Campylobacter jejuni é a espécie bacteriana mais comumente relacionada como causa de gastroenterite em humanos em vários países. Porém, o isolamento e o estudo de C. jejuni não são muito frequentes no Brasil, o que dificulta avaliar a dimensão dessa bactéria como causadora de doença em humanos e animais, bem como, determinar o impacto de sua presença em alimentos e no meio-ambiente. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade genética por cinco diferentes técnicas de tipagem molecular, o potencial patogênico pela pesquisa de 16 genes de virulência por PCR e o perfil de resistência pela concentração inibitória mínima por Etest® frente a quatro antimicrobianos e pela análise in silico de genes de resistência e pontos de mutação de linhagens de C. jejuni isoladas no Brasil. Foram estudadas 121 linhagens de C. jejuni isoladas de humanos (51), animais (35), alimentos (33) e ambiente (02) nos estados de Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Rio Grande do Sul, no período de 1996 a 2016. Todas as linhagens apresentaram os genes flaA, flhA, iamA, docA, ciaB, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, racR, dnaJ, pldA, cadF, sodB e csrA. O gene wlaN foi detectado em 15 linhagens, e uma linhagem apresentou o gene virB11. Dentre as 121 linhagens estudadas, 68 linhagens foram resistentes a pelo menos um dos antimicrobianos testados. A resistência à ciprofloxacina, doxiciclina, tetraciclina e eritromicina foi observada em 43,8%, 34,7%, 34,7% e 4,9% das linhagens, respectivamente. O dendrograma de similaridade genética de Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) agrupou as 121 linhagens estudadas em três grupos com similaridade genômica de 46,9% entre eles. Apesar da alta diversidade genômica entre as linhagens estudadas, algumas linhagens isoladas de diferentes fontes, locais e anos, apresentaram uma similaridade genotípica acima de 80% entre elas e, foram agrupadas em 21 subgrupos. Pelas sequências da SVR do gene flaA as linhagens estudadas foram agrupadas em dois grupos com linhagens isoladas de fontes clínicas e não clínicas e de humanos e animais com similaridade acima de 80,9 % entre elas e tipadas em 40 SVR-flaA alelos, sendo os alelos 57, 49 e 45 os mais frequentemente detectados. A análise do locus CRISPR por HRMA tipou as linhagens de C. jejuni em 23 diferentes variantes sendo que algumas variantes continham linhagens de origem clínica e não clínica e de humanos e animais. A árvore de SNPs gerada a partir dos dados do sequenciamento do genoma completo alocou as 116 linhagens sequenciadas em dois principais grupos. O grupo SNP-A agrupou 97 linhagens e o grupo SNP-B agrupou 19 linhagens, com linhagens de fontes clínicas e não clínicas e de humanos e animais, respectivamente. A técnica de Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) tipou as 116 linhagens de C. jejuni em 46 STs, e não foi observada a predominância de um ST. O índice de discriminação das metodologias de análise de SNPs no genoma completo, PFGE, MLST, sequenciamento das SVR do gene flaA e análise do locus CRISPR por HRMA foi 1,0, 0,982, 0,941, 0,939 e 0,874, respectivamente. Na análise in silico de genes de resistência e pontos de mutação, 95 linhagens apresentaram ao menos um gene de resistência ou ponto de mutação conhecido, sendo que a porcentagem de correlação entre os resultados de resistência fenotípicos e genotípicos foi maior que 66,7%; 94,6% e 96,8% para eritromicina, tetraciclina e ciprofloxacina, respectivamente. Conclui-se que a alta frequência da maioria dos genes de virulência pesquisados evidenciou o potencial patogênico das linhagens de C. jejuni estudadas. A resistência a antimicrobianos de primeira escolha utilizados para o tratamento da campylobacteriose encontrada nas linhagens estudadas é preocupante, podendo levar à falha terapêutica quando o tratamento é necessário. Os resultados obtidos pelas metodologias de tipagem molecular realizadas sugerem que uma possível contaminação possa ter ocorrido entre fontes clínicas e não clínicas e entre humanos e animais, ao longo de 20 anos no Brasil. Pelo índice de discriminação, foi observado que as metodologias de análise de SNPs no genoma completo e PFGE, em comparação com as outras técnicas de tipagem, foram as mais eficientes em discriminar as linhagens de C. jejuni do presente estudo. / Campylobacter jejuni is the most commonly bacterial species related as a cause of gastroenteritis in humans in several countries. However, the isolation and the study of C. jejuni have not been very frequently in Brazil, which makes it difficult to evaluate the involvement of this bacterium as a cause of diseases in humans and animals, as well as to determine the impact of its presence in food and the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity by five different molecular typing techniques, the pathogenic potential by searching for the presence of 16 virulence genes by PCR and the resistance profile by the minimum inhibitory concentration by Etest® against four antibiotics and by the in silico analyses of resistance genes and mutation points of C. jejuni strains isolated in Brazil. A total of 121 C. jejuni strains isolated from humans (51), animals (35), food (33) and