Monitoring Distribution Systems for Legionella Pneumophila Using Legiolert

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Monitoring Distribution Systems for Legionella Pneumophila Using Legiolert Received: 21 September 2018 Revised: 26 November 2018 Accepted: 17 December 2018 DOI: 10.1002/aws2.1122 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Monitoring distribution systems for Legionella pneumophila using Legiolert Mark W. LeChevallier Dr. Water Consulting, Morrison, Colorado This study implemented the Legiolert test (a culture-based assay for L. pneumo- Correspondence Mark W. LeChevallier, Dr. Water Consulting, phila based on the most probable number [MPN]) at 12 utilities to assess their Morrison, Colorado. experiences and to develop a baseline of Legionella pneumophila occurrence in Email: [email protected] drinking water distribution systems. A total of 679 samples were analyzed during Funding information the study: 53 source water, 50 from the plant effluent, and 576 from the distribution IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME system. L. pneumophila was detected in three of five source water samples at one utility but was not detected in any of the treated plant effluent samples. L. pneumophila was detected in only one distribution sample (0.17%) at a concen- tration of 1 MPN/100 mL in a sample that contained 0.72 mg/L free chlorine and was serotyped as belonging to the 2–14 serogroup. Four (0.7%) distribution sam- ples could not be confirmed by serotyping. Overall, the utilities found the test easy to learn and apply in their systems. This study provides a precedent for future mon- itoring of drinking water systems. KEYWORDS distribution, L. pneumophila, Legiolert, Legionella, microbiology 1 | INTRODUCTION L. pneumophila has become the most commonly identi- fied drinking water pathogen, responsible for about two-thirds Legionellosis is a respiratory infection caused by bacteria in of all potable water outbreaks and nearly all the fatalities asso- the genus Legionella. Currently, there are approximately ciated with drinking water outbreaks since 2000 (Benedict 50 species of Legionella consisting of 70 serogroups, but et al., 2017). Although outbreaks typically occur in building Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is responsible for about water systems and cooling towers, potable water utilities typi- 95% of the Legionnaires' disease cases in the United States cally do not monitor for this important pathogen. Legionella is (Fields, Benson, & Besser, 2002). The incidence of Legion- regulated under the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR) naire's disease has increased over 550% since 2000 (Figure 1). with a maximum contaminant level goal (a nonenforceable It is not clear whether the increase is due to increased aware- guideline) of zero Legionella organisms for drinking water ness and testing, an aging population with increased suscepti- (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA], 1989). The bility to the disease, increased Legionella in the environment, rule specifies a treatment technique for Legionella control or some combination of factors. Water is the natural reservoir for Legionellae, and the bacteria are found worldwide in many (e.g., filtration and maintenance of a detectable disinfectant different natural and manmade aquatic environments, such as residual), and therefore, monitoring for Legionella is not cooling towers; water systems in hotels, homes, ships, and fac- required. Although analytical methods existed for Legionella tories; respiratory therapy equipment; fountains; misting detection, the USEPA determined that testing was impractical devices; and spa pools (Fields et al., 2002). to implement, particularly for small systems. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2019 The Authors. AWWA Water Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Water Works Association AWWA Wat Sci. 2019;e1122. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/aws 1of11 https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1122 2of11 LECHEVALLIER Legionnaires’ disease is on the rise tower samples than the Centers for Disease Control and 2000—2016a 2.5 Prevention (CDC) culture method. The objective of this study was primarily to gain 2 U.S. utility experience with the Legiolert method and evalu- 1.5 ate the training and learning curve of the test for both pota- ble and nonpotable water samples. Testing was conducted 1 by 12 water utilities to collect data on the occurrence of 0.5 L. pneumophila in distribution systems. The study organizers worked with one state agency to develop guide- Incidence (cases/100,000 pop.) 0 lines for responding to positive potable water Legionella 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2007 2014 samples. Although this was a small study, it sets important Year precedents for future monitoring of drinking water systems. FIGURE 1 Increase in Legionnaires' disease in the United States. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. aNational Notifiable Disease Surveillance System 2 | MATERIALS AND METHODS Legiolert (IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, ME) is 2.1 | Utility recruitment a culture-based assay for L. pneumophila based on the most A total of 45 water utilities initially expressed interest in partici- probable number (MPN) and similar to the Colilert test. Sar- pating in the study. Details of the study, the number of samples tory, Spies, Lange, Schneider, and Langer (2017) reported to be collected, a description of the analytical procedures, and that the Legiolert test resulted in significantly higher counts an anticipated quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) of L. pneumophila than the standard International Organiza- training was provided (see Appendix S1, Supporting Informa- tion for Standardization (ISO) 11731-2 membrane filtration tion). In addition, each candidate was provided with a data col- method based on a multilaboratory study. They examined lection form and a draft memo that could be used to discuss the 290 paired counts for both the ISO and Legiolert methods, project with state regulators. Many of the prospective utilities with a mean of 132 MPN/100 mL for the Legiolert test expressed concerns about the possibility of detecting (range 0–2,273 MPN/100 mL) compared with a mean of L. pneumophila in their distribution system, and at least one 26 cfu/100 mL for the ISO 11731-2 method (range utility was told by their state regulator that a “do not use” order 0–368 cfu/100 mL). Of the 1,105 isolates examined, 96.7% would be issued if they detected L. pneumophila in their distri- were confirmed by serology to be L. pneumophila (Sartory bution system. That utility subsequently declined to participate. et al., 2017). The superior performance of the Legiolert Other utilities expressed concern about the laboratory workload method was attributed to the broth incubation (rather than or that other projects were currently underway. In the end, membrane filtration) and the extended counting range of the 12 utilities agreed to participate and represented a good geo- Quanti-Tray format. Spies et al. (2018) reported data from a graphic distribution, with five sites along the East coast and multilaboratory study that showed the 100 mL Legiolert four in the West as well as three sites within the center of the MPN method was equivalent to the highest result of either United States. Sites were also distributed equally, with six sites ISO 11731 or ISO 11731-2 regardless of whether nonpneu- both in the northern and southern parts of the United States. mophila species of Legionella were included in the evalua- Table 1 shows the characteristics of the systems. Ten of the tion. The Legiolert method had a specificity for systems used surface water, one used groundwater that was L. pneumophila of 97.9%, comparable to the 95.3% specific- recharged with surface water, and the other had a blend of sur- ity for the ISO 11731 method. The authors concluded that the face water and groundwater. Two systems were unfiltered, one Legiolert method represented a significant improvement in the used ultramembrane filtration, and the others used various enumeration of L. pneumophila from drinking water and forms of granular media filtration. For primary disinfection, related samples. Petrisek and Hall (2018) compared the Legio- two systems used ozone and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, one lert test with method 9,260 J (Standard Methods, 2017) for the used UV alone, two used chlorine dioxide, six used prechlori- enumeration of L. pneumophila from potable and nonpotable nation, and one used prechloramination with sufficient contact waters and reported that Legiolert exhibited higher sensitivity time to meet the SWTR requirements (USEPA, 1989). Five of for the detection of L. pneumophila for potable water and the systems maintained a chloramine residual in the distribu- equivalent sensitivity for nonpotable water. For the Legiolert potable water samples, they reported a false positivity value of tion system, while the other seven sites used free chlorine. <0.5% and a specificity of 100%. Similarly, for the nonpotable 2.2 | Sampling sites water analysis, Legiolert had a false positivity value of <0.9% and a specificity of 100%. Similarly, Rech, Swalla, and The study plan included collecting four raw water, four plant Dobranic (2018) reported increased sensitivity, low false posi- effluent, and approximately 48 distribution system samples tive rates, and less interference for nonpotable water cooling from each utility. Some systems collected additional samples LECHEVALLIER 3of11 TABLE 1 Characteristics of participating systems Utility code Population
