First reported human bloodstream infection with Vagococcus lutrae

Vagococcus fluvialis isolation from the urine of a bladder cancer patient: a case report

Vagococcus fluvialis infection is rare in humans, and there is limited research on the clinical manifestations and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Vagococcus fluvialis infection. Here, We isolated Vagococcus fluvialis from the urine samples of bladder cancer patients at Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, and it is the first reported case of Vagococcus fluvialis isolated from the urine. The fully automated microbial identification system and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identified the bacterium as Vagococcus fluvialis with a confidence level of 99.9%. The VITEK-2Compact fully automated microbial susceptibility analysis system indicated that it was most sensitive to tigecycline, vancomycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, linezolid, and showed moderate sensitivity to erythromycin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin/sulbactam, and tetracycline. Additionally, it exhibited synergy when combined with high-level gentamicin and vancomycin, showing sensitivity. However, it displayed poor activity against penicillin and furanth. According to our knowledge, this is the first study to isolate and identify Vagococcus fluvialis from the urine of bladder cancer patients and the systematically reviewed other reported Vagococcus infections on human, which provide an experimental basis for guiding the rational use of drugs in the clinical treatment and diagnose of Vagococcus fluvialis infection and related pathogenic mechanism research. Meanwhile, we have systematically reviewed other reported.

Vagococcus proximus sp. nov. and Vagococcus intermedius sp. nov., originating from modified atmosphere packaged broiler meat

During our studies on spoilage microbiomes of modified atmosphere packaged broiler meat, we isolated three strains (PNs007^T, STAA11^T and STAA25) of unknown identity. In this present polyphasic taxonomy study, including genome-based analyses, we discovered that these isolates represent two novel species belonging to the genus Vagococcus. In all phylogenetic analyses, PNs007^T was positioned very close to Vagococcus fessus but both the average nucleotide identity (ANI; 89.5 %) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH; 38.3 %) values distinguished it as a novel vagococcal species. STAA11^T and STAA25 were genetically highly similar (16S rRNA, ANI and dDDH 100 %). The phylogenetic position of STAA11^T was adjacent to but out of the cluster containing V. fessus, Vagococcus coleopterorum and PNs007^T. According to the ANI (76.2-76.4 %) and dDDH (<22.6 %) values it also represented a novel vagococcal species. Phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic properties of both novel species were typical for vagococci and they contained C_16 : 0 (25.5-30.1 %) and C_18 : 1 ω9c (67.3-73.0 %) as the major cellular fatty acids. The streptomycin-resistant genotype of STAA11^T and STAA25 allowing the growth on streptomycin thallous acetate actidione medium was considered to result from a modification in codon 104 of the rpsL gene leading to P104A substitution. The ability of STAA11^T and STAA25 to produce ammonia from arginine separated them from PNs007^T, which did not show arginine deiminase activity. We propose the names Vagococcus proximus sp. nov. (type strain PNs007^T=DSM 115185^T=CCUG 76696^T) and Vagococcus intermedius sp. nov. (type strain STAA11^T=DSM 115183^T=CCUG 76697^T) for these novel species.

Effectiveness of treatment of bedding and feces of laboratory animal with ozone

BACKGROUND

The incineration and burying of the soiled bedding of laboratory animals, as well as using detergents to treat their feces, is hazardous to the environment. This highlights the need for an alternative, environmentally friendly solution for the treatment of the waste of laboratory animal facilities. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ozone disinfection of the soiled bedding and feces of laboratory animals.

METHODS

Two grams of soiled beddings were randomly sampled from the cages of mice and rats. These samples were mixed in a beaker with 40ml saline. Ozone was piped into the beaker at a concentration of 500mg/h. Samples were taken from the beaker at time 0min, 30min, 45min and 60min after ozone treatment for microbiological culturing in an incubator for 48h. Colony form unit of each plate (CFU/plate) at each time point were counted, the mean CFU/plate at each time point after ozone treatment were compared with that present at time zero. Feces of rabbits and dogs were treated and pathogens were counted the similar way as that of bedding of the mice and rats; samples being taken at 0min, 15min, 30min, 45min and 60min.

RESULTS

Pathogens were observed in beddings of both mice and rats as well as in feces of rabbits and dogs. Ozone treatment for 30min killed more than 93% of pathogens in the bedding of the two rodent species and 60min of treatment killed over 99% of pathogens. Treatment of rabbit and dog feces for 30min killed over 96% pathogens present, and 60min's treatment killed nearly all the pathogens. Both Gram positive and Gram negative pathogens were sensitive to ozone treatment.

CONCLUSION

Ozone treatment of bedding and feces is an effective and environment friendly way to deal with the waste of animal facilities, saving energy and potentially enabling their reuse as fertilizer.

Characterization of the novel optrA-carrying pseudo-compound transposon Tn7363 and an Inc18 plasmid carrying cfr(D) in Vagococcus lutrae

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the genetic context and transferability of the oxazolidinone resistance genes cfr(D) and optrA in a porcine Vagococcus lutrae isolate.