the environment (02) in the States of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul, between 1996 to 2016 were studied. All strains presented the genes flaA, flhA, iamA, docA, ciaB, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, racR, dnaJ, pldA, cadF, sodB and csrA. The wlaN gene was detected in 15 strains, and one strain presented the virB11 gene. Among the 121 strains studied, 68 strains were resistant to at least one of the antibiotics tested. Resistance to ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, tetracycline and erythromycin was observed in 43.8%, 34.7%, 34.7% and 4.9% of the strains, respectively. The Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) dendrogram of genetic similarity clustered the 121 strains studied in three groups with a genomic similarity of 46.9% among them. Despite the high genomic diversity among the strains studied, some strains isolated from different sources, places and years, presented a genotypic similarity above 80% among them and were grouped into 21 subgroups. By flaA-SVR sequencing the strains studied were clustered into two groups with strains isolated from clinical and non-clinical sources and from humans and animals with a similarity above 80.9% among them and typed in 40 flaA-SVR alleles, being the alleles 57, 49 and 45 the most frequently detected. The analysis of the CRISPR locus by HRMA typed the C. jejuni strains in 23 different variants, with some variants containing strains from clinical and non-clinical origin and from humans and animals. The SNP tree generated from the whole genome sequencing data grouped the 116 strains sequenced into two major groups. SNP-A grouped 97 strains and SNP-B grouped 19 strains, with strains from clinical and non-clinical sources and from humans and animals, respectively. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) technique typed the 116 C. jejuni strains in 46 STs, and it was not observed a predominant ST. The discrimination index of the analysis of SNPs in the whole genome, PFGE, MLST, flaA-SVR sequencing and analysis of the CRISPR locus by HRMA was 1.0, 0.982, 0.941, 0.939 and 0.874, respectively. In the in silico analyses of resistance genes and mutation points, 95 strains showed at least one resistance gene or known mutation point, and the percentage of correlation between phenotypic and genotypic resistance results was greater than 66.7%; 94.6% and 96.8% for erythromycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, respectively. In conclusion, the high frequency of the majority of the virulence genes studied highlighted the pathogenic potential of the C. jejuni strains studied. Resistance to antimicrobials of first choice used for the treatment of campylobacteriosis found in the strains studied is worrying and may lead to therapeutic failure when treatment is required. The results obtained by the molecular typing methodologies performed suggest that a possible contamination may have occurred between clinical and non-clinical sources and between humans and animals over 20 years in Brazil. By the discrimination index, it was observed that the methodologies of analysis of SNPs in the whole genome and PFGE, in comparison to the other typing techniques, were the most efficients in discriminating the C. jejuni strains of the present study.

Salmonella spp. é reconhecida como uma das bactérias que mais causam doenças de origem alimentar no mundo. Dentre as diversas sorovariedades de Salmonella, a Typhimurium é uma das sorovariedades de maior ocorrência no mundo. Várias metodologias de tipagem fenotípicas e genotípicas foram desenvolvidas com o intuito de se delinear a epidemiologia e diversidade genotípica de Salmonella Typhimurium. Entretanto, a tipagem fenotípica é muitas vezes limitada por sua baixa capacidade de diferenciação de subtipos pertencentes a uma mesma sorovariedade de Salmonella, um problema minimizado pelos métodos genotípicos. No Brasil, foram realizados poucos estudos que genotiparam linhagens de S. Typhimurium. Os objetivos deste estudo foram caracterizar linhagens de S. Typhimurium isoladas de humanos, alimentos, animais e ambiente do animal no Brasil quanto ao seu potencial patogênico, perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos e diversidade genotípica. Foram estudadas 119 linhagens de S. Typhimurium, isoladas de material clínico de humanos (43), alimentos diversos (49), material clínico de suínos (22) e do ambiente de suínos (5), entre 1983 e 2013, provenientes de várias Estados do Brasil. A presença de 12 genes de virulência foi pesquisada por PCR. O perfil de resistência a 13 antimicrobianos foi realizado pelo método de discodifusão. A tipagem molecular foi realizada por Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), Multiple-locus variablenumber tandem-repeats analysis (MLVA), Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats - Multi-virulence locus sequence typing (CRISPR-MVLST), Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) e sequenciamento do genoma completo para 92 linhagens de S. Typhimurium isoladas de humanos (43) e alimentos (46). As metodologias PFGE, ERIC-PCR e MLVA foram realizadas para 70 linhagens de S. Typhimurium isoladas de humanos (43), animais (22) e ambiente do animal (5). Todas as 119 linhagens apresentaram os genes sipA, flgK, flgL e invA. O gene sipD e o gene sopE2 foram encontrados em 118 (99,2%) linhagens. O gene fljB foi encontrado em 117 (98,3%) linhagens. O gene sopD foi presente em 114 (95,8%) linhagens, o gene sopB em 111 (93,3%) linhagens, o gene ssaR em 102 (85,7%) linhagens, o gene sifA em 86 (72,3%) linhagens e 45 (37,8%) linhagens apresentaram o gene plasmidial spvB. De um total de 119 linhagens, 64 (62,2%) linhagens foram resistentes a pelo menos um dos 13 antimicrobianos testados, sendo que 36 (30,3%) linhagens foram multi-droga resistentes (MDR). Na comparação dos isolados de humanos e alimentos, as linhagens isoladas de humanos antes de meados 1990, ficaram alocadas nos grupos PFGE-A, PFGE-B1, PFGE-B2, ERIC-A, ERIC-B, MLVA-A, MLVA-B1, MLVA-B2 e G1, G2, H para CRISPRMVLST. As linhagens isoladas de humanos após esse período ficaram alocadas nos grupos PFGE-B1, ERIC-A, MLVA-B1, MLVA-B2 e G2. As linhagens isoladas de alimentos ficaram alocadas nos grupos PFGE-A, PFGE-B1, ERIC-A, ERIC-B, MLVA-A, MLVA-B1, MLVAB2, G1 e G2. Por MLST, do total de 92 linhagens isoladas de humanos e alimentos, 77 linhagens foram tipadas como ST19. Pelo sequenciamento do genoma completo, as linhagens isoladas de alimentos e humanos ficaram alocadas no grupos I e J independente das datas de isolamento. Na comparação dos isolados de humanos e animais, as linhagens das duas origens ficaram alocadas nos grupos PFGE-D1, PFGE-D2, ERIC-C1, MLVA-C1 e MLVA-D. ii Conclui-se que a grande prevalência de genes de virulência nas linhagens de S. Typhimurium estudadas reforça o potencial das mesmas causarem doenças em humanos, bem como, os riscos de sua presença em alimentos, animais para consumo humano e ambiente. A ocorrência de S. Typhimurium multi-droga resistentes isoladas de alimentos diversos e de suínos para consumo é um alerta para o possível risco de humanos ingerirem alimentos contaminados por tais linhagens. Em conjunto os resultados de PFGE, ERIC-PCR, MLVA, CRISPR-MVLST sugerem que as linhagens de S. Typhimurium isoladas de humanos eram geneticamente mais diversificadas antes de meados de 1990, o que pode sugerir a seleção de um subtipo de S. Typhimurium mais adaptado, depois que Salmonella Enteritidis tornou-se a sorovariedade de maior ocorrência no Brasil após esse período. Com relação às linhagens isoladas de alimentos, os resultados de PFGE, ERIC-PCR, MLVA e CRISPR-MVLST sugerem que durante o período estudado houve a circulação de mais de um subtipo no país. Os resultados de MLST sugerem que tais linhagens tenham uma origem filogenética comum. Os resultados do sequenciamento do genoma completo sugerem que houve a circulação de mais de um subtipo de S. Typhimurium no país, com relação às linhagens de humanos e alimentos. Também alerta para o possível risco de linhagens MDR isoladas de alimentos contaminarem humanos e/ou disseminarem genes de resistência a antibióticos para linhagens de origem clínica e não clínica. Na comparação dos isolados de humanos e animais, os resultados de PFGE, ERICPCR e MLVA sugerem que algumas linhagens isoladas de suínos e humanos podem descender de um subtipo comum. Ademais, as linhagens MDR isoladas de suínos e do ambiente de suínos alertam para o possível risco de porcos usados para consumo contaminarem humanos, o ambiente e outros porcos. / Salmonella spp. is recognized as one of the most involved bacteria that cause food-borne diseases in the world. Among the various serovars of Salmonella, Typhimurium is one of the most frequent serovars worldwide. Several phenotypic and genotypic typing methods have been developed in order to delineate the epidemiology and genotypic diversity of Salmonella Typhimurium. However, phenotypic typing is often limited by its low capacity to differentiate subtypes belonging to the same serovar of Salmonella, a problem minimized by genotypic methods. In Brazil, few studies have been conducted that genotyped S. Typhimurium strains. The aims of this study were to characterize S. Typhimurium strains isolated from humans, food, animals and animal\'s environment in Brazil regarding its pathogenic potential, antimicrobial resistance and genotypic diversity. We studied 119 S. Typhimurium strains isolated from human clinical material (43), different foods (49), clinical material from pigs (22) and pigs environment (5), between 1983 and 2013 from various States of Brazil. The presence of 12 virulence genes was investigated by PCR. The resistance profile against 13 antimicrobial was performed by the disk diffusion method. Molecular typing was performed by Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeats analysis (MLVA), Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats - Multi-virulence locus sequence typing (CRISPR-MVLST), Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole genome sequencing for 92 S. Typhimurium strains isolated from humans (43) and food (46). PFGE, ERIC-PCR and MLVA methods were performed for 70 S. Typhimurium strains isolated from humans (43), animals (22) and the animal\'s environment (5). All 119 strains showed the sipA, flgK, flgL and invA genes. The sipD and sopE2 genes were found in 118 (99.2%) strains. The fljB gene was found in 117 (98.3%) strains. The sopD gene was present in 114 (95.8%) strains, the gene sopB in 111 (93.3%) strains, the ssaR gene in 102 (85.7%) strains, the gene sifA in 86 (72.3%) strains and 45 (37.8%) strains showed the plasmid gene spvB. From a total of 119 strains, 64 (62.2%) strains were resistant to at least one of the 13 antimicrobials tested, and 36 (30.3%) strains were multi-drug resistant (MDR). In the comparison of isolates from humans and food, the strains isolated from humans before mid-1990s were allocated in PFGE-A, PFGE-B1, PFGE-B2, ERIC-A, ERIC-B, MLVA-A, MLVA-B1, MLVA-B2 and G1, G2, H for CRISPR-MVLST. The strains isolated from humans after this period were allocated in PFGE-B1, ERIC-A, MLVA-B1, MLVA-B2 and G2 clusters. The strains isolated from food were allocated in PFGE-A, PFGE-B1, ERIC-A, ERIC-B, MLVA-A, MLVA-B1, MLVA-B2, G1 and G2 clusters. By MLST, of the total of 92 strains isolated from humans and food, 77 strains were typed as ST19. By whole genome sequencing, the strains isolated from food and humans were allocated in I and J clusters independently of its isolation date. In the comparison of isolates from humans and animals, strains of the two origins were allocated in PFGE-D1, PFGE-D2, ERIC-C1, MLVA-C1 and MLVA-D clusters. In conclusion, the high frequency of virulence genes in the S. Typhimurium strains studied reinforces their potential hazard to cause disease in humans, as well as the risk of its presence in food, animals for human consumption and the environment. The occurrence of S. Typhimurium multi-drug iv resistant isolated from various food and pigs for consumption is an alert of the possible risk for humans to ingest contaminated food with those strains. Together the results of PFGE, ERIC-PCR, MLVA e CRISPR-MVLST suggest that S. Typhimurium strains isolated from humans were genetically more diverse before mid-1990s, which might indicate the selection of a more adapted S. Typhimurium subtype after Salmonella Enteritidis became the most prevalent serovar in Brazil. Regarding the strains isolated from food, the results of PFGE, ERIC-PCR, MLVA and CRISPR-MVLST suggest that during the studied period there was circulation of more than one subtype in the country. The MLST results suggest that these strains have a common phylogenetic origin. The results of the whole genome sequencing suggest that there may be more than one subtype circulating in the country, with respect to the strains of human and food origins. Also, alerts for the possible risk of MDR strains isolated from food to contaminate humans and/or disseminate antibiotic resistance genes for strains of clinical and non-clinical origin. In the comparison of isolates from humans and animals, the results of PFGE, ERIC-PCR and MLVA suggest that some strains isolated from pigs and humans may descend from a common subtype. In addition, the MDR strains isolated from pigs and pig environment warn for the possible risk of pigs used for human consumption to contaminate humans, the environment and other pigs.

Um total de 107 S. aureus isolados de casos de mastite, glândulas portadoras, pele do úbere, ordenhadores e insufladores, em rebanhos de São Paulo e Pernambuco, foram tipados por técnicas moleculares PCR-RFLP do gene coa e PCR de spa distinguiram seis perfis. Todas as amostras amplificaram genes coa, spa, icaA e 69% produziram biofilme glicose-induzido in vitro. PFGE identificou 31 perfis e 12 linhagens. Uma linhagem foi predominante (P < 0,0001) e amplamente disseminada em ambas as regiões. Um mesmo perfil foi isolado de mastite clínica, subclínica e portadoras. Houve heterogeneidade genética entre isolados de fazenda. Isolados de origem humana e animal constituíram populações distintas. Poucos isolados de leite, insufladores e pele do úbere tiveram igual perfil. Uma amostra extramamária, 77% dos isolados de leite e. 99% de S. aureus de portadoras produziram biofilme. Não foi detectada correlação entre produção de biofilme e CCS. O isolamento sucessivo do mesmo perfil de PFGE de glândulas assintomáticas por mais de 16 dias caracterizou o estágio de portador. / A total of 107 S. aureus isolated from bovine milk, udder skin, milkers and milking machine, from São Paulo and Pernambuco herds was typed by molecular techniques. PCR-RFLP coa gene and PCR spa gene distinguished six amplicons. All strains amplified coa, spa, icaA genes and, 69% produced in vitro glucose-induced biofilm. PFGE identified 31 pulsotypes, 12 lineages. One of the lineages was predominantly isolated (P<0.0001) and widely disseminated. A same pulsotype was isolated from clinical and, subclinical mastitis as well as from carriers. There was genetic heterogeneity among isolates from the herds. Strains from human and animal origin were genetically different. Few isolates from milk, milking machine and udder skin showed similar pulsotype. An extramammary strain, 77% of the milk isolates and, 99% of the S. aureus isolated from carriers produced biofilm. It was not detected any correlation between SCC and biofilm production. The successive isolation during more than 16 days of a same pulsotype from the asymptomatic glands characterized the carrier status.