Recommended publications
  • Legionnaires' Disease, Pontiac Fever, Legionellosis and Legionella
    Legionnaires’ Disease, Pontiac Fever, Legionellosis and Legionella Q: What is Legionellosis and who is at risk? Legionellosis is an infection caused by Legionella bacteria. Legionellosis can present as two distinct illnesses: Pontiac fever (a self-limited flu-like mild respiratory illness), and Legionnaires’ Disease (a more severe illness involving pneumonia). People of any age can get Legionellosis, but the disease occurs most frequently in persons over 50 years of age. The disease most often affects those who smoke heavily, have chronic lung disease, or have underlying medical conditions that lower their immune system, such as diabetes, cancer, or renal dysfunction. Persons taking certain drugs that lower their immune system, such as steroids, have an increased risk of being affected by Legionellosis. Many people may be infected with Legionella bacteria without developing any symptoms, and others may be treated without having to be hospitalized. Q: What is Legionella? Legionella bacteria are found naturally in freshwater environments such as creeks, ponds and lakes, as well as manmade structures such as plumbing systems and cooling towers. Legionella can multiply in warm water (77°F to 113°F). Legionella pneumophila is responsible for over 90 percent of Legionnaires’ Disease cases and several different species of Legionella are responsible for Pontiac Fever. Q: How is Legionella spread and how does someone acquire Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease/Pontiac Fever)? Legionella bacteria become a health concern when they grow and spread in manmade structures such as plumbing systems, hot water tanks, cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains, showers and faucets. Legionellosis is acquired after inhaling mists from a contaminated water source containing Legionella bacteria.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract Betaproteobacteria Alphaproteobacteria
    Abstract N-210 Contact Information The majority of the soil’s biosphere containins biodiveristy that remains yet to be discovered. The occurrence of novel bacterial phyla in soil, as well as the phylogenetic diversity within bacterial phyla with few cultured representatives (e.g. Acidobacteria, Anne Spain Dr. Mostafa S.Elshahed Verrucomicrobia, and Gemmatimonadetes) have been previously well documented. However, few studies have focused on the Composition, Diversity, and Novelty within Soil Proteobacteria Department of Botany and Microbiology Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics novel phylogenetic diversity within phyla containing numerous cultured representatives. Here, we present a detailed University of Oklahoma Oklahoma State University phylogenetic analysis of the Proteobacteria-affiliated clones identified in a 13,001 nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene clones 770 Van Vleet Oval 307 LSE derived from Oklahoma tall grass prairie soil. Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum in the community, and comprised Norman, OK 73019 Stillwater, OK 74078 25% of total clones. The most abundant and diverse class within the Proteobacteria was Alphaproteobacteria, which comprised 405 325 5255 405 744 6790 39% of Proteobacteria clones, followed by the Deltaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria, which made Anne M. Spain (1), Lee R. Krumholz (1), Mostafa S. Elshahed (2) up 37, 16, and 8% of Proteobacteria clones, respectively. Members of the Epsilonproteobacteria were not detected in the dataset. [email protected] [email protected] Detailed phylogenetic analysis indicated that 14% of the Proteobacteria clones belonged to 15 novel orders and 50% belonged (1) Dept. of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK to orders with no described cultivated representatives or were unclassified.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Information for Microbial Electrochemical Systems Outperform Fixed-Bed Biofilters for Cleaning-Up Urban Wastewater
