运用变性高效液相色谱对肺炎克雷伯菌产ESBL进行基因分型

目的 通过运用变性高效液相色谱（DHPLC）技术对前期研究已确认产超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBL）的肺炎克雷伯菌临床分离株TEM型质粒进行基因分型,试图建立一种方便快捷的用于ESBL分子诊断及其流行病学监测的新方法.方法 利用PCR技术从肺炎克雷伯菌临床分离株中扩增出TEM型质粒的编码序列,扩增产物运用DHPLC技术进行分析,分析提示,异常的样本通过测序确定其基因突变的类型,最后通过比对确定其基因型.结果 共分析了101例肺炎克雷伯菌临床分离株,全部样本均扩增出TEM型质粒的编码序列,经过DHPLC分析,52例（51.4%）样本表现为单一的洗脱峰,其形态与TEM-1标准菌株的峰型相一致,测序确定它们的碱基序列亦相一致,不存在变异,为TEM-1型;49例（48.6%）样本表现为异常的洗脱峰,它们均为双峰,形态一致,但异源双链峰的高度有差异,测序结果表明它们均存在四种相同的基因突变,在NCBI网站比对后确定为TEM-116;测序结果还提示,部分样本中TEM-1和TEM-116混合存在,其比例的不同表现为DHPLC时异源双链峰高度的差异;文献检索表明,本次确定的TEM-116为一新的基因亚型,为国内首次报道.结论 DHPLC具有简便快捷、高通量和自动化的特点,重复性好,不仅可对已知突变作出即时诊断,还可发现新的基因亚型,不失为一种较好的ESBL分子诊断方法及其流行病学监测手段.     

Expression and Purification of the Major Outer Membrane Protein of Chlamydia Trachomatis in Prokaryotic Cell

Chlamydiatrachomatis(C.trachomatis)isanobligate intracellularbacterialpathogen.Ocularinfectionwith C.trachomatisserovarsA,B,BaandCleadstotracho ma,aleadingcauseofpreventableblindnessinmanyde velopingcountries[1].Urogenital tractinfectionwithC. trachomat…     

Subtyping of Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolates based on extended genome sequencing and on expression profiles

Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolates from patients, collected over a period of 12 years in Germany, were characterized by various methods (parameters) including multilocus sequence typing, restriction fragment length polymorphisms, Western blotting with mono-specific antibodies directed against selected proteins or with polyspecific antibodies directed against the Triton X-114-soluble protein fraction, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The results for 91 isolates from Germany, which were complemented with 14 isolates from the USA and 10 isolates from France, clearly showed that M. pneumoniae is a highly uniform species and that most of the isolates could be assigned to one of the two subtypes 1 and 2. The members of one subtype differ from the other with respect to the sequence of the P1 gene, the ORF6 gene, the P65 gene, and by a typical DNA restriction fragment pattern. We observed four isolates (variants), which seemed identical by the above mentioned criteria, but did not belong to either one of the two subtypes. They showed most of the subtype 2-specific features, but differed in the sequence of the P1 gene and showed a variation in the restriction fragment pattern. The appearance of subtype 1 or 2 over the last 12 years in Germany showed a dominance of subtype 1 between 1989 and 1996 and a dominance of subtype 2 between 1997 and 1998. The variant (neither subtype 1 nor subtype 2) was only detected in 1991 and 1995 but it had no epidemiological consequences.     

肺炎克雷伯杆菌在T24细胞内存活的动态观察

目的：了解肺炎克雷伯杆菌与膀胱上皮细胞的相互关系，观察肺炎克雷伯杆菌在人膀胱上皮细胞抹T24中生存的动态变化。方法：采用肺炎克雷伯杆菌临床分离抹03138侵袭T24细胞，并用庆大霉素杀死细胞外的细菌，分别于细菌进入细胞后的4、24、48及72h裂解细胞，释放出细胞内的活细菌，用平板菌落计数法计数胞内活菌数。结果：T24细胞内的肺炎克雷伯杆菌03138抹在实验48h内有一定生长，试验72h细胞内活菌数量明显减少。加入细胞因子（TNF-αd和INF-γ）可以促进上皮细胞清除胞内细菌。结论：膀胱上皮细胞清除进入细胞内的肺炎克雷伯杆菌，可能是泌尿道天然免疫的一种防御机制，而细胞因子可以调控上皮细胞的抗菌作用。     

Evaluation of a commercial test for antibodies to the chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (Medac) for serodiagnosis of acute infections by Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) and Chlamydia psittaci

A commercial test (rELISA) based on a recombinant chlamydial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen has been evaluated for the diagnosis of acute infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) and Chlamydia psittaci. This test and a microimmunofluorescence test (MIF) were compared in 160 patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Seventeen of nineteen cases with significant titre changes detected by rELISA were confirmed by MIF. The two remaining cases not confirmed by MIF were considered false-positive reactions. One case positive by MIF only was judged not to be a true-positive reaction. All three cases occurred in patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and may be the result of a mitogenic effect. High antibody titres have been used to indicate acute C. pneumoniae infection. We found high MIF or rELISA titres to be equally common in patients and controls; no association between the two tests was detected. An unexpected cross-reactivity between the rELISA antigen and parvovirus was observed, which might have diagnostic implications. Both MIF and rELISA detected acute C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci infection, and there was good agreement between the tests. Single serum diagnosis was generally not feasible with either MIF or rELISA.     