Campylobacter spp., principalmente as espécies C. coli e C. jejuni, são a causa mais comum de doença bacteriana veiculada por alimentos na Europa, Estados Unidos e alguns outros locais do mundo. No Brasil, há uma escassez de estudos de C. coli, o que dificulta avaliar a dimensão do envolvimento dessa bactéria como causadora de doença nos seres humanos e em animais, bem como, determinar o impacto de sua presença em alimentos e no meio ambiente. O objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar molecularmente linhagens de C. coli isoladas de origens diversas no Brasil pela pesquisa da presença de genes relacionados à virulência por PCR, perfil de sensibilidade a antimicrobianos e pela análise da similaridade genotípica por métodos de tipagem molecular. Adicionalmente, o Índice de Discriminação (D) de tais metodologias foi verificado. Foram estudadas 63 linhagens de C. coli, isoladas de humanos (12), animais (21), alimentos (10) e ambiente (20), entre os anos de 1995 e 2011, nos Estados do Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo e Minas Gerais. Todas as linhagens apresentaram os genes flaA, cadF e sodB. O gene cdtB foi detectado em 20 (31,7%) linhagens, o gene flhA foi detectado em 11 (17,5%) linhagens, o gene dnaJ foi encontrado em 10 (15,9%) linhagens, o gene pldA foi detectado em sete (11,1%) linhagens, o gene iamA foi detectado em três (4,8%) linhagens, os genes cdtC e docA foram encontrados em duas (3,2%) linhagens, os genes cdtA e crsA foram encontrados em uma (1,6%) linhagem e os genes ciaB, wlaN, virB11 e racR não foram detectados. Dentre as 63 linhagens estudadas, 42 foram susceptíveis a todos os antimicrobianos testados. Das 21 linhagens resistentes, 10 (15,9%) foram resistentes a tetraciclina e doxaciclina, seis (9,5%) foram resistentes a ciprofloxacina e uma (1,6 %) foi resistente a eritromicina. Somente quatro (6,3%) linhagens foram resistentes a pelo menos duas diferentes classes de antibióticos testados simultaneamente. O dendrograma de similaridade genética de Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) agrupou as 63 linhagens estudadas em dois grupos principais denominados PFGE-A e PFGE-B com similaridade genômica de 44,9% entre eles. Entretanto, algumas linhagens isoladas de humanos, animais, ambiente e alimentos apresentaram uma alta similaridade genotípica acima de 80% entre elas e, foram agrupadas em sete subgrupos denominados PFGE-A1 a PFGE-A7. O dendrograma de similaridade genômica das sequências da SVR do gene flaA agrupou as linhagens ii estudadas em dois grupos principais designados SVR-A e SVR-B, com similaridade acima de 83,1 % entre eles. Ademais, o depósito das sequências da SVR do gene flaA no banco de dados online demonstrou que os alelos 30 e o 1647 foram os mais frequentemente encontrados e permitiu a comparação das linhagens estudadas com os alelos descritos no banco de dados. Sete alelos, dentre os 22 encontrados, não haviam sido previamente descritos. A análise do locus CRISPR por HRMA dividiu as linhagens de C. coli em quatro diferentes perfis de melting. O Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) foi utilizado para tipar 20 linhagens de C. coli e foram obtidos 18 STs diferentes dos quais apenas dois já haviam sido previamente descritos. O D das metodologias de PFGE, sequenciamento da SVR do gene flaA, análise do locus CRISPR por HRMA e MLST foi de 0,986, 0,916, 0,550 e 0,989, respectivamente. Pode- se concluir que o potencial patogênico das linhagens de C. coli não foi evidenciado o que pode estar relacionado ao fato da maioria dos estudos envolvendo patogênese terem sido realizados para a espécie C. jejuni. Algumas linhagens apresentaram-se resistentes aos antimicrobianos testados, o que é preocupante uma vez que tais linhagens podem disseminar genes de resistência a outras isoladas de diversas fontes. Os resultados gerados pelos métodos de tipagem molecular por PFGE e sequenciamento da pequena região variável (SVR) do gene flaA demonstraram uma alta similaridade genotípica entre algumas linhagens de C. coli, sugerindo que uma possível contaminação tenha ocorrido entre linhagens isoladas de fontes clínicas e não clínicas ao longo de 16 anos no Brasil. Ademais, a análise dos alelos da SVR do gene flaA nos permitiu concluir que os alelos prevalentes nas linhagens estudadas diferem daqueles encontrados nos países Europeus. Os dados obtidos por MLST sugerem que as linhagens estudadas possuem uma grande diversidade genética entre si e em comparação com as linhagens isoladas em diferentes locais do mundo. Finalmente, as técnicas de MLST e PFGE foram as mais eficientes e adequadas na genotipagem das linhagens de C. coli estudadas. / Campylobacter spp., mainly the C. coli and C. jejuni species, are the most common cause of bacterial disease conveyed by food in Europe, United States, and other places worldwide. In Brazil, there is a paucity of studies on C. coli, which makes it difficult to evaluate the involvement of this bacterium as a cause of diseases in humans and animals, as well as to determine the impact of its presence in food and the environment. The aim of this study was to molecularly characterize C. coli strains isolated from diverse origins in Brazil by searching for the presence of virulence-related genes by PCR, antimicrobial sensitivity profile, and analysis of the genotypic similarity by molecular typing methods. Addicionaly, the Discriminatory Index (D) of those methodologies was