 strains carrying shv-12, 1 strain harboring shv-5, 1 strain expressing tem-10 ...	2000	11101558
citrobacter rodentium, the causative agent of transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia, exhibits clonality: synonymy of c. rodentium and mouse-pathogenic escherichia coli.	citrobacter rodentium (formerly citrobacter freundii biotype 4280 and citrobacter genomospecies 9) was described on the basis of biochemical characterization and dna-dna hybridization data and is the only citrobacter species known to possess virulence factors homologous to those of the human pathogens enteropathogenic escherichia coli and enterohemorrhagic e. coli. these virulence factors are encoded on the locus of enterocyte effacement (lee), a pathogenicity island required for the characteris ...	2000	11101562
duodenal microflora in very-low-birth-weight neonates and relation to necrotizing enterocolitis.	necrotizing enterocolitis (nec) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal period. small-bowel overgrowth with aerobic gram-negative bacteria has previously been implicated in the development of nec. this prospective study performed quantitative bacteriology on 422 duodenal aspirates collected from 122 very-low-birth-weight (<1,500-g) newborns, at the time of routine changing of nasogastric tubes. isolates of enterobacteriaceae were typed by repetitive extragenic, palindromic ...	2000	11101593
cost-effective and rapid presumptive identification of gram-negative bacilli in routine urine, pus, and stool cultures: evaluation of the use of chromagar orientation medium in conjunction with simple biochemical tests.	the algorithm for a new identification system was designed on the basis of colony color and morphology on chromagar orientation medium in conjunction with simple biochemical tests such as indole (ind), lysine decarboxylase (ldc), and ornithine decarboxylase (odc) utilization tests with gram-negative bacilli isolated from urine samples as well as pus, stool, and other clinical specimens by the following colony characteristics, biochemical reactions, and serological results: pinkish to red, ind po ...	2000	11101600
high-pathogenicity island of yersinia spp. in escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhea patients in china.	the high-pathogenicity island (hpi) of yersinia has been observed in 93% of 60 enteroadhesive escherichia coli strains and 80% of e. coli strains isolated from blood samples. in the present study we investigated 671 fecal samples from patients with diarrhea in shandong province, china, and isolated hpi-harboring e. coli from 6. 26% of the samples. the isolation rates for patients with diarrhea in three age groups, 10 to 20, 30 to 40, and 50 to 60 years, were 6. 70, 12.35, and 10.81%, respectivel ...	2000	11101622
type 1 pili of citrobacter freundii mediate invasion into host cells.		2000	11109110
susceptibility of bacterial isolates to gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin from clinical trials 1997-1998.	mics of gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin against 3482 pre-treatment, clinical trial isolates collected during 1997-1998 are reported. these data suggested that gatifloxacin was four- to eight-fold more active than ciprofloxacin against gram-positive bacteria, with gatifloxacin mic(90)s < or = 0.33 mg/l against staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus pneumoniae, and < or = 1.0 mg/l versus viridans streptococci and enterococcus faecalis. both quinolones had similar mic(90)s versus enterobacteriaceae ...	2000	11118848
improvement of mannitol lysine crystal violet brilliant green agar for the selective isolation of h2s-positive salmonella.	mannitol lysine crystal violet brilliant green agar (mlcb) is widely used in japan for salmonella isolation because the medium has been commercially available. colonies of salmonella on mlcb appear colorless with black centers due to h2s gas production; however, most citrobacter freundii also produce h2s gas. in order to distinguish h2s-positive salmonella from c. freundii we have improved mlcb. to mlcb was added 1% lactose (l-mlcb). the relation for ph and black center colony formation was exam ...	2000	11131884
rapid detection, identification, and enumeration of escherichia coli cells in municipal water by chemiluminescent in situ hybridization.	a new chemiluminescent in situ hybridization (cish) method provides simultaneous detection, identification, and enumeration of culturable escherichia coli cells in 100 ml of municipal water within one working day. following filtration and 5 h of growth on tryptic soy agar at 35 degrees c, individual microcolonies of e. coli were detected directly on a 47-mm-diameter membrane filter using soybean peroxidase-labeled peptide nucleic acid (pna) probes targeting a species-specific sequence in e. coli ...	2001	11133438
