Infectious diseases cause substantial morbidity and mortality, exacerbated by increasing antibiotic resistance. In critically ill patients, recent studies indicate a substantial variability in β-lactam antibiotic levels when standardized dosing is applied. New methods for characterizing nosocomial outbreaks of bacterial infections are needed to limit transmission. The goals of this thesis were to investigate new strategies towards individualized treatment and control of bacterial infections.  In Paper I we confirmed high variability in β-lactam antibiotic levels among intensive care unit (ICU) patients from southeastern Sweden, where 45 % failed to reach treatment targets (100 % fT>MIC). Augmented renal clearance and establishing the minimum inhibitory concentration of the bacteria were important for evaluating the risk of not attaining adequate drug levels. In Paper II a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantification of 11 commonly used antibiotics was developed and tested in clinical samples. Performance goals (CV<15%) were reached. A microbiological method for quantification of β-lactam antibiotics in serum was developed in Paper III. The method could be important for hospitals without access to an LC-MS method. Paper IV and Paper V investigated ligation-mediated qPCR with high resolution melt analysis (LMqPCR HRMA), for transmission investigation of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli and other common bacterial pathogens. Results comparable to the reference method (PFGE) could be achieved within one day in a closed system and confirmed a nosocomial outbreak in Kalmar County. In Paper VI whole genome sequencing followed by bioinformatic analysis resolved transmission links within a nosocomial outbreak due to improved discriminatory power compared to LMqPCR HRMA. The high proportion of ICU patients with insufficient β-lactam drug levels emphasizes the need for individualized treatment by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). TDM is enabled by a highly sensitive method, such as UPLC-MS/MS, but if unavailable, also by a microbial method. Molecular typing methods used for transmission investigation can detect nosocomial outbreaks. LMqPCR HRMA can be used for screening purposes. For enhanced resolution, whole genome sequencing should be used, but always together with a rigorous epidemiological investigation.

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.

Objetivo: Analisar através de metodologia molecular a microbiota fecal de recém-nascidos (RN) saudáveis, em aleitamento materno exclusivo. Materiais e métodos: Amostras fecais de dez RN foram avaliadas no 2º, 7º e 30º dias de vida (DV), através de sequenciamento do 16S rDNA bacteriano. Real-time PCR para bifidobacterias foi empregado nas amostras de 30 dias. Resultados: A diversidade bacteriana fecal aumentou do 2º para o 30º DV. E. coli predominou no 2º e 7º DV, e Clostridium no 30º DV. Usando real-time PCR, bifidobacterias foram identificadas em todas as amostras de 30 dias. Conclusão: Enterobacterias predominaram na primeira semana de vida. Aos 30 DV observou-se uma maior diversidade bacteriana, com predomínio de Clostridium.. A técnica inicial não permitiu identificar bifidobacterias. / Purpose: To evaluate by molecular methodology the fecal microbiota of healthy newborns, exclusively breastfed. Materials and methods: Fecal samples from ten neonates were analyzed on 2nd, 7th and 30th day of life, using 16S rDNA sequencing and real-time PCR for bifidobacteria. Results: The fecal bacteria diversity increased from the second to the 30th day of life. E. coli was predominant in the fecal samples from the 2nd and 7th day of life, and Clostridium.in the samples of the 30th day. Using real-time PCR bifidobacteria were identified in all 30th day samples. Conclusion: Enterobacteria were predominant in the first week of life. On 30th day of life a greater bacterial diversity was observed with predominance of Clostridium. The initial technique didnt allow the identification of bifidobacteria.

