Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-09-30"
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- Bioinformatics study of expression from genomes of epidemiologically related MRSA CC398 isolates from human and wild animal samplesPublication . Ribeiro, Miguel; Sousa, Margarida; Borges, Vítor; Gomes, João Paulo; Duarte, Sílvia; Isidro, Joana; Vieira, Luís; Torres, Carmen; Santos, Hugo; Capelo, José Luís; Poeta, Patrícia; Igrejas, GilbertoOne of the most important livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) genetic lineages is the clonal complex (CC) 398, which can cause typical S. aureus-associated infections in people. In this work, whole-genome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, and gel-based comparative proteomics were applied to study the genetic characteristics of three MRSA CC398 isolates recovered from humans (strains C5621 and C9017), and from an animal (strain OR418). Of the three strains, C9017 presented the broadest resistance genotype, including resistance to fluroquinolone, clindamycin, tiamulin, macrolide and aminoglycoside antimicrobial classes. The scn, sak, and chp genes of the immune evasion cluster system were solely detected in OR418. Pangenome analysis showed a total of 288 strain-specific genes, most of which are hypothetical or phage-related proteins. OR418 had the most pronounced genetic differences. RNAIII (δ-hemolysin) gene was clearly the most expressed gene in OR418 and C5621, but it was not detected in C9017. Significant differences in the proteome profiles were found between strains. For example, the immunoglobulin-binding protein Sbi was more abundant in OR418. Considering that Sbi is a multifunctional immune evasion factor in S. aureus, the results point to OR418 strain having high zoonotic potential. Overall, multiomics biomarker signatures can assume an important role to advance precision medicine in the years to come. SIGNIFICANCE: MRSA is one of the most representative drug-resistant pathogens and its dissemination is increasing due to MRSA capability of establishing new reservoirs. LA-MRSA is considered an emerging problem worldwide and CC398 is one of the most important genetic lineages. In this study, three MRSA CC398 isolates recovered from humans and from a wild animal were analyzed through whole-genome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, and gel-based comparative proteomics in order to gather systems-wide omics data and better understand the genetic characteristics of this lineage to identify distinctive markers and genomic features of relevance to public health.
- Monkeypox: From A Neglected Tropical Disease to a Public Health ThreatPublication . Antunes, Francisco; Cordeiro, Rita; Virgolino, AnaSince the first case of human monkeypox was diagnosed in 1970, the disease remained endemic in several countries in West and Central Africa. In 1996, there was a sudden increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and since 2017 an ongoing outbreak in Nigeria took place, probably related to the population growth, human invasion of MPXV animal habitat reservoirs, and the waning of the cross-protection offered from smallpox immunization, later ending in 1980. Since May 2022, an unprecedented outbreak of human monkeypox has rapidly spread around the world, outside endemic regions of Africa, through new modes of transmission, showing differences in clinical features compared with previous reports. The 2022 MPXV strain belongs to the clade of West Africa but diverges from the original strain, making the virus more transmissible. The authors review the main milestones in more than 50 years of history of human monkeypox, from a rare viral zoonotic infection to a public health emergency.
- The time is now: Achieving FH paediatric screening across Europe – The Prague DeclarationPublication . Bedlington, Nicole; Abifadel, Marianne; Beger, Birgit; Bourbon, Mafalda; Bueno, Héctor; Ceska, Richard; Cillíková, Kristýna; Cimická, Zdenka; Daccord, Magdalena; Beaufort, Carine de; Dharmayat, Kanika I.; Ference, Brian A.; Freiberger, Tomáš; Geanta, Marius; Gidding, Samuel S.; Grošelj, Urh; Halle, Martin; Johnson, Neil; Novakovic, Tanja; Májek, Ondrej; Pallidis, Athanasios; Peretti, Noel; Pinto, Fausto J.; Ray, Kausik Kosh; Rees, Bleddyn; Reeve, John; Reiner, Željko; Santos, Raul D.; Schunkert, Heribert; Šikonja, Jaka; Sokolovic, Milka; Tokgözoglu, Lale; Vrablík, Michal; Wiegman, Albert; Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea, IñakiFamilial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is severely under-recognized, under-diagnosed and under-treated in Europe, leading to a significantly higher risk of premature cardiovascular diseases in those affected. FH stands for inherited, very high cholesterol and affects 1:300 individuals regardless of their age, race, sex, and lifestyle, making it the most common inherited metabolic disorder and a non-modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factor in the world.