development and optimization of a novel immunomagnetic separation- bacteriophage assay for detection of salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis in broth.	salmonella is the second-leading cause of food-borne illness in most developed countries, causing diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, and often fever. many rapid methods are available for detection of salmonella in foods, but these methods are often insensitive or expensive or require a high degree of technical ability to perform. in this paper we describe development and characterization of a novel assay that utilizes the normal infection cycle of bacteriophage sj2 for detection of salmonella enterica ...	2001	11133448
application of rapid dot blot immunoassay for detection of salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis in eggs, poultry, and other foods.	salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis was detected in artificially inoculated eggs within 24 h through a rapid monoclonal antibody-based dot blot immunoassay. detection in poultry and other products required 28 h. samples were directly enriched in homogenized egg without the need for pre- or postenrichment steps. serovar enteritidis was detected in the presence of other bacteria when outcompeted 1:400.	2001	11133480
emergence of domestically acquired ceftriaxone-resistant salmonella infections associated with ampc beta-lactamase.	ceftriaxone, an expanded-spectrum cephalosporin, is an antimicrobial agent commonly used to treat severe salmonella infections, especially in children. ceftriaxone-resistant salmonella infections have recently been reported in the united states, but the extent of the problem is unknown.	2000	11135779
rapid detection of enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli by real-time pcr with fluorescent hybridization probes.	in this report, we present a pcr protocol for rapid identification of enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli on a lightcycler instrument. in a multiplex assay, the genes encoding shiga toxin 1 and shiga toxin 2 are detected in a single reaction capillary. a complete analysis of up to 32 samples takes about 45 min.	2001	11136804
determination of helicobacter pylori virulence by simple gene analysis of the cag pathogenicity island.	nucleic acid amplification was performed for five loci in the cag pathogenicity island (pai) of helicobacter pylori (comprising caga, the caga promoter region, cage, cagt, and the left end of cagii [lec]), and gastric inflammation in patients was evaluated. of 204 h. pylori isolates from japanese patients (53 with peptic ulcer, 55 with gastric cancer, and 96 with chronic gastritis), 197 (96.6%) were positive for all five loci. two isolates (1%) were negative for all five loci, and five isolates ...	2001	11139216
conserved regulatory elements of the promoter sequence of the gene rpoh of enteric bacteria.	the rpoh regulatory region of different members of the enteric bacteria family was sequenced or downloaded from genbank and compared. in addition, the transcriptional start sites of rpoh of yersinia frederiksenii and proteus mirabilis, two distant members of this family, were determined. sequences similar to the sigma(70) promoters p1, p4 and p5, to the sigma(e) promoter p3 and to boxes dnaa1, dnaa2, camp receptor protein (crp) boxes crp1, crp2 and box cytr present in escherichia coli k12, were ...	2001	11139607
diagnosis of noncultivatable gastroenteritis viruses, the human caliciviruses.	gastroenteritis is one of the most common illnesses of humans, and many different viruses have been causally associated with this disease. of those enteric viruses that have been established as etiologic agents of gastroenteritis, only the human caliciviruses cannot be cultivated in vitro. the cloning of norwalk virus and subsequently of other human caliciviruses has led to the development of several new diagnostic assays. antigen detection enzyme immunoassays (eias) using polyclonal hyperimmune ...	2001	11148001
endocarditis due to rare and fastidious bacteria.	the etiologic diagnosis of infective endocarditis is easily made in the presence of continuous bacteremia with gram-positive cocci. however, the blood culture may contain a bacterium rarely associated with endocarditis, such as lactobacillus spp., klebsiella spp., or nontoxigenic corynebacterium, salmonella, gemella, campylobacter, aeromonas, yersinia, nocardia, pasteurella, listeria, or erysipelothrix spp., that requires further investigation to establish the relationship with endocarditis, or ...	2001	11148009