Le complexe d'espèces Fusarium solani regroupe des champignons phytopathogènes également impliqués en pathologie humaine dans des infections parfois profondes et souvent de mauvais pronostic. Dans un premier temps, une méthode de MLST, s'appuyant sur 5 gènes de ménage a donc été développée. Validée sur 51 isolats épidémiologiquement distincts, cette méthode stable et reproductible présente un pouvoir discriminant de 99,1 %. Après comparaison à la technique de référence utilisée en phylogénie, un schéma consensus à 8 loci a été proposé. Dans un second temps, une étude de la sensibilité de ce pathogène à l'amphotéricine B et au voriconazole a été menée par deux techniques d'évaluation des CMI : microdilution CLSI M38-A2 et bandelettes E-test. Devant le paradoxe entre une sensibilité diminuée in vitro au voriconazole et la recommandation de cette molécule pour le traitement curatif de la fusariose humaine, des mécanismes de résistance ont été exploré. L'hypothèse d'un phénomène d'efflux n'a pas été retenue alors que celle d'une modification de la cible, la 14 alpha stérol déméthylase, peut être envisagée après la description de différentes mutations pour les isoformes CYP51A, B et C / Fusarium solani species complex includes phytopathogenic fungi also involved in human infections with poor prognosis. Firstly, MLST method, based on five housekeeping genes has been developed. This method has been validated on 51 isolates epidemiologically distinct, and has been shown to be stable and reproducible and provides a discriminating power of 99.1%. After comparison with the reference technique used in phylogeny, a consensus method with 8 loci has been proposed. Secondly, a study of the susceptibility to amphotericin B and voriconazole has been conducted with two MIC determination methods : CLSI M38-A2 microdilution and E-test. The paradox between decreased susceptibility to voriconazole in vitro and recommendation of this molecule for the curative treatment of Fusarium infections has lead to the exploration of resistance mechanisms. The hypothesis of an efflux phenomenon has not been retained whereas a change in the target, the sterol 14 alpha demethylase may be considered following the description of different mutations on proteins CYP51A, B and C

Submitted by Fabíola Silva (fabiola.silva@famerp.br) on 2018-01-09T11:15:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 marcospaulomiola_dissert.pdf: 10829870 bytes, checksum: 279acd690e09b25b71e67463ae29eb6b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-09T11:15:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marcospaulomiola_dissert.pdf: 10829870 bytes, checksum: 279acd690e09b25b71e67463ae29eb6b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-13 / Introduction. ABO histo-blood group system is the most important transfusional system and the identification of its phenotypes is often performed by means of direct and reverse typing, which must always present concordant results. However, some genetic factors such as natural chimerisms and point mutations in the ABO gene may affect the expression of the antigens and antibodies of this system, contributing to the discrepancy in the phenotyping, requiring investigations to define the correct phenotype of receptors and blood donors. Objectives. The main objective of this study was to investigate the variations in the expression of the antigens of the ABO histo-blood group system. Its specific objectives were: 1. Selection of recipients and blood donors that presented discrepancies between the results of the direct and reverse phenotyping of the ABO histo-blood group system; 2. Investigation, using serological and molecular methods, of the causes of phenotypic changes and discrepancies between the results of direct and reverse phenotypes in the ABO histo-blood group system in the recipients and donors of blood. Material and Methods. Samples of recipients (n = 2) and blood donors (n = 7) presenting discrepancies between the direct and reverse phenotyping were selected. Phenotyping were performed using conventional and modified hemagglutination methods in tubes and gel columns with commercial antisera and lectins. Molecular investigations were performed using PCR-RFLP method and sequencing of exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene and exon 2 of the FUT2 gene. Results. Four cases with poor expression of antigen A and absence of expected antibody, observed in hemagglutination, were identified as A2B, Ael and Aw. Four cases without antigenic alteration but carrying an irregular antibody anti-A1 or absence of expected antibody were characterized as AB, A1 and O and presented common ABO alleles. A case of non-dizygotic twins, phenotyped as AB and with double red blood cell population was characterized as hematopoietic chimera after extensive family analysis. The DNA extracted from buccal swab revealed the ABO (A101/B101) and FUT2 (SE*25.01.01/SE*25.01.01) genotypes in the male twin and the ABO (O01/O02) and FUT2 (SE*01.04.01/SE*01.06.03) genotypes in the female twin. Sequences of two new ABO (ABO*Aw.38; KT906366.1) and FUT2 (SE*01.06.03; KX550421) allele sequences were deposited on GenBank. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that the use of serum and salivary serological assays combined with molecular methods are good tools to solving discrepancies between the direct and reverse phenotyping of the ABO histo-blood group system as well as elucidate cases of twin chimerism in humans, with a double population of red blood cells. In addition, they contribute to the identification of new alleles of the ABO and FUT2 genes. / Introdução. O sistema histo-sanguíneo ABO é o de maior importância transfusional e a identificação de seus fenótipos é frequentemente realizada por meios das tipagens direta e reversa as quais sempre devem apresentar resultados concordantes. Entretanto, alguns fatores genéticos como quimerismos naturais e mutações pontuais no gene ABO, podem afetar a expressão dos antígenos e anticorpos deste sistema, contribuindo com a discrepância nas fenotipagens, requerendo investigações para se definir o correto fenótipo de receptores e doadores de sangue. Objetivos. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi investigar as variações na expressão dos antígenos do sistema histo-sanguíneo ABO. Seus objetivos específicos compreenderam: 1. Seleção de receptores e doadores de sangue que apresentaram discrepâncias entre os resultados das fenotipagens direta e reversa do sistema histo-sanguíneo ABO; 2. Investigação, com o uso de métodos sorológicos e moleculares, das causas das alterações fenotípicas e discrepâncias entre os resultados das fenotipagens direta e reversa no sistema histo-sanguíneo ABO nos receptores e doadores de sangue. Material e Método. Foram selecionadas amostras de receptores (n=2) e doadores (n=7) de sangue com discrepâncias entre as fenotipagens direta e reversa. As fenotipagens foram realizadas com o uso dos métodos de hemaglutinação convencional e modificada, em tubos e colunas de gel, com antissoros comerciais e lectinas. As investigações moleculares foram realizadas com o uso dos métodos PCR-RFLP e sequenciamento dos exons 6 e 7 do gene ABO e do exon 2 do gene FUT2. Resultados: Quatro casos com fraca expressão do antígeno A e ausência do anticorpo esperado, observados na hemaglutinação, foram identificados como A2B, Ael e Aw. Quatro casos sem alteração antigênica, mas com presença de anticorpo irregular ou ausência do anticorpo esperado, foram caracterizados como AB, A1 e O e apresentaram alelos comuns. Um caso de gêmeos não dizigóticos, fenotipados como AB e com dupla população de hemácias foi caracterizado como quimera hematopoiética, após extensa análise familiar. O DNA extraído de swab bucal revelou os genótipos ABO (A101/B101) e FUT2 (SE*25.01.01/SE*25.01.01) no gêmeo masculino e os genótipos ABO (O01/O02) e FUT2 (SE*01.04.01/SE*01.06.03) no gêmeo feminino. As sequências de dois novos alelos dos genes ABO (ABO*Aw.38; KT906366.1) e FUT2 (SE*01.06.03; KX550421) foram depositadas no GenBank. Conclusões: Nossos resultados demonstram que o uso de análises sorológicas eritrocitárias e salivares combinadas a métodos moleculares são fundamentais na resolução de discrepâncias entre as fenotipagens direta e reversa do sistema histo-sanguíneo ABO bem como no esclarecimento de casos de quimerismo gemelar em humanos, contendo dupla população de hemácias. Além disso, contribuem para a identificação de novos alelos dos genes ABO e FUT2.

Objetivo: Analisar através de metodologia molecular a microbiota fecal de recém-nascidos (RN) saudáveis, em aleitamento materno exclusivo. Materiais e métodos: Amostras fecais de dez RN foram avaliadas no 2º, 7º e 30º dias de vida (DV), através de sequenciamento do 16S rDNA bacteriano. Real-time PCR para bifidobacterias foi empregado nas amostras de 30 dias. Resultados: A diversidade bacteriana fecal aumentou do 2º para o 30º DV. E. coli predominou no 2º e 7º DV, e Clostridium no 30º DV. Usando real-time PCR, bifidobacterias foram identificadas em todas as amostras de 30 dias. Conclusão: Enterobacterias predominaram na primeira semana de vida. Aos 30 DV observou-se uma maior diversidade bacteriana, com predomínio de Clostridium.. A técnica inicial não permitiu identificar bifidobacterias. / Purpose: To evaluate by molecular methodology the fecal microbiota of healthy newborns, exclusively breastfed. Materials and methods: Fecal samples from ten neonates were analyzed on 2nd, 7th and 30th day of life, using 16S rDNA sequencing and real-time PCR for bifidobacteria. Results: The fecal bacteria diversity increased from the second to the 30th day of life. E. coli was predominant in the fecal samples from the 2nd and 7th day of life, and Clostridium.in the samples of the 30th day. Using real-time PCR bifidobacteria were identified in all 30th day samples. Conclusion: Enterobacteria were predominant in the first week of life. On 30th day of life a greater bacterial diversity was observed with predominance of Clostridium. The initial technique didnt allow the identification of bifidobacteria.

A doença decorrente da infecção por Salmonella é um dos maiores problemas de saúde no mundo em termos de morbidade e mortalidade. Entre as sorovariedades de Salmonella, a sorovariedade Enteritidis é a de maior ocorrência mundial e compreende linhagens que tem seu nicho biológico relacionado a frangos e ovos. Várias metodologias de tipagem fenotípicas e genotípicas foram desenvolvidas a fim de se delinear a epidemiologia das infecções por S. Enteritidis. Entretanto a tipagem fenotípica usualmente falha em discriminar linhagens relacionadas das nãorelacionadas epidemiologicamente e apresenta problemas de reprodutibilidade que foram minimizados com a utilização de métodos genotípicos. No Brasil, poucos estudos que utilizaram técnicas moleculares na tipagem de linhagens dessa sorovariedade foram realizados. Os objetivos desse estudo foram investigar o potencial patogênico, a resistência a antimicrobianos e realizar a tipagem molecular de linhagens de Salmonella Enteritidis isoladas de humanos, de alimentos e de frangos no Brasil. Para isso foram estudadas 188 linhagens de Salmonella Enteritidis isoladas de surtos e de casos esporádicos, de humanos (67) de alimentos (61) e de frangos (60), durante o período de 1986 a 2010, de vários locais do Brasil. A susceptibilidade frente a 14 antimicrobianos foi analisada através da técnica de disco difusão e a presença de 13 genes de virulência das ilhas de patogenicidade