Pregnancy outcome in recurrent aborters is not influenced by Chlamydia IgA and/or G

PROBLEM: It is unclear whether chlamydia infection influences the miscarriage rate and immunological factors in patients with recurrent miscarriage. METHOD OF STUDY: Chlamydia DNA, IgA and IgG to Chlamydia trachomatis, natural killer cell activity, complement 3 (C3), C4, hemolytic complement, antinuclear antibodies, antiphospholipid antibodies, prolactin, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and fibrinogen were examined in 504 patients with a history of two or more consecutive first-trimester miscarriages. Subsequent pregnancy outcomes were compared between cases with and without antibodies to C. trachomatis. RESULTS: Totals of 10 of 30 and 48 of 201 patients receiving no medication miscarried subsequently with and without chlamydia infection. Chlamydia IgA and/or IgG were associated with a high level of C3 but not other immunological and coagulatory parameters. CONCLUSION: Antibodies to C. trachomatis do not influence subsequent pregnancy outcome in patients with a history of recurrent miscarriage.     

Value of papanicolaou smear in detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection

This study was undertaken to assess the value of Papanicolaou smear for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection. The study was both retrospective (groups I and II) and prospective (group III). Group I consisted of 41 smears with cytomorphological changes proposed by Gupta, Kiviat, or Shiina. Group II was a control group, consisting of 30 cytologically normal smears. All these smears were subjected to specific immunofluorescent (IF) staining under identical conditions to confirm the diagnosis. In group III, 40 consecutive duplicate cervical smears were collected from patients attending the Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic. One smear was routinely examined, and the specific IF staining was done on the other smear. The results in all the three groups were analysed. It was concluded that Papanicolaou smear is not useful in the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection.     

Evaluation of the WIDER I system for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae

The aim of this study was to evaluate the WIDER I system for susceptibility testing of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae . MICs of 12 antimicrobials against 42 H. influenzae and 58 S. pneumoniae strains were determined using 1W MIC panels and compared with those obtained by microdilution. Overall essential agreements were >99%. Very major errors were not detected. Major errors occurred with ampicillin (1.7% H. influenzae ). Minor errors were 2.3% (amoxicillin–clavulanate, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol), 7.1% (ampicillin) and 16.7% (clarithromycin) for H. influenzae , and 1.7% (chloramphenicol, erythromycin, meropenem), 3.4% (amoxicillin–clavulanate, cefuroxime, tetracycline) and 8.6% (levofloxacin) for S. pneumoniae . The WIDER I system is a reliable method for susceptibility testing of H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae .     

Does infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae and/or Helicobacter pylori increase the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in humans?

Objective   To investigate if Chlamydia pneumoniae and/or Helicobacter pylori seropositivity is associated with elevated levels of soluble endothelial cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs) as markers of atherosclerotic activity.
Methods   Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG antibodies to the two bacteria, soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and E-selectin were measured in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients ( n  = 193) and age- and sex-matched controls ( n  = 193). Two different serological methods were used for the detection of Chlamydia antibodies: Labsystems microimmunofluorescence to detect species-specific C. pneumoniae antibodies and Medac's recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect genus-specific lipopolysaccharide antibodies.
Results   The concentrations of sICAM-1 and E-selectin were higher in CHD patients with positive vs. negative Chlamydia lipopolysaccharide IgA ( P  = 0.044 for both). H. pylori antibodies alone did not predict raised levels of sCAMs, but in CHD patients sICAM-1 was increased with IgA seropositivity to both bacteria compared to double seronegativity ( P  = 0.034). Concentrations of sVCAM-1 were elevated in CHD patients with double IgA seropositivity compared to those with Chlamydia lipopolysaccharide IgA seropositivity alone ( P  = 0.018).
Conclusion   Our results may indicate that C. pneumoniae contributes to increased inflammation in CHD, and that this contribution is even more pronounced when present in combination with H. pylori IgA antibodies.     

Chlamydia trachomatis: time for screening?

Genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease in industrialised countries, particularly among young people. The consequences of chlamydial infection may involve urethritis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, tubal factor infertility, epididymitis and prostatitis. In addition, chlamydial infection increases the risk of acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus and has been associated with cervical cancer. Although screening programmes exist in a number of countries, the continuously increasing prevalence of chlamydial infections demonstrates the necessity for health authorities to establish effective screening policies, and the importance of defining a comprehensive European screening policy is emerging.