nickel-resistance-based minitransposons: new tools for genetic manipulation of environmental bacteria.	the ncc and nre nickel resistance determinants from ralstonia eutropha-like strain 31a were used to construct mini-tn5 transposons. broad host expression of nickel resistance was observed for the nre minitransposons in members of the alpha, beta, and gamma subclasses of the proteobacteria, while the ncc minitransposons expressed nickel resistance only in r. eutropha-like strains.	2001	11157282
characterization of oxa-25, oxa-26, and oxa-27, molecular class d beta-lactamases associated with carbapenem resistance in clinical isolates of acinetobacter baumannii.	carbapenem resistance in acinetobacter spp. is increasingly being associated with oxa-type beta-lactamases with weak hydrolytic activity against imipenem and meropenem. such enzymes were characterized from acinetobacter isolates collected in belgium, kuwait, singapore, and spain. the isolates from spain and belgium had novel class d beta-lactamases that were active against carbapenems. these were designated oxa-25 and oxa-26, respectively, and had >98% amino acid homology with each other and wit ...	2001	11158758
nucleotide sequence and characterization of a novel cefotaxime-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase (ctx-m-10) isolated in spain.	a cefotaxime-resistant, ceftazidime-susceptible escherichia coli isolate was obtained from a patient with sepsis in 1997, from which a beta-lactamase with a pi of 8.1 was cloned. cephaloridine and cefotaxime relative hydrolysis rates were 167 and 81, respectively (penicillin g rate = 100), whereas ceftazidime hydrolysis was not detected. the nucleotide sequence revealed a bla gene related to that coding for ctx-m-3. despite 21 nucleotide substitutions, only 2 determined amino acid changes (ala27 ...	2001	11158766
functional genomic, biochemical, and genetic characterization of the salmonella pduo gene, an atp:cob(i)alamin adenosyltransferase gene.	salmonella enterica degrades 1,2-propanediol by a pathway dependent on coenzyme b12 (adenosylcobalamin [adocb1]). previous studies showed that 1,2-propanediol utilization (pdu) genes include those for the conversion of inactive cobalamins, such as vitamin b12, to adocbl. however, the specific genes involved were not identified. here we show that the pduo gene encodes a protein with atp:cob(i)alamin adenosyltransferase activity. the main role of this protein is apparently the conversion of inacti ...	2001	11160088
regulation of carbon and electron flow in clostridium butyricum vpi 3266 grown on glucose-glycerol mixtures.	the metabolism of clostridium butyricum was manipulated at ph 6.5 and in phosphate-limited chemostat culture by changing the overall degree of reduction of the substrate using mixtures of glucose and glycerol. cultures grown on glucose alone produced only acids (acetate, butyrate, and lactate) and a high level of hydrogen. in contrast, when glycerol was metabolized, 1,3-propanediol became the major product, the specific rate of acid formation decreased, and a low level of hydrogen was observed. ...	2001	11160107
the in vitro activity of sulbactam combined with third generation cephalosporins against third generation cephalosporin-resistant bacteria.	the in vitro activity of the beta-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam combined with cefuroxime, cefotaxime or ceftazidime in the ratio of 1:1 was studied against ceftazidime- or cefuroxime-resistant gram-negative rods and staphylococcus aureus. sulbactam enhanced the antibacterial activities of cefuroxime, cefotaxime and ceftazidime against gram-negative rods. the mic(90) of ceftazidime against escherichia coli, enterobacter cloacae, citrobacter freundii, acinetobacter spp. and pseudomonas aeruginosa ...	2001	11165119
oral colonization of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci in irradiated, dentate, xerostomic individuals.	this study aimed at investigating the oral colonization of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci in head- and neck-irradiated, dentate, xerostomic individuals. subjects were recruited from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma clinic and were segregated into group a: <60 years (n=25, 48+/-6 years, 5+/-5 years post-irradiation) and group b: >or=60 years (n=8, 67+/-4 years, 2+/-2 years post-irradiation) and were compared with age- and sex-matched normal individuals, group c: <60 ye ...	2001	11169132
resistance patterns among nosocomial pathogens: trends over the past few years.	multiple surveillance studies have demonstrated that resistance among prevalent pathogens is increasing at an alarming rate, leading to greater patient morbidity and mortality from nosocomial infections. among gram-positive organisms, the most important resistant pathogens are methicillin- (oxacillin-)resistant staphylococcus aureus, beta-lactam-resistant and multidrug-resistant pneumococci, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. important causes of gram-negative resistance include extended-spect ...	2001	11171776
