Francisella Tularensis Blue-Grey Phase Variation Involves Structural
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Francisella Spp. Infections in Farmed and Wild Fish. ICES CM 2008/D:07
ICES CM 2008/D:07 Francisella spp. infections in farmed and wild fish Duncan J. Colquhoun1, Adam Zerihun2 and Jarle Mikalsen3 National Veterinary Institute, Section for Fish Health, Ullevaalsveien 68, 0454 Oslo, Norway 1 tel: +47 23 21 61 41; fax: +47 23 21 61 01; e-mail: [email protected] 2 tel: +47 23 21 61 08; fax: +47 23 21 61 01; e-mail: [email protected] 3 tel: +47 23 21 61 55; fax: +47 23 21 61 01; e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Bacteria within the genus Francisella are non-motile, Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, facultatively intracellular cocco-bacilli. While the genus includes pathogens of warm-blooded animals including humans, and potential bioterror agents, there is also increasing evidence of a number of as yet unrecognised environmental species. Due to their nutritionally fastidious nature, bacteria of the genus Francisella are generally difficult to culture, and growth is also commonly inhibited by the presence of other bacteria within sample material. For these reasons, Francisella-related fish disease may be under-diagnosed. Following the discovery in 2004/2005 that a granulomatous disease in farmed and wild Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is caused by a previously undescribed member of this genus (Francisella philomiragia subsp. noatunensis), similar diseases have been identified in fish in at least seven countries around the world. These infections affect both freshwater and marine fish species and involve bacteria more or less closely related to F. philomiragia subsp. philomiragia, an opportunistic human pathogen. Recent work relating to characterisation of the disease/s, classification of fish pathogenic Francisella spp. -
Francisella Tularensis 6/06 Tularemia Is a Commonly Acquired Laboratory Colony Morphology Infection; All Work on Suspect F
Francisella tularensis 6/06 Tularemia is a commonly acquired laboratory Colony Morphology infection; all work on suspect F. tularensis cultures .Aerobic, fastidious, requires cysteine for growth should be performed at minimum under BSL2 .Grows poorly on Blood Agar (BA) conditions with BSL3 practices. .Chocolate Agar (CA): tiny, grey-white, opaque A colonies, 1-2 mm ≥48hr B .Cysteine Heart Agar (CHA): greenish-blue colonies, 2-4 mm ≥48h .Colonies are butyrous and smooth Gram Stain .Tiny, 0.2–0.7 μm pleomorphic, poorly stained gram-negative coccobacilli .Mostly single cells Growth on BA (A) 48 h, (B) 72 h Biochemical/Test Reactions .Oxidase: Negative A B .Catalase: Weak positive .Urease: Negative Additional Information .Can be misidentified as: Haemophilus influenzae, Actinobacillus spp. by automated ID systems .Infective Dose: 10 colony forming units Biosafety Level 3 agent (once Francisella tularensis is . Growth on CA (A) 48 h, (B) 72 h suspected, work should only be done in a certified Class II Biosafety Cabinet) .Transmission: Inhalation, insect bite, contact with tissues or bodily fluids of infected animals .Contagious: No Acceptable Specimen Types .Tissue biopsy .Whole blood: 5-10 ml blood in EDTA, and/or Inoculated blood culture bottle Swab of lesion in transport media . Gram stain Sentinel Laboratory Rule-Out of Francisella tularensis Oxidase Little to no growth on BA >48 h Small, grey-white opaque colonies on CA after ≥48 h at 35/37ºC Positive Weak Negative Positive Catalase Tiny, pleomorphic, faintly stained, gram-negative coccobacilli (red, round, and random) Perform all additional work in a certified Class II Positive Biosafety Cabinet Weak Negative Positive *Oxidase: Negative Urease *Catalase: Weak positive *Urease: Negative *Oxidase, Catalase, and Urease: Appearances of test results are not agent-specific. -
Burkholderia Cenocepacia Intracellular Activation of the Pyrin
