Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Circular Gene Mapping Of Identified Amr Genes In Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia Coli Isolated From Potable Water, Shikha Sharma, Abhishek Chauhan, Tanu Jindal, Vivek Narayan Singh, Anuj Ranjan

Research Symposium

Background: Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative & facultative anaerobe bacterium ubiquitously found in all environments. It is a waterborne and foodborne pathogen associated with many diarrhoea and GI tract diseases inclusive of UTIs in humans. The rise in the number of bacteria resistant to antimicrobial drugs has a major impact on disease control efforts. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be found in a variety of water sources. As a result, the objective of the current study is to construct a circular AMR gene map based on the assessment of the antibiotic susceptibility profiling of E. coli isolated from twenty various potable water …

Investigating The Microbiome Of The Eye And The Potential Of Probiotic Use In Optometry, Rachel Hartgerink

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

While the eye was once considered free of resident bacteria due to its efficient immunity mechanisms, recent studies have determined that most healthy eyes contain a variety of microbiota. Many studies have been aimed at classifying bacteria that are part of the core microbiome of the eye and the conditions under which they differ. As with gut health, a dysbiosis of ocular bacteria could correlate to disease, which presents the idea of treatment with probiotics to help regulate the microbiota of the eye. This study utilized growth assays to determine a common probiotic’s effect on bacteria that can be found …

Production Of Codon Optimized Polyomavirus Small T Antigen In Escherichia Coli., Luis Mario Rodriguez, Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña, James A. Decaprio

Research Symposium

Background: Hauzen et al., went against the dogma that cancer only develops by genetic factors and postulated oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) as the etiological agent of cervical cancer (2008). The eleven new human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) identified have been shown to infect humans subclinically from an early age. The small t-antigen (tAg) proteins of polyomaviruses control cellular phosphorylation mechanisms leading to uncontrolled replication cycles and cancer. Mechanisms of transformation and progression to tumor cells, and cellular tropism of the new HPyVs, remain unknown. Availability of recombinant tAg (rtAg) can contribute to understanding them.

Methods: tAg coding sequences derived from Merkel cell …

Post-Hysteroscopy Ruptured Tubo-Ovarian Abscess With Atypical Bacteremia: A Case Report, Jillian H. Linck, Wanda I. Torres, Shailja T. Dayal

HPD Articles

Hysteroscopies are commonly performed in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Current research suggests a low rate of all types of complications following hysteroscopies. The rate of infectious complications has been reported as exceptionally low. We present a case of tubo-ovarian abscess with Escherichia coli bacteremia and eventual abscess rupture in a 51-year-old gravida 3, para 2012 (G3P2) woman who underwent a hysteroscopy with concurrent polypectomy. The patient had no risk factors that have historically been attributed to the development of post-hysteroscopy infection, such as a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. The patient also …

Antibacterial And Antifungal Activity Of Methanolic Extracts Of Salix Alba L. Against Various Disease Causing Pathogens, Bilal Javed, F. Farooq, M. Ibrahim, H.A.B. Abbas, H. Jawwad, S.S. Zehra, H.M. Ahmad, A. Sarwar, K. Malik, K. Nawaz

Articles

The present study was aimed to manifest the antibacterial and antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of Salix alba L. against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens e.g. Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus (1), S. aureus (2), Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli (1), E. coli (2) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and three fungal isolates from the air such as Aspergillus terreus, A. ornatus, and Rhizopus stolonifer. Two different serotypes of S. aureus and E. coli were used. The agar well-diffusion method results showed the dose-dependent response of plant extracts against bacterial and fungal strains while some organisms were found resistant e.g. E. coli (1), …

Integrating Consumer Risk Perception And Awareness With Simulation-Based Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Using A Coupled Systems Framework: A Case Study Of Private Groundwater Users In Ontario, Tessa Latchmore, Sarah Lavallee, Paul Hynds, R. Stephen Brown R. Stephen Brown, Anna Majury

Articles

Private well users in Ontario are responsible for ensuring the potability of their own private drinking water source through protective actions (i.e., water treatment, well maintenance, and regular water quality testing). In the absence of regulation and limited surveillance, quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) represents the most practical and robust approach to estimating the human health burden attributable to private wells. For an increasingly accurate estimation, QMRA of private well water should be represented by a coupled model, which includes both the socio-cognitive and physical aspects of private well water contamination and microbial exposure. The objective of the current study …

Utilizing Amr Surveillance Data To Analyze Trends In Escherichia Coli Antibiotic Resistance Levels In The South African Provinces Of Gauteng And The Eastern Cape, Celia Maris

