Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1949. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: leaves 81-92.

published_or_final_version / Microbiology / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1948. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [84]-90).

No description available.

Streptococcus Agalactiae est depuis les années 1990, responsable d'infections invasives émergentes chez l'adulte. Nous montrons queles souches responsables de ces infections appartiennent majoritairement aux sérotypes V et Ia et aux deux clones phylogénétiquement éloignés, CC1 et CC23. L'étude du contenu prophagique montre une lysogénie fréquente suggérant l'importance de la lysogénie dans la spécialisation de ces souches particulièrement aptes à infecter l'adulte. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons isolé sept phages tempérés de souches associées à des infections cutanées et ostéo-articulaires. Ces phages appartiennent à la famille des SIPHOVIRIDAE. L’analyse par restriction enzymatique de l’ADN phagique et l’amplification par PCR de fragments d’ADN prophagique a montré la diversité de ces phages et leurdifférence des phages isolés de souches associées aux infections materno-foetales. Les phagesisolés de souches lysogènes de CC1 ont présenté un spectre lytique étendu aux souches de tous les clones intra-species. / Streptococcus agalactiae has emerged since 1990 in infections in nonpregnant adults, We showed that the strains isolated from adult infections were mainly of serotypes V and Ia., and mainly belonged to the two phylogenetically distant clones, CC1 and CC23. The prophagic content study showed a frequent lysogeny, suggesting a role of lysegeny in the specialization of these strains able to infect adult. Also, we isolated seven phages from strains associated with cutaneous and osteoarticular infections in adult. Ces phages classified among SIPHOVIRIDAE. Restriction analysis of phagic DNA and PCR for prophagic DNA showed genetiacally diverse phages, distinct from the phages isolated from strains responsible for materno-foetal infections. Phages isolated from lysogenic strains of CC1 had a wide lytic spectrum and were able to lyse strains belonging to all clones intra-species.

A mastite é o processo inflamatório da glândula mamária que constitui uma doença comum no setor pecuário leiteiro, evidenciado principalmente durante o período de lactação de vacas leiteiras e, cujos principais agentes etiológicos são o Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp. e espécies de coliformes. Os protocolos de combate à mastite preconizam o uso de antibióticos, o que pode trazer riscos à saúde dos animais e humana. Dependendo do agente patogênico, esta estratégia é considerada frequentemente ineficiente e de alto custo, o que leva pesquisadores a buscarem alternativas à antibioticoterapia, testando princípios ativos homeopáticos, fitoterápicos e micro-organismos probióticos, que apresentam potencial como alternativa promissora para a terapia quimioterápica. As formulações contendo bactérias probióticas podem representar uma alternativa de baixo custo para o combate à mastite, com a vantagem de não estimular a resistência entre os patógenos. Desta forma, este estudo baseou-se na avaliação in vitro do potencial antimicrobiano de cepas de Lactobacillus frente a agentes patógenos causadores de mastite, bem como na avaliação in vivo da inocuidade de formulações contendo probióticos em vacas em lactação. Para tanto, 6 cepas de Lactobacillus, na forma isolada e na forma de pool foram avaliadas quanto à capacidade inibitória sobre Streptococcus agalactiae (cepas 1 e 2) por diferentes técnicas de difusão em ágar e co-cultura em meio líquido. A inibição pela técnica de co-cultura foi avaliada mediante determinação de células viáveis das cepas patogênicas por reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa em tempo real (RT-qPCR). De acordo com os resultados observados no estudo de inibição in vitro, foram preparadas formulações probióticas utilizando dois veículos diferentes, sendo uma emulsão (Formulação A) e outra utilizando um veículo de um medicamento comercial (Formulação B) adicionadas de células de Lactobacillus na forma isolada e na forma de pool. Estas formulações foram avaliadas quanto à inocuidade em 17 vacas separadas em grupos sob regime de 1 ordenha/dia (A e B1) e 2 ordenhas/dia (B2), mediante a aplicação das formulações A e B contendo 109 ou 106 células/dose. Ao longo do cada tratamento, foram avaliados parâmetros fisiológicos como temperatura do úbere, presença