Welcome to the Microbiology Information

According to The Health Protection Agency (HPA), there has been an investigation into why there has been an 80 per cent increase in listeria cases over the first 21 weeks of this year, compared with the same period last year.

The number of hospital cases reported to the end of last week was 79, of which nine were pregnant women. Majority of cases were from the North East, Wales and London, but there have been cases reported in every region of England and Wales.

A high percentage (about 55 people) with the illness were aged over 60 and likely to have been suffering from other chronic conditions. The figures suggest the highest incidence of listeria since surveillance for listeriosis was introduced in 1990.

Pregnant women are one of the groups of people most vulnerable to the infection. While symptoms may be mild, the infection can trigger miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and serious illness in a newborn baby.

Other groups particularly at risk are the elderly, very young and people receiving medical treatments that compromise the immune system. For most healthy adults the risk is low, but severe cases can lead to fatal complications.

Most people become infected from eating certain foods. Soft cheeses are especially linked to the disease, but caution is advised over feta if it is made from unpasteurised milk. Pâtés, smoked fish and unwashed salad can also be contaminated. There is also concern over some bought, cooked and chilled meats.

Health chiefs are anxious to find out if there is a common food source because many more people may be incubating the illness. Symptoms can take as long as 90 days to develop, although the average is 30 days

They have ruled out any link with a Food Standards Agency poisoning alert in March that concerned 250,000 packs of sandwiches sold in the South East only, under the Anchor or Pomegranate label, which may have been contaminated with listeria bacteria.

But disease experts are now studying the eating patterns of surviving patients to see if there is any connection with food. Microbiological testing of food samples is also under way to see if a link can be identified

The HPA has reported a steady rise in incidence of the disease since 2001, but the scale of this year’s increase is huge.

Iain Gillespie, the agency’s head of bacterial diseases in the environmental and enteric disease department, said: “We really are unable to say what has caused the rise in cases. There are no particular clusters of cases and the cases seem to be spread sporadically though the highest numbers were in the North East, Wales and London. The most important thing to remember with listeria is that, if you are fit and healthy, you are unlikely to get listeria symptoms. It should not be a cause for alarm as it is still extremely rare.”

One theory is that as treatments for people with chronic conditions are improving and people are living, the increased survival rate from chronic conditions may be a factor linked to the increase in listeria cases.

Mr Gillespie denied that listeria was an infection acquired in hospitals and he said that most people were only admitted after reporting symptoms of the disease.

The Food Standards Agency has been informed of the sharp rise in new cases this year but is waiting for the results of further work by health chiefs.

Danger signs

Listeria is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease

Source

Another food recall and this time it is product manufactured by a South Australian company with the recall initiated by the NSW food Authority.

This came about after The New South Wales Food Authority issued an alert after several batches of chicken cacciatore, made by the San Marino Smallgoods company, were positive for salmonella.

San Marino is voluntarily recalling the products which includes Cacciatore Hot and Mild, Veneto Hot and Mild and Sopressa Mild with use-by dates of August this year.

So far, the NSW Food Authority says it has no evidence that anyone has fallen sick from eating the affected batches.

According to Reuters (BERLIN), there was an outbreak of salmonella in Germany. This outbreak has infected more than 250 people and has already killed two people.

This outbreak resembles similar occurrences in the Australian salmonella outbreak (Broughton House) which claimed five lives.

The Klinikum Fulda, a 924-bed hospital in the town of Fulda in central Germany, said 233 patients and staff had been infected by the outbreak, along with a further 23 people in a nursing home attached to the institution.

Achim Hellinger, the hospital’s medical director, said the precise cause of the outbreak had not yet been identified, but that the risk of it reaching the general public was negligible.

“The risks of the salmonella infection being spread from person to person are extremely small,” he said, adding that measures to contain the bacteria had been put in place.

Most of those infected were not seriously affected by the bacteria, which usually stemmed from infected food, he added.

The hospital said two women over the age of 80 had died as a direct result of infection, one of them in the nursing home. The death of another woman in her seventies was indirectly linked to the salmonella, it added.

