Article
Microbiology
Ethan R. Wyrsch, Kristina Nesporova, Hassan Tarabai, Ivana Jamborova, Ibrahim Bitar, Ivan Literak, Monika Dolejska, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: By conducting a comprehensive genomic study on Escherichia coli isolates from the Australian silver gull, this research reveals the presence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in different lineages of E. coli. The findings demonstrate the potential transmission of resistant and pathogenic E. coli between wildlife and human populations. The study highlights the importance of understanding the role of bystander species in the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Article
Virology
John S. Munday, Mike R. Hardcastle, Stuart Hunter, Cathy J. Harvey
Summary: Raised plaques on the feet of a red-billed gull were found to be indicative of papillomavirus infection with possible neoplastic progression. A novel papillomavirus type, similar to duck papillomavirus type 3 but with only 68.3% identity, was identified in the papillomas. This study provides the first evidence that papillomaviruses could lead to neoplasia in birds.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kerry Schutten, Akshaya Chandrashekar, Madelaine Bourdages, Victoria Bowes, John Elliott, Sandi Lee, Tony Redford, Jennifer Provencher, Claire Jardine, Laurie Wilson
Summary: Since the 1960s, plastic pollution has become one of the most widespread and common forms of pollution globally. However, there is limited knowledge on the ingestion of plastic by terrestrial and freshwater bird species, particularly birds of prey. This study analyzed the gastrointestinal tracts of 234 raptors from 15 species collected between 2013 and 2021, and found that only a small number of individuals had evidence of plastic ingestion. Based on these results, further research on microplastic accumulation in raptors and increasing sample sizes across species is recommended to gain a more comprehensive understanding of plastic ingestion in these birds.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Maria Carmona, Raul Aymi, Joan Navarro
Summary: The study evaluated the importance of human-provided food subsidies for urban yellow-legged gulls in Barcelona, finding that these subsidies are an important artificial resource used by both breeders and non-breeders, as well as handicapped individuals.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Brenda Larison, Alec R. Lindsay, Christen Bossu, Michael D. Sorenson, Joseph D. Kaplan, David C. Evers, James Paruk, Jeffrey M. DaCosta, Thomas B. Smith, Kristen Ruegg
Summary: The study demonstrates the use of SNP panels to identify the breeding origins of carcasses collected during the nonbreeding season can improve our understanding of population-specific impacts of mortality from disease and anthropogenic stressors, ultimately allowing more effective management.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kimberley C. Batley, Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo, Catherine M. Kemper, Nikki Zanardo, Ikuko Tomo, Luciano B. Beheregaray, Luciana M. Moller
Summary: The study analyzed the whole genome data set of dolphins exposed to a CeMV-related mortality event and identified genetic regions and pathways associated with immune responses to CeMV. The findings suggest that levels of inbreeding in the dolphin population have minimal impact on individual outcomes. This research contributes to understanding the immune responses of dolphins to CeMV and highlights the value of whole genome data sets in conservation efforts.
Article
Ecology
Dominique A. Potvin, Fabiola Opitz, Kathy A. Townsend, Sarah A. Knutie
Summary: Global plastic production has exponentially increased since the 1940s, leading to the increased presence of anthropogenic debris in the environment and its incorporation into bird nests. The study found that over time, the prevalence of anthropogenic material and nest parasites in bird nests increased, but there was no relationship between habitat type or anthropogenic material and parasite presence.
Article
Microbiology
Ana C. Reis, Liliana C. M. Salvador, Suelee Robbe-Austerman, Rogerio Tenreiro, Ana Botelho, Teresa Albuquerque, Monica Cunha
Summary: The study used whole genome sequencing to analyze Mycobacterium bovis isolates from Portugal, revealing relationships between different genotypes and the transmission of the pathogen in a multi-host system. Results showed that the M. bovis population can be divided into five genetic clades, three of which exhibit distinct geographic specificities.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Petra Sumasgutner, Susan J. Cunningham, Arne Hegemann, Arjun Amar, Hannah Watson, Johan F. Nilsson, Martin N. Andersson, Caroline Isaksson
Summary: Climate change and urbanisation pose significant threats to biodiversity, yet their combined effects are often overlooked. Understanding how species respond to the interactive impacts of rising temperatures and urbanisation is crucial in global change biology, especially for birds. This article highlights the potential mechanisms and knowledge gaps in the effects of climate and urban drivers on avian responses, emphasizing the need for further research in this important field.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Nadine A. Vogt, Benjamin M. Hetman, Adam A. Vogt, David L. Pearl, Richard J. Reid-Smith, E. Jane Parmley, Stefanie Kadykalo, Nicol Janecko, Amrita Bharat, Michael R. Mulvey, Kim Ziebell, James Robertson, John Nash, Vanessa Allen, Anna Majury, Nicole Ricker, Kristin J. Bondo, Samantha E. Allen, Claire M. Jardine
Summary: Non-typhoidal Salmonella and associated antimicrobial resistance genes show potential transmission between humans, livestock, and environmental sources in the Grand River watershed, Ontario, Canada. Raccoons do not harbor these resistance genes and human isolates are more similar to livestock and environmental isolates than to raccoon isolates.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Pilar Pozo, Victor Lorente-Leal, Suelee Robbe-Austerman, Jessica Hicks, Tod Stuber, Javier Bezos, Lucia de Juan, Jose Luis Saez, Beatriz Romero, Julio Alvarez
Summary: This study investigated the molecular diversity of Mycobacterium bovis isolates in the cattle-wildlife interface in different regions of Spain using whole-genome sequencing. The results showed that genetic heterogeneity of bovine tuberculosis was geographic rather than host species-specific. The isolates recovered from cattle and wildlife in the same region were more closely related compared to isolates from the same species but geographically distant. The findings highlight the complex between-host transmission dynamics in endemic areas and the importance of whole-genome sequencing in tracking bTB infection and achieving its eradication in Spain.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katherine R. Shlepr, Robert A. Ronconi, Brian Hayden, Karel A. Allard, Antony W. Diamond
Summary: Our study aimed to estimate the percentage of diet derived from anthropogenic food sources for Herring Gull (L. argentatus) during the breeding season at the two largest colonies in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. We found spatial segregation in the foraging areas used by gulls from the two colonies, with all gulls relying on a variety of anthropogenic food sources, but landfills were not a significant source of food during the breeding season.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Robert Meyer, Matthias Begemann, Christian Thomas Huebner, Daniela Dey, Alma Kuechler, Magdeldin Elgizouli, Ulrike Schara, Laima Ambrozaityte, Birute Burnyte, Carmen Schroeder, Asmaa Kenawy, Peter Kroisel, Stephanie Demuth, Gyorgy Fekete, Thomas Opladen, Miriam Elbracht, Thomas Eggermann
Summary: By using WES approaches, the diagnostic yield for patients undergoing SRS testing was significantly increased. The identification of monogenetic disorders has a substantial impact on clinical management and genetic counseling.
ORPHANET JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Bethany J. Hoye, Celeste M. Donato, Simeon Lisovski, Yi-Mo Deng, Simone Warner, Aeron C. Hurt, Marcel Klaassen, Dhanasekaran Vijaykrishna
Summary: Lineages of avian influenza A viruses in Australia are genetically distinct from those in Eurasia and the Americas, potentially due to occasional introductions from other regions. Waders, specifically ruddy turnstones, may influence the ecology and evolution of AIVs in Australia.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Haichen Wang, Jia Li, Changhang Min, Fengjun Xia, Mengli Tang, Jun Li, Yongmei Hu, Mingxiang Zou
Summary: This study investigated the silver resistance mechanisms and coexistence of antibiotic resistance genes with the sil operon among gram-negative pathogens isolated from wound samples. The results showed a prevalent cryptic silver resistance among Enterobacteriaceae with the sil operon or in combination with the cus operon and major porin loss, along with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ibrahim Bitar, Costas C. Papagiannitsis, Lucie Kraftova, Vittoria Mattioni Marchetti, Efthymia Petinaki, Marc Finianos, Katerina Chudejova, Helena Zemlickova, Jaroslav Hrabak
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the genetic elements involved in the increased spread of bla(VIM) genes in VIM-producing Enterobacterales isolated from Czech hospitals between 2019 and 2020. The results showed variations in carbapenem susceptibility among the isolates, with bla(VIM-1) and bla(VIM-4) genes being prevalent. Multiple integrons and plasmids carrying the bla(VIM) genes were identified, indicating the ongoing evolution and spread of VIM-encoding integrons.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Oliver McNeilly, Riti Mann, Max Laurence Cummins, Steven P. Djordjevic, Mehrad Hamidian, Cindy Gunawan
Summary: Several recent studies have found that bacteria are developing resistance to broad-spectrum antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (nanosilver; NAg). This is concerning because NAg is a crucial alternative antimicrobial agent. The present study focuses on the development of resistance to NAg in the globally prevalent bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. The findings highlight the risks of long-term NAg use on a priority pathogen and emphasize the need for strategies to overcome bacterial NAg adaptation and preserve the efficacy of this potent antimicrobial agent in the era of antimicrobial resistance.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Georgi Merhi, Sara Amayri, Ibrahim Bitar, George F. Araj, Sima Tokajian
Summary: This study aimed to characterize multidrug resistant Enterobacter spp. and K. aerogenes isolates recovered from hospitalized patients in Lebanon. The isolates exhibited various resistance mechanisms and plasmid profiles. Multilocus sequence typing revealed the diversity within the isolates. Screening and continuous monitoring can effectively limit the dissemination of drug-resistant isolates in hospitalized patients.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Hassan Tarabai, Simon Krejci, Igor Karyakin, Ibrahim Bitar, Ivan Literak, Monika Dolejska
Summary: Migratory birds, such as black kites, have the potential to acquire and disperse antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes through vast geographical regions. The opportunistic feeding behavior of these birds and the increasing human influence on their natural habitats increase the transmission risk of multidrug resistance and pathogenic bacteria. Monitoring antibiotic resistance in raptors can provide essential data for understanding the fate and evolution of antibiotic resistance in the environment and the associated health risks for humans and animals.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Paarthiphan Elankumuran, Glenn F. Browning, Marc S. Marenda, Amanda Kidsley, Marwan Osman, Marisa Haenni, James R. Johnson, Darren J. Trott, Cameron J. Reid, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: ST372 is the major Escherichia coli sequence type in dogs globally and is sporadically responsible for extraintestinal infections in humans. However, it is unclear whether ST372 strains from dogs and humans represent shared or distinct populations. In this study, the authors conducted bioinformatics analyses on 407 ST372 E. coli whole-genome sequences to characterize their epidemiological features, population structure, and associated accessory genomes. The results confirm that dogs are the dominant host of ST372, with distinct clusters within the population structure exhibiting different O:H types. Evidence of transmission between dogs and humans within different clusters was also found.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Hassan Tarabai, Anna Maria Floriano, Jan Zima, Natalia Filova, Joel J. Brown, Walter Roachell, Robert L. Smith, Norman L. Beatty, Kevin J. Vogel, Eva Novakova
Summary: This study explores the microbiomes of blood-feeding North American Triatoma vectors as well as related predatory assassin bugs, soft ticks, and their shared environment. The microbiome analyses reveal three interrelated sources of bacteria for both vectors - vertebrate nests, vertebrate skin, and vertebrate blood. The study also uncovers a distinct monophyletic cluster of Triatoma-associated microbiomes, highlighting their specific phylosymbiosis.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
V. Mattioni Marchetti, L. Kraftova, M. Finianos, T. Sourenian, J. Hrabak, I. Bitar
Summary: The study investigated fosfomycin susceptibility profiles among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in the Czech Republic, characterized the genetic environment of fosA genes, and evaluated the presence of amino acid mutations in proteins involved in FOS resistance mechanisms. The results showed the occurrence of several FOS resistance mechanisms in different clones spreading in the Czech Republic.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Max L. Cummins, Dmitriy Li, Aeman Ahmad, Rhys Bushell, Amir H. Noormohammadi, Dinidu S. Wijesurendra, Andrew Stent, Marc S. Marenda, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a problem in the poultry industry, but its pathogenesis is not well-studied. This study analyzed 205 APEC(BCO) genome sequences and found that APEC(BCO) and APEC(colibac) are similar in phylogeny and genotype. APEC(BCO) frequently carry ColV-like plasmids with similar VAGs as APEC(colibac). The study provides insights for the management and treatment of lameness in poultry.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yohannes E. Messele, Darren J. Trott, Mauida F. Hasoon, Tania Veltman, Joe P. McMeniman, Stephen P. Kidd, Steven P. Djordjevic, Kiro R. Petrovski, Wai Y. Low
Summary: The genetic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from cattle, pigs, poultry, and humans were analyzed using whole genome sequencing data. Most cattle and pig isolates belonged to phylogroups A and B1, while avian and human isolates belonged to B2 and D. Some cattle isolates carried extended-spectrum and AmpC beta-lactamase genes. The results indicate that cattle isolates from feedlots pose a reduced risk of being a source of clinically important antimicrobial-resistant E. coli.
Article
Microbiology
Tamara Alhamami, Piklu Roy Chowdhury, Henrietta Venter, Tania Veltman, Alec Truswell, Sam Abraham, Sylvia A. Sapula, Mandi Carr, Steven P. Djordjevic, Darren J. Trott
Summary: Pasteurella multocida isolates from Australian feedlot cattle with bovine respiratory disease exhibited significant genetic diversity, with different capsular serogroups, lipopolysaccharide genotypes, and sequence types. Additionally, antibiotic resistance was predominantly observed in certain sequence types. The study provides insights into the genomic diversity and antimicrobial resistance associations of P. multocida in Australia.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mauida F. Hasoon, Veronica M. Jarocki, Majed H. Mohammed, Steven P. Djordjevic, Hiu Ying Esther Yip, Mandi Carr, Aliakbar Khabiri, Ania Ahani Azari, Reza Amanollahi, Raziallah Jafari Jozani, Brodhi Carracher, Joanne Mollinger, Ania T. Deutscher, Farhid Hemmatzadeh, Darren J. Trott
Summary: Antimicrobial susceptibility of Australian Mycoplasma bovis isolates has not been reported. This study examined minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 12 antimicrobials against Australian M. bovis isolates and used whole genome sequencing to identify point mutations in target genes associated with high macrolide MICs. Most samples from bovine respiratory disease cases tested positive for M. bovis. The majority of isolates had low MICs for several antimicrobials, but a small proportion exhibited high MICs for macrolides and lincosamides. Whole genome sequencing revealed mutations in the 23S rRNA gene associated with macrolide resistance. Monitoring for emerging macrolide resistance in Australian M. bovis isolates is needed.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Piklu Roy Chowdhury, Priyanka Hastak, Matthew Demaere, Ethan Wyrsch, Dmitriy Li, Paarthiphan Elankumaran, Monika Dolejska, Glenn F. Browning, Mark S. Marenda, Thomas Gottlieb, Elaine Cheong, John Merlino, Garry S. A. Myers, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: This study performed a comprehensive analysis of 925 genomes of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) ST38, revealing two clades and several clusters associated with specific blaCTX-M alleles. The study also identified various virulence genes carried by poorly characterized plasmids. Multiple potential inter-host and host-environment transmission events were also identified.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dmitriy Li, Paarthiphan Elankumaran, Timothy Kudinha, Amanda K. Kidsley, Darren J. Trott, Veronica Maria Jarocki, Steven Philip Djordjevic
Summary: Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) are the most frequent cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) globally. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of E. coli isolates from a regional hospital in Australia in 2006 revealed several common sequence types and identified specific virulence plasmids. In addition, closely related isolates from the same patient associated with different pathologies and evidence of strain-sharing events involving isolates sourced from companion and wild animals were identified.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sopheak Hem, Veronica M. Jarocki, Dave J. Baker, Ian G. Charles, Barbara Drigo, Sarah Aucote, Erica Donner, Delaney Burnard, Michelle J. Bauer, Patrick N. A. Harris, Ethan R. Wyrsch, Steven P. Djordjevic
Summary: Elizabethkingia species are widely distributed in aquatic environments and can colonize water systems in healthcare settings. They have emerged as opportunistic pathogens in 25 countries across the globe, and treating Elizabethkingia infections is challenging due to their high case fatality rates and multiple drug resistance. This study characterized the whole-genome sequences of Elizabethkingia isolates from Australian aquatic environments and compared them with clinical and international strains. The findings revealed a new species and provided insights into the shared origins and transferability of mobile genetic elements among different strains.
CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES
(2022)