de Salmonella I e II e do plasmídio pSEV foram pesquisados por PCR. Os mecanismos de resistência a quinolonas foram verificados através da pesquisa de genes de resistência plasmidiais e cromossomais e também através da verificação de mutações no gene gyrA por High resolution melting analysis (HRMA) seguida de sequenciamento de algumas linhagens. As linhagens também foram tipadas molecularmente pelas metodologias Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) com a enzima XbaI, Multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) e por Multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Das 188 linhagens estudadas, 42,5% foi resistente ao ácido nalidíxico e somente 0,5% foi resistente a sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima e estreptomicina. A resistência a quinolonas foi relacionada principalmente a mutações no gene gyrA. A maioria das linhagens estudadas (98,4%) apresentou todos os genes de virulência pesquisados, sendo uma linhagem negativa para o gene sipA e duas linhagens negativas para o gene prot6E. ERIC-PCR dividiu as 128 linhagens isoladas de humanos e alimentos em 55 perfis diferentes com similaridade >79,7%. PFGE dividiu essas mesmas linhagens em 68 perfis diferentes com uma similaridade >73,1%. Para as linhagens isoladas de frango, o dendrograma concatenado de ERIC-PCR e PFGE dividiu as 60 linhagens em dois grandes grupos com 73,3% de similaridade. O grupo A consistiu de linhagens isoladas tanto de material clínico de frangos (23) quanto do ambiente da granja (5) com 81,2% de similaridade. O grupo B também consistiu de linhagens isoladas tanto de casos clínicos de frangos (21) quanto do ambiente da granja (11) com 81,1% de similaridade. MLVA dividiu as 188 linhagens isoladas no Brasil e outras 100 linhagens isoladas na América do Norte em dois grandes grupos. O grupo MLVA-A apresentou 71 linhagens isoladas na América do Norte e somente três linhagens isoladas no Brasil. Essas linhagens do ii Brasil incluíram as isoladas antes do início da pandemia de S. Enteritidis se iniciar no país. Em contraste, o grupo MLVA-B agrupou 185 linhagens isoladas no Brasil e 29 linhagens isoladas na América do Norte. As linhagens presentes no grupo A, foram divididas em 34 tipos genéticos diferentes com similaridade maior do que 46%, enquanto no grupo B as linhagens se diferenciaram em 15 tipos genéticos diferentes com mais de 66% de similaridade. MLST caracterizou 44 das 46 linhagens estudadas como pertencentes ao ST 11. As outras duas linhagens apresentaram alelos que não existiam no banco de dados e caracterizaram dois novos STs, o 1632 e o 1633. Os resultados de tipagem molecular obtidos por ERICPCR, PFGE e MLVA no presente estudo, demonstraram uma alta similaridade genotípica entre linhagens de S. Enteritidis isoladas no Brasil, o que sugere que as linhagens estudadas descendem de um precursor comum que pouco se diferenciou genotipicamente ao longo de 24 anos no país. Ademais, os resultados de MLVA sugerem que um novo e prevalente subtipo foi introduzido no Brasil após 1993 e tem contaminado alimentos e infectado humanos e animais. O grande número de genes de virulência encontrados reforça o potencial das mesmas causarem doenças em humanos e animais, bem como, os riscos de sua presença em alimentos. Ademais, a grande porcentagem de linhagens resistentes ao ácido nalidíxico observadas a partir de 1996 sugere o uso de quinolonas no tratamento de infecções em animais causadas por S. Enteritidis no Brasil. / The disease caused of the infection by Salmonella is one of the major health problem worldwide in terms of morbid and mortality. Among the Salmonella serovars, the Enteritidis is the most frequent isolated one and comprises strains that have their biological niche related to chickens and eggs. Several phenotypic and genotypic methodologies were developed to trace epidemiologically the infections by S. Enteritidis. However, the phenotypic typing usually fail to discriminate related from unrelated epidemiologicaly strains and presents problems of reproducibility that were minimized with the introduction of genotypic methods. In Brazil, few studies that used molecular typing techniques to type strains of this serovar were conducted. The aims of this study were to investigate the pathogenic potential, the antimicrobial resistance and to molecularly type of Salmonella Enteritidis strains isolated from humans, food and chickens in Brazil. For this, it was studied 188 strains of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from outbreaks and sporadic cases, from humans (67), food (61) and chickens (60), during the period of 1986 to 2010, from various places of Brazil. The susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials were analyzed by the disc diffusion technique and the presence of 13 virulence genes of the Salmonella pathogenicity islands I and II and from the pSEV plasmid were searched by PCR. The mechanisms of resistance to quinolones were verified by the search of plasmidial and cromossomal resistance genes and also by the verification of mutations in the gyrA gene by High resolution melting analysis (HRMA) followed by sequencing of some strains. The strains were also molecularly typed by the methodologies Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the enzyme XbaI, Multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and by Multilocus sequence typing (MLST). From the 188 strains studied, 42.5% were resistant to nalidixic acid and only 0.5% were resistant to sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim and streptomycin. Resistance to quinolones was related mainly to mutations in the gyrA gene. The majority of the strains studied (98.4%) harbored all the virulence genes searched, being only one strain negative