acessed. Sixty-three C. coli strains isolated from humans (12), animals (21), food (10), and the environment (20) between 1995 and 2011, in the States of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais were studied. All strains presented the flaA, cadF and sodB genes. The cdtB gene was detected in 20 (31.7%) strains; the flhA gene was detected in 11 (17.5%) strains; the dnaJ gene was detected in 10 (15.9%) strains; the pldA gene was detected in 7 (11.1%) strains ; the iamA gene was detected in three (4.8%) strains; the cdtC and docA genes were found in two (3.2%) strains; the cdtA and crsA were found in one (1.6%) strain and the ciaB, wlaN, virB11 and racR genes were not detected. Among the 63 strains studied, 42 were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested. Of the 21 resistant strains, 10 (15.9%) were resistante to tetracycline and doxaciclyne, six (9.5%) showed resistance to ciprofloxacin, and one (1.6%) was resistant to erythromycin. Only four (6.3%) strains were simultaneously resistant to at least two different classes of the antibiotics tested. The dendrogram of genetic similarity of Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) grouped the 63 strains studied into two groups namely PFGE-A and PFGE-B with a genomic similarity of 44.9% among them. However, some strains isolated from humans, animals, the environment and food presented a high genotypic similarity above 80% and were subdivided into seven groups designated as PFGE-A1 to PFGE-A7. The dendrogram of genetic similarity of the SRV-flaA gene sequences grouped the strains studied into two groups namely SVR-A and SVR-B, with similarity above 83.1% among them. Besides, the deposit of the SVR sequences of the flaA gene in the online database showed that the alleles 30 and 1647 were the iv most frequently found and allowed the comparison between the strains studied with the alleles described in the database. Seven alleles, among the 22 found have never been described before. The CRISPR locus analysis divided the C. coli strains into four different melting profiles. The Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to type 20 C. coli strains and revealed 18 different STs among which just two had been previously described. The D of PFGE, SVR- flaA sequence, HRMA of CRISPR locus analysis and MLST was 0.986, 0.916, 0.550 and 0.989, respectively. In conclusion, the pathogenic potential of the C. coli strains was not highlighted, which could be related to the fact that the majority of the pathogenicity studies were performed with C. jejuni species. Some strains showed resistance to the antibiotics tested what is a concern once those strains may spread the resistance genes to other strains isolated from different sources. The results obtained by PFGE and SVR-flaA sequence showed a high genomic similarity among some C. coli strains which may suggest that a possible contamination may have occurred among clinical and non-clinical sources during 16 years in Brazil. Furthermore, the analysis of SVR- flaA alleles allowed the conclusion that the prevalent alleles in the strains studied were different from those found in European countries. The data obtained by MLST suggests that the strains studied had a high genomic diversity among them and in comparison with strains isolated from different places worldwide. Finally, the MLST and PFGE technicques were the most efficient and adequate in genotyping the C. coli strains studied.

ABSTRACT Few antibiotics are left that are effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and even strains resistant to these agents have been isolated. Previous studies have identified five distinct MRSA clonotypes, which are present globally. No comprehensive national study has previously been undertaken to investigate the MRSA types in South Africa, and this study was aimed at elucidating the genotypic population structure of South African MRSA isolates. SmaI digested genomic DNA, separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, was used to characterise 349 S. aureus isolates, obtained from various state and private diagnostic laboratories. PFGE results were complemented with those of spa typing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing results. Two-hundred-and-five different PFGE patterns were identified, which were grouped into twenty-four clusters. Three were major lineages, containing more than 20% of the isolates with a similarity cut-off of 70%. Only thirty-seven spa types were identified (fourteen novel spa types), which clustered into six spa-Clonal Complexes after BURP analysis. SCCmec types I-IV were identified, including variants of each type. Data suggest that the Archaic clone (RSA05), oldest of the epidemic clones, represents one of the major clones in South Africa. Strains that were part of this complex (n=98 (28.2%); t064; SCCmec type I-pls) clustered together with strain E2125/ATCC BAA-38 (t051; SCCmec type I). Another major complex, RSA16 (n=90 (25.7%); t012; SCCmec type II/IIB) possessed a single-locus variant (SLV) spa type and the same or a SLV SCCmec types as EMRSA-16 (t018; SCCmec type II). The third major complex, RSA03 (n=74 (21.2%); t037; SCCmec type III/IIIE), had similar spa and SCCmec types to control strainANS46 (t037; SCCmec type III). One MRSA and twelve MSSA isolates were also identified as carrying genes for the toxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin, which was confirmed by DNA nucleotide sequencing.