de hiperemia, inchaço e manifestação de dor, contagem de células somáticas (CCS), California Mastitis Test (CMT), bem como condutividade elétrica e aspecto do leite e avaliação microbiológica. O estudo de inibição em co-cultura mostrou que as cepas de Lactobacillus avaliadas inibiram o crescimento das cepas patogênicas, em níveis superiores a 75% após 72 horas de ensaio. Após 24 horas, os maiores níveis de inibição sobre S. agalactiae cepa 1 foram exercidos pelas cepas L. acidophilus ATCC 4356, L. fermentum ATCC 9338, com índices de inibição de 99,79% e 99,91%, respectivamente. Nas mesmas condições a inibição de S. agalactiae cepa 2 por L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 e L. delbrueckii UFV H2B20 foi de 86,7% e 79,5%, respectivamente. Estes resultados indicam o potencial de inibição das cepas de Lactobacillus estudadas sobre S. agalactiae causadora de mastite. Estudos de inocuidade demonstraram que as formulações probióticas (A e B) induziram reação inflamatória no úbere dos animais, confirmado pelo aumento significativo da condutividade elétrica do leite (CEL), CCS (p < 0,05), bem como do escore de CMT. As formulações testadas no presente estudo não se mostraram adequadas ao emprego terapêutico na cura da mastite, uma vez que no teste de inocuidade provocaram processos inflamatórios nas glândulas mamárias dos animais testados. / Bovine mastitis is a common disease in dairy farms, usually observed during lactation period in dairy cattle, whose main etiological agents are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp. and coliform species. Current protocols of mastitis therapy include the use of antibiotics, which may represent serious risks for both animal and human health. Depending on the pathogen specie, this strategy is often considered ineffective and highly expensive, what stimulates scientists to search for alternative treatments, including homeopathic or phytotherapic drugs or probiotic microorganisms, which may be a good alternative to chemotherapeutic drugs. Formulations containing probiotic bacteria may represent a low-cost alternative for mastitis treatment. The present study aimed to assess in vitro ability of Lactobacillus strains to inhibit mastitis pathogens growth, as well as in vivo assessment of the safety of formulations containing probiotics in cows with predisposition or affected by mastitis. Thus, six Lactobacillus strains were evaluated on their inhibitory ability over Streptococcus agalactiae (strains 1 and 2) by techniques of agar diffusion and co-culture in liquid medium. The effectiveness of the co-culture was evaluated by enumerating viable pathogen cells through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). According to the results of in vitro study, two formulations were prepared based on a probiotic emulsion (formula A) and a commercial matrix (formula B) containing Lactobacillus cells (isolated or pool). Safety tests for the formulations were performed in 17 cows, which were separated into two groups under 1 milking/day (A and B1) and another group submitted to 2 milkings/day (B2), through the application of preparation A or preparation B containing 109 or 106 cells/dose. In each treatment, every cow was assessed on physiological parameters including temperature, presence of hyperemia, swelling and pain, somatic cell count (SCC), electrical conductivity and aspect of milk (color and clots/lumps formation) and microbiological evaluation. The results of the inhibition studies in co-culture showed that all Lactobacillus strains inhibited the growth of pathogenic strains, in at least 75% after 72 h of test. The highest levels of inhibition of S. agalactiae strain 1 were performed by strains L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 and L. fermentum ATCC 9338, at level of 99.79% and 96.70% after 24h, respectively. For the same period, the inhibition of S. agalactiae strain 2 by L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 and L delbrueckii UFV H2B20 was 86.7 % and 79.5%, respectively. These results showed the potential of Lactobacillus strains studied concerning to the inhibition of mastitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae. Safety studies showed that both formulations evaluated induced inflammatory response in the udder of the animals, what was confirmed by significant raise on electric conductivity and SCC (p < 0,05) and CMT scores on milk. All formulations were considered inappropriate to be used in mastitis therapeutics, once they failed at safety tests, inducing mastitis on tested animals.