for the sipA gene and two strains negative for the prot6E gene. ERIC-PCR divided the 128 strains isolated from humans and food in 55 different profiles with >79.7% of similarity. PFGE divided the same strains in 68 different profiles with a similarity of >73.1%. Regarding the strains isolated from chickens, the concatenated dendrogram of ERIC-PCR and PFGE divided the 60 strains in two major groups with a similarity of 73.3%. Group A consisted of strains isolated either from chicken\'s clinical samples (23) or from the farm environment (5) with a similarity of 81.2%. Group B also consisted of strains isolated either from chicken\'s clinical samples (21) or from the environment (11) with a similarity of 81.1%. MLVA divided the 188 strains isolated in Brazil and other 100 strains isolated from North America in two major groups. MLVA-A group consisted of 71 strains isolated in North America and only three strains isolated in Brazil. These strains from Brazil included the ones isolated before the beginning of the pandemic of S. Enteritidis in this country. In contrast, MLVA-B group clustered 185 strains isolated in Brazil and 29 strains isolated in North America. The strains in the MLVA-A group were divided in 34 different genotypic types with a similarity of 46%, while strains in iv the group B were divided in 15 different genotypic types with a similarity of 66%. MLST characterized 44 of the 46 strains studied as belonging to ST 11. The other two strains presented new alleles that characterized two new STs, the 1632 and the 1633. The results of molecular typing obtained by ERIC-PCR, PFGE and MLVA in this study showed a high genotypic similarity among S. Enteritidis strains isolated in Brazil, which suggests that the strains studied descend from a common ancestor that differed little genotypically during 24 years in the country. Moreover, the results of MLVA suggest that a new and prevalent subtype was introduced in Brazil after 1993 and has been contaminating food and infecting humans and animals. The high prevalence of virulence genes found in the strains studied reinforce their potential to cause disease in humans and animals, as well as the risks of their presence in food. Moreover, the high percentage of strains resistant to nalidixic acid observed after 1996 suggests the use of quinolones in the treatment of animal infections by S. Enteritidis in Brazil.

Listeria monocytogenes é um importante patógeno de origem alimentar que causa listeriose, infecção severa que acomete, principalmente, gestantes, idosos, crianças e imunocomprometidos, e que apresenta elevada taxa de mortalidade. A bactéria está amplamente distribuída no ambiente e é comumente encontrada em produtos cárneos. O presente estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar 439 isolados de L. monocytogenes obtidos de salsicha bovina e produtos cárneos crus (carne moída, linguiça suína e coxa de frango) refrigerados, adquiridos no comércio do município de São Paulo, e previamente submetidos à sorotipagem molecular. Os isolados foram caracterizados quanto ao perfil de susceptibilidade antimicrobiana; presença dos genes de virulência actA, inlA, inlC, inlJ, prfA, iap, hly, plcA, plcB e mpl; perfil genético por eletroforese em campo pulsado (PFGE) e sequenciamento parcial dos genes actA e lmo0737. Baixa frequência de resistência antimicrobiana (0,5%) foi observada entre os 416 isolados avaliados. Um isolado pertencente ao sorogrupo 1 apresentou resistência à penicilina e à clindamicina e outro identificado como 4a ou 4c apresentou resistência à tetraciclina. Todos os isolados foram positivos para os genes de virulência testados. O sequenciamento parcial do gene actA mostrou a ocorrência de 14 sequências de nucleotídeos distintas nos 97 isolados avaliados. Além disso, verificou-se a ocorrência de uma deleção de 35 aminoácidos no gene actA em 36 isolados, além de substituições de nucleotídeos que resultaram em mutações nas sequências de aminoácidos da grande maioria dos isolados. A análise filogenética do gene actA possibilitou o agrupamento dos isolados em duas linhagens distintas (I e II). Os resultados do PFGE indicaram grande variabilidade nos perfis genéticos dos isolados analisados, principalmente naqueles pertencentes aos grupos 2 (1/2c e 3c), 3 (1/2b e 3b) e 4 (4b, 4d e 4e). Os resultados deste estudo mostram que os isolados de L. monocytogenes provenientes de salsicha bovina e produtos cárneos crus comercializados no município de São Paulo, apresentam grande diversidade genética, importante potencial de virulência e baixa frequência de resistência antimicrobiana. A diversidade observada deve-se, provavelmente, à característica ubíqua deste micro-organismo, tornando-o mais susceptível a grande pressão seletiva do ambiente. / Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis, a severe infection that affects primarily pregnant women, elderly, children and imunocompromised individuals, and has a high mortality rate. The bacteria is widely distributed in the environment and commonly found in meat products. The present study aimed to characterize 439 isolates of L. monocytogenes obtained from pork sausage and raw chilled meat products (ground beef, beef sausage, and chicken thigh) purchased in supermarkets in the city of São Paulo, and previously submitted to molecular serotyping. The isolates were characterized for antimicrobial susceptibility profile; presence of virulence genes actA, inlA, inlC, inlJ, prfA, iap, hly, plcA, plcB and mpl; genetic profile by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and partial sequencing of genes actA and lmo0737. A low frequency of antimicrobial resistance (0.5%) was observed among the 416 evaluated isolates. One isolate belonging to serogroup 1 presented resistance