METHODS

V. lutrae isolate BN31 was screened for the presence of known oxazolidinone resistance genes via PCR assays. Conjugation experiments were carried out to assess horizontal transferability of resistance genes. WGS was performed using a combination of Nanopore MinION and Illumina HiSeq platforms. Detection of a translocatable unit (TU) was conducted by PCR.

RESULTS

V. lutrae isolate BN31 harboured the oxazolidinone resistance genes cfr(D) and optrA. The optrA gene, together with the phenicol resistance gene fexA, was located on a novel pseudo-compound transposon, designated Tn7363. Tn7363 was bounded by two copies of the new insertion sequence ISVlu1, which represented a new member of the ISL3 family. A TU, comprising one copy of ISVlu1 and the segment between the two IS elements including the optrA gene, was detected. The cfr(D) gene and an erm(B) gene were identified on the broad-host-range Inc18 plasmid pBN31-cfrD, a pAMβ1-like plasmid. Similar to plasmid pAMβ1, plasmid pBN31-cfrD was conjugative.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, we report the first identification of the cfr(D) and optrA in Vagococcus. Two novel oxazolidinone resistance gene-carrying mobile genetic elements, Tn7363 and pBN31-cfrD, were identified in V. lutrae BN31. Considering their transmission potential, attention should be paid to the risk of transfer of the optrA and cfr(D) genes from V. lutrae to clinically more important bacterial pathogens.

Pathological Findings in Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra) Found Dead between 2015-2020 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

In times of massive biodiversity loss and ongoing environmental crises, it is extremely important to ensure long-term conservation efforts of threatened species like Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra). To gain insights into the status of Northern Germany's otter population, 92 otters found dead in Schleswig-Holstein between 2015-2020 were collected and underwent detailed dissection with the aim to establish a monitoring program for this population. Examinations followed a protocol especially designed for otters, including various biological data assessments and extended sampling. The finding sites showed a clear concentration in the Continental region. Seasonal concentration differed among the years, yet peaks were seen from fall to winter. Overall, more males than females were found, although this differed among the years. The majority of otters that could be aged were between 1-3 years. Placental scars and pregnancy were recorded in only few females. Nutritional status was good in most cases. Infectious diseases found included Vagococcus lutrae, Toxoplasma gondii, and Emmonsia spp. A major cause of death was roadkill. Known sample bias in studies focusing on roadkill was considered in the finding interpretation. Continuation of the population health investigations is mandatory to analyze potential trends and to establish an actual monitoring program for Eurasian otters in Schleswig-Holstein.

Multiomics Study Reveals Enterococcus and Subdoligranulum Are Beneficial to Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening disease for premature infants with low body weight. Due to its fragile gut microbiome and successful treatment of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for intestinal disease, we aimed to reveal the multiple-omics changes after FMT and/or sulperazone treatment. In this study, 2-week-old newborn rabbits were used to simulate the NEC model and grouped into healthy control, NEC, sulperazone treatment, FTM treatment, and FMT and sulperazone combination treatment. We evaluated the intestinal pathology and survival to define the benefit from each treatment and performed microbiome and transcriptome analysis to reveal the changes in microcosmic level, which could be helpful to understand the pathogenesis of NEC and develop new strategy. We found NEC rabbits benefit more from the combination of FMT and sulperazone treatment. Combination treatment reverses a lot of microorganisms dysregulated by NEC and showed the most similar transcript profiler with healthy control. Moreover, a combination of FMT and sulperazone significantly prolonged the survival of NEC rabbits. Function enrichment showed that metabolism and viral life cycle are the most significant changes in NEC. FMT is a common therapy method for NEC. Meanwhile, in the severe situation of NEC with intestinal infection, the first therapy strategy is preferred the third-generation cephalosporin, among which sulperazone is used widely and the effect is remarkable. So, we used sulperazone to treat the rabbits with the NEC. In this research, we aim to explore the different effects on NEC between FMT and sulperazone as well as the combination. Considering the microbiome and transcriptome result, we make a conclusion that the Enterococcus and Subdoligranulum benefits NEC by influencing the bacterial phages and butyrate production, respectively.

Long-read sequencing revealed cooccurrence, host range, and potential mobility of antibiotic resistome in cow feces

While it is well recognized that the environmental resistome is global, diverse, and augmented by human activities, it has been difficult to assess risk because of the inability to culture many environmental organisms, and it is difficult to evaluate risk from current sequence-based environmental methods. The four most important criteria to determine risk are whether the antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) are a complete, potentially functional complement; if they are linked with other resistances; whether they are mobile; and the identity of their host. Long-read sequencing fills this important gap between culture and short sequence-based methods. To address these criteria, we collected feces from a ceftiofur-treated cow, enriched the samples in the presence of antibiotics to favor ARG functionality, and sequenced long reads using Nanopore and PacBio technologies. Multidrug-resistance genes comprised 58% of resistome abundance, but only 0.8% of them were plasmid associated; fluroquinolone-, aminoglycoside-, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS)-, and β-lactam-resistance genes accounted for 2.7 to 12.3% of resistome abundance but with 19 to 78% located on plasmids. A variety of plasmid types were assembled, some of which share low similarity to plasmids in current databases. Enterobacteriaceae were dominant hosts of antibiotic-resistant plasmids; physical linkage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase genes (CTX-M, TEM, CMY, and CARB) was largely found with aminoglycoside-, MLS-, tetracycline-, trimethoprim-, phenicol-, sulfonamide-, and mercury-resistance genes. A draft circular chromosome of Vagococcus lutrae was assembled; it carries MLS-, tetracycline- (including tetM and tetL on an integrative conjugative element), and trimethoprim-resistance genes flanked by many transposase genes and insertion sequences, implying that they remain transferrable.