vertical transmission of citrobacter freundii.		2001	11175951
polarized entry of uropathogenic afa/dr diffusely adhering escherichia coli strain ih11128 into human epithelial cells: evidence for alpha5beta1 integrin recognition and subsequent internalization through a pathway involving caveolae and dynamic unstable microtubules.	afa/dr diffusely adhering escherichia coli strain ih11128 bacteria basolaterally entered polarized epithelial cells by a cd55- and cd66e-independent mechanism through interaction with the alpha5beta1 integrin and a pathway involving caveolae and dynamic microtubules (mts). ih11128 invasion within hela cells was dramatically decreased after the cells were treated with the cholesterol-extracting drug methyl-beta-cyclodextrin or the caveola-disrupting drug filipin. disassembly of the dynamically un ...	2001	11179364
in vitro and in vivo properties of ro 63-9141, a novel broad-spectrum cephalosporin with activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci.	ro 63-9141 is a new member of the pyrrolidinone-3-ylidenemethyl cephem series of cephalosporins. its antibacterial spectrum was evaluated against significant gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens in comparison with those of reference drugs, including cefotaxime, cefepime, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin. ro 63-9141 showed high antibacterial in vitro activity against gram-positive bacteria except ampicillin-resistant enterococci, particularly vancomycin-resistant strains of enterococcus faecium. ...	2001	11181368
first isolation of a ctx-m-3-producing enterobacter cloacae in france.		2000	11184230
splenic abscess: report of six cases and review of the literature.	splenic abscesses are rare but appear to be increasing in frequency. recent advances in radiologic techniques have affected the diagnosis and management. the purpose of this study was to evaluate these effects. the medical records of one institution were retrospectively reviewed and six cases of splenic abscesses seen between 1989 and 1999 were identified. all patients had predisposing conditions with metastatic hematogenous infection in three and one each with trauma, immunodeficiency, and a co ...	2001	11206904
[in vitro antibacterial activity of prulifloxacin, a new oral quinolone, and comparative susceptibility rate at clinical breakpoint mic].	in vitro drug sensitivity of clinically isolated bacteria against prulifloxacin (pufx), which is a new quinolone, was investigated, and the antibacterial activity and susceptibility rate at clinical breakpoint were compared with those of norfloxacin, ofloxacin (oflx), ciprofloxacin, tosufloxacin, fleroxacin, sparfloxacin and levofloxacin (lvfx). the following results were obtained. 1) pufx showed a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. 2) mi ...	2000	11214999
controlled clinical comparison of bactec plus anaerobic/f to standard anaerobic/f as the anaerobic companion bottle to plus aerobic/f medium for culturing blood from adults.	to determine the optimal anaerobic companion bottle to pair with bactec plus aerobic/f medium for recovery of pathogenic microorganisms from adult patients with bacteremia and fungemia, we compared plus anaerobic/f bottles with standard anaerobic/f bottles, each of which was filled with 4 to 6 ml of blood. the two bottles were paired with a plus aerobic/f bottle filled with 8 to 12 ml of blood. a total of 14,011 blood culture sets were obtained. of these, 11,583 sets were received with all three ...	2001	11230415
risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill trauma patients.	to determine risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill trauma patients.	2001	11246310
rapid screening technique for class 1 integrons in enterobacteriaceae and nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria and its use in molecular epidemiology.	a screening technique for integrons in members of the family enterobacteriaceae and nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria by real-time pcr is reported. a total of 226 isolates of gram-negative bacteria obtained from a variety of clinical specimens were screened for class 1 integrons by real-time pcr performed on a lightcycler instrument. this technique used a primer pair specific for a 300-bp conserved region at the 5' ends of class 1 integrons. the screening assay was evaluated by comparison wit ...	2001	11257011