    Electronic Supplementary Material (ESI) for Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016 Supplementary information for Microbial Electrochemical Systems outperform fixed-bed biofilters for cleaning-up urban wastewater AUTHORS: Arantxa Aguirre-Sierraa, Tristano Bacchetti De Gregorisb, Antonio Berná, Juan José Salasc, Carlos Aragónc, Abraham Esteve-Núñezab* Fig.1S Total nitrogen (A), ammonia (B) and nitrate (C) influent and effluent average values of the coke and the gravel biofilters. Error bars represent 95% confidence interval. Fig. 2S Influent and effluent COD (A) and BOD5 (B) average values of the hybrid biofilter and the hybrid polarized biofilter. Error bars represent 95% confidence interval. Fig. 3S Redox potential measured in the coke and the gravel biofilters Fig. 4S Rarefaction curves calculated for each sample based on the OTU computations. Fig. 5S Correspondence analysis biplot of classes’ distribution from pyrosequencing analysis. Fig. 6S. Relative abundance of classes of the category ‘other’ at class level. Table 1S Influent pre-treated wastewater and effluents characteristics. Averages ± SD HRT (d) 4.0 3.4 1.7 0.8 0.5 Influent COD (mg L-1) 246 ± 114 330 ± 107 457 ± 92 318 ± 143 393 ± 101 -1 BOD5 (mg L ) 136 ± 86 235 ± 36 268 ± 81 176 ± 127 213 ± 112 TN (mg L-1) 45.0 ± 17.4 60.6 ± 7.5 57.7 ± 3.9 43.7 ± 16.5 54.8 ± 10.1 -1 NH4-N (mg L ) 32.7 ± 18.7 51.6 ± 6.5 49.0 ± 2.3 36.6 ± 15.9 47.0 ± 8.8 -1 NO3-N (mg L ) 2.3 ± 3.6 1.0 ± 1.6 0.8 ± 0.6 1.5 ± 2.0 0.9 ± 0.6 TP (mg
    [Show full text]
  • Table S4. Phylogenetic Distribution of Bacterial and Archaea Genomes in Groups A, B, C, D, and X
    Table S4. Phylogenetic distribution of bacterial and archaea genomes in groups A, B, C, D, and X. Group A a: Total number of genomes in the taxon b: Number of group A genomes in the taxon c: Percentage of group A genomes in the taxon a b c cellular organisms 5007 2974 59.4 |__ Bacteria 4769 2935 61.5 | |__ Proteobacteria 1854 1570 84.7 | | |__ Gammaproteobacteria 711 631 88.7 | | | |__ Enterobacterales 112 97 86.6 | | | | |__ Enterobacteriaceae 41 32 78.0 | | | | | |__ unclassified Enterobacteriaceae 13 7 53.8 | | | | |__ Erwiniaceae 30 28 93.3 | | | | | |__ Erwinia 10 10 100.0 | | | | | |__ Buchnera 8 8 100.0 | | | | | | |__ Buchnera aphidicola 8 8 100.0 | | | | | |__ Pantoea 8 8 100.0 | | | | |__ Yersiniaceae 14 14 100.0 | | | | | |__ Serratia 8 8 100.0 | | | | |__ Morganellaceae 13 10 76.9 | | | | |__ Pectobacteriaceae 8 8 100.0 | | | |__ Alteromonadales 94 94 100.0 | | | | |__ Alteromonadaceae 34 34 100.0 | | | | | |__ Marinobacter 12 12 100.0 | | | | |__ Shewanellaceae 17 17 100.0 | | | | | |__ Shewanella 17 17 100.0 | | | | |__ Pseudoalteromonadaceae 16 16 100.0 | | | | | |__ Pseudoalteromonas 15 15 100.0 | | | | |__ Idiomarinaceae 9 9 100.0 | | | | | |__ Idiomarina 9 9 100.0 | | | | |__ Colwelliaceae 6 6 100.0 | | | |__ Pseudomonadales 81 81 100.0 | | | | |__ Moraxellaceae 41 41 100.0 | | | | | |__ Acinetobacter 25 25 100.0 | | | | | |__ Psychrobacter 8 8 100.0 | | | | | |__ Moraxella 6 6 100.0 | | | | |__ Pseudomonadaceae 40 40 100.0 | | | | | |__ Pseudomonas 38 38 100.0 | | | |__ Oceanospirillales 73 72 98.6 | | | | |__ Oceanospirillaceae
    [Show full text]
  • Which Organisms Are Used for Anti-Biofouling Studies
    Table S1. Semi-systematic review raw data answering: Which organisms are used for anti-biofouling studies? Antifoulant Method Organism(s) Model Bacteria Type of Biofilm Source (Y if mentioned) Detection Method composite membranes E. coli ATCC25922 Y LIVE/DEAD baclight [1] stain S. aureus ATCC255923 composite membranes E. coli ATCC25922 Y colony counting [2] S. aureus RSKK 1009 graphene oxide Saccharomycetes colony counting [3] methyl p-hydroxybenzoate L. monocytogenes [4] potassium sorbate P. putida Y. enterocolitica A. hydrophila composite membranes E. coli Y FESEM [5] (unspecified/unique sample type) S. aureus (unspecified/unique sample type) K. pneumonia ATCC13883 P. aeruginosa BAA-1744 composite membranes E. coli Y SEM [6] (unspecified/unique sample type) S. aureus (unspecified/unique sample type) graphene oxide E. coli ATCC25922 Y colony counting [7] S. aureus ATCC9144 P. aeruginosa ATCCPAO1 composite membranes E. coli Y measuring flux [8] (unspecified/unique sample type) graphene oxide E. coli Y colony counting [9] (unspecified/unique SEM sample type) LIVE/DEAD baclight S. aureus stain (unspecified/unique sample type) modified membrane P. aeruginosa P60 Y DAPI [10] Bacillus sp. G-84 LIVE/DEAD baclight stain bacteriophages E. coli (K12) Y measuring flux [11] ATCC11303-B4 quorum quenching P. aeruginosa KCTC LIVE/DEAD baclight [12] 2513 stain modified membrane E. coli colony counting [13] (unspecified/unique colony counting sample type) measuring flux S. aureus (unspecified/unique sample type) modified membrane E. coli BW26437 Y measuring flux [14] graphene oxide Klebsiella colony counting [15] (unspecified/unique sample type) P. aeruginosa (unspecified/unique sample type) graphene oxide P. aeruginosa measuring flux [16] (unspecified/unique sample type) composite membranes E.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomy JN869023