Submitted by Gabriela Lopes (gmachadolopesufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-04-24T11:45:18Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação Tassiana Ramires.pdf: 1728606 bytes, checksum: a63d0903f11cb3f858c5a7fd4e32ad97 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-05-04T18:58:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação Tassiana Ramires.pdf: 1728606 bytes, checksum: a63d0903f11cb3f858c5a7fd4e32ad97 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-04T18:58:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação Tassiana Ramires.pdf: 1728606 bytes, checksum: a63d0903f11cb3f858c5a7fd4e32ad97 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-20 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Campylobacter termofílicos são, atualmente, as principais bactérias causadoras de doenças gastrointestinais em todo o mundo. Esse grupo é assim denominado devido a sua temperatura ótima de multiplicação oscilar entre 42 °C e 43 °C, sendo Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. lari e C. upsaliensis, as principais espécies envolvidas nos casos de campilobacteriose em humanos. Dentre essas espécies, a mais relacionada à essa doença é C. jejuni, seguida por C. coli. O principal reservatório desses micro-organismos são as aves, principalmente os frangos, possivelmente pela temperatura corporal desses animais ser similar à temperatura ótima para Campylobacter termofílicos. Com isso, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a ocorrência, a diversidade genética, o perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos e a presença de genes associados à virulência em isolados de Campylobacter termofílicos provenientes de frangos de corte e na cama de aviário em granjas aviárias da região sul do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Um total de 48 amostras foram coletadas em três diferentes granjas (A, B e C), incluindo uma amostra de swab de arrasto da cama do aviário e 15 pools de amostras de swab de cloaca em cada granja. Das três granjas amostradas, apenas a granja C apresentou contaminação por Campylobacter termofílicos, sendo todos os isolados identificados por técnicas fenotípicas e moleculares como C. jejuni. Dessas 16 amostras positivas, obtiveram-se 28 isolados, sendo 16 pelo isolamento em ágar Preston e 12 do ágar mCCD. A diversidade genética entre os isolados foi avaliada por PFGE, verificando-se que todos os isolados apresentaram um único padrão de macrorestrição, sugerindo clonalidade entre os isolados e a presença de apenas uma fonte de infecção por Campylobacter nessa granja. O perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos foi avaliado pelo teste de disco difusão em ágar, utilizando-se oito antimicrobianos distintos, de três classes diferentes: tetraciclina, quinolonas e macrolídeos. Os isolados apresentaram perfil similar de resistência a antimicrobianos, sendo resistentes às quinolonas e tetraciclinas e sensíveis aos macrolídeos. Devido a relação clonal e ao perfil de resistência similar, um isolado representativo foi selecionado para detecção dos genes de virulência. A técnica de PCR foi utilizada para detectar a presença dos genes ciaB, cadF, cdtA, cdtB e cdtC, sendo o isolado selecionado positivo todos os genes pesquisados. Dessa forma, a presença de C. jejuni resistente a antimicrobianos e com potencial de virulência em frangos de corte prontos para o abate e na cama de aviário durante o período de produção é um risco à saúde pública, pois esses micro-organismos podem ser introduzidos no ambiente do abatedouro e contaminar as carcaças durante o abate. / Thermophilic Campylobacter are currently the leading bacteria causing of gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. This group is so named because its optimal multiplication temperature oscillates between 42 °C and 43 °C, being Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. lari and C. upsaliensis, the main species involved in cases of human campylobacteriosis. Among these species, the most related to this disease is C. jejuni, followed by C. coli. The main reservoir of these microorganisms are birds, especially chickens, possibly because the body temperature of these animals coincides with the optimal temperature for thermophilic Campylobacter. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the occurrence, genetic relationship, antimicrobial susceptibility, and the presence of virulence genes in thermophilic Campylobacter from broilers and broiler bedding from the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 48 samples were collected in three different farms (A, B and C), which comprising one sample of drag swab and 15 pools of cloacal swabs in each farm. From the three farms sampled, only the farm C showed thermophilic Campylobacter contamination. All isolates were identified by phenotypic and molecular techniques such as C. jejuni. Of these 16 positive samples, 28 isolates were obtained, 16 being isolated by Preston agar and 12 by mCCD agar. The genetic diversity among the isolates was evaluated by PFGE, and it was observed that all the isolates belonged to the same macrorestriction pattern, suggesting clonality among the isolates and the presence of only one source of Campylobacter infection in this farm. The antimicrobial resistance profile was evaluated by the agar disc diffusion test using eight distinct antimicrobial agents from three different classes: tetracyclines, quinolones and macrolides. The isolates presented a similar antimicrobial resistance profile, being resistant to quinolones and tetracyclines and susceptible to macrolides. As the isolates shared the same PFGE pattern and similar resistance profile, a representative isolate was chosed for investigation of virulence genes. A PCR assay was carried out aiming to identify the presence of ciaB, cadF, cdtA, cdtB and cdtC virulence genes and all the genes evaluated were found. Thus, the presence of C. jejuni resistant to antimicrobial agents and harboring virulence genes in broilers and broiler farm during the broiler production period may represents a potential risk to public health, because these microorganisms can be introduced into the abattoir environment and may contaminate the carcasses during slaughter.