novel carbapenem-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase, kpc-1, from a carbapenem-resistant strain of klebsiella pneumoniae.	a klebsiella pneumoniae isolate showing moderate to high-level imipenem and meropenem resistance was investigated. the mics of both drugs were 16 microg/ml. the beta-lactamase activity against imipenem and meropenem was inhibited in the presence of clavulanic acid. the strain was also resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam. isoelectric focusing studies demonstrated three beta-lactamases, with pis of 7.2 (shv-29), 6.7 (kpc-1), and 5.4 (tem-1). the presence of bla(shv) and bla ...	2001	11257029
comparison of antimicrobial susceptibility of citrobacter freundii isolates in two different time periods.	citrobacter freundii was first identified in 1932, since then it has been reported to cause a variety of infections in aged, immunocompromised, and debilitated patients. with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, c. freundii has become increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents. in order to determine the chronological changes in susceptibility and current susceptibility status of c. freundii, we compared the antimicrobial susceptibility of c. freundii in two different time periods, from 198 ...	2000	11269372
a cryptic melibiose transporter gene possessing a frameshift from citrobacter freundii.	wild-type citrobacter freundii cannot grow on melibiose as a sole source of carbon. the melibiose transporter gene melb was cloned from a c. freundii mutant m4 that could utilize melibiose as a sole carbon source. although the cloned melb gene is closely similar to the melb genes of other bacteria, it is cryptic because of a frameshift mutation. site-directed mutagenesis was used to construct a functional melb gene by deleting one nucleotide, resulting in the production of an active melibiose tr ...	2001	11275561
identification and characterization of integron-mediated antibiotic resistance among shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli isolates.	a total of 50 isolates of shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli (stec), including 29 o157:h7 and 21 non-o157 stec strains, were analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibilities and the presence of class 1 integrons. seventy-eight (n = 39) percent of the isolates exhibited resistance to two or more antimicrobial classes. multiple resistance to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline was most often observed. class 1 integrons were identified among nine stec isolates, including serotypes o157: ...	2001	11282605
liver hematoma following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ercp).	we report the case of an 81-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ercp) for choledocholithiasis. a diagnosis of infected hematoma was made. a ct-guided puncture produced bloody matter that grew citrobacter freundii. a catheter was left in place for 3 weeks before the patient could be discharged from hospital. we hypothesize that the hepatic parenchyma had been torn by the guide used during the ercp. this case represents the first ...	2000	11287996
wound microbiology and associated approaches to wound management.	the majority of dermal wounds are colonized with aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms that originate predominantly from mucosal surfaces such as those of the oral cavity and gut. the role and significance of microorganisms in wound healing has been debated for many years. while some experts consider the microbial density to be critical in predicting wound healing and infection, others consider the types of microorganisms to be of greater importance. however, these and other factors such as micro ...	2001	11292638
identification and expression of the genes and purification and characterization of the gene products involved in reactivation of coenzyme b12-dependent glycerol dehydratase of citrobacter freundii.	the coenzyme b12-dependent glycerol dehydratase of citrobacter freundii is subject to suicide inactivation by the natural substrate glycerol during catalysis. we identified dhaf and dhag as the genes responsible for reactivation of inactivated dehydratase. northern blot analyses revealed that both genes were expressed during glycerol fermentation. the dhaf gene is transcribed together with the three structural genes coding for glycerol dehydratase (dhabce), whereas dhag is coexpressed with the d ...	2001	11298756
cefepime microbiologic profile and update.	the evolution of the cephalosporin class of antibiotics through modifications of the basic cephem structure has resulted in a new generation with improved antibacterial activity. cefepime is a prototypic agent of this new class of fourth generation cephalosporins.	2001	11303846
