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Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Control for Diseases of Aquatic Economic Animals, Zhanjiang, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.

galectin-2 plays important roles in innate and adaptive immunity. In this study, galectin-2 (OnGal-2) was identified from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Its tissue distribution and expression patterns following bacterial infection were also investigated. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Pearl River, NY, USA.

Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) causes serious diseases in newborn infants, often resulting in lifelong neurologic impairments or death. Prophylactic vaccination of pregnant women prior to delivery could provide comprehensive protection, as early and late onset disease and maternal complications potentially could be addressed.

Methods: Capsular polysaccharide conjugate vaccine GBS6 was designed using Whole Genome Sequencing surveillance data of recent, global GBS isolates responsible for invasive neonatal GBS disease. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2019 Feb 14;12(1):85. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Section of Paediatrics, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Objective: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis worldwide. Intrapartum antibiotics given to women carrying GBS are an effective means of reducing disease in the first week of life. Rapid and reliable tests are needed to accurately identify GBS from these women for timely intrapartum antibiotic administration to prevent neonatal disease. Read More

J Bacteriol 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

ISP, Université de Tours, INRA, UMR1282, F-37032 Tours, France

is part of the human intestinal and uro-genital microbiota, but also a leading cause of septicemia and meningitis in neonates. Its ability to cause disease depends upon the acquisition of nutrients from its environment, including the transition metal ion zinc. The primary zinc acquisition system of the pathogen is the Adc/Lmb ABC permease, which is essential for viability in zinc-restricted environments. Read More

Rev Fac Cien Med Univ Nac Cordoba 2018 12 12;75(4):255-260. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Hospital Nacional de Clínicas de Córdoba- Argentina.

Introduction: Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a recognized pathogen associated with infections in newborns and small infants, pregnant women, and puerperal women. In recent years there has been an increase in infections by this agent in non-pregnant adult patients, being more frequent in people over 65 years of age and with some comorbidity.

Methods: retrospective and observational study of samples from non-pregnant adult patients analyzed in the Bacteriology Laboratory of the Hospital Nacional de Clínicas of the city of Córdoba, from January 2008 to December 2017. Read More

Front Microbiol 2019 23;10:10. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS; ) is a leading cause of sepsis in neonates and pregnant mothers worldwide. Whereas the hyper-virulent serogroup III clonal cluster 17 has been associated with neonatal disease and meningitis, serogroup III ST283 was recently implicated in invasive disease among non-pregnant adults in Asia. Here, through comparative genome analyses of invasive and non-invasive ST283 strains, we identified a truncated DNA-binding regulator of a two-component system in a non-invasive strain that was homologous to , encoding the response regulator, which was conserved among GBS strains. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Feb 6;19(1):123. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

University of International Business and Economics, 10 Huixing East Road, Beijing, 100029, China.

Background: There is a lack of data regarding the prevalence of invasive group B streptococcus (GBS) infection among neonates in China. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and mortality of invasive GBS infection and to identify the risk factors in our hospital.

Methods: Seventy-four cases admitted between January 2011 and December 2016 was included in this study. Read More

Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2018 Dec 11;8(4):149-154. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Lisbon.

Extracellular deoxyribonucleases (DNases) contribute to the spread of pathogenic bacteria through the evasion from host innate immunity. Our main objective was to evaluate the production of extracellular DNases by human and bovine clinical strains and perform a correlation of genetic lineages and DNase activity with capsular type, genetic determinants, clinical origin (colonization and infection), and host (human or bovine). DNase activity was evaluated by qualitative and quantitative assays for a collection of 406 human ( = 285) and bovine ( = 121) strains. Read More

Microb Drug Resist 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

1 Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Cátedra de Microbiología, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae or group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an important pathogen in neonates and nonpregnant individuals. Epidemiological studies of GBS resistance to fluoroquinolones (FQs) in Latin America are scarce. This study aimed to determine the local prevalence of FQ resistance in the frame of a national, prospective multicenter study of invasive GBS infections and to investigate mechanisms of resistance, serotype distribution, and clonal relationships among resistant isolates. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 19;87:705-713. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Key Lab of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Shandong Key Lab for Marine Fishery Biotechnology and Genetic Breeding, Qingdao, 266071, China. Electronic address:

A full-length cDNA encoding phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunit gamma b gene in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), termed as On-pik3r3b, was identified and characterized in this study. The sequence analysis demonstrated that the full-length cDNA of On-pik3r3b was 2018 bp, containing a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 171 bp, an open reading frame (ORF) of 1422 bp and a 3' UTR of 425 bp. Its protein sequence displayed a high degree of identity with other fish. Read More

Appl Environ Microbiol 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

New York University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, New York, NY

(group B ; GBS) is a cause of severe infections, particularly during the newborn period. While methods exist for generating chromosomal mutations in GBS, they are cumbersome and inefficient and present significant challenges if the goal is to study subtle mutations such as single base pair polymorphisms. To address this problem, we have developed an efficient and flexible GBS mutagenesis protocol based on sucrose counterselection against levansucrase (SacB) expressed from a temperature-selective shuttle vector. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 14;87:265-274. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Institute of Modern Aquaculture Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, Guangzhou 510631, PR China. Electronic address:

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a soluble pattern recognition receptor, is able to recognize antigen and participate in non-specific cell immunity, such as regulation of inflammation, migration, opsonization, phagocytosis and killing, which plays an important role in innate immunity. In this study, we have investigated the contributing mechanisms and effects of MBL on the cell immunity of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) monocytes/macrophages. The mRNA expression level of OnMBL was significantly up-regulated in monocytes/macrophages after in vitro bacterial infection (Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas hydrophila). Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 12;87:212-219. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Institute of Modern Aquaculture Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China. Electronic address:

CD79, composed of two distinct chains called CD79a and CD79b, is a transmembrane protein that forms a B cell antigen receptor with membrane immunoglobulin, and generates a signal following antigen recognition by the B cell receptor. In this study, the CD79a (OnCD79a) and CD79b (OnCD79b) were cloned and identified from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The cDNA of ORF for OnCD79a and OnCD79b are 669 and 627 bp, coding 222 and 208 amino acids, respectively. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Jan 12;87:333-345. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

Marine Science and Engineering College, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in various biological processes, including in immune responses. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is an important commercial fish species in China. To identify immune-related miRNAs of O. Read More

J Microbiol Methods 2019 Feb 10;157:113-116. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital, Örebro SE-701 85, Sweden; Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro SE-701 82, Sweden. Electronic address:

Purpose: Molecular methods provide fast and accurate detection of both bacteria and viruses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) causing infection in the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study we evaluated the bacterial detection performance of the fully automated FilmArray™ Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel (bioMérieux) by comparing it with culture and multiplexed in-house PCR.

Methods: Three sample types were analysed; Contrived samples with known bacterial/fungal concentration (n = 29), clinical samples from patients with verified cause of CNS infection (n = 17) and external quality assessment (EQA) samples (n = 11). Read More

Prev Vet Med 2019 Jan 6;162:131-135. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

EpiPlan-Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, University of Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, Brazil.

Infection with Streptococcus agalactiae causes mortality and major economic losses in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) farming worldwide. In Brazil, serotype strains Ia, Ib and III have been isolated in streptococcosis outbreaks, but serotype Ib is the most prevalent. Vaccination is considered an effective method to prevent economically-important diseases in aquaculture and has been associated with decreased use of antibiotics and improvements in fish survival. Read More

Open Forum Infect Dis 2018 Dec 30;5(12):ofy320. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection is a leading cause of severe neonatal infection. Maternal GBS carriage during pregnancy is the main risk factor for both early-onset and late-onset GBS disease. High incidence of GBS infection has been reported in HIV-exposed but -uninfected infants (HEU). Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Jan 3;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 3.

R&D Center, Autobio Diagnostics Co. Ltd, Zhengzhou, China.

Background: For a long time, the Christie-Atkinson-Munch-Peterson (CAMP) test has been a standard test for the identification of Streptococcus agalactiae, and a positive result for S.agalactiae has been considered sensitive enough.

Methods: To confirm whether a positive CAMP test is a requirement for the identification of S. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Feb 26;102(2):1761-1767. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Departamento de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP/FCAV, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil. Electronic address:

The aim of this study was to elucidate the differential gene expression in the RNA sequencing transcriptome of isolated perfused udders collected from 4 slaughtered Holstein × Zebu crossbred dairy cows experimentally inoculated with Streptococcus agalactiae. We studied 3 different statistical tools (edgeR, baySeq, and Cuffdiff 2). In summary, 2 quarters of each udder were experimentally inoculated with Strep. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Mar 24;86:999-1008. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China; State Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Microbiology, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China. Electronic address:

Streptococcus agalactiae infections are becoming an increasing problem in aquaculture because of significant morbidity and mortality, which restricts the healthy development of tilapia aquaculture. To seek safe and effective prevention measures, a Bacillus subtilis GC5 surface displayed vaccine was prepared and applied orally in tilapia. The study first showed that recombinant spores can engraft in the tilapia intestine. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Dec 4;11(1). Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Internal Medicine, Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, Aventura, Florida, USA.

Septic shock is the most common type of shock in the intensive care unit with an associated mortality close to 50%. Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare cause of septic shock but carries significant morbidity and mortality. Group B IE (GBS-IE) is an invasive infection with an incidence of approximately 1. Read More

FASEB J 2018 Dec 19:fj201801991R. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Siena, Italy; and.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonizes the human lower intestinal and genital tracts and constitutes a major threat to neonates from pregnant carrier mothers and to adults with underlying morbidity. The pathogen expresses cell-surface virulence factors that enable cell adhesion and penetration and that counteract innate and adaptive immune responses. Among these, the complement interfering protein (CIP) was recently described for its capacity to interact with the human C4b ligand and to interfere with the classical- and lectin-complement pathways. Read More

Intractable Rare Dis Res 2018 Nov;7(4):280-282

Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.

A 94-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 5-day history of painful redness in the left lower leg. She was diagnosed with cellulitis and initiated antibiotic therapy with cefazolin. After two days, she presented with an extremely high fever (39. Read More

J Fish Dis 2019 Feb 14;42(2):293-302. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Core Facility for Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is associated with diverse diseases in aquatic animals. The capsule polysaccharide (CPS) encoded by the cps gene cluster is the major virulence factor of S. agalactiae; however, limited information is available regarding the pathogenic role of the CPS of serotype Ia piscine GBS strains in fish. Read More

Microbiol Resour Announc 2018 Nov 21;7(20). Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Streptococcus agalactiae is an important causal pathogen of neonatal and obstetric sepsis, and it may be involved in invasive infection in immunocompromised and elderly individuals. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Streptococcus agalactiae serotype III strain HU-GS5823, which was isolated from a patient in Japan with an invasive infection. Read More

PLoS One 2018 10;13(12):e0208990. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

For many years Streptococcus agalactiae has been considered an obligate intramammary and strictly contagious pathogen in dairy cattle. However, recent reports of S. agalactiae isolation from extramammary sources have contradicted that premise. Read More

Saudi J Biol Sci 2018 Nov 7;25(7):1356-1364. Epub 2015 Nov 7.

Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia.

Group B streptococcal infection () is one of the leading causes of life-threatening disease in the early neonatal period, resulting in sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. During invasive infections, an excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokine, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), thus IL-6 gene is significant, as a diagnostic marker of systemic infection of the newborns. The present study aimed to describe the epidemiology diagnostic of GBS disease in neonatal by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 20;9:2674. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

The encapsulated bacteria , and (Group B Streptococcus) have been responsible for the majority of severe infections in children for decades, specifically bacteremia and meningitis. Isolates which cause invasive disease are usually surrounded by a polysaccharide capsule, which is a major virulence factor and the key antigen in protective protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines. Protection against these bacteria is largely mediated via polysaccharide-specific antibody and complement, although the contribution of these and other components, and the precise mechanisms, vary between species and include opsonophagocytosis and complement-dependent bacteriolysis. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 20;9:2786. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.

Macrophages play an important role in defending the host against infections by engulfing pathogens and containing them inside the phagosome, which consists of a harsh microbicidal environment. However, many pathogens have developed mechanisms to survive inside macrophages despite this challenge. Group B (GBS), a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in neonates, is one such pathogen that survives inside macrophages by withstanding phagosomal stress. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2018 13;5:281. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Guangxi Key Laboratory for Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning, China.

Although (GBS) cross-infection between human and fish has been confirmed in experimental and clinical studies, the mechanisms underlying GBS cross-species infection remain largely unclear. We have found different human GBS ST19 strains exhibiting strong or weak pathogenic to fish (sGBS and wGBS). In this study, our objective was to identify the genetic elements responsible for GBS cross species infection based on genome sequence data and comparative genomics. Read More

Fish Shellfish Immunol 2019 Mar 22;86:410-419. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 912, Taiwan; Research Center for Animal Biologics, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, 912, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an excellent model for assessing the beneficial effects of probiotics before applying them in aquaculture. This study evaluated the effects on zebrafish of dietary supplementation with the probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens R8, which heterologously expresses xylanase from rumen fungi. Nutrient metabolism, hepatic oxidative stress, and innate immunity against pathogen infections were investigated. Read More

Braz J Infect Dis 2018 Nov - Dec;22(6):449-454. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC), Escola de Farmácia, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA), Escola de Medicina, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Group B Streptococcus is a causative agent of invasive neonatal infections. Maternal colonization by Streptococcus agalactiae is a necessary condition for vertical transmission, with efficient screening of pregnant women playing an essential role in the prevention of neonatal infections. In this study, we aimed to compare the performance of conventional polymerase chain reaction and real-time PCR assays as screening methods for S. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2019 Feb 6;144(2):187-191. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Clinical Microbiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.

Objective: To compare a risk-based and culture-based screening approach for identification of group B streptococci (GBS) vaginal colonization using an intrapartum rectovaginal culture as the reference standard.

Methods: Pregnant women attending the prenatal clinic at Lillebaelt Hospital, Kolding, Denmark, between April 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014, were invited to participate in a prospective observational study. For prepartum culture-based screening, vaginal and rectal culture samples were obtained and, for reference, standard, paired vaginal and rectal culture samples were collected during labor. Read More

Prev Vet Med 2018 Dec 12;161:9-18. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Department of Animal Nutrition and Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil. Electronic address:

The objectives of this study were to characterize the pathogen frequency and severity of clinical mastitis (CM) in 20 dairy herds of southeastern Brazil; and to determine the incidence rate of clinical mastitis (IRCM; overall and based on specific-pathogen groups) based on quarter time at risk and its association with risk factors at the herd-level. Data were recorded in each herd for a period of 8 to 15 months. The association between herd-level risk factors and IRCM were determined by two groups of mixed regression models: one based on the overall IRCM, and five based on the following specific-pathogen groups: contagious, other Gram-positive, Gram-negative, other, and negative culture. Read More

Prev Vet Med 2018 Dec 26;161:69-74. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

Streptococcus agalactiae (Strep. agalactiae) and Staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus) are originally regarded as contagious mastitis pathogens, however, both pathogens have recently been isolated from extramammary and environmental sites, indicating that other sites than the udder might contribute to the spread of these pathogens potentially causing intramammary infections. Read More

Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2018 Nov 22;17(1):40. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis St. 6, Szeged, 6725, Hungary.

Objectives: The long-term use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) may lead to biofilm formation on the surface. The aim of this study was to perform the culture- and PCR-based detection of bacteria/fungi from the biofilm of the removed IUDs with different time periods in place.

Methods: For a 2-year period, 100 IUD users were involved in the study. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 6;9:2630. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Lactobacilli play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of the vaginal niche, preventing the colonization of exogenous microorganisms. Although many studies have discussed the mechanisms displayed by lactobacilli in counteracting several urogenital pathogens, a few data are available on the interaction between lactobacilli and . This study aimed to elucidate the molecular bases of the interaction among vaginal lactobacilli, the sexually transmitted pathogen and the epithelial cervical cells. Read More

MBio 2018 11 20;9(6). Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

, or group B (GBS), is a common perinatal pathogen. GBS colonization of the vaginal mucosa during pregnancy is a risk factor for invasive infection of the fetal membranes (chorioamnionitis) and its consequences such as membrane rupture, preterm labor, stillbirth, and neonatal sepsis. Placental macrophages, or Hofbauer cells, are fetally derived macrophages present within placental and fetal membrane tissues that perform vital functions for fetal and placental development, including supporting angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and regulation of maternal-fetal tolerance. Read More

Arch Argent Pediatr 2018 Dec;116(6):e769-e772

Universidad de Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela; Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, España.

Septicemia is the main cause of neonatal mortality. The early-onset neonatal sepsis is usually related to maternal factor risks including recto-vaginal colonization. In the late-onset neonatal septicemia it is more difficult to establish the etiology because the majority of the cases are nosocomial or community related. Read More

PLoS One 2018 16;13(11):e0207684. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology (LA.M.M.B.), Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Background: Infertility is estimated to affect approximately 9-30% of reproductive-aged couples. Several conditions involving one or both partners may contribute to infertility. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of asymptomatic genital tract infections in the outcome of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in couples with infertility. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2018 Nov 13;14(1):343. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Clinic for Ruminants, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109A, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae is pathogenic for both animals and humans. In dairy cattle it commonly causes mastitis, with great economic losses, and there is scientific evidence of mastitis, caseous lymphadenitis, contagious skin necrosis and purulent infections associated with S. agalactiae in camels (Camelus dromedarius) as well. Read More

J Dairy Sci 2019 Jan 8;102(1):629-639. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between teat skin colonization and intramammary infection (IMI) with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus agalactiae at the quarter level in herds with automatic milking systems. Milk and teat skin samples from 1,142 quarters were collected from 300 cows with somatic cell count >200,000 cells/mL from 8 herds positive for Strep. agalactiae. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Nov 6;18(1):549. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Laboratory Bacteriology Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan, 185, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: Screening of curable sexually transmitted infections is frequently oriented towards the diagnosis of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis, whereas other pathogens, sometimes associated with similar urogenital syndromes, remain undiagnosed and/or untreated. Some of these pathogens are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: In a nested case-control study, vaginal swabs from 79 pregnant women, i. Read More

Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol 2018 12 30;46(12):1054-1067. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, groupe hospitalier Pellegrin, CHU de Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Université Bordeaux, USC EA 3671, infections humaines à mycoplasmes et à chlamydiae, 33000 Bordeaux, France.

Objective: To determine the diagnosis criteria and management of intra-uterine inflammation or infection (Triple I, III).

Methods: PubMed and Cochrane Central databases search.

Results: III is defined as an infection of the fetal membranes, and/or other components like the decidua, fetus, amniotic fluid or placenta. Read More

Int J Med Microbiol 2019 Jan 22;309(1):19-25. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 1, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia; National Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Dr Subotica 1, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address:

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) remains the leading cause of invasive diseases in neonates and an important cause of infections in the elderly. The aim of this study was to access the prevalence of GBS genito-rectal colonisation of pregnant women and to evaluate the genetic characteristics of invasive and non-invasive GBS isolates recovered throughout Serbia. A total of 432 GBS isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, capsular polysaccharide (CPS) types and the presence of the hvgA gene. Read More

Singapore Med J 2018 Oct;59(10):528-533

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.

Introduction: Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is an uncommon cause of septic arthritis in the adult population. In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of GBS septic arthritis. This study aims to compare the clinical presentation, investigations, microbiology and outcome of management in patients with GBS and non-GBS septic arthritis. Read More

Jpn J Infect Dis 2018 Oct 31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences & Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University.

This study determined species identification and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) properties in β-hemolytic streptococci isolated from companion animals in Japan. Strains were isolated from clinical specimens of 131 companion animals with symptoms/signs in April-May, 2017. We identified strains by 16S rRNA sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the broth microdilution method. Read More

J Fish Dis 2019 Jan 30;42(1):11-19. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/Guangdong Provincial Key Lab for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

Streptococcus agalactiae is a major pathogen of tilapia causing significant economic losses for the global aquatic industry yearly. To elucidate the role of cel-EIIB protein-mediated phosphotransferase systems (PTS) in the virulence regulation of S. agalactiae, cel-EIIB gene deletion in a virulent strain THN0901 was achieved by homologous recombination. Read More

J Fish Biol 2018 Dec;93(6):1207-1215

Division of Aquaculture and Nutrition, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Guangzhou, China.

The association between major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIA polymorphisms and the severity of infection by Streptococcus agalactiae was investigated using 40 susceptible and 40 resistant individuals of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Twenty-five alleles were identified from 80 individuals, which belong to 22 major allele types. High polymorphism of mhcIIa gene and at least two loci were discovered in O. Read More

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2018 Oct 19;18(1):410. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Department of Epidemiology, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) causes a significant number of stillbirths. Despite this, there is little documented information on the association between stillbirth and pregnant women's GBS recto vaginal colonization in Sub Saharan Africa. As such, this study was aimed at identifying the association between stillbirth and pregnant women's GBS recto vaginal colonization in Eastern Ethiopia. Read More