Catherine Ludden
A5065859245- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Escherichia coli research studies
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Respiratory viral infections research
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter Research
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Antibiotics Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
Genomics England
2021-2024
University of Cambridge
2015-2024
Interface (United Kingdom)
2024
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2016-2023
Wellcome Sanger Institute
2017-2023
Addenbrooke's Hospital
2023
Public Health England
2021-2022
University of London
2016-2020
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
2020
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway
2011-2015
<h2>Summary</h2><h3>Background</h3> A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.7, emerged as the dominant cause COVID-19 disease in UK from November, 2020. We report a post-hoc analysis efficacy adenoviral vector vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222), against this variant. <h3>Methods</h3> Volunteers (aged ≥18 years) who were enrolled phase 2/3 vaccine studies UK, and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive or meningococcal conjugate control (MenACWY) provided upper airway swabs on weekly basis also if they...
We report severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike ΔH69/V70 in multiple independent lineages, often occurring after acquisition of receptor binding motif replacements such as N439K and Y453F, known to increase affinity the ACE2 confer antibody escape. In vitro, we show that, although itself is not an evasion mechanism, it increases infectivity associated with enhanced incorporation cleaved into virions. able partially rescue proteins that have acquired Y453F escape...
The increasing prevalence of E. coli bloodstream infections is a serious public health problem. We used genomic epidemiology in One Health study conducted the East England to examine putative sources associated with human disease. from 1,517 patients were compared 431 isolates livestock farms and meat. Livestock-associated genetically distinct populations based on core genome accessory analyses. Identical antimicrobial resistance genes found isolates, but there was limited overlap mobile...
This article advocates for mobilizing pathogen genomic surveillance to contain and mitigate health threats from infectious diseases antimicrobial resistance (AMR), building upon successes achieved by large-scale genome sequencing analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants in guiding COVID-19 monitoring public responses adopting a One Health approach. Capabilities laboratory-based epidemic alert systems should be enhanced fostering (i) universal access real-time whole sequence (WGS) data pathogens...
The rise in rates of human infection caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) strains between 1988 to the 2000s Europe was suggested be associated with acquisition from livestock. As a result, European Union banned use glycopeptide drug avoparcin as growth promoter livestock feed. While some studies reported decrease VREfm livestock, others no reduction. Here, we report first prevalence survey UK since 2003 and large-scale study using whole-genome sequencing investigate...
Understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in higher education settings is important to limit spread between students, and into at-risk populations. In this study, we sequenced 482 isolates from the University of Cambridge 5 October 6 December 2020. We perform a detailed phylogenetic comparison with 972 surrounding community, complemented epidemiological contact tracing data, determine dynamics. observe limited viral introductions university; majority student cases were linked single genetic...
BackgroundDNA sequencing could become an alternative to in vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) methods for determining resistance by detecting genetic determinants associated with decreased susceptibility. Here, we aimed assess and improve the accuracy of determination from Enterococcus faecium genomes diagnosis surveillance purposes.MethodsIn this retrospective diagnostic study, first conducted a literature search PubMed on Jan 14, 2021, compile catalogue genes mutations...
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a human, animal, and environmental commensal leading cause of nosocomial infections, which are often caused by multiresistant strains. We evaluate putative sources K. that carried infect hospital patients.
Abstract Background England entered a third national lockdown from 6 January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite successful vaccine rollout during first half of 2021, cases and hospitalisations have started increase since end May as SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant increases in frequency. The final step relaxation restrictions has been delayed 21 June 19 July 2021. Methods REal-time Assessment Community Transmision-1 (REACT-1) study measures prevalence swab-positivity among random...
Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) is a pandemic clone that evolving rapidly with increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we investigated an outbreak E. ST131 producing extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in long-term care facility (LTCF) Ireland by combining data from this LTCF (n=69) other Irish (n=35) and global (n=690) genomes to reconstruct the evolutionary history understand changes population structure genome architecture over time. This required combination...
Background: A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.7, emerged as the dominant cause COVID-19infection in United Kingdom from November 2020 with a transmission advantage over previous variants virus. Here we report efficacy adenoviral vector vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, against this comparison non-B.1.1.7 lineages.Methods: Volunteers enrolled phase II/III vaccine studies and randomised 1:1 to receive nCoV-19 or MenACWY control providedupper airway swabs every week during trial also if they developed...
This study examined colonisation with and characteristics of antimicrobial-resistant organisms among residents a long-term care facility (LTCF) over one year, including strain persistence molecular diversity isolates extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Sixty-four LTCF were recruited (51 at baseline, 13 during the year). Data on dependency levels, hospitalisations, antimicrobial prescribing collected. Nasal rectal swabs catheter urine specimens quarterly,...
We examined whether genomic surveillance of Escherichia coli in wastewater could capture the dominant E. lineages associated with bloodstream infection and livestock East England, together antibiotic-resistance genes circulating wider population. Treated untreated was taken from 20 municipal treatment plants half direct receipt acute hospital waste. All samples were culture positive for , all but one extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing . The most stringent (tertiary including UV...
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infection. Reservoirs VREfm are largely assumed to be nosocomial although there paucity data on alternative sources. Here, we describe an integrated epidemiological and genomic analysis E. associated with bloodstream infection isolated from wastewater. Treated untreated wastewater 20 municipal treatment plants in the East England, United Kingdom was obtained cultured isolate , ampicillin-resistant...
Analysis of sequencing data for 143 blaNDM-1- and blaOXA-48-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from 13 European national collections the public domain resulted in identification 15 previously undetected multi-country transmission clusters. For 10 clusters, cases had prior travel/hospitalisation history countries outside Union including Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Russia, Serbia, Tunisia Turkey. These findings highlight benefit whole genome sequencing-based surveillance sharing control...
Abstract Background Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, evolutionary pressure has driven large increases in transmissibility virus. However, with increasing levels immunity through vaccination and natural infection will switch towards immune escape. Genomic surveillance regions high is crucial detecting emerging variants that can more successfully navigate landscape. Methods We present phylogenetic relationships lineage dynamics within England (a country immunity), as inferred from a random...
Dissemination of carbapenem resistance among pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria is a looming medical emergency. Efficient spread within and between bacterial species facilitated by mobile genetic elements. We hypothesized that wastewater contributes to the dissemination carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), studied this through cross-sectional observational study in East England. isolated clinically relevant CPE untreated treated wastewater, confirming waste treatment does not...
Enterococcus faecium is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infection, particularly in the immunocompromised. Here, we use whole genome sequencing E. to study within-host evolution and transition from gut carriage invasive disease. We isolated sequenced 180 four immunocompromised patients who developed bloodstream infection during longitudinal surveillance stool their immediate environment. A phylogenetic tree based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) core isolates demonstrated...
Long-term care facilities (LTCF) are potential reservoirs for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), control of which may reduce MRSA transmission and infection elsewhere in the healthcare system. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has been used successfully to understand epidemiology hospitals identify between these LTCF. Two prospective observational studies carriage were conducted LTCF England Ireland. isolates whole-genome sequenced analyzed using established methods. Genomic...
There is growing evidence that patients with Clostridiumdifficile -associated diarrhoea often acquire their infecting strain before hospital admission. Wastewater known to be a potential source of surface water contaminated C. difficile spores. Here, we describe study used genome sequencing compare isolated from multiple wastewater treatment plants across the East England and clinical disease at major in same region. We confirmed 65 were highly diverse most cases not linked other active...