development of a monoclonal sandwich elisa for the detection of animal and human escherichia coli o157 strains.	production of a monoclonal antibody (mab) to escherichia coli o157 to develop a rapid test using a sandwich elisa (selisa) format.	2001	11309065
effects of mutations in the pseudomonas putida miaa gene: regulation of the trpe and trpgdc operons in p. putida by attenuation.	tn5 insertion mutants defective in regulation of the pseudomonas putida trpe and trpgdc operons by tryptophan were found to contain insertions in the p. putida miaa gene, whose product (in escherichia coli) modifies trna(trp) and is required for attenuation. nucleotide sequences upstream of trpe and trpg encode putative leader peptides similar in sequence to leader peptides found in other bacterial species, and the phenotypes of the mutants strongly suggest that transcription of these operons is ...	2001	11325956
[citrobacter freundii: a rare cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].		2001	11333663
identification and functional characterization of arylamine n-acetyltransferases in eubacteria: evidence for highly selective acetylation of 5-aminosalicylic acid.	arylamine n-acetyltransferase activity has been described in various bacterial species. bacterial n-acetyltransferases, including those from bacteria of the gut flora, may be involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics, thereby exerting physiopathological effects. we characterized these enzymes further by steady-state kinetics, time-dependent inhibition, and dna hybridization in 40 species, mostly from the human intestinal microflora. we report for the first time n-acetyltransferase activity in 11 ...	2001	11344150
the dihydroxyacetone kinase of escherichia coli utilizes a phosphoprotein instead of atp as phosphoryl donor.	the dihydroxyacetone kinase (dhak) of escherichia coli consists of three soluble protein subunits. dhak (ycgt; 39.5 kda) and dhal (ycgs; 22.6 kda) are similar to the n- and c-terminal halves of the atp-dependent dhak ubiquitous in bacteria, animals and plants. the homodimeric dham (ycgc; 51.6 kda) consists of three domains. the n-terminal dimerization domain has the same fold as the iia domain (pdb code 1pdo) of the mannose transporter of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferas ...	2001	11350937
centa as a chromogenic substrate for studying beta-lactamases.	centa, a chromogenic cephalosporin, is readily hydrolyzed by beta-lactamases of all classes except for the aeromonas hydrophila metalloenzyme. although it cannot practically be used for the detection of beta-lactamase-producing strains on agar plates, it should be quite useful for kinetic studies and the detection of the enzymes in crude extracts and chromatographic fractions.	2001	11353639
in vitro activities of three nonfluorinated quinolones against representative bacterial isolates.	in vitro susceptibility tests were performed to document the inhibitory activities of three nonfluorinated quinolone (nfq) compounds (pge 9262932, pge 9509924, and pge 4175997) compared to those of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and trovafloxacin against 3,030 bacterial isolates. the spectra of the nfq agents included most gram-positive species as well as quinolone-susceptible enterobacteriaceae. ciprofloxacin-resistant, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus strains were inhibited by the nfq ...	2001	11353655
ventilator-associated pneumonia in a surgical intensive care unit: epidemiology, etiology and comparison of three bronchoscopic methods for microbiological specimen sampling.	ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (vap) is a important intensive care unit (icu)-acquired infection in mechanically ventilated patients. early and correct diagnosis of vap is difficult but is an urgent challenge for an optimal antibiotic treatment. the aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence and microbiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia and to compare three quantitative bronchoscopic methods for diagnosis.	2001	11353934
use of an alfexpress dna sequencer to analyze protein-nucleic acid interactions by band shift assay.	gel retardation analysis, or band shift assay, is technically the simplest method to investigate protein-nucleic acid interactions. in this report, we describe a nonradioactive band shift assay using a fluorescent dna target and an alfexpress automatic dna sequencer in place of the current method that utilizes radioactively end-labeled dna target and a standard electrophoresis unit. in our study, the dsdna targets were obtained by annealing two synthetic oligonucleotides or by pcr. in both cases ...	2001	11355340