Of those infected at the hospital, 145 were patients and 88 were employees, the Klinikum Fulda said in a statement.

An outbreak was first logged at the hospital in late April, since when the number of reported infections has risen steadily.

Salmonella bacteria are frequently responsible for food-borne illnesses and may cause vomiting, abdominal pains and bouts of fever in those who ingest it.

source

Although not the most important type of research I have come across, V. B. Shenoy*, D. T. Tambe*, A. Prasad, and J. A. Theriot has conducted work on the kinematics description of the trajectories of Listeria monocytogenes propelled by actin comet tails. In other words, which way does listeria monocytogenes spin around?

Yes that’s right, these researchers from the Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139; and Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 have made some ground breaking discovery. That Listeria monocytogenes move in a number of fascinating geometrical trajectories. Now if only I had some spare time I might do the same for salmonella.

Anyhow, here’s the abstract:

“The bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes propels itself in the cytoplasm of the infected cells by forming a filamentous comet tail assembled by the polymerization of the cytoskeletal protein actin. Although a great deal is known about the molecular processes that lead to actin-based movement, most macro scale aspects of motion, including the nature of the trajectories traced out by the motile bacteria, are not well understood. Here, we present 2D trajectories of Listeria moving between a glass-slide and cover slip in a Xenopus frog egg extract motility assay. We observe that the bacteria move in a number of fascinating geometrical trajectories, including winding S curves, translating figure eights, small- and large-amplitude sine curves, serpentine shapes, circles, and a variety of spirals. We then develop a dynamic model that provides a unified description of these seemingly unrelated trajectories. A key ingredient of the model is a torque (not included in any microscopic models of which we are aware) that arises from the rotation of the propulsive force about the body axis of the bacterium. We show that a large variety of trajectories with a rich mathematical structure are obtained by varying the rate at which the propulsive force moves about the long axis. The trajectories of bacteria executing both steady and saltatory motion are found to be in excellent agreement with the predictions of our dynamic model. When the constraints that lead to planar motion are removed, our model predicts motion along regular helical trajectories, observed in recent experiments.”

According to The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), salmonella was detected in Maranatha Brand Organic Raw Sesame Tahini. They have warned the public not to consume any of the products.

The affected product, MaraNatha brand Organic Raw Sesame Tahini, No Salt, a product of USA, is sold in 340 g jars bearing UPC 0 51651 09327 9 and Use By date 07/27/07 (July 27, 2007). This product has been distributed nationally.

So far there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Any food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled, however it can still cause illness. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacterium may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems such as Aids patients, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes fatal infections.

In healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The importers are voluntarily recalling (no choice) the affected product from the marketplace and hopefully the manufacturer involved improves its hygiene. The CFIA is currently monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

After visiting their website, here’s what they say about the quality of their sesame.

“Our Sesame Tahini items are made with the highest quality sesame seeds. The seeds are mechanically hulled, then ground to a perfectly smooth texture. We produce Sesame Tahini in both Organic and Natural varieties to offer a choice to consumers since organic sesame seeds remain higher in price than conventionally grown ones. We also offer the flavor option of Raw or Roasted to provide a choice for discerning cooks and Tahini-lovers. Sesame Tahini is a key ingredient in many popular Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. It also provides an excellent base for dressings and dips.”

In the future they may need to modify the above statement and add it is tested and cleared for all pathogens including salmonella.

For more information, consumers and industry can call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

For information on Salmonella, visit the Food Facts web page at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/causee.shtml

For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other food safety facts, visit www.inspection.gc.ca.

Media enquiries:

Shashi Kulkarni (English)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613- 368-1622 Linda LeBlanc (French)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Food Recall and Emergency Response
613- 760-4112

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority’s (NZFSA) strategy to tackle New Zealand’s unacceptably high levels of human campylobacteriosis is progressing well with several areas of research and monitoring work already underway.

NZFSA has adopted a whole-of-food-chain approach to fighting the disease. All of the processes and procedures in place at each stage between rearing and eating poultry are under close scrutiny, with assistance from industry.