Scripps Senior Theses

Antimicrobial resistant bacterial pathogens pose an ongoing threat to universal public health by causing more severe manifestations of infectious diseases, leading to an increase in healthcare expenditures and higher global mortality rates. Therefore, developing strategies to combat bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is vital for the future of human health. One promising strategy is through the utilization of AMR surveillance programs. This study focused on using AMR surveillance data from South Africa to analyze changes in Escherichia coli resistance levels to numerous antibiotics between January 2012 and December 2022 in Gauteng Province and the Eastern Cape Province. The study aimed to …

Impacts Of Covid-19 Lockdown On Private Domestic Groundwater Sample Numbers, E. Coli Presence And E. Coli Concentration Across Ontario, January 2020–March 2021: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis, T. Latchmore, S. Lavallee, Martin Boudou, K. Mcdermott, R. S. Brown, Paul Hynds, Anna Majury

Articles

Approximately 1.5 million individuals in Ontario are supplied by private water wells (private groundwater supplies). Unlike municipal supplies, private well water quality remains unregulated, with owners responsible for testing, treating, and maintaining their own water supplies. The COVID-19 global pandemic and associated non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have impacted many environmental (e.g., surface water and air quality) and human (e.g., healthcare, transportation) systems over the past 15-months (January 2020 to March 2021). To date, the impact of these interventions on private groundwater systems remains largely unknown. Accordingly, the current study aimed to investigate the impact of a province-wide COVID-19 lockdown (late-March 2020) …

Investigation Of Antimicrobial Resistance Of Esßl, Amp-C, And Carbapenemaseproducing E. Coli Strains In Retail Poultry Meats, Gülçi̇n Güven, Si̇bel Kizil

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Antimicrobial agents are used for suppressing some bacterial infections during the rearing of poultry. In this study; the antibiotic resistance properties of Extended Spectrum ßeta-lactamase (ESßL), Amp-C, carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains isolated from chicken breast meat were determined by disc diffusion and E-test methods. Additionally, it is aimed to determine antibiotic resistance genes by classical polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this context, E. coli strains were isolated from 7 of 100 chicken breast meat (fillets) and identified by a rapid identification system (BBL Crystal). Disc diffusion test results of the isolates were evaluated and 100% to tetracycline; ampicillin, …

Hospital Effluents And Wastewaters Treatment Plants: A Source Of Oxytetracycline And Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria In Seafood, Bozena Mccarthy, Samuel Obeng Apori, Michelle Giltrap, Abhijnan Bhat, James Curtin, Furong Tian

Articles

The present study employs a data review on the presence and aggregation of oxytetracycline (OTC) and resistance (AMR) bacteria in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and distribution of the contaminated effluent with the aid of shallow and deep ocean currents. The study aims to determine the fate of OTC, AMR bacteria in seafood, and demonstrate a relationship between AMR levels and human health. This review includes (1) OTC, (2) AMR bacteria, (3) heavy metals in aquatic environments, and their relationship. Few publications describe OCT in surface waters. Although, OTC and other tetracyclines were found in 10 countries in relatively low concentrations, …

Evaluation Of Two Neonatal Challenge Models For Broiler Chickens And Their Effects On Early Performance Parameters, Callie Selby

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Formaldehyde fumigation in poultry hatch cabinets has been utilized for sanitation of hatching eggs for over a century. Formaldehyde is utilized to minimize pathogenic microbes on the surface of the egg as well as the microbial bloom during the hatching process. While formaldehyde is effective, its use is regulated in the United States and Europe due to its carcinogenic nature. Formaldehyde has been shown to damage the cuticle of the egg, cause embryonic death, and damage the epithelial lining of the respiratory tract of freshly hatched chicks, predisposing them for respiratory infection. Alternatives for formaldehyde fumigation must be identified and …

Mara Repression Of Virulence Gene Hila In Salmonella, Alexandra King, Lauren Daugherty, Lon Chubiz Phd

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Salmonella is a bacteria most commonly known for causing the eponymous food-related illness. Due to their rapid reproduction rate and their ability to be propogated and maintained in a lab setting, they are commonly used in lab studies so that we can better understand how Salmonella causes disease in organisms that are more difficult to study. One area of interest is analyzing how Salmonella controls expression of the mechanisms that actually cause disease, called virulence traits, in response to the environment. In this study, antibiotic stress was used to analyze virulence gene expression. MarA is a gene that regulates ampicillin …

The Penn State Protein Ladder System For Inexpensive Protein Molecular Weight Markers, Ryan T Santilli, John E Williamson, Yoshitaka Shibata, Rosalie P Sowers, Andrew N. Fleischman, Song Tan