three days of incubation may be sufficient for routine blood cultures with bact/alert fan blood culture bottles.	bact/alert fan blood culture bottles have been shown to enhance the recovery of bacteria and yeast from blood compared with standard bact/alert bottles. it is well established that standard bact/alert blood culture bottles require no more than 5 days of incubation for the detection of routine bacteria and yeast. it is less clear, however, whether fan bottles also routinely require 5 days of incubation. to address this question, we recently reviewed the results of 17,887 blood culture sets collec ...	2001	11376038
controlled comparison of original vented aerobic fan medium with new nonvented bact/alert fa medium for culturing blood.	to evaluate the performance of bact/alert fa (fa) medium, a new aerobic bact/alert fan (fan) medium (organon teknika corporation, durham, n.c.) that does not require the added cost and inconvenience of a venting unit, we inoculated blood specimens from adult patients with suspected sepsis into an original fan aerobic culture bottle and an fa bottle. of 7,745 blood culture sets containing both bottles, 5,256 (68%) met the criteria for adequacy of filling. a total of 466 isolates judged to represe ...	2001	11376041
characterization of an extended-spectrum class c beta-lactamase of citrobacter freundii.	citrobacter freundii gc3 is a clinical isolate which showed moderate resistance to oxyimino beta-lactams such as ceftazidime and aztreonam. this drug resistance was due to an extended-spectrum class c beta-lactamase encoded by chromosomal gene(s). the gc3 beta-lactamase showed high amino acid sequence homology to a known c. freundii beta-lactamase, i.e., 346 of 361 amino acids were identical with those of c. freundii gn346 beta-lactamase (tsukamoto, k. et al, eur. j. biochem. 188, 15-22, 1990). ...	2001	11386417
traversal of candida albicans across human blood-brain barrier in vitro.	candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen, which primarily affects neonates and immunocompromised individuals. the pathogen can invade the central nervous system, resulting in meningitis. at present, the pathogenesis of c. albicans meningitis is unclear. we used an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier to investigate the interaction(s) of c. albicans with human brain microvascular endothelial cells (bmec). binding of c. albicans to human bmec was time and inoculum dependent. invasi ...	2001	11401997
primers and a specific dna probe for detecting lactic acid bacteria producing 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde from glycerol in spoiled ciders.	of the 40 strains isolated from several spoiled ciders where glycerol was degraded, 36 were identified as lactobacillus collinoides, three were lactobacillus hilgardii, and one was lactobacillus mali. however, only 30 l. collinoides and two l. hilgardii could degrade glycerol. the glycerol dehydratase activity was shown. the main product of the transformation was 1.3 propanediol. two dna primers gd1 and gd2 were chosen in the region encoding one of the subunits of glycerol dehydratase of citroba ...	2001	11403134
molecular characterization of a novel plasmid-encoded cefotaximase (ctx-m-12) found in clinical klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from kenya.	nine klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, six from blood and three from cerebrospinal fluid of newborn babies at kenyatta national hospital, nairobi, kenya, were analyzed for the mechanism of cephalosporin resistance. by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of xbai-digested chromosomal dna, all the nine isolates were found to be clonal. pcr and direct sequencing revealed a novel extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, which we designated ctx-m-12. it has a more potent hydrolytic activity against cefotaxi ...	2001	11408239
mechanical carrier of bacterial enteric pathogens by chrysomya megacephala (diptera: calliphoridae) in chiang mai, thailand.	chrysomya megacephala was studied regarding its mechanically bacterial carrier in urban areas of chiang mai, northern thailand. fifty-six adult flies were randomly collected using sweep insect net during april-may, 1999 from 3 fresh food markets and examined for bacteriological isolation. among them, 49 flies (87.5%) were bacterial carriers. the total 22 bacterial species and 8 groups were isolated. three species previously reported as the bacterial enteric pathogens causing diarrheal disease we ...	2000	11414447
detection of beta-lactamase-mediated resistance.	beta-lactams are the most widely used antibiotics, and beta-lactamases are the greatest source of resistance to them. an understanding of beta-lactamase detection and identification is therefore valuable. colorimetric, acidimetric and iodometric tests of beta-lactamase production are good, rapid indicators of penicillin and ampicillin resistance in haemophilus, moraxella and neisseria spp. these methods can also be applied to gram-negative aerobic bacilli but are less useful, since the usual que ...	2001	11420337