Activation of the Pyrin Inflammasome by Intracellular Burkholderia cenocepacia Mikhail A. Gavrilin, Dalia H. A. Abdelaziz, Mahmoud Mostafa, Basant A. Abdulrahman, Jaykumar Grandhi, This information is current as Anwari Akhter, Arwa Abu Khweek, Daniel F. Aubert, of September 29, 2021. Miguel A. Valvano, Mark D. Wewers and Amal O. Amer J Immunol 2012; 188:3469-3477; Prepublished online 24 February 2012; doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1102272 Downloaded from http://www.jimmunol.org/content/188/7/3469 Supplementary http://www.jimmunol.org/content/suppl/2012/02/24/jimmunol.110227 Material 2.DC1 http://www.jimmunol.org/ References This article cites 71 articles, 17 of which you can access for free at: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/188/7/3469.full#ref-list-1 Why The JI? Submit online. • Rapid Reviews! 30 days* from submission to initial decision by guest on September 29, 2021 • No Triage! Every submission reviewed by practicing scientists • Fast Publication! 4 weeks from acceptance to publication *average Subscription Information about subscribing to The Journal of Immunology is online at: http://jimmunol.org/subscription Permissions Submit copyright permission requests at: http://www.aai.org/About/Publications/JI/copyright.html Email Alerts Receive free email-alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up at: http://jimmunol.org/alerts The Journal of Immunology is published twice each month by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc., 1451 Rockville Pike, Suite 650, Rockville, MD 20852 Copyright © 2012 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0022-1767 Online ISSN: 1550-6606. The Journal of Immunology Activation of the Pyrin Inflammasome by Intracellular Burkholderia cenocepacia Mikhail A. -
Original Article COMPARISON of MAST BURKHOLDERIA CEPACIA, ASHDOWN + GENTAMICIN, and BURKHOLDERIA PSEUDOMALLEI SELECTIVE AGAR
European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 7 (2017) 1, pp. 15–36 Original article DOI: 10.1556/1886.2016.00037 COMPARISON OF MAST BURKHOLDERIA CEPACIA, ASHDOWN + GENTAMICIN, AND BURKHOLDERIA PSEUDOMALLEI SELECTIVE AGAR FOR THE SELECTIVE GROWTH OF BURKHOLDERIA SPP. Carola Edler1, Henri Derschum2, Mirko Köhler3, Heinrich Neubauer4, Hagen Frickmann5,6,*, Ralf Matthias Hagen7 1 Department of Dermatology, German Armed Forces Hospital of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany 2 CBRN Defence, Safety and Environmental Protection School, Science Division 3 Bundeswehr Medical Academy, Munich, Germany 4 Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany 5 Department of Tropical Medicine at the Bernhard Nocht Institute, German Armed Forces Hospital of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany 6 Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany 7 Department of Preventive Medicine, Bundeswehr Medical Academy, Munich, Germany Received: November 18, 2016; Accepted: December 5, 2016 Reliable identification of pathogenic Burkholderia spp. like Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei in clinical samples is desirable. Three different selective media were assessed for reliability and selectivity with various Burkholderia spp. and non- target organisms. Mast Burkholderia cepacia agar, Ashdown + gentamicin agar, and B. pseudomallei selective agar were compared. A panel of 116 reference strains and well-characterized clinical isolates, comprising 30 B. pseudomallei, 20 B. mallei, 18 other Burkholderia spp., and 48 nontarget organisms, was used for this assessment. While all B. pseudomallei strains grew on all three tested selective agars, the other Burkholderia spp. showed a diverse growth pattern. Nontarget organisms, i.e., nonfermentative rod-shaped bacteria, other species, and yeasts, grew on all selective agars. -
Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens of the Genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Francisella in Ixodes Ricinus Ticks in Pomerania (Poland)
pathogens Article Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens of the Genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Francisella in Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Pomerania (Poland) Lucyna Kirczuk 1 , Mariusz Piotrowski 2 and Anna Rymaszewska 2,* 1 Department of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c Street, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; [email protected] 2 Department of Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Felczaka 3c Street, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Tick-borne pathogens are an important medical and veterinary issue worldwide. Environ- mental monitoring in relation to not only climate change but also globalization is currently essential. The present study aimed to detect tick-borne pathogens of the genera Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Francisella in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from the natural environment, i.e., recreational areas and pastures used for livestock grazing. A total of 1619 specimens of I. ricinus were collected, including ticks of all life stages (adults, nymphs and larvae). The study was performed using the PCR technique. Diagnostic gene fragments msp2 for Anaplasma, gltA for Rickettsia and tul4 for Francisella were ampli- fied. No Francisella spp. DNA was detected in I. ricinus. DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in 0.54% of ticks and Rickettsia spp. in 3.69%. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that only one species of Rickettsia, R. helvetica, was present in the studied tick population. The present results are a Citation: Kirczuk, L.; Piotrowski, M.; part of a large-scale analysis aimed at monitoring the level of tick infestation in Northwest Poland. -