to clindamycin and penicillin and another one identified as 4a or 4c was resistant to tetracycline. All isolates were positive for the tested virulence genes. The partial sequencing of the gene actA indicated the occurrence of 14 distinct nucleotide sequences in the 97 isolates tested. Furthermore, a deletion of 35 amino acids in the actA gene was detected in 36 isolates, and nucleotide substitutions that resulted in amino acid changes in the sequences of most isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of the actA gene clustered the isolates in two distinct lineages (I and II). Results of PFGE indicated a great genetic variability among isolates, especially among those belonging to groups 2 (1/2c and 3c), 3 (1/2b and 3b) and 4 (4b, 4d and 4e). The results of this study show that isolates of L. monocytogenes from pork sausage and raw meat products marketed in the city of São Paulo present a great genetic diversity, significant virulence potential and low frequency of antimicrobial resistance. The detected diversity is probably due the ubiquitous nature of these microorganisms, making them more susceptible to selective pressure of the environment.

Submitted by Leticia Schettini (leticia@ufrrj.br) on 2017-03-16T14:03:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2008 - Telma de Figueiredo do Nascimento.pdf: 875301 bytes, checksum: 0d53eac4a000372a6c136ed189b7dd48 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-16T14:03:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2008 - Telma de Figueiredo do Nascimento.pdf: 875301 bytes, checksum: 0d53eac4a000372a6c136ed189b7dd48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-11-19 / In Brazil it is believed that bovine tuberculosis is present in all states, as is in all continents. The official indices are 1.3% of the national herd infected, which represent a large number in the order of 2.5 million animals. Mycobacterium bovis stands out as zoonotic disease of major importance. Increasing are the economic losses, caused by tuberculosis in cattle, such as low productivity of the herd, condemnation of carcasses at slaughterhouses, reduction in the production of milk and meat, commitment marketing of animals and their products domestically and externally. It is estimated that about 5,0 % of human tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The success of a program to control a disease is closely linked to various factors including the knowledge of the history of the causative agent and its spatial and temporal distribution. Molecular methods are used as auxiliary tools in combating the disease by providing information in order to achieve these goals. In the last decade, methods for molecular typing of M. tuberculosis were developed and implemented on a large scale. Although the genomes of the two parasites are very similar, the discriminatory power of the methods is smaller in Mycobacterium bovis. In this study were analyzed samples from cattle slaughtered in refrigerators under Federal Inspection in the state of Minas Gerais. A total of 215 cultures sent to the Laboratory of Applied Molecular biology to Micobacterioses, and only 159 confirmed a profile of Mycobacterium bovis through molecular techniques applied. The south and state has the highest prevalence of the disease in the samples studied. The method of Spoligotyping applied to the samples showed the presence of 32 different profiles, obtaining a HGDI of 0.86 and a departure from the MIRU-VNTR presented 40 different profiles with a HGDI of 0.87. In this study was to evaluate that when using these techniques together we get a greater discriminatory power between these strains. / No Brasil acredita-se que a tuberculose bovina est? presente em todos os Estados, assim como est? em todos os continentes. Os ?ndices oficiais est?o em 1,3% do rebanho nacional infectado, que representaria um n?mero elevado, na ordem de 2,5 milh?es de animais. Mycobacterium bovis destaca-se como zoonose de reconhecida import?ncia. Crescentes s?o as perdas econ?micas, causada pela tuberculose em bovinos, como a baixa na produtividade do rebanho, condena??o de carca?as em matadouros, redu??o na produ??o de leite e carne, comprometimento da comercializa??o de animais e seus produtos no mercado interno e externo. Estima-se que em torno de 5,0% da tuberculose humana ? causada por M. bovis. O sucesso de um programa de controle de uma doen?a est? estreitamente ligado a diferentes fatores entre os quais o conhecimento da hist?ria do agente etiol?gico e sua distribui??o espacial e temporal. Os m?todos moleculares s?o utilizados como ferramentas auxiliares no combate ? doen?a fornecendo informa??es com a finalidade de alcan?ar estes objetivos. Na ?ltima d?cada, m?todos para tipagem molecular de Mycobacterium tuberculosis foram desenvolvidos e aplicados em larga escala. Embora o genoma dos dois parasitos seja muito parecido, o poder discriminat?rio dos m?todos decresce para Mycobacterium bovis. Neste trabalho foram analisadas amostras de bovinos abatidos em Frigor?ficos sob Inspe??o Federal no estado de Minas Gerais. Um total de 215 culturas foram enviadas ao Laborat?rio de Biologia Molecular Aplicada ? Micobacterioses, e apenas 159 confirmaram um perfil de Mycobacterium bovis atrav?s das t?cnicas moleculares de Spoligotyping e 159 a t?cnica do MIRU-VNTR. A mesorregi?o Sul e Sudoeste mostraram a maior preval?ncia da doen?a nas amostras estudadas. O m?todo de Spoligotyping aplicados ?s amostras mostrou a presen?a de 32 perfis diferentes, obtendo um HGDI de 0,86 e em contra partida o MIRU-VNTR apresentou 40 perfis diferentes com um HGDI de 0,87. Neste estudo foi poss?vel avaliar que quando utilizamos estas t?cnicas em conjunto obtemos um maior poder discriminat?rio entre essas cepas.

