ObjectivesStaphylococcal biofilms are among the main causes of chronic implant-associated infections. We have recently suggested that their transformation into viable but non-culturable (VBNC) forms (i.e. capable resuscitation) could be responsible for recurrent symptoms. This work aims to establish whether Staphylococcus aureus can give rise VBNC being resuscitated in suitable environmental conditions, role different stressors inducing state and conditions favouring resuscitation.

Aquaculture is an expanding activity worldwide. However its rapid growth can affect the aquatic environment through release of large amounts chemicals, including antibiotics. Moreover, presence organic matter and bacteria different origin favor gene transfer recombination. Whereas consequences such activities on environmental microbiota are well explored, little known their effects allochthonous potentially pathogenic bacteria, as enterococci. Sediments from three sampling stations (two...

Plastic debris in aquatic environments is colonized by microbes, yet factors influencing biofilm development and composition on plastics remain poorly understood. Here, we explored the microbial assemblages associated with different types of plastic collected from two coastal sites Mediterranean Sea. All samples were heavily prokaryotes, abundances up to 1.9×107 cells/cm2. Microbial significantly differed between geographic areas but not polymer types, suggesting a major role environment as...

Abstract Purpose To investigate the occurrence of vancomycin-variable enterococci (VVE) in a hospital central Italy. Methods vanA positive but vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium isolates (VVE-S) were characterized by antibiotic susceptibility tests, molecular typing (PFGE and MLST), WGS approach. The reversion VVE-S to resistant phenotype was assessed exposure increasing vancomycin concentrations, revertant used filter mating experiments. qPCR analyze plasmid copy number. Results...

Phim46.1, the recognized representative of most common variant mobile, prophage-associated genetic elements carrying resistance genes mef(A) (which confers efflux-mediated erythromycin resistance) and tet(O) tetracycline in Streptococcus pyogenes, was fully characterized. Sequencing Phim46.1 genome (55,172 bp) demonstrated a modular organization typical tailed bacteriophages. Electron microscopic analysis mitomycin-induced revealed phage particles with distinctive icosahedral head tail...

The aim of this study was to detect and characterize antibiotic-resistant enterococci in seawater sediment from a Mediterranean aquaculture site where no antibiotics are used. Colonies (650) grown on Slanetz-Bartley (SB) agar were amplified antibiotic-supplemented SB, erythromycin (ERY), tetracycline (TET), ampicillin (AMP) MICs determined. Of 75 resistant isolates (17 TET, 5 ERY, 45 AMP), Enterococcus faecalis, 25 E. faecium, casseliflavus, 1 gallinarum, durans, 23 spp. identified by genus-...

Enterococcus faecium E35048, a bloodstream isolate from Italy, was the first strain where oxazolidinone resistance gene optrA detected outside China. The also positive for cfr. WGS analysis revealed that two genes were linked (23.1 kb apart), being co-carried by 41,816-bp plasmid named pE35048-oc. This carried macrolide erm(B) and backbone related to of well-known faecalis pRE25 (identity 96%, coverage 65%). context original, part composite transposon, Tn6628, which integrated into encoding...

Abstract Objectives To characterize the optrA-, cfr(D)- and vanA-carrying linear plasmids detected in three MDR enterococcal clinical isolates. Methods Enterococcus faecium (868), E. (1001) faecalis (2048), which were linezolid- vancomycin-resistant due to presence of optrA, cfr(D) vanA genes, tested for their susceptibility several antibiotics. Characterization genetic elements carrying antibiotic resistance genes ST determination achieved using WGS data. The plasmid topology was evaluated...

Streptococcus suis, a major porcine pathogen, is emerging as zoonotic agent capable of causing severe invasive disease in humans exposed to pigs or pork products. S. suis infection rare industrialised countries and usually arises sporadic cases, with meningitis the most common clinical presentation humans. Recent reports two cases Sardinia north-eastern Italy prompted this first characterisation Italian isolates. Fifty-nine strains, recent human strains 57 swine isolates collected between...

Despite the recognized potential of long-term survival or even growth fecal indicators bacteria (FIB) in marine sediments, this compartment is largely ignored by health protection authorities. We conducted a large-scale study over approximately 50 km Marche coasts (Adriatic Sea) at depths ranging from 2 to 5 m. Total and coliforms (FC) were counted culture-based methods. Escherichia coli was also quantified using fluorescence situ hybridization targeting specific 16S rRNA sequences, which...

ABSTRACT The spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is widely recognized, but data about their sources, presence, and significance in marine environments are still limited. We examined 109 Escherichia coli strains from coastal sediments carrying virulence genes for antibiotic susceptibility, specific resistance genes, prevalence class 1 2 integrons, sequence type. Antibiotic was found 35% strains, multiple resistances were 14%; the detected most frequently against tetracycline (28%),...

Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are used worldwide to assess water quality in coastal environments, but little is known about their genetic diversity and pathogenicity. This study examines the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, of FIB isolated from marine sediments a central Adriatic seaside resort. FIB, recovered 6 out 7 sites, were significantly more abundant at sampling stations 300 m offshore than close shore. Escherichia coli accounted for 34.5% fecal coliforms,...

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 producers, are still rare in Italy, being endemic Southeast Asiatic region. In October 2016, a multidrug-resistant K. was isolated from blood and urine of an Italian long-hospitalized patient with urosepsis without travel history abroad. To the best our knowledge, this is first report bacteremia caused by ST16 pneuomoniae OXA-232 co-producing carbapenemase, Italy.

In this study, a drug discovery programme that sought to identify novel dual bacterial topoisomerase II inhibitors (NBTIs) led the selection of six optimized compounds. enzymatic assays, molecules showed equivalent dual-targeting activity against DNA gyrase and IV enzymes Staphylococcus aureus Escherichia coli. Consistently, compounds demonstrated potent in susceptibility tests various Gram-positive Gram-negative reference species, including ciprofloxacin-resistant strains. The clinical...

LY333328 is a semisynthetic N-alkyl derivative of LY264826, naturally occurring structural analog vancomycin. was evaluated for its in vitro inhibitory and bactericidal activities comparison with those the two currently available glycopeptides (vancomycin teicoplanin). Glycopeptide-susceptible test strains included total 311 isolates (most clinical origin) from genera Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Aerococcus, Gemella, Lactococcus, Listeria, Corynebacterium, Clostridium. Test...

To gain insights into the relationships and genetic exchange among environmental clinical enterococci, 59 strains (29 from marine aquaculture sites 30 settings) resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin and/or gentamicin were analysed for antibiotic resistance tet(M), tet(L), tet(O), erm(A), erm(B), mef blaZ, aac(6')-Ie aph(2″)-Ia virulence gelE, cylB, efaA esp genes, copper gene tcrB. Antibiotic genes detected more frequently in than enterococci; opposite was true resistance....

Routine culture-based diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients can be hampered by the phenotypic variability microorganism, including its transition to a Viable But Non-Culturable (VBNC) state. The aim this study was validate an ecfX-targeting qPCR protocol developed detect all viable P. bacteria and identify VBNC forms CF sputum samples. involved 115 strains different origins 10 non-P. 88 samples, 41 Culture-Positive (CP) 47 Culture-Negative (CN)....

Linezolid is a last-resort antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive organisms; although linezolid resistance remains uncommon, number linezolid-resistant enterococci has increased in recent years due to worldwide spread acquired genes (cfr, optrA, and poxtA) clinical, animal, environmental settings. In this study, we investigated occurrence marine samples from two coastal areas Italy. Isolates grown on florfenicol-supplemented...