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

We have created the Penn State Protein Ladder system to produce protein molecular weight markers easily and inexpensively (less than a penny a lane). The system includes plasmids which express 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100 kD proteins in E. coli. Each protein migrates appropriately on SDS-PAGE gels, is expressed at very high levels (10–50 mg per liter of culture), is easy to purify via histidine tags and can be detected directly on Western blots via engineered immunoglobulin binding domains. We have also constructed plasmids to express 150 and 250 kD proteins. For more efficient production, …

Loss Of N1-Methylation Of G37 In Trna Induces Ribosome Stalling And Reprograms Gene Expression, Isao Masuda, Jae-Yeon Hwang, Thomas Christian, Sunita Maharjan, Fuad Mohammad, Howard Gamper, Allen R. Buskirk, Ya-Ming Hou

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

N¹-methylation of G37 is required for a subset of tRNAs to maintain the translational reading-frame. While loss of m¹G37 increases ribosomal +1 frameshifting, whether it incurs additional translational defects is unknown. Here, we address this question by applying ribosome profiling to gain a genome-wide view of the effects of m¹G37 deficiency on protein synthesis. Using E coli as a model, we show that m¹G37 deficiency induces ribosome stalling at codons that are normally translated by m¹G37-containing tRNAs. Stalling occurs during decoding of affected codons at the ribosomal A site, indicating …

Solar Disinfection Of Turbid Hygiene Waters In Lexington, Ky, Usa, Atena Amirsoleimani, Gail M. Brion

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Solar disinfection (SODIS) could be a key to providing a clean, hygiene water for birthing uses, but the recommended climate zone is limited, the microbial indicators are related to gastrointestinal illness and not wound infections. SODIS feasibility was investigated to remove Escherichia coli from turbid water at temperatures less than 50 °C in Lexington, KY. Increasing turbidity from 0 to 200 NTU decreased E. coli inactivation from 5 to 1 log. With the same experimental protocol, more than 4-log inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis (common human-skin microorganisms related to serious post-partum infections of both mother and child) was …

Prevalence Of Salmonellaspp. And Escherichia Coliin Dogs With Diarrhoea In Western Taiwan, Chiu-Huang Ting, Chia-Ying Lin, Chia-Wen Chung, Perng-Chih Shen, Ching-Dong Chang, Hung-Yi Wu

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Salmonellaspp. can be widely spread by air or contaminated food. There are sixcommon pathogenic Escherichia coli whichaccount for 4–8% of all E. coli pathogens. Amongstthem, E. coliO157 is the most commonlyknown. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of diarrhoeapathogens, referred to as Salmonellaspp.andEscherichia coli(E. coli), in pet dogs in western Taiwan using the conventionalpolymerase chain reaction (PCR). The related analysis between the prevalence rates and the epidemiological data of pet dogs was correlated with age, season, area and breed. Faecalsamples were collected from240dogs which had symptoms of diarrhoeaand had been examined byveterinaryhospitals from January 2015 to January 2017. The …

A Geostatistical Study Of Socioeconomic Status (Ses), Rurality, Seasonality And Index Test Results As Drivers Of Free Private Groundwater Testing In Southern Ontario, 2012–2016, Shahryar Qayyum, Paul Hynds, Harriet Richardson, Kevin Mcdermott, Anna Majury

Articles

Approximately 12% of the Canadian population uses private wells for daily water consumption; however, well water testing rates are on the decline, resulting in an increased risk of waterborne acute gastrointestinal illness. To date, limited research has explored the determinants influencing well testing practices. Accordingly, the current study sought to investigate the drivers of “one-off” and repeat well water testing in southern Ontario during the 5-year period 2012–2016, using the worlds largest private groundwater testing data-frame. Data from >400,000 wells were geospatially integrated with all tests conducted by the provincial laboratory in southern Ontario. The Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg) was …

Characterization Of The Physical And Chemical Effect Of Membrane Disruption And Protein Inhibiting Treatments On E. Coli, Khadijah Wright

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The increase in antibacterial resistance has placed the issue of microbial multi-drug resistance on a global stage (Gurunathan, 2019). This issue poses a threat to human and animal health as well as to the environment (Aslam et al., 2018). It affects not only the efficacy of treatment but also how those treatments are conducted (Friedman, Temkin, & Carmeli, 2016). As a result of this ongoing threat, new treatments that have potent effects on bacteria are necessary. One scientific response to this issue has been the development of multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs)(H. Wang et al., 2018). NPs have the ability to be …

Impact Of Ph On The Activity Of Co-Used Antimicrobials Against Resistant Escherichia Colistrains Of Animal Origin, Murat Cengi̇z, Gülçe Hepbostanci

