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The Brief Case
Biographical Feature
Minireviews
MinireviewReal-Time Analysis and Visualization of Pathogen Sequence DataThe rapid development of sequencing technologies has to led to an explosion of pathogen sequence data, which are increasingly collected as part of routine surveillance or clinical diagnostics. In public health, sequence data are used to reconstruct the evolution of pathogens, to anticipate future spread, and to target interventions.
MinireviewDiagnostic Approach to Health Care- and Device-Associated Central Nervous System InfectionsHealth care- and device-associated central nervous system (CNS) infections have a distinct epidemiology, pathophysiology, and microbiology that require a unique diagnostic approach. Most clinical signs, symptoms, and tests used to diagnose community-acquired CNS infections are insensitive and nonspecific in neurosurgical patients due to postsurgical changes, invasive devices, prior antimicrobial exposure, and underlying CNS disease....
MinireviewPhenotypic Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms from Clinical IsolatesThe rapid spread of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms constitutes one of the greatest challenges to global health. While Gram-negative organisms have developed several mechanisms to avert the bactericidal effects of commonly prescribed antibiotic agents, the increasing prevalence of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) is particularly concerning given the rapid spread of mobile genetic elements containing carbapenemase...
Bacteriology
BacteriologyWhole-Genome Sequencing and Bioinformatic Analysis of Isolates from Foodborne Illness Outbreaks of Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enterica...Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) via next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies is a powerful tool for determining the relatedness of bacterial isolates in foodborne illness detection and outbreak investigations. WGS has been applied to national outbreaks (for example, Listeria monocytogenes); however, WGS has rarely been used in smaller local outbreaks.
BacteriologyComparison of the Vitek MS and Bruker Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Systems for Identification of Chryseobacterium Isolates from Clinical Specimens and Report of Uncommon Chryseobacterium Infections in HumansMatrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry is becoming more popular and is replacing traditional identification methods in the clinical microbiology laboratory. We aimed to compare the Vitek mass spectrometry (MS) and Bruker Biotyper systems for the identification of Chryseobacterium isolated from clinical specimens and to report...
BacteriologyEvaluation of Whole-Genome Sequencing for Identification and Typing of Vibrio choleraeEpidemiological and microbiological data on Vibrio cholerae strains isolated between April 2004 and March 2018 (n = 836) and held at the Public Health England culture archive were reviewed. The traditional biochemical species identification and serological typing results were compared with the genome-derived species identification and serotype for a subset of...
BacteriologyTyping and Species Identification of Clinical Klebsiella Isolates by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass SpectrometryKlebsiella pneumoniae and related species are frequent causes of nosocomial infections and outbreaks. Therefore, quick and reliable strain typing is crucial for the detection of transmission routes in the hospital.
BacteriologyUltrasensitive Detection of Clostridioides difficile Toxins A and B by Use of Automated Single-Molecule Counting TechnologyCurrent tests for the detection of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile free toxins in feces lack sensitivity, while nucleic acid amplification tests lack clinical specificity. We have evaluated the Singulex Clarity C.
BacteriologyGenotyping and Quantifying Lyme Pathogen Strains by Deep Sequencing of the Outer Surface Protein C (ospC) LocusA mixed infection of a single tick or host by Lyme disease spirochetes is common and a unique challenge for the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of Lyme disease. Here, we describe a novel protocol for differentiating Lyme strains on the basis of deep sequencing of the hypervariable outer surface protein C locus (ospC).
BacteriologyUsefulness of Automated Latex Turbidimetric Rapid Plasma Reagin Test for Diagnosis and Evaluation of Treatment Response in Syphilis in Comparison with Manual Card Test: a Prospective Cohort StudyThe usefulness of an automated latex turbidimetric rapid plasma reagin (RPR) assay, compared to the conventional manual card test (serial 2-fold dilution method), for the diagnosis of syphilis and evaluation of treatment response remains unknown. We conducted (i) a cross-sectional study and (ii) a prospective cohort study to elucidate the correlation between automated and manual tests and whether a 4-fold decrement is a feasible...
BacteriologyProficiency of WHO Global Foodborne Infections Network External Quality Assurance System Participants in Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. from 2003 to 2012Campylobacter spp. are foodborne and waterborne pathogens.
Mycobacteriology and Aerobic Actinomycetes
Mycobacteriology and Aerobic ActinomycetesComparative Evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus in Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Immunocompromised PatientsQuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) is a new-generation QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay which has two antigen-coated tubes called TB1, which contains long peptides derived from ESAT-6 and CFP-10, and TB2, which contains the same components as TB1 and additional short peptides which potentially stimulate CD8+ T cells through the presentation of major histocompatibility complex class I. This is the first study to...
Mycobacteriology and Aerobic ActinomycetesIdentifying Mixed Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Laboratory Cross-Contamination during Mycobacterial Sequencing ProgramsThe detection of laboratory cross-contamination and mixed tuberculosis infections is an important goal of clinical mycobacteriology laboratories. The objective of this study was to develop a method to detect mixtures of different Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineages in laboratories performing mycobacterial next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Parasitology
ParasitologyGenetic Analysis of Babesia Isolates from Cattle with Clinical Babesiosis in Sri LankaBovine babesiosis is a serious threat to the cattle industry. We prepared blood DNA samples from 13 cattle with clinical babesiosis from the Badulla (n = 8), Jaffna (n = 3), and Kilinochchi (n = 2) districts in Sri Lanka.
Virology
VirologyComparison of Six Sample-to-Answer Influenza A/B and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Nucleic Acid Amplification Assays Using Respiratory Specimens from ChildrenThe rapid and accurate detection of influenza A virus (FluA), influenza B virus (FluB), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) improves patient care. Sample-to-answer (STA) platforms based on nucleic acid amplification and detection of these viruses are simple, automated, and accurate.
VirologyClinical and Analytical Evaluation of the Anyplex II HPV HR Detection Assay within the VALGENT-3 FrameworkIn 2012, VALidation of human papillomavirus (HPV) GENotyping Tests (VALGENT) was initiated to provide a formalized and uniform study framework for comparison and validation of HPV assays with genotyping capability. In VALGENT-3, the clinical and analytical performance of Anyplex II HPV HR detection (Anyplex) was compared to that of the Hybrid Capture 2 HPV DNA test (hc2) and the cobas 4800 HPV test (cobas).
Immunoassays
ImmunoassaysSerological Diagnostics of Lyme Borreliosis: Comparison of Universal and Borrelia Species-Specific Tests Based on Whole-Cell and Recombinant AntigensThe study compares diagnostic parameters of different commercial serological kits based on three different antigen types and correlates test results with the status of the patient's Borrelia infection. In total, 8 IgM and 8 IgG kits were tested, as follows: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Euroimmun) based on whole-cell antigen, 3 species-specific enzyme...
ImmunoassaysEvaluation of a Novel Microarray Immunoblot Assay for Detection of IgM- and IgG-Class Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferiDiagnostic testing for Lyme disease (LD) remains dependent on detection of antibodies to LD Borrelia using serologic assays, in adherence to the standard two-tiered testing (STTT) algorithm. We present the first analytic evaluation of the automated Borrelia B31 ViraChip IgM and IgG microarray...
Epidemiology
EpidemiologyPrevalence and Characterization of Heterogeneous Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Clusters Comprising Drug-Susceptible and/or Variable Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Isolates in the Netherlands from 2004 to 2016The variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) typing method is used to study tuberculosis (TB) transmission. Clustering of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with identical VNTR patterns is assumed to reflect recent transmission.
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Journal of Clinical Microbiology® (JCM) publishes the most current research related to the laboratory diagnosis of human and animal infections and the role of the laboratory in both the management of infectious diseases and the elucidation of the epidemiology of infections.
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Dr. Alexander J. McAdam, Editor in Chief