    Species that differentiate periods of high vs. low species richness in unattached communities Species Taxonomy JN869023 Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinomycetales; ACK-M1 JN674641 Bacteria; Bacteroidetes; [Saprospirae]; [Saprospirales]; Chitinophagaceae; Sediminibacterium JN869030 Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinomycetales; ACK-M1 U51104 Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Betaproteobacteria; Burkholderiales; Comamonadaceae; Limnohabitans JN868812 Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Betaproteobacteria; Burkholderiales; Comamonadaceae JN391888 Bacteria; Planctomycetes; Planctomycetia; Planctomycetales; Planctomycetaceae; Planctomyces HM856408 Bacteria; Planctomycetes; Phycisphaerae; Phycisphaerales GQ347385 Bacteria; Verrucomicrobia; [Methylacidiphilae]; Methylacidiphilales; LD19 GU305856 Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Alphaproteobacteria; Rickettsiales; Pelagibacteraceae GQ340302 Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinomycetales JN869125 Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Betaproteobacteria; Burkholderiales; Comamonadaceae New.ReferenceOTU470 Bacteria; Cyanobacteria; ML635J-21 JN679119 Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Betaproteobacteria; Burkholderiales; Comamonadaceae HM141858 Bacteria; Acidobacteria; Holophagae; Holophagales; Holophagaceae; Geothrix FQ659340 Bacteria; Verrucomicrobia; [Pedosphaerae]; [Pedosphaerales]; auto67_4W AY133074 Bacteria; Elusimicrobia; Elusimicrobia; Elusimicrobiales FJ800541 Bacteria; Verrucomicrobia; [Pedosphaerae]; [Pedosphaerales]; R4-41B JQ346769 Bacteria; Acidobacteria; [Chloracidobacteria]; RB41; Ellin6075
    [Show full text]
  • Management Weaknesses Delayed Response to Flint Water Crisis
    U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL Ensuring clean and safe water Compliance with the law Management Weaknesses Delayed Response to Flint Water Crisis Report No. 18-P-0221 July 19, 2018 Report Contributors: Stacey Banks Charles Brunton Kathlene Butler Allison Dutton Tiffine Johnson-Davis Fred Light Jayne Lilienfeld-Jones Tim Roach Luke Stolz Danielle Tesch Khadija Walker Abbreviations CCT Corrosion Control Treatment CFR Code of Federal Regulations EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY Fiscal Year GAO U.S. Government Accountability Office LCR Lead and Copper Rule MDEQ Michigan Department of Environmental Quality OECA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance OIG Office of Inspector General OW Office of Water ppb parts per billion PQL Practical Quantitation Limit PWSS Public Water System Supervision SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act Cover Photo: EPA Region 5 emergency response vehicle in Flint, Michigan. (EPA photo) Are you aware of fraud, waste or abuse in an EPA Office of Inspector General EPA program? 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (2410T) Washington, DC 20460 EPA Inspector General Hotline (202) 566-2391 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (2431T) www.epa.gov/oig Washington, DC 20460 (888) 546-8740 (202) 566-2599 (fax) [email protected] Subscribe to our Email Updates Follow us on Twitter @EPAoig Learn more about our OIG Hotline. Send us your Project Suggestions U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 18-P-0221 Office of Inspector General July 19, 2018 At a Glance Why We Did This Project Management Weaknesses
    [Show full text]
  • Parst Is a Widespread Toxin–Antitoxin Module That Targets Nucleotide Metabolism