Submitted by Natalia Vieira (natalia.vieira@famerp.br) on 2016-05-30T21:52:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianasouzajorge_dissert.pdf: 1193713 bytes, checksum: 87fe8f7c70497cf298249a806a3219b4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-30T21:52:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lucianasouzajorge_dissert.pdf: 1193713 bytes, checksum: 87fe8f7c70497cf298249a806a3219b4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-07-04 / Since the 1970´s Group B Streptococcus (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae has been considered the leading cause of early-onset neonatal disease. Even after the adoption of strategies for intrapartum antimicrobial prophylaxis (IAP) in the 1990´s, it has been observed GBS to be responsible for approximately 70% of neonatal mortality. The objective of this study was to establish prevalence of GBS colonization among pregnant women and parturients treated at Hospital de Base de Sao Jose do Rio Preto and the perinatal factors of risk related to maternal colonization. A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out. One hundred and twenty-two patients (pregnant women and parturients) selected for risk factors were submitted to collection of vaginal and rectal swabs which were then inoculated to specific Todd-Hewitt broth used to GBS identification. Statistical analysis of data was performed using logistic regression and Pearson 2 test or Fisher´s test, as appropriated. Prevalence of GBS maternal colonization was 24.6%, revealing statistically significant evidence among women with school education between 8 and 11 years (p=0.029) and those referring having had previous infant born with neonatal disease (p=0.025). The prevalence of GBS colonization of patients admitted at the studied Hospital Obstetrics Department points out the necessity for the institution to have an IAP protocol in order to avoid indiscriminate use of antimicrobial therapy for newborns admitted at the Neonatal Intensive Therapy Unit (NITU) and reduce the rate of neonatal morbidity and mortality. / Desde a década de 70, o Streptococcus do Grupo B (SGB) ou Streptococcus agalactiae é considerado a principal causa de doença neonatal precoce. Mesmo com a padronização de estratégias de profilaxia antimicrobiana intraparto (PAI) nos anos 90, tem sido verificado que o SGB é responsável por aproximadamente 70% de mortalidade neonatal. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer a prevalência da colonização por SGB entre gestantes e parturientes atendidas no Hospital de Base de São José do Rio Preto e os fatores de risco perinatais envolvidos na colonização materna. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo e retrospectivo em 122 gestantes ou parturientes incluídas por fatores de risco, as quais foram submetidas à coleta de material vaginal e anal, inseridos posteriormente ao caldo de crescimento específico Todd-Hewitt, que é utilizado para identificação dos SGB. A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada por regressão logística e pelo teste de quiquadrado Pearson ou teste de Fisher, quando recomendado. A prevalência de colonização materna por SGB foi de 24,6%, mostrando evidência estatisticamente significante entre mulheres com grau de escolaridade entre 8 a 11 anos (p=0,029) e que referiram história de filho anterior com doença neonatal (p=0,025). A prevalência da colonização por SGB entre gestantes e parturientes atendidas no serviço de obstetrícia no hospital estudado mostra a necessidade da instituição de um protocolo de PAI, a fim de evitar a utilização indiscriminada de antimicrobianos para recém nascidos admitidos na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN) e reduzir as taxas de morbidade e mortalidade neonatal.