identification and strain differentiation of vibrio cholerae by using polyclonal antibodies against outer membrane proteins.	cholera is caused only by o1 and o139 vibrio cholerae strains. for diagnosis, 3 working days are needed for bacterial isolation from human feces and for biochemical characterization. here we describe the purification of bacterial outer membrane proteins (omp) from v. cholerae o1 ogawa, o1 inaba, and o139 strains, as well as the production of specific antisera and their use for fecal vibrio antigen detection. anti-omp antisera showed very high reactivity and specificity by enzyme-linked immunosor ...	2001	11427424
potential impact of the vitek 2 system and the advanced expert system on the clinical laboratory of a university-based hospital.	a study was designed to assess the impact of the vitek 2 automated system and the advanced expert system (aes) on the clinical laboratory of a typical university-based hospital. a total of 259 consecutive, nonduplicate isolates of enterobacteriaceae members, pseudomonas aeruginosa, and staphylococcus aureus were collected and tested by the vitek 2 system for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and the results were analyzed by the aes. the results were also analyzed by a huma ...	2001	11427542
development of a pcr assay for identification of staphylococci at genus and species levels.	we have developed a pcr-based assay which allows the detection of staphylococci at the genus level by targeting the tuf gene, which encodes the elongation factor tu. degenerate pcr primers derived from consensus regions of several tuf genes were used to amplify a target region of 884 bp from 11 representative staphylococcal species. subsequently, the entire nucleotide sequence of these amplicons was determined. the analysis of a multiple alignment of these sequences revealed regions conserved am ...	2001	11427566
direct detection of legionella species from bronchoalveolar lavage and open lung biopsy specimens: comparison of lightcycler pcr, in situ hybridization, direct fluorescence antigen detection, and culture.	we developed a rapid thermocycling, real-time detection (also known as real-time pcr) method for the detection of legionella species directly from clinical specimens. this method uses the lightcycler (roche molecular biochemicals, indianapolis, ind.) and requires approximately 1 to 2 h to perform. both a legionella genus pcr assay and legionella pneumophila species-specific pcr assay were designed. a total of 43 archived specimens from 35 patients were evaluated, including 19 bronchoalveolar lav ...	2001	11427579
clonal origin of aminoglycoside-resistant citrobacter freundii isolates in a danish county.	during 1997, attention was drawn to an increased frequency of aminoglycoside-resistant citrobacterfreundii in a danish county, when a total of 24 resistant c. freundii isolates was detected. in this study, 15 such isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, riboprinting and partial sequencing of the gene encoding translation initiation factor 2. fourteen of the 15 isolates were identical, as evaluated by their antibiograms and by all these typing methods. this epidemic strain harbou ...	2001	11444774
comparative in vitro activity of gemifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and ofloxacin in a north american surveillance study.	the in vitro activity of gemifloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, was compared to three marketed fluoroquinolones; ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and ofloxacin against over 4,000 recent clinical isolates covering 29 species isolated in the united states and canada between 1997-1999. based on mic(90)s, gemifloxacin was the most potent fluoroquinolone tested against a majority of gram-positive isolates: streptococcus pneumoniae, penicillin resistant s. pneumoniae, macrolide resistant s. pneumoniae, cipro ...	2001	11448564
novel cefotaximase (ctx-m-16) with increased catalytic efficiency due to substitution asp-240-->gly.	three clinical strains (escherichia coli rio-6, e. coli rio-7, and enterobacter cloacae rio-9) collected in 1996 and 1999 from hospitals in rio de janeiro (brazil) were resistant to broad-spectrum cephalosporins and gave a positive double-disk synergy test. two bla(ctx-m) genes encoding beta-lactamases of pl 7.9 and 8.2 were implicated in this resistance: the bla(ctx-m-9) gene observed in e. coli rio-7 and e. cloacae rio-9 and a novel ctx-m-encoding gene, designated bla(ctx-m-16), observed in e. ...	2001	11451684