A doença decorrente da infecção por Salmonella é um dos maiores problemas de saúde no mundo em termos de morbidade e mortalidade. Entre as sorovariedades de Salmonella, a sorovariedade Enteritidis é a de maior ocorrência mundial e compreende linhagens que tem seu nicho biológico relacionado a frangos e ovos. Várias metodologias de tipagem fenotípicas e genotípicas foram desenvolvidas a fim de se delinear a epidemiologia das infecções por S. Enteritidis. Entretanto a tipagem fenotípica usualmente falha em discriminar linhagens relacionadas das nãorelacionadas epidemiologicamente e apresenta problemas de reprodutibilidade que foram minimizados com a utilização de métodos genotípicos. No Brasil, poucos estudos que utilizaram técnicas moleculares na tipagem de linhagens dessa sorovariedade foram realizados. Os objetivos desse estudo foram investigar o potencial patogênico, a resistência a antimicrobianos e realizar a tipagem molecular de linhagens de Salmonella Enteritidis isoladas de humanos, de alimentos e de frangos no Brasil. Para isso foram estudadas 188 linhagens de Salmonella Enteritidis isoladas de surtos e de casos esporádicos, de humanos (67) de alimentos (61) e de frangos (60), durante o período de 1986 a 2010, de vários locais do Brasil. A susceptibilidade frente a 14 antimicrobianos foi analisada através da técnica de disco difusão e a presença de 13 genes de virulência das ilhas de patogenicidade de Salmonella I e II e do plasmídio pSEV foram pesquisados por PCR. Os mecanismos de resistência a quinolonas foram verificados através da pesquisa de genes de resistência plasmidiais e cromossomais e também através da verificação de mutações no gene gyrA por High resolution melting analysis (HRMA) seguida de sequenciamento de algumas linhagens. As linhagens também foram tipadas molecularmente pelas metodologias Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) com a enzima XbaI, Multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) e por Multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Das 188 linhagens estudadas, 42,5% foi resistente ao ácido nalidíxico e somente 0,5% foi resistente a sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima e estreptomicina. A resistência a quinolonas foi relacionada principalmente a mutações no gene gyrA. A maioria das linhagens estudadas (98,4%) apresentou todos os genes de virulência pesquisados, sendo uma linhagem negativa para o gene sipA e duas linhagens negativas para o gene prot6E. ERIC-PCR dividiu as 128 linhagens isoladas de humanos e alimentos em 55 perfis diferentes com similaridade >79,7%. PFGE dividiu essas mesmas linhagens em 68 perfis diferentes com uma similaridade >73,1%. Para as linhagens isoladas de frango, o dendrograma concatenado de ERIC-PCR e PFGE dividiu as 60 linhagens em dois grandes grupos com 73,3% de similaridade. O grupo A consistiu de linhagens isoladas tanto de material clínico de frangos (23) quanto do ambiente da granja (5) com 81,2% de similaridade. O grupo B também consistiu de linhagens isoladas tanto de casos clínicos de frangos (21) quanto do ambiente da granja (11) com 81,1% de similaridade. MLVA dividiu as 188 linhagens isoladas no Brasil e outras 100 linhagens isoladas na América do Norte em dois grandes grupos. O grupo MLVA-A apresentou 71 linhagens isoladas na América do Norte e somente três linhagens isoladas no Brasil. Essas linhagens do ii Brasil incluíram as isoladas antes do início da pandemia de S. Enteritidis se iniciar no país. Em contraste, o grupo MLVA-B agrupou 185 linhagens isoladas no Brasil e 29 linhagens isoladas na América do Norte. As linhagens presentes no grupo A, foram divididas em 34 tipos genéticos diferentes com similaridade maior do que 46%, enquanto no grupo B as linhagens se diferenciaram em 15 tipos genéticos diferentes com mais de 66% de similaridade. MLST caracterizou 44 das 46 linhagens estudadas como pertencentes ao ST 11. As outras duas linhagens apresentaram alelos que não existiam no banco de dados e caracterizaram dois novos STs, o 1632 e o 1633. Os resultados de tipagem molecular obtidos por ERICPCR, PFGE e MLVA no presente estudo, demonstraram uma alta similaridade genotípica entre linhagens de S. Enteritidis isoladas no Brasil, o que sugere que as linhagens estudadas descendem de um precursor comum que pouco se diferenciou genotipicamente ao longo de 24 anos no país. Ademais, os resultados de MLVA sugerem que um novo e prevalente subtipo foi introduzido no Brasil após 1993 e tem contaminado alimentos e infectado humanos e animais. O grande número de genes de virulência encontrados reforça o potencial das mesmas causarem doenças em humanos e animais, bem como, os riscos de sua presença em alimentos. Ademais, a grande porcentagem de linhagens resistentes ao ácido nalidíxico observadas a partir de 1996 