    ParST is a widespread toxin–antitoxin module that targets nucleotide metabolism Frank J. Piscottaa, Philip D. Jeffreyb, and A. James Linka,b,c,1 aDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544; bDepartment of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544; and cDepartment of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 Edited by Marlene Belfort, University at Albany, Albany, NY, and approved December 4, 2018 (received for review August 27, 2018) Toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems interfere with essential cellular pro- I toxins are typified by an RNA-level TA interaction, where an cesses and are implicated in bacterial lifestyle adaptations such as antisense RNA binds toxin mRNA to inhibit its translation. Type persistence and the biofilm formation. Here, we present structural, II TA systems function via protein–protein interactions, where biochemical, and functional data on an uncharacterized TA system, binding of the antitoxin to the toxin inhibits its activity (10). Of the COG5654–COG5642 pair. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the two earliest known TA systems mentioned above, hok/sok is this TA pair is found in 2,942 of the 16,286 distinct bacterial species an example of a type I system, while ccdAB is type II (11, 12). in the RefSeq database. We solved a structure of the toxin bound Upon translation, type I toxins are small, hydrophobic peptides to a fragment of the antitoxin to 1.50 Å. This structure suggested that lead to cell lysis through disruption of the plasma mem- that the toxin is a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase (mART). The toxin brane. Type II toxins, however, function through a variety of specifically modifies phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase mechanisms.
    [Show full text]
  • Host-Adaptation in Legionellales Is 2.4 Ga, Coincident with Eukaryogenesis
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/852004; this version posted February 27, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC 4.0 International license. 1 Host-adaptation in Legionellales is 2.4 Ga, 2 coincident with eukaryogenesis 3 4 5 Eric Hugoson1,2, Tea Ammunét1 †, and Lionel Guy1* 6 7 1 Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratories, 8 Uppsala University, Box 582, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden 9 2 Department of Microbial Population Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary 10 Biology, D-24306 Plön, Germany 11 † current address: Medical Bioinformatics Centre, Turku Bioscience, University of Turku, 12 Tykistökatu 6A, 20520 Turku, Finland 13 * corresponding author 14 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/852004; this version posted February 27, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC 4.0 International license. 15 Abstract 16 Bacteria adapting to living in a host cell caused the most salient events in the evolution of 17 eukaryotes, namely the seminal fusion with an archaeon 1, and the emergence of both the 18 mitochondrion and the chloroplast 2. A bacterial clade that may hold the key to understanding 19 these events is the deep-branching gammaproteobacterial order Legionellales – containing 20 among others Coxiella and Legionella – of which all known members grow inside eukaryotic 21 cells 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Legionella Information for Community Public Water Systems, Health Care
    Legionella Information FOR COMMUNITY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS (CPWSs), HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AND ALL TYPES OF BUILDINGS What is Legionella? Legionella is a bacterium commonly found in natural and man-made aquatic environments. Legionella can be found at low concentrations in any public water system. Legionella only poses a health risk when growth occurs in warm stagnant water, the water is aerosolized, and the small droplets are inhaled. Legionella generally does not pose a health risk if a person drinks the water. Those that are infected may develop legionellosis, a type of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease, or a flu-like illness called Pontiac fever. There has been an increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases nationwide and in Minnesota, with 17 confirmed cases in 2004 and 115 cases in 2016. The risk to people depends on many factors, including: 1. Amplification or growth of Legionella. ▪ Conditions such as water temperatures between 77oF and 108oF, stagnation, and the presence of scale, sediment, biofilm, and protozoa promote amplification of Legionella. 2. Aerosolization of colonized water. ▪ Common modes of aerosolization include showers and faucets, cooling towers, hot tubs, and decorative fountains and water features. 3. Size of the water droplets. 4. Strain of Legionella. 5. Susceptibility of exposed individual. ▪ Those who are over 50 years of age, are male, smoke, have chronic lung disease, and/or are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed are more susceptible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 5,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease are reported each year in the United States, and one out of every 10 people who get Legionnaires’ disease will die.