Infections due to Vagococcus spp. Microbiological and clinical aspects and literature review

INTRODUCTION

An increase in recent years in the isolation of Vagococcus spp. is suggestive of emerging infection by this pathogen in our hospital.

METHODS

Prospective, descriptive study.

PERIOD

July 2014-January 2019. Phenotypic identification of 15 isolates of Vagococcus spp. was performed by conventional biochemical tests, automated methodology and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Molecular identification was achieved by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The Vitek™ 2C automated system was used to test antibiotic susceptibility.

RESULTS

The molecular method identified 11 Vagococcus fluvialis, one Vagococcus lutrae and three Vagococcus spp. MALDI-TOF MS facilitated the rapid recognition of the genus. The most active antibiotics were ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid. Most of the cases of isolation were associated with skin and soft tissue or osteoarticular infections in patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSION

This article is the most extensive review of cases of Vagococcus spp. infection reported in the literature and highlights the microbiological and clinical aspects of this pathogen.

Description of Vagococcus coleopterorum sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of the diving beetle, Cybister lewisianus, and Vagococcus hydrophili sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of the dark diving beetle, Hydrophilus acuminatus, and emended description of the genus Vagococcus

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize two novel bacterial strains, HDW17A^T and HDW17B^T, isolated from the intestine of the diving beetle Cybister lewisianus, and the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus, respectively. Both strains were Gram-positive and facultative anaerobic cocci forming cream-colored colonies. The isolates grew optimally at 25°C, pH 7, in the presence of 0.3% (wt/vol) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome sequences showed that the isolates were members of the genus Vagococcus, and strain HDW17A^T was closely related to Vagococcus fessus CCUG 41755^T (98.9% of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 74.3% of average nucleotide identity [ANI]), whereas strain HDW17B^T was closely related to Vagococcus fluvialis NCFB 2497^T (98.9% of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 76.6% of ANI). Both strains contained C_16:0, and C_18:1ω9c as the major cellular fatty acids, but C_16:1ω9c was also observed only in strain HDW17B^T as the major cellular fatty acid. The respiratory quinone of the isolates was MK-7. The major polar lipid components were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G + C content of strains HDW17A^T and HDW17B^T were 36.6 and 34.4%, respectively. Both strains had cell wall peptidoglycan composed of the amino acids L-alanine, glycine, D-glutamic acid, L-tryptophan, L-lysine, and L-aspartic acid, and the sugars ribose, glucose, and galactose. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses, strains HDW17A^T and HDW17B^T represent two novel species in the genus Vagococcus. We propose the name Vagococcus coleopterorum sp. nov. for strain HDW17A^T (= KACC 21348^T = KCTC 49324^T = JCM 33674^T) and the name Vagococcus hydrophili sp. nov. for strain HDW17B^T (= KACC 21349^T = KCTC 49325^T = JCM 33675^T).

Vagococcus fluvialis as a causative pathogen of bloodstream and decubitus ulcer infection: Case report and systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Vagococcal infections are uncommon in humans; there are limited studies on the clinical manifestations, the optimal methods for identifications, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for vagococcal infections. Here, we have reported a case of Vagococcus fluvialis-induced bacteremia and decubitus ulcer and have systematically reviewed other reported Vagococcus infections.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 74-year-old man presented to our emergency department with muscle weakness on his left extremities, dysarthria, and altered mental status along with fever for the past 4 days. Physical examination revealed a decubitus ulcer with foul smelling and yellowish exudative pus on his left chest wall and abdomen, forearm, thigh, and lower leg. He was empirically treated with 2.25 mg of piperacillin/tazobactam every 8 hours and 0.5 g of vancomycin every 24 hours intravenously (IV) for his decubitus ulcer. Vagococcus fluvialis was detected in both aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures (upon admission) using the VITEC 2 GP ID card (bioMérieux) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). We continued the mentioned IV antimicrobial therapies for 4 weeks following which the patient was transferred to a long-term care facility for further rehabilitation.

CONCLUSIONS

To our best knowledge, this is the first literature review of Vagococcus infections in humans. Since it is challenging to distinguish Vagococcus from Enterococcus by a conventional method due to the similarity of its biochemical properties to those of Enterococcus, based on our literature review, 16S rRNA sequencing or analysis of bacterial protein profile using MALDI-TOF MS may be useful for the precise identification.