A5079673291- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Neonatal and Maternal Infections
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Listeria monocytogenes in Food Safety
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Infections and bacterial resistance
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Microbial infections and disease research
Chinese University of Hong Kong
1996-2022
Prince of Wales Hospital
1996-2022
A rapid, direct, and low-cost method for detecting bacterial toxins associated with common gastrointestinal diseases remains a great challenge despite numerous studies clinical assays. Motion-based detection through tracking the emerging micro- nanorobots has shown potential in chemo- biosensing due to accelerated "chemistry on move". Here, we described use of fluorescent magnetic spore-based microrobots (FMSMs) as highly efficient mobile sensing platform secreted by Clostridium difficile...
Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) gastroenteritis is a foodborne disease with large global burden. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among pathogens an important public health concern, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) prevalent in Southeast Asia China.
Penicillin non-susceptible Streptococcus agalactiae (PEN-NS GBS) has been increasingly reported, with multidrug-resistant (MDR) GBS documented in Japan. Here we identified two PEN-NS strains during our surveillance studies: one from a patient’s wound and the other tilapia. The (H21) fish (F49) were serotyped tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to find sequence type, antimicrobial resistance genes, mutations penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)...
The invasion of skin tissue by Staphylococcus aureus is mediated mechanisms that involve sequential breaching the different stratified layers epidermis. Induction cell death in keratinocytes a measure virulence and plays crucial role infection progression. We established 3D-organotypic keratinocyte-fibroblast co-culture model to evaluate whether 3D-skin more effective elucidating differences induction Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) than comparison 2D-HaCaT monolayers. investigated difference...
We report the antimicrobial resistance of 191 fish and 61 pork Group B Streptococcus (GBS) procured from Hong Kong wet markets. Two-hundred-and-fifty-two GBS strains were isolated 992 freshwater 361 pig offal during 2016-2019. The homogenised samples plated on selective media, followed by identification through MALDI-TOF-MS. Molecular characterisation, an antibiotic susceptibility test, biofilm formation performed strains. isolation rates 19.3% (191 fish) 16.9% (61 organs), respectively. was...
Bacteria with multiple drug resistance (MDR) have become a global issue worldwide, and hundreds of thousands people's lives are threatened every year. The emergence novel MDR strains insufficient development new antimicrobial agents the major reasons that limit choice antibiotics for treatment bacterial infection. Thus, preserving clinical value current could be one effective approaches to resolve this problem. Here we identified numerous small RNAs were downregulated in isolates Pseudomonas...
Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) and carbapenemase-producing (CPE) are of global health importance, yet there is a paucity surveillance studies on food animals in Hong Kong. Here, we report high prevalence ESBL-E (ranging from 0.5% to 52.4%) CPE (0% 9.9%) various animal samples procured wet markets across All strains were characterized by whole-genome sequencing possessed NDM-1 -5 genes other resistance determinants. Given the increased profile these...
The continuous and rapid surge of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with high transmissibility evading neutralization is alarming, necessitating expeditious detection the concerned. Here, we report development SARS-CoV-2 enzymatic (SAVED) based on CRISPR-Cas12a targeting previously crucial variants, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Mu, Kappa, currently circulating variant concern (VOC) Omicron its subvariants BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5. SAVED...
A total of 217 and 73 strains Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi isolated from 1985 to 1997 in Hong Kong 2 months 1989 1990 Vietnam, respectively, were studied. These isolates typed by plasmid profile analysis, fingerprinting, ribotyping with PstI, DNA fingerprinting NarI. There appeared be no major outbreak typhoid fever during the study period since there was considerable heterogeneity among isolates. Isolates different those Vietnam. Thirty-seven percent Vietnamese belonged two...
In countries with high tuberculosis (TB) burden, there is urgent need for rapid, large-scale screening to detect smear-positive patients. We developed a computer-aided whole smear system that focuses in real-time, captures images and provides diagnostic grading, both bright-field fluorescence microscopy detection of acid-fast-bacilli (AFB) from respiratory specimens.To evaluate the performance dual-mode AFB algorithms on concentrated smears auramine O (AO) staining, as well direct AO...
Whole genome sequencing of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from the intensive care units a Sri Lankan teaching hospital revealed presence carbapenemase gene, blaOXA-181 among isolates carbapenase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae belonging to ST437 (2 strains) and ST147 (8 in 2015. genes were carried three variants ColE-type plasmids. Elevated carbapemen resistance observed ompK36 mutant strains. ESBL genes, plasmid–mediated quinolone (PMQR) determinants (qnr, aac(6')-Ib-cr, oqxAB)...
We investigated the molecular epidemiology of Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) from carriage in a cohort pregnant mothers and their respective newborns Teaching Hospital Sri Lanka. GBS vaginal was assessed on at pre-delivery (n = 250), post-delivery 130), peri-rectal swabs neonates 159) prospective study. All colonizing, non-duplicate isolates 60) were analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibilities, capsular serotyping, whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The percentage cohorts...
Many CRISPR/Cas platforms have been established for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. But platform variants SARS-CoV-2 is scarce because its specificity very challenging to achieve those with only one or a few nucleotide(s) differences. Here, we report first time that chimeric crRNA could be critical in enhancing CRISPR-Cas12a detecting N501Y, which shared by Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Mu without compromising sensitivity. This strategy also applied detect other differ
Neonatal sepsis remains an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Tools to rapidly predict antibiotic resistance in would be extremely valuable.To develop quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) primer/probe sets that can detect genes common a unit, investigate the feasibility direct detection whole blood infants with Gram-negative septicaemia without first isolating organism.Primer/probe were designed produce aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes or extended-spectrum...
Abstract Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B , GBS), is a frequent human colonizer and leading cause of neonatal meningitis as well an emerging pathogen in non-pregnant adults. GBS possesses broad animal host spectrum, recent studies proved atypical genotypes can invasive diseases through sources food-borne zoonotic infections. We applied MALDI-TOF MS typing method, based on molecular weight variations predefined 28 ribosomal subunit proteins (rsp) to classify strains varying serotypes into...
ABSTRACT Whole genome sequencing of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from the intensive care units a Sri Lankan teaching hospital revealed presence carbapenemase gene, bla OXA-181 among isolates carbapenase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae belonging to ST437 (2 strains) and ST147 (8 in 2015. genes were carried three variants ColE-type plasmids. Elevated carbapemen resistance observed ompK36 mutant strains. ESBL genes, plasmid–mediated quinolone (PMQR) determinants ( qnr, aac(6’)-Ib-cr,...
The authors would like to make the following correction published paper [...]