Microbiologists in Göttingen decode the pathogen's genome – explanation for aggressive behavior
Scientists from the University of Göttingen have decoded the genetic information of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli O104:H4), which causes the so-called EHEC diseases. The Roche 454 sequencing technology was used. The samples examined came from two patients in Hamburg. "The results allow important conclusions to be drawn as to why the bacterium, which is particularly rampant in northern Germany, is so aggressive," says Dr. Rolf Daniel, Head of the Göttingen Laboratory for Genome Analysis.
In initial experiments, prototypes of everyday devices drastically reduce the number of dangerous pathogens.
It may be possible to prevent the next wave of Ehec infections. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching and the Schwabing Clinic in Munich have effectively killed various Ehec bacterial strains with cold plasma. Cold plasma consists of a gas that is strongly ionized at a moderate temperature. It has now also proven to be an effective remedy against the pathogens of the strain O104: H4, which triggered the current outbreak with thousands of serious disease courses. For their experiments, the researchers used prototypes of devices that could be suitable for inexpensive use in food companies and private households.
High mortality, immense costs - sepsis poses major problems for medicine. The quick detection of pathogenic germs saves lives. At the LASER World of PHOTONICS trade fair in Munich from May 23 to 26, the FastDiagnosis and RAMADEK projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Research will show how rapid optical detection of dangerous pathogens can save lives in the future.
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important causative agents of infections, which can trigger a large number of diseases in humans, some of which have life-threatening complications. In particular, methicillin-resistant variants of this pathogen, so-called MRSA, pose an increasing threat to our healthcare system, since infections caused by this type of pathogen are difficult to treat.
Braunschweiger Researchers discover new Eindringmechanismus in host cells.
Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig have discovered a previously unknown infection mechanism to make salmonella in penetrating intestinal cells advantage: you become involved through special fibers of the host cells, so to speak by muscle power in this. The bacteria therefore have more complex strategies to infection than previously thought.
Fluorescent DNAzymes as probes for bacterial metabolites
Germs in food, bioterrorism, resistance of bacteria and viruses - these are some of the problems of our time that make it particularly important to identify pathogens as early as possible. While conventional methods are either slow or require complex equipment, Yingfu Li and a team from McMaster University in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada), supported by the Sentinel Bioactive Paper Network, have now developed a particularly simple, universal fluorescence test system that detects germs quickly and specifically based on one of their metabolites. As the researchers report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, it is not even necessary to know which substance the test reacts to.
According to one report, the number of salmonella cases was almost halved by EU action by 196 000 in 2004 108 000 on in 2009 in humans within five years. The summary report on zoonoses in the EU 2009 was supported by the European Agency for Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and publishes the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The achievements outlined in this report go back to the year 2003, in which the European Parliament and the Council adopted a regulation, with the implementation of programs to strengthened control began on salmonella in all Member States. There have been set targets for the reduction of Salmonella in poultry (z. B. in laying hens, chickens and turkeys), and the Member States introduced control programs and trade restrictions on products from affected herds.
Bacteria such as Salmonella infect their host cells via needle-like processes that they build up in large numbers during an attack. Using newly developed methods of cryo-electron microscopy, researchers in Vienna led by Thomas Marlovits were able to resolve the structure of this infection apparatus in an almost atomic range. Knowing the exact blueprint is intended to help develop drugs that will prevent the infection.
BfR publishes two reports on the resistance situation in different groups of bacteria
The National Reference Laboratories for Salmonella and for Antibiotic Resistance at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) tested Salmonella isolates from diagnostic submissions for antibiotic resistance and rated them according to epidemiological criteria. The isolates came mainly from animals and food, but also from animal feed and the environment. Of the 2000 isolates, 2008 percent were resistant to at least one and 33.625 percent were even resistant to more than one class of antibiotics. In the case of isolates from farm animals and from food, the resistance rates were significantly higher. A second, now representative, study from 48 confirms the results for Salmonella and comes to similar results for Escherichia coli and Campylobacter. "Resistance to pathogens in animals and on food is a serious problem in consumer health protection," says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. Infections with resistant pathogens can prolong the course of diseases in humans and make them more difficult. They can make hospital stays necessary and, in certain cases, life-threatening.
Salmonella is one of the most common triggers of food infections in humans. The so-called salmonellosis usually manifests itself in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Healthy people usually survive this within a few days, but the infection can be severe in patients with weakened immune systems, the elderly and children. Treatment with antibiotics may then be necessary.
For the first time representative figures on the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens
Zoonoses are diseases or infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans - either through direct contact or indirectly, for example through food. Transmission via food plays an important role in some important zoonoses, such as salmonellosis. In order to be able to take efficient measures against food-borne zoonoses, sufficient information on the occurrence of the pathogens must be available. The zoonoses monitoring carried out by the federal states for the first time in 2009 makes an important contribution to this. The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has now published the report on this.
The data on the occurrence of zoonotic agents in food and animals are based on 5.474 samples collected and tested by countries as part of the 2009 food and veterinary surveillance at farms, slaughterhouses and retail outlets. The group of zoonotic pathogens includes salmonella, campylobacter and verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), for which the 2009 zoonosis monitoring was examined. Furthermore, as part of the antibiotic resistance monitoring, 2.826 isolates of the named zoonotic pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and commensal E. coli (part of the normal intestinal flora) were examined for their resistance to antimicrobial substances.
Field report: Butcher's shop Burmeister relies on UV-C disinfection from BÄRO
Optimum air hygiene is the best basis for high product quality and a guarantee for avoiding unnecessary goods and sales losses. Frank Jenniges knows that too. The owner of the Burmeister butcher shop in Odenthal-Blecher used to have hygiene problems in his cold room. "Especially due to the intensive use of salt, we often had to notice condensation and mold growth on sausage and meat products, despite extensive measures. That's why we immediately started looking for a solution - and finally found it with BÄRO's UV-C disinfection - because quality is our top priority!" explains the journeyman butcher with a special certificate.
The air is clean: Installed in front of the air outlet of the evaporator cooler, the AirTube ensures almost germ-free air in the cold room