<p>Efficient and correct repair of DNA damage, especially DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), is vital for the survival of individual cells and organisms. Defects in the DNA repair may lead to cell death or genomic instability and development of cancer. </p><p>The repair of DSBs in cell lines with different DSB rejoining capabilities was studied after exposure to ionising radiation. A new cell lysis protocol performed at 0ºC, which prevents the inclusion of non-true DSBs in the quantification of DSBs by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), was developed. Results showed that when the standard protocol at 50ºC was used, 30-40% of the initial yield of DSBs corresponds to artifactual DSBs. The lesions transformed to DSBs during incubation at 50ºC were repaired within 60-90 minutes <i>in vivo</i> and the repair was independent of DNA-PK, XRCC1 and PARP-1.</p><p>Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is the major DSB repair pathway in mammalian cells. We show that DSBs are processed into long single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) ends after ≥1 h of repair in NHEJ deficient cells. The ssDNA was formed outside of the G₁ phase of the cell cycle and only in the absence of the NHEJ proteins DNA-PK and DNA Ligase IV/XRCC4. The generation of ssDNA had great influence on the quantification of DSBs by PFGE. The standard protocol caused hybridisation of the ssDNA ends, resulting in overestimation of the DSB repair capability in NHEJ deficient cells.</p><p>DSBs were also quantified by detection of phosphorylated H2AX (γ-H2AX) foci. A large number of γ-H2AX foci still remaining after 21 h of repair in an NHEJ deficient cell line confirmed the low repair capability determined by PFGE. Furthermore, in normal cells difficulty in repairing clustered breaks was observed as a large fraction of γ-H2AX foci remaining 24 h after irradiation with high-LET ions.</p>

Efficient and correct repair of DNA damage, especially DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), is vital for the survival of individual cells and organisms. Defects in the DNA repair may lead to cell death or genomic instability and development of cancer. The repair of DSBs in cell lines with different DSB rejoining capabilities was studied after exposure to ionising radiation. A new cell lysis protocol performed at 0ºC, which prevents the inclusion of non-true DSBs in the quantification of DSBs by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), was developed. Results showed that when the standard protocol at 50ºC was used, 30-40% of the initial yield of DSBs corresponds to artifactual DSBs. The lesions transformed to DSBs during incubation at 50ºC were repaired within 60-90 minutes in vivo and the repair was independent of DNA-PK, XRCC1 and PARP-1. Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) is the major DSB repair pathway in mammalian cells. We show that DSBs are processed into long single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) ends after ≥1 h of repair in NHEJ deficient cells. The ssDNA was formed outside of the G1 phase of the cell cycle and only in the absence of the NHEJ proteins DNA-PK and DNA Ligase IV/XRCC4. The generation of ssDNA had great influence on the quantification of DSBs by PFGE. The standard protocol caused hybridisation of the ssDNA ends, resulting in overestimation of the DSB repair capability in NHEJ deficient cells. DSBs were also quantified by detection of phosphorylated H2AX (γ-H2AX) foci. A large number of γ-H2AX foci still remaining after 21 h of repair in an NHEJ deficient cell line confirmed the low repair capability determined by PFGE. Furthermore, in normal cells difficulty in repairing clustered breaks was observed as a large fraction of γ-H2AX foci remaining 24 h after irradiation with high-LET ions.

This is a two-part project. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with increased risk of C. difficile infections and increased toxin production when combined with antimicrobial therapy. The first part of this project involved characterization of a hypervirulent NAP1 C. difficile strain, including genome sequencing and assembly, and the development of methods to study its transcriptomics using RNA-Seq, which will enable future researchers to study different expression patterns when toxigenic C. difficile is challenged with PPIs and/or antimicrobials in vitro. The second part of this project involved characterizing a clinical isolate of a NAP1 C. difficile displaying a markedly elevated MIC to metronidazole (MIC = 16 mg/mL), which initially exhibited MIC of 32 mg/mL. A method of obtaining a metronidazole-susceptible revertant from this isolate was developed and a revertant was obtained. The genomes of both isolates were sequenced, assembled, and aligned, then compared to each other for polymorphisms.

This is a two-part project. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with increased risk of C. difficile infections and increased toxin production when combined with antimicrobial therapy. The first part of this project involved characterization of a hypervirulent NAP1 C. difficile strain, including genome sequencing and assembly, and the development of methods to study its transcriptomics using RNA-Seq, which will enable future researchers to study different expression patterns when toxigenic C. difficile is challenged with PPIs and/or antimicrobials in vitro. The second part of this project involved characterizing a clinical isolate of a NAP1 C. difficile displaying a markedly elevated MIC to metronidazole (MIC = 16 mg/mL), which initially exhibited MIC of 32 mg/mL. A method of obtaining a metronidazole-susceptible revertant from this isolate was developed and a revertant was obtained. The genomes of both isolates were sequenced, assembled, and aligned, then compared to each other for polymorphisms.