    [Show full text]
  • Wedding Higher Taxonomic Ranks with Metabolic Signatures Coded in Prokaryotic Genomes
    Wedding higher taxonomic ranks with metabolic signatures coded in prokaryotic genomes Gregorio Iraola*, Hugo Naya* Corresponding authors: E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] This PDF file includes: Supplementary Table 1 Supplementary Figures 1 to 4 Supplementary Methods SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES Supplementary Tab. 1 Supplementary Tab. 1. Full prediction for the set of 108 external genomes used as test. genome domain phylum class order family genus prediction alphaproteobacterium_LFTY0 Bacteria Proteobacteria Alphaproteobacteria Rhodobacterales Rhodobacteraceae Unknown candidatus_nasuia_deltocephalinicola_PUNC_CP013211 Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Unknown Unknown Unknown candidatus_sulcia_muelleri_PUNC_CP013212 Bacteria Bacteroidetes Flavobacteriia Flavobacteriales NA Candidatus Sulcia deinococcus_grandis_ATCC43672_BCMS0 Bacteria Deinococcus-Thermus Deinococci Deinococcales Deinococcaceae Deinococcus devosia_sp_H5989_CP011300 Bacteria Proteobacteria Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown micromonospora_RV43_LEKG0 Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Micromonosporales Micromonosporaceae Micromonospora nitrosomonas_communis_Nm2_CP011451 Bacteria Proteobacteria Betaproteobacteria Nitrosomonadales Nitrosomonadaceae Unknown nocardia_seriolae_U1_BBYQ0 Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Corynebacteriales Nocardiaceae Nocardia nocardiopsis_RV163_LEKI01 Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Streptosporangiales Nocardiopsaceae Nocardiopsis oscillatoriales_cyanobacterium_MTP1_LNAA0 Bacteria Cyanobacteria NA Oscillatoriales
    [Show full text]
  • Legionella Monitoring in NYC's Distribution System
    Legionella Monitoring in NYC’s Distribution System ENOMA OMOREGIE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING CONFERENCE 2019 Legionella spp. Monitoring in the New York City Drinking Water Distribution System (LMINDS) Joint study between the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Four primary study questions: What is the prevalence and geographic distribution of Legionella in NYC’s water distribution system? What Legionella species inhabit the NYC distribution system, and how do they relate to species described in clinical and environmental studies? How do environmental factors such as physiochemical water parameters, water age, disinfectant levels etc., and utility management practices correlate with the presence of Legionella? Can utility management practices that reduce Legionella levels be identified? What is Legionella? Gram negative bacterium that is part of the Gammaproteobacteria. Naturally occurring and often found in aquatic systems: rivers, streams, cooling towers, hot and cold domestic water systems etc. Grows optimally at around 35°C. Causative agent of legionellosis. Source: CDC.gov; Chemology.com.au Legionellosis is two distinct syndromes Legionnaires’ disease, which is a serious type of pneumonia. ~6,000 reported cases per year in the USA and NYC has about 200 ‐ 440 cases per year. 9% mortality rate. Risk factors include smoking, chronic lung disease, age, and a compromised immune system.
    [Show full text]