“We want to produce the greatest reductions in bacteria numbers as early as possible in the food chain (that is, as close to the farm as is practical and effective), and make further reductions at as many other points as practical and effective,” says Executive Director Andrew McKenzie.

“Working with the poultry industry, we have now established a data collection process that helps monitor the prevalence of Campylobacter in flocks and on carcasses.
“The data will help identify seasonal, geographic and demographic factors that may impact on flock prevalence; poor performing sheds and farms; opportunities for continuous improvement (i.e.: reduction) in flock prevalence and in the number of birds in a flock that may be infected.

“We are also working with Massey University and Mid Central Health to determine the actual (rather than suspected) source of human cases of infection to enhance surveillance. This work, centered in Manawatu, involves an intensive analysis of cases as soon as possible after diagnosis.

“The analysis will aid in-depth investigation of the precise circumstances that led to the cause of the food borne illness, such as cross-contamination or under-cooking.”

NZFSA is also working on:

Labelling is one of the key options being considered.

Our strategy is in line with what’s being done internationally to address Campylobacter in poultry. It is also pragmatic and recognizes that, because Campylobacter is a natural part of the gut bacteria of poultry it is unlikely to be completely eliminated. For this reason, consumer information will always be a key element of poultry food safety, just as it is with many other foods.

Industry-led trials of Campylobacter decontamination processes in a poultry processing premises have been delayed until later in the year because of a fire at the original site.

“We are now talking to various poultry companies to look at other intervention options being trialed and have called for data to be submitted for consideration,” says Dr McKenzie. “We are also seeking alternative ways of getting valid data should further delays eventuate.”

Campylobacter in Poultry Risk Management Strategy 2006-2009 can be downloaded here

Source

There have been increasing numbers of applications using oral fluids, saliva in particular, as the target substrate for performing clinical diagnostic tests. These have focused primarily on point of care (POC) testing.

These POC testing approaches range from, for example, currently available, highly specialized screening tests for the presence of antibodies recognizing HIV to the potential development of “lab-on-a-chip” platforms. Broad claims have been made that the latter will revolutionize clinical laboratory testing.

From the perspective of large centralized clinical laboratories, multiple issues must be considered before implementing individual tests using saliva as the target fluid in a POC format or using saliva as a universal test fluid for measuring multiple analytes in a centralized laboratory format.

The current scope of laboratory testing is large and comprehensive, involving both POC and centralized testing. Current academic laboratory programs have the ability to qualitatively identify and/or quantitatively measure several thousand analytes in various target matrices including blood, plasma, serum, urine, joint fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue. These tests fall into multiple clinical pathology disciplines, including clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, transfusion medicine, microbiology, cytogenetics, molecular diagnosis, and immunology.

In addition, before implementing a given test, multiple issues need to be evaluated to ensure the validity of the reported result; these include considerations involving the three major phases of testing: pre-analytical (e.g., patient identification and specimen collection, stability, and transport), analytical (e.g., sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision), and post-analytical (e.g., reporting results, quality improvement, and turn-around-time).

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Mar;1098:192-9. Pesce MA, Spitalnik SL
Department of Pathology, College of Physicians

Another positive listeria in Turkey meat from the US has prompted The Diestel Family Turkey Ranch to recall its affected product. Below is their response from their website and as usual, they are always in denial on the results.

Diestel Family Turkey Ranch Response

On Monday, 4/30/07, Diestel Family Turkey Ranch was notified by the USDA that one piece of our Honey Roasted Turkey Breast, sampled and tested by the USDA, was presumed positive for Listeria. However, our same retention sample, tested by us, tested negative. On Tuesday, 05/01/07, at 12:01 PM, the USDA notified us that, upon retesting this piece of product, the product was confirmed positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Please note that the entire lot of Honey Roasted Turkey Breast was retained under our control in our facility and has NOT been shipped.

As a precaution Diestel Family Turkey Ranch is voluntarily recalling any and all other items produced on that line for that production date. We are requesting that any and all of these items be pulled from distribution and sale. The following is a list of those items:

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
PRODUCT CODE SELL BY DATE
Whole Pieces Deli Turkey
(6-7 lb/pc)

Naturally Smