Phylogeny and virulence determinant detection of Fusobacterium necrophorum strains isolated at the UK Anaerobe Reference Unit between 1982 and 2019.

Objectives: The study aims to explore the presence, or absence, of virulence genes and the phylogeny of a multidecade United Kingdom collection of clinical and reference Fusobacterium necrophorum isolates.

Methods: Three hundred and eighty-five F. necrophorum strains (1982-2019) were recovered from storage (-80°C).

The prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) at testing centers in Belgium, Germany, Spain, and the UK using the cobas TV/MG molecular assay.

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) can lead to long-term sequelae in males and females; however, global prevalence data vary between geographical regions, as these sexually transmitted infections are not included in routine screening. The objective of this study was to use the cobas TV/MG assay to assess the point prevalence of TV and MG in specimens from men and women over a broad European geographical area. Urine, vaginal, endocervical, and rectal samples were collected from patients aged ≥ 18 years receiving Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) screening as per local standard of care at sites in Belgium, Germany, Spain, and the UK (Wales).

Network-wide analysis of the Serosep EntericBio Gastro Panel 2 for the detection of enteric pathogens in Public Health Wales microbiology laboratories.

A retrospective data analysis of 34 months (spanning 2016-2020) of 961573 diagnostic results obtained before and after nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) implementation, across the Public Health Wales microbiology network. This is the first network-wide analysis of the implementation of enteric NAAT in diagnostic microbiology. To assess the outcome of replacing microscopy and bacterial culture with NAAT as the primary test in the diagnosis of: spp.

UK Bacteroides species surveillance survey: Change in antimicrobial resistance over 16 years (2000-2016).

Objectives: To assess the differences in antimicrobial susceptibility of UK Bacteroides species across two distinct cohorts from 2000 to 2016.

Methods: Strain identification was performed using matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) or by partial 16S rRNA sequencing. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using agar dilution, following CLSI guidelines (CLSI, 2012; 2017).

Impact of the introduction of nucleic acid amplification testing on Clostridioides difficile detection and ribotype distribution in Wales.

Objectives: To determine the impact of the 2018 introduction of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for C. difficile detection on the laboratory diagnosis of C. difficile infection (CDI), and the distribution of C.

Biallelic Mutation of and Additional Likely "In Cis" Sequence Change in Ataxia with Oculomotor Apraxia Type 2.

Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia type 2 (AOA2) is a slowly progressive, autosomal recessive disease characterized by the triad of ataxia, oculomotor apraxia, and sensorimotor neuropathy. The genetic basis of AOA2 is biallelic mutation of the gene, resulting in reduced or absent senataxin, a DNA/RNA repair protein essential for genomic stability. In this case report, we described a case of AOA2 with two clear pathogenic mutations, one of which is novel.

COVID-19: A primer for Neuroradiologists.

The potential for central nervous system (CNS) involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a matter of grave concern and there is a relevant body of evidence in the basic sciences to support this possibility. A neuroradiologist should be aware of the potential mechanisms involved in the neuropathogenesis of this virus, as we begin to see cases with abnormal brain scans emerging from all parts of the world.

Resolving a clinical tuberculosis outbreak using palaeogenomic genome reconstruction methodologies.

This study describes the analysis of DNA from heat-killed (boilate) isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from two UK outbreaks where DNA was of sub-optimal quality for the standard methodologies routinely used in microbial genomics. An Illumina library construction method developed for sequencing ancient DNA was successfully used to obtain whole genome sequences, allowing analysis of the outbreak by gene-by-gene MLST, SNP mapping and phylogenetic analysis. All cases were spoligotyped to the same Haarlem H1 sub-lineage.

Evaluation of the BD MAX Enteric Parasite Panel for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica.

Purpose: Conventional laboratory detection methods for gastrointestinal parasites are time consuming, require considerable technical expertise and may suffer from poor analytical sensitivity. This study sought to evaluate the automated BD MAX Enteric Parasite Panel (EPP) for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum/hominis, Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia duodenalis.Methodolgy.

Evaluation of the Luminex xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel and the Savyon Diagnostics Gastrointestinal Infection Panel for the detection of enteric pathogens in clinical samples.

Infectious gastrointestinal disease is caused by a diverse array of pathogens, and is a challenging syndrome to correctly diagnose and manage. Conventional laboratory diagnostic methods are often time-consuming and frequently suffer from low detection rates. Two commercial multiplex nucleic acid amplification tests [Luminex xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) and Savyon Diagnostics Gastrointestinal Infection Panel (GIP)] were applied to 1000 stored diarrhoeal clinical stool samples.

Evaluation of a commercially developed semiautomated PCR-surface-enhanced raman scattering assay for diagnosis of invasive fungal disease.

Nonculture-based tests are gaining popularity in the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease (IFD), but PCR is excluded from disease-defining criteria because of limited standardization and a lack of commercial assays. Commercial PCR assays may have a standardized methodology while providing quality assurance. The detection of PCR products by a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) assay potentially provides superior analytical sensitivity and multiplexing capacity compared to that of real-time PCR.

Comparison of four automated nucleic acid extraction platforms for the recovery of DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus.

Invasive aspergillosis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality within at-risk groups. Directed antifungal chemotherapy, guided by effective screening algorithms that incorporate reliable and validated molecular assays, reduces the morbidity associated with empirical administration and allows earlier diagnosis. The efficient extraction of nucleic acid from Aspergillus fumigatus is the main limiting factor for successful Aspergillus PCR from clinical specimens.

Is confirmatory testing of Roche cobas 4800 CT/NG test Neisseria gonorrhoeae positive samples required? Comparison of the Roche cobas 4800 CT/NG test with an opa/pap duplex assay for the detection of N gonorrhoeae.

Objectives: Recently marketed nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) have improved specificity over previous generation assays. A study to assess the necessity for confirmation of Roche cobas 4800 NG positive samples was undertaken by the Public Health Wales Microbiology Molecular Diagnostic Unit in Cardiff.

Methods: Classical NG culture identification was compared to cobas 4800 (DR-9), opacity (opa) gene and porA pseudogene (pap) results.

Potential for use of the Seegene Anyplex MTB/NTM real-time detection assay in a regional reference laboratory.

Requests for direct molecular diagnosis of mycobacterial disease are increasingly warranted. The Anyplex MTB/NTM assay demonstrates sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values of 1.00, 0.

Evaluation of analytical and preliminary clinical performance of Myconostica MycAssay Aspergillus when testing serum specimens for diagnosis of invasive Aspergillosis.

Diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis remains a significant problem. PCR testing may aid diagnosis but is not yet included in disease-defining criteria due to a lack of standardization of assays and methodologies. This study investigated the analytical performance and the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the Myconostica MycAssay Aspergillus PCR (MAP) assay compared to those of a validated in-house Aspergillus PCR (IHP) test when testing serum specimens.

Critical stages of extracting DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus in whole-blood specimens.

A standardized protocol for extracting DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus has been proposed by the European Aspergillus PCR Initiative (EAPCRI). Using meta-regression analysis, the EAPCRI showed certain stages of the process to be critical to providing a satisfactory analytical sensitivity. The study investigated each step of the EAPCRI protocol by elimination and monitored the influence on Aspergillus PCR performance.

An update on the molecular diagnosis of invasive fungal disease.

Despite improvements in medical technology, the definitive diagnosis of invasive fungal disease (IFD) is limited. The prevalence of disease is relatively low but many cases are undiagnosed. With the diagnosis of proven IFD dependent on histopathology or culture from a sterile site, clinicians have become more reliant on noninvasive nonculture diagnostic techniques.

The evolution and evaluation of a whole blood polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of invasive aspergillosis in hematology patients in a routine clinical setting.

Background: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is associated with high mortality. Successful outcome with treatment is linked to early diagnosis. The utility of classic diagnostic methods, however, is limited.