sugere o uso de quinolonas no tratamento de infecções em animais causadas por S. Enteritidis no Brasil. / The disease caused of the infection by Salmonella is one of the major health problem worldwide in terms of morbid and mortality. Among the Salmonella serovars, the Enteritidis is the most frequent isolated one and comprises strains that have their biological niche related to chickens and eggs. Several phenotypic and genotypic methodologies were developed to trace epidemiologically the infections by S. Enteritidis. However, the phenotypic typing usually fail to discriminate related from unrelated epidemiologicaly strains and presents problems of reproducibility that were minimized with the introduction of genotypic methods. In Brazil, few studies that used molecular typing techniques to type strains of this serovar were conducted. The aims of this study were to investigate the pathogenic potential, the antimicrobial resistance and to molecularly type of Salmonella Enteritidis strains isolated from humans, food and chickens in Brazil. For this, it was studied 188 strains of Salmonella Enteritidis isolated from outbreaks and sporadic cases, from humans (67), food (61) and chickens (60), during the period of 1986 to 2010, from various places of Brazil. The susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials were analyzed by the disc diffusion technique and the presence of 13 virulence genes of the Salmonella pathogenicity islands I and II and from the pSEV plasmid were searched by PCR. The mechanisms of resistance to quinolones were verified by the search of plasmidial and cromossomal resistance genes and also by the verification of mutations in the gyrA gene by High resolution melting analysis (HRMA) followed by sequencing of some strains. The strains were also molecularly typed by the methodologies Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR), Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the enzyme XbaI, Multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and by Multilocus sequence typing (MLST). From the 188 strains studied, 42.5% were resistant to nalidixic acid and only 0.5% were resistant to sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim and streptomycin. Resistance to quinolones was related mainly to mutations in the gyrA gene. The majority of the strains studied (98.4%) harbored all the virulence genes searched, being only one strain negative for the sipA gene and two strains negative for the prot6E gene. ERIC-PCR divided the 128 strains isolated from humans and food in 55 different profiles with >79.7% of similarity. PFGE divided the same strains in 68 different profiles with a similarity of >73.1%. Regarding the strains isolated from chickens, the concatenated dendrogram of ERIC-PCR and PFGE divided the 60 strains in two major groups with a similarity of 73.3%. Group A consisted of strains isolated either from chicken\'s clinical samples (23) or from the farm environment (5) with a similarity of 81.2%. Group B also consisted of strains isolated either from chicken\'s clinical samples (21) or from the environment (11) with a similarity of 81.1%. MLVA divided the 188 strains isolated in Brazil and other 100 strains isolated from North America in two major groups. MLVA-A group consisted of 71 strains isolated in North America and only three strains isolated in Brazil. These strains from Brazil included the ones isolated before the beginning of the pandemic of S. Enteritidis in this country. In contrast, MLVA-B group clustered 185 strains isolated in Brazil and 29 strains isolated in North America. The strains in the MLVA-A group were divided in 34 different genotypic types with a similarity of 46%, while strains in iv the group B were divided in 15 different genotypic types with a similarity of 66%. MLST characterized 44 of the 46 strains studied as belonging to ST 11. The other two strains presented new alleles that characterized two new STs, the 1632 and the 1633. The results of molecular typing obtained by ERIC-PCR, PFGE and MLVA in this study showed a high genotypic similarity among S. Enteritidis strains isolated in Brazil, which suggests that the strains studied descend from a common ancestor that differed little genotypically during 24 years in the country. Moreover, the results of MLVA suggest that a new and prevalent subtype was introduced in Brazil after 1993 and has been contaminating food and infecting humans and animals. The high prevalence of virulence genes found in the strains studied reinforce their potential to cause disease in humans and animals, as well as the risks of their presence in food. Moreover, the high percentage of strains resistant to nalidixic acid observed after 1996 suggests the use of quinolones in the treatment of animal infections by S. Enteritidis in Brazil.