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, combination antimicrobial therapy, due to its higher potential against resistant bacteria, was evaluated for the inhibition of multidrug-resistant E. coli strains. The influence of pH as an environmental variable on the activity of antimicrobial combinations was evaluated by calculating the factional concentration indexes at pH values 5.0, 6.0, 7.3, and 8.0. The highest synergistic activity rates of ceftriaxone + colistin, danofloxacin + colistin, danofloxacin + ceftiofur, and ceftiofur + gentamicin combinations were 50%, 33%, 100%, and 50%, respectively measured at ≥7.3 pH. The lowest synergistic activity rates for all combinations were observed at the acidic pH values …

Determining How Temperature Affects The Survival Of Salmonella And E. Coli Species In Sinking Creek: A Meta-Evaluation, Miranda Liner

Undergraduate Honors Theses

In recreational waters, pathogen pollution is a major concern for the USEPA. The USEPA is responsible for initiating the National 303(d) List of Impaired Surface Waters. Pathogen pollution from E. coli is a common reason why recreational waters are placed on the 303(d) list. E. coli O157 H:7 and other enteric pathogens can cause serious illness and even death. Sinking Creek is a part of the Watauga River watershed which runs through Carter and Washington county. Sinking Creek is currently listed on the 303(d) as impaired due to the presence of E. coli. Because of the known presence of …

The Envelope Stress Response In Sedimentation-Resistant Escherichia Coli, Neel K. Shah

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Previous research discovered the existence of sedimentation-resistant mutants of E. coli. Genomic studies revealed that these mutants resisted sedimentation due to independent modifications to genes that influenced the Rcs signal transduction pathway, causing increased secretion of an exopolysaccharide capsule comprised primarily of colanic acid. The Rcs system is responsible for detecting envelope stressors; consequently, ampicillin and osmotic stress were used to perturb the cellular envelope and study the response of the mutants compared to wild-type cells. It was found that the overproduction of colanic acid in the mutants confers some resistance to envelope stress; however, the mutants still behaved …

Isolation And Molecular Characterization Of Salmonella Enterica And Escherichia Coli From Poultry Samples, Ayli̇n Cesur, Saci̇de Özlem Ulutaş, Yeşi̇m Soyer

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Innumerable foodborne pathogens including Salmonella and Escherichia coli pose a serious threat to human health and food safety. As perishable foods, poultry products are considered one of the most common sources of foodborne pathogens including Salmonella and E. coli due to transmission of drug resistance, dissemination of organisms, and cross-contamination. In our study, phenotypic and genotypic characterizations of Salmonella enterica and E. coli isolated from packaged raw chicken products were carried out. Samples belonging to different commercial brands were collected in Ankara in 2015. Among 15 out of 19 Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains isolated from different and/or same poultry …

Phenotypic And Genotypic Investigation Of The Heavy Metal Resistance In Escherichia Coli Isolates Recovered From Cattle Stool Samples, Ni̇sa Si̇pahi̇, Emre Karakaya, Serkan İki̇z

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The purpose of this study was to examine resistance against cadmium (Cd$^{+2}$), copper (Cu$^{+2}$), lead (Pb$^{+2}$), mercury (Hg$^{+2}$), and manganese (Mn$^{+2}$) in Escherichia coli isolates recovered from cattle stool using phenotypic (agar dilution) and genotypic [polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] methods. In addition, the isolates were genotyped via enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR). Escherichia coli was isolated and identified from the 100 stool samples that were examined in the study. It was determined phenotypically that all isolates were sensitive to mercury; 97% of them showed resistance to cadmium; 69% showed resistance to copper; 24% showed resistance to lead; …

Multistate Outbreaks Of Foodborne Illness In The United States Associated With Fresh Produce From 2010 To 2017, Christina K Carstens, Joelle K Salazar, Charles Darkoh

Journal Articles

In the United States, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has increased during recent years as consumers seek to make healthier lifestyle choices. However, the number of outbreaks associated with fresh produce that involve cases in more than one state (multistate) has increased concomitantly. As the distance along the farm-to-fork continuum has lengthened over time, there are also more opportunities for fresh produce contamination with bacterial pathogens before it reaches the consumer. This review provides an overview of the three bacterial pathogens (i.e., pathogenic

Highly Efficient 5' Capping Of Mitochondrial Rna With Nad+ And Nadh By Yeast And Human Mitochondrial Rna Polymerase, Jeremy G Bird, Urmimala Basu, David Kuster, Aparna Ramachandran, Ewa Grudzien-Nogalska, Atif Towheed, Douglas C. Wallace, Megerditch Kiledjian, Dmitry Temiakov, Smita S. Patel, Richard H. Ebright, Bryce E. Nickels

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Bacterial and eukaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases (RNAPs) cap RNA with the oxidized and reduced forms of the metabolic effector nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD+ and NADH, using NAD+ and NADH as non-canonical initiating nucleotides for transcription initiation. Here, we show that mitochondrial RNAPs (mtRNAPs) cap RNA with NAD+ and NADH, and do so more efficiently than nuclear RNAPs. Direct quantitation of NAD+- and NADH-capped RNA demonstrates remarkably high levels of capping in vivo: up to ~60% NAD+ and NADH capping of yeast mitochondrial transcripts, and up to ~15% NAD+ capping of human mitochondrial transcripts. The capping efficiency is determined by promoter …

Clpxp-Regulated Proteins Suppress Requirement For Reca In Dam Mutants Of Escherichia Coli K-12, Amie Savakis

Masters Theses

Double strand breaks (DSB) are a common source of DNA damage in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. If they are not repaired or are repaired incorrectly, they can lead to cell death (bacteria) or cancer (humans). In Escherichia coli, repair of DSB are typically accomplished via homologous recombination and mediated by RecA. This repair pathway, among others, is associated with activation of the SOS response. DNA adenine methyltransferase (dam) mutants have an increased number of DSB and, therefore, are notorious for being RecA-dependent for viability. Here, we show that the synthetic lethality of Δdam/ΔrecA is suppressed when clpP is removed, suggesting …

Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of Amphiphilic Cyclic And Linear Peptides Composed Of Hydrophobic And Positively-Charged Amino Acids As Antibacterial Agents, Neda Riahifard, Saghar Mozaffari, Taibah Aldakhil, Francisco Nunez, Qamar Alshammari, Saud Alshammari, Jason Yamaki, Keykavous Parang, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) contain amphipathic structures and are derived from natural resources. AMPs have been found to be effective in treating the infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), and thus, are potential lead compounds against ARB. AMPs’ physicochemical properties, such as cationic nature, amphiphilicity, and their size, will provide the opportunity to interact with membrane bilayers leading to damage and death of microorganisms. Herein, AMP analogs of [R₄W₄] were designed and synthesized by changing the hydrophobicity and cationic nature of the lead compound with other amino acids to provide insights into a structure-activity relationship against selected …

Frequency Of Bloodstream Infection In Febrile Neutropenic Patients, Experience From A Developing Country, Basit Siddiqui, Rabeea Azmat, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Shumaila Rafi, Beenish Syed, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Hareem Rehman, Saleemullah Paracha

Section of Nephrology

Introduction: About 20% of febrile neutropenic patients are presented with bloodstream infection which is a leading cause of mortality among these patients. Awareness of the locally prevalent pathogens and their susceptibility pattern is important for proper treatment of infection which improves survival in these patients. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of bloodstream infection in patients with febrile neutropenia admitted in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Methods; This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medical wards in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi from 21-2-2016 to 20-8-2017. Patients of over 15 years of age of either gender with severe neutropenia …

Antimicrobial Activity, Biofilm Disruption Capabilities, And Synergistic Interactions Of Novel Amphiphiles, Stephanie Sharpes

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The increased prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria requires development of new control strategies. Preventative measures such as development of disinfectants and antiseptics with faster killing and anti-biofilm capabilities would help limit the spread of resistance and reduce the incidence of hospital acquired infection. Several series of novel amphiphiles, including three bis-cationic, four tris-cationic and three tetra-cationic double tailed amphiphile series, as well as one hexa-cationic, triple tailed amphiphile series were synthesized and tested for antimicrobial properties. The amphiphiles in this study were previously tested for MIC value against several Gram-positive and negative bacterial species. This work expanded on the antimicrobial …

Development Of A Hierarchical Model For Predicting Microbiological Contamination Of Private Groundwater Supplies In A Geologically Heterogeneous Region, Jean O'Dwyer, Paul Hynds, Kenneth Byrne, Michael Ryan, Catherine Adley

Articles

Private groundwater sources in the Republic of Ireland provide drinking water to an estimated 750,000 people or 16% of the national population. Consumers of untreated groundwater are at increased risk of infection from pathogenic microorganisms. However, given the volume of private wells in operation, remediation or even quantification of public risk is both costly and time consuming. In this study, a hierarchical logistic regression model was developed to ‘predict’ contamination with E. coli based on the results of groundwater quality analyses of private wells (n = 132) during the period of September 2011 to November 2012. Assessment of potential microbial …