A mastite é o processo inflamatório da glândula mamária que constitui uma doença comum no setor pecuário leiteiro, evidenciado principalmente durante o período de lactação de vacas leiteiras e, cujos principais agentes etiológicos são o Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp. e espécies de coliformes. Os protocolos de combate à mastite preconizam o uso de antibióticos, o que pode trazer riscos à saúde dos animais e humana. Dependendo do agente patogênico, esta estratégia é considerada frequentemente ineficiente e de alto custo, o que leva pesquisadores a buscarem alternativas à antibioticoterapia, testando princípios ativos homeopáticos, fitoterápicos e micro-organismos probióticos, que apresentam potencial como alternativa promissora para a terapia quimioterápica. As formulações contendo bactérias probióticas podem representar uma alternativa de baixo custo para o combate à mastite, com a vantagem de não estimular a resistência entre os patógenos. Desta forma, este estudo baseou-se na avaliação in vitro do potencial antimicrobiano de cepas de Lactobacillus frente a agentes patógenos causadores de mastite, bem como na avaliação in vivo da inocuidade de formulações contendo probióticos em vacas em lactação. Para tanto, 6 cepas de Lactobacillus, na forma isolada e na forma de pool foram avaliadas quanto à capacidade inibitória sobre Streptococcus agalactiae (cepas 1 e 2) por diferentes técnicas de difusão em ágar e co-cultura em meio líquido. A inibição pela técnica de co-cultura foi avaliada mediante determinação de células viáveis das cepas patogênicas por reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa em tempo real (RT-qPCR). De acordo com os resultados observados no estudo de inibição in vitro, foram preparadas formulações probióticas utilizando dois veículos diferentes, sendo uma emulsão (Formulação A) e outra utilizando um veículo de um medicamento comercial (Formulação B) adicionadas de células de Lactobacillus na forma isolada e na forma de pool. Estas formulações foram avaliadas quanto à inocuidade em 17 vacas separadas em grupos sob regime de 1 ordenha/dia (A e B1) e 2 ordenhas/dia (B2), mediante a aplicação das formulações A e B contendo 109 ou 106 células/dose. Ao longo do cada tratamento, foram avaliados parâmetros fisiológicos como temperatura do úbere, presença de hiperemia, inchaço e manifestação de dor, contagem de células somáticas (CCS), California Mastitis Test (CMT), bem como condutividade elétrica e aspecto do leite e avaliação microbiológica. O estudo de inibição em co-cultura mostrou que as cepas de Lactobacillus avaliadas inibiram o crescimento das cepas patogênicas, em níveis superiores a 75% após 72 horas de ensaio. Após 24 horas, os maiores níveis de inibição sobre S. agalactiae cepa 1 foram exercidos pelas cepas L. acidophilus ATCC 4356, L. fermentum ATCC 9338, com índices de inibição de 99,79% e 99,91%, respectivamente. Nas mesmas condições a inibição de S. agalactiae cepa 2 por L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 e L. delbrueckii UFV H2B20 foi de 86,7% e 79,5%, respectivamente. Estes resultados indicam o potencial de inibição das cepas de Lactobacillus estudadas sobre S. agalactiae causadora de mastite. Estudos de inocuidade demonstraram que as formulações probióticas (A e B) induziram reação inflamatória no úbere dos animais, confirmado pelo aumento significativo da condutividade elétrica do leite (CEL), CCS (p < 0,05), bem como do escore de CMT. As formulações testadas no presente estudo não se mostraram adequadas ao emprego terapêutico na cura da mastite, uma vez que no teste de inocuidade provocaram processos inflamatórios nas glândulas mamárias dos animais testados. / Bovine mastitis is a common disease in dairy farms, usually observed during lactation period in dairy cattle, whose main etiological agents are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp. and coliform species. Current protocols of mastitis therapy include the use of antibiotics, which may represent serious risks for both animal and human health. Depending on the pathogen specie, this strategy is often considered ineffective and highly expensive, what stimulates scientists to search for alternative treatments, including homeopathic or phytotherapic drugs or probiotic microorganisms, which may be a good alternative to chemotherapeutic drugs. Formulations containing probiotic bacteria may represent a low-cost alternative for mastitis treatment. The present study aimed to assess in vitro ability of Lactobacillus strains to inhibit mastitis pathogens growth, as well as in vivo assessment of the safety of formulations containing probiotics in cows with predisposition or affected by mastitis. Thus, six Lactobacillus strains were evaluated on their inhibitory ability over Streptococcus agalactiae (strains 1 and 2) by techniques of agar diffusion and co-culture in liquid medium. The effectiveness of the co-culture was evaluated by enumerating viable pathogen cells through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). According to the results of in vitro study, two formulations were prepared based on a probiotic emulsion (formula A) and a commercial matrix (formula B) containing Lactobacillus cells (isolated or pool). Safety tests for the formulations were performed in 17 cows, which were separated into two groups under 1 milking/day (A and B1) and another group submitted to 2 milkings/day (B2), through the application of preparation A or preparation B containing 109 or 106 cells/dose. In each treatment, every cow was assessed on physiological parameters including temperature, presence of hyperemia, swelling and pain, somatic cell count (SCC), electrical conductivity and aspect of milk (color and clots/lumps formation) and microbiological evaluation. The results of the inhibition studies in co-culture showed that all Lactobacillus strains inhibited the growth of pathogenic strains, in at least 75% after 72 h of test. The highest levels of inhibition of S. agalactiae strain 1 were performed by strains L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 and L. fermentum ATCC 9338, at level of 99.79% and 96.70% after 24h, respectively. For the same period, the inhibition of S. agalactiae strain 2 by L. acidophilus ATCC 4356 and L delbrueckii UFV H2B20 was 86.7 % and 79.5%, respectively. These results showed the potential of Lactobacillus strains studied concerning to the inhibition of mastitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae. Safety studies showed that both formulations evaluated induced inflammatory response in the udder of the animals, what was confirmed by significant raise on electric conductivity and SCC (p < 0,05) and CMT scores on milk. All formulations were considered inappropriate to be used in mastitis therapeutics, once they failed at safety tests, inducing mastitis on tested animals.

Cheuk Shing Ching. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-161). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.I / 內容摘要 --- p.II / ABSTRACT --- p.IV / CONTENTS --- p.XI / LIST OF TABLES --- p.XI / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.XI / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.XII / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Taxonomy of Streptococcus agalactiae --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Characteristics of Streptococcus agalactiae --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Epidemiology of GBS --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Risk groups --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.1.1 --- Neonates --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3.1.2 --- Pregnant women --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.1.3 --- Non-pregnant adult --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- World wide distribution --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Serotypes --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Antibiotic susceptibility --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- GBS diseases in Hong Kong --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Putative virulence factors and pathogenesis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Capsular polysaccharide --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- C5a peptidase --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- β-haemolysin/cytolysin --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- C protein and C a-like protein --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.4.1 --- C protein --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.4.1.1 --- C α protein --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.4.1.2 --- Cβ protein --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.4.2 --- C α-like protein --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Hyaluronate lyase --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.6 --- CAMP factor --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.7 --- Others --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5 --- Antibiotic resistance and resistance genes --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Macrolides --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Tetracyclines --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Aminoglycosides --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Fluoroquniolones --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- Others --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6 --- Mobile genetic elements --- p.21 / Chapter 1.7 --- Typing methods --- p.22 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Phenotypic methods --- p.23 / Chapter 1.7.1.1 --- Serotyping --- p.23 / Chapter 1.7.1.2 --- Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) --- p.23 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Genotypic methods --- p.24 / Chapter 1.7.2.1 --- Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) / restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) --- p.24 / Chapter 1.7.2.2 --- Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) --- p.25 / Chapter 1.7.2.3 --- Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) --- p.26 / Chapter 1.7.2.4 --- Sequencing --- p.26 / Chapter 1.8 --- Prevention --- p.29 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) --- p.29 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- GBS Vaccine --- p.33 / Chapter 1.9 --- Objectives --- p.34 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- METHODS AND MATERIALS --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1 --- Bacterial isolates --- p.35 / Chapter 2.2 --- Antibiotic susceptibility test --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Antibiotic preparation --- p.37 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Microbroth dilution method --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Microtitre plate preparation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Suspension preparation and inoculation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- End points determination --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Inducible lincomycin resistance determination --- p.40 / Chapter 2.3 --- Serotyping --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Preparation of antigens --- p.41 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Typing of isolates --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4 --- Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Preparation of DNA plug for PFGE --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Restriction enzyme digestion of GBS DNA --- p.43 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Running of PFGE gel --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5 --- Molecular characterization --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Target genes --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- DNA preparation --- p.51 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Master mix preparation --- p.51 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Polymerase chain reaction --- p.51 / Chapter 2.5.5 --- PCR product analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis --- p.52 / Chapter 2.5.6 --- DNA sequencing --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6 --- Data analysis --- p.53 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- PFGE and molecular characters analysis --- p.53 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Sequences analysis --- p.53 / Chapter 2.7 --- Molecular identification by real-time PCR --- p.54 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Bacterial strains --- p.54 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- DNA isolation for specimens --- p.56 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- Design of TaqMan primers and probes --- p.56 / Chapter 2.7.4 --- Cloning of target sequences --- p.59 / Chapter 2.7.5 --- Master mix of real-time PCR --- p.59 / Chapter 2.7.6 --- Specificity and detection limit --- p.60 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESULTS --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1 --- Serotype distribution of GBS --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Serotyping using antisera --- p.62 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Serotyping by molecular method --- p.64 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Molecular subtype of GBS serotype III --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Correlation of serotypes with diseases --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2 --- Antimicrobial susceptibility --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Phenotypic method --- p.71 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Detection and distribution of resistance genes --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Tetracycline resistance --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Macrolide and lincosamide resistance --- p.77 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Aminoglycoside resistance --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3 --- Molecular typing --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) --- p.83 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Distribution of GBS surface protein genes profiles --- p.89 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Distribution of mobile genetic elements --- p.92 / Chapter 3.4 --- "Analysis based on PFGE, surface protein genes, mobile genetic elements and antibiotic resistance genes" --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Intra-molecular serotype --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Molecular serotype Ia --- p.95 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Molecular serotype Ib --- p.99 / Chapter 3.4.1.3 --- Molecular serotype II --- p.101 / Chapter 3.4.1.4 --- Molecular serotype III --- p.103 / Chapter 3.4.1.5 --- Molecular serotype V --- p.107 / Chapter 3.4.1.6 --- Molecular serotype VI --- p.110 / Chapter 3.4.1.7 --- "Molecular serotype IV, VII and VIII" --- p.110 / Chapter 3.4.1.8 --- Non-typeable isolate (NT) --- p.111 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Analysis of Maternal and neonatal strains --- p.115 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Comparison of GBS strains from Hong Kong to Australia and Korea --- p.118 / Chapter 3.5 --- Molecular identification of GBS by real-time PCR --- p.120 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Specificity --- p.120 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Detection limits --- p.122 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DISCUSSION --- p.125 / Chapter 4.1 --- Laboratory methods for typing and characterization of GBS --- p.125 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Serotyping by agglutination and molecular method --- p.125 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Antibiotic susceptibility testing and resistance genes --- p.129 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- PFGE --- p.130 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Surface protein genes --- p.131 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Mobile genetic elements --- p.132 / Chapter 4.1.6 --- Real-time PCR --- p.133 / Chapter 4.2 --- Characterization of GBS in Hong Kong --- p.135 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- GBS in Hong Kong --- p.135 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- GBS from Australia and Korea --- p.141 / Chapter 4.3 --- Future research --- p.142 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.143 / REFERENCES --- p.144 / APPENDIX I: MATERIALS AND REAGENTS --- p.162 / APPENDIX II: DENDROGRAMS --- p.168

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-206).