Francisella Tularensis Subspecies Holarctica and Tularemia in Germany
microorganisms Review Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica and Tularemia in Germany 1, 2, 3 1 1 Sandra Appelt y, Mirko Faber y , Kristin Köppen , Daniela Jacob , Roland Grunow and Klaus Heuner 3,* 1 Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 2), Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; [email protected] (S.A.); [email protected] (D.J.); [email protected] (R.G.) 2 Gastrointestinal Infections, Zoonoses and Tropical Infections (Division 35), Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; [email protected] 3 Cellular Interactions of Bacterial Pathogens, ZBS 2, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +49-301-8754-2226 These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 27 August 2020; Accepted: 18 September 2020; Published: 22 September 2020 Abstract: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis a small, pleomorphic, facultative intracellular bacterium. In Europe, infections in animals and humans are caused mainly by Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica. Humans can be exposed to the pathogen directly and indirectly through contact with sick animals, carcasses, mosquitoes and ticks, environmental sources such as contaminated water or soil, and food. So far, F. tularensis subsp. holarctica is the only Francisella species known to cause tularemia in Germany. On the basis of surveillance data, outbreak investigations, and literature, we review herein the epidemiological situation—noteworthy clinical cases next to genetic diversity of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica strains isolated from patients. In the last 15 years, the yearly number of notified cases of tularemia has increased steadily in Germany, suggesting that the disease is re-emerging. -
Francisella Tularensis
The Genetic Composition and Diversity of Francisella tularensis Pär Larsson Akademisk avhandling som med vederbörligt tillstånd av rektorsämbetet vid Umeå Universitet för avläggande av medicine doktorsexamen i klinisk mikrobiologi med inriktning mot bakteriologi vid Medicinska fakulteten, framlägges till offentligt försvar vid Institutionen för Klinisk Mikrobiologi, sal E04 byggnad 6, torsdagen den 31 maj 2007, klockan 09.00. Avhandlingen kommer att försvaras på engelska. Fakultetsopponent: Dr. Andrew K Benson Department of Food Science & Technology University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska USA Department of Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Bacteriology Umeå University Umeå 2007 Organization Document type UMEÅ UNIVERSITY DOCTORAL DISSERTATION Department of Clinical Microbiology Date of publication SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden May 2007 Author Pär Larsson Title The Genetic Composition and Diversity of Francisella tularensis Abstract Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of the debilitating, sometimes fatal zoonotic disease tularemia. Despite all F. tularensis bacteria having very similar genotypes and phenotypes, the disease varies significantly in severity depending on the subspecies of the infectious strain. To date, little information has been available on the genetic makeup of this pathogen, its evolution, and the genetic differences which characterize subspecific lineages. These are the main areas addressed in this thesis. Using the F. tularensis subsp. tularensis SCHU S4 strain as a genetic reference, microarray-based comparative genomic hybridisations were used to investigate the differences in genomic composition of F. tularensis isolates. Overall, the strains analysed were very similar, matching the high degree of conservation previously observed at the sequence level. One striking finding was that subsp. mediasiatica was most similar to subsp. tularensis, despite their natural confinement to Central Asia and North America, respectively. -
Tularemia – Epidemiology
This first edition of theWHO guidelines on tularaemia is the WHO GUIDELINES ON TULARAEMIA result of an international collaboration, initiated at a WHO meeting WHO GUIDELINES ON in Bath, UK in 2003. The target audience includes clinicians, laboratory personnel, public health workers, veterinarians, and any other person with an interest in zoonoses. Tularaemia Tularaemia is a bacterial zoonotic disease of the northern hemisphere. The bacterium (Francisella tularensis) is highly virulent for humans and a range of animals such as rodents, hares and rabbits. Humans can infect themselves by direct contact with infected animals, by arthropod bites, by ingestion of contaminated water or food, or by inhalation of infective aerosols. There is no human-to-human transmission. In addition to its natural occurrence, F. tularensis evokes great concern as a potential bioterrorism agent. F. tularensis subspecies tularensis is one of the most infectious pathogens known in human medicine. In order to avoid laboratory-associated infection, safety measures are needed and consequently, clinical laboratories do not generally accept specimens for culture. However, since clinical management of cases depends on early recognition, there is an urgent need for diagnostic services. The book provides background information on the disease, describes the current best practices for its diagnosis and treatment in humans, suggests measures to be taken in case of epidemics and provides guidance on how to handle F. tularensis in the laboratory. ISBN 978 92 4 154737 6 WHO EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC ALERT AND RESPONSE WHO Guidelines on Tularaemia EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC ALERT AND RESPONSE WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data WHO Guidelines on Tularaemia. -
The History of Chemical and Biological Warfare: an American
History of Chemical and Biological Warfare: An American Perspective Chapter 2 HISTORY OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE: AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE JEFFERY K. SMART, M.A.* INTRODUCTION PRE–WORLD WAR I DEVELOPMENTS WORLD WAR I THE 1920S: THE LEAN YEARS THE 1930S: THE GROWING THREAT OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THE 1940S: WORLD WAR II AND THE NUCLEAR AGE THE 1950S: HEYDAY OF THE CHEMICAL CORPS THE 1960S: DECADE OF TURMOIL THE 1970S: THE NEAR END OF THE CHEMICAL CORPS THE 1980S: THE RETURN OF THE CHEMICAL CORPS THE 1990S: THE THREAT MATERIALIZES SUMMARY *Command Historian, U.S. Army Chemical and Biological Defense Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5423 9 Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare INTRODUCTION Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines or biological warfare went virtually unnoticed by the term “chemical warfare,” first used in 1917, the U.S. Army. By the end of World War I, the situ- as “tactical warfare using incendiary mixtures, ation had drastically changed. Chemical warfare smokes, or irritant, burning, poisonous, or asphyx- had been used against and by American soldiers iating gases.” A working definition of a chem- on the battlefield. Biological warfare had been used ical agent is “a chemical which is intended for covertly on several fronts. In an effort to determine use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, what had gone wrong with their planning and train- or incapacitate man because of its physiological ing, U.S. Army officers prepared a history of chemi- effects. Excluded from consideration are riot con- cal and biological warfare. To their surprise, they trol agents, chemical herbicides and smoke found numerous documented cases of chemical and and flame materials.”1(p1-1) Chemical agents were biological agents having been used or proposed to usually divided into five categories: nerve agents, influence the outcome of a battle or campaign. -
A Dissertation Entitled Characterization of a Novel
A Dissertation entitled Characterization of a novel Francisella tularensis Virulence Factor Involved in Cell Wall Repair by Briana Collette Zellner Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biomedical Sciences ___________________________________________ Jason Huntley, Ph.D., Major Advisor ___________________________________________ R. Mark Wooten, Ph.D., Committee Member ___________________________________________ Jyl Matson, Ph.D., Committee Member ___________________________________________ Robert Blumenthal, Ph.D. Committee Member ___________________________________________ R. Travis Taylor, Ph.D., Committee Member ___________________________________________ Cyndee Gruden, PhD, Dean College of Graduate Studies The University of Toledo December 2019 © 2019 Briana Collette Zellner This document is copyrighted material. Under copyright law, no parts of this document may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author. An Abstract of Characterization of a Novel Francisella tularensis Virulence Factor Involved in Cell Wall Repair by Briana Collette Zellner Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biomedical Sciences The University of Toledo December 2019 Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is one of the most dangerous bacterial pathogens known. F. tularensis has a low infectious dose, is easily aerosolized, and induces high morbidity and mortality; thus, it -
Rudderless: the Chemical Weapons Convention at 1 ½
Rudderless: The Chemical Weapons Convention At 1 ½ Amy E. Smithson Report No. 25 September 1998 Copyright© 1998 11 Dupont Circle, NW Ninth Floor Washington, DC 20036 phone 202.223.5956 fax 202.238.9604 http://www.stimson.org email [email protected] Rudderless: The Chemical Weapons Convention At 1 1/2 Amy E. Smithson INTRODUCTION On the 29th of April 1997, the majority of the world’s nations joined to activate an arms control and nonproliferation accord that will gradually compel the elimination of one of the most abhorred classes of weapons of all times. Previously, the international community had fallen short of the mark in efforts to try to abolish poison gas, despite the opprobrium following its widespread use in World War I.1 The new Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) extends the no use-prohibitions of the 1925 Geneva Protocol2 to outlaw the development, acquisition, production, transfer, and stockpiling of chemical weapons as well. The CWC requires the destruction of chemical weapons production facilities and arsenals over a ten-year period, and countries will witness the shrinking numbers of poison gas factories and munitions. A less tangible function of the CWC, but one that may turn out to be equally valued over the long term is that the CWC will help redefine how states assure their national security. The CWC requires nations to declare activities that were previously considered state secrets and private business information. The treaty authorizes routine and challenge inspections to monitor compliance with its prohibitions. Instead of building large caches of arms, the CWC’s verification processes give governments reason to be confident that managed transparency—a limited waiver of state sovereignty—can enhance national and international security. -
Francisella Novicida–Causing Two Samples of Blood Cultures from Peripheral Lines Bacteremia in a Woman from Thailand Who Was Receiving Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer
she was treated with lamivudine. A follow-up visit in early Emergence of September showed that her liver function biochemistry re- sults had returned to within normal limits. Chemotherapy Francisella with carboplastin and paclitaxel was then initiated. At the time of admission, 25 days after the start of novicida chemotherapy, the patient had fever (39oC), blood pressure 90/60 mm Hg, and pulse rate 75 beats/min. She also had Bacteremia, an episode of gastrointestinal hemorrhage with melena. It Thailand was believed that fever and gastrointestinal bleeding were complications from chemotherapy; thus, microbiologic Amornrut Leelaporn, Samaporn Yongyod, investigation was not promptly initiated. Abnormal labo- Sunee Limsrivanichakorn, Thitiya Yungyuen, ratory fi ndings included anemia (hemoglobin 80 g/L) and and Pattarachai Kiratisin leukocytosis with marked neutrophilia (Figure). Urine and stool cultures showed insignifi cant growth. We report isolation of Francisella novicida–causing Two samples of blood cultures from peripheral lines bacteremia in a woman from Thailand who was receiving chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. The organism was iso- were obtained using BacT/Alert FA bottles (bioMérieux, lated from blood cultures and identifi ed by 16S rDNA and Durham, NC, USA) on day 10 of hospital admission and PPIase gene analyses. Diagnosis and treatment were de- incubated in the continuous monitoring BacT/Alert 3D sys- layed due to unawareness of the disease in this region. tem (bioMérieux). Both blood culture bottles grew small pleomorphic gram-negative coccobacillus after incubation for 2 days. Samples from positive bottles were subcultured rancisella novicida, a rare human pathogen, has recent- onto 5% (vol/vol) sheep blood agar, MacConkey agar, and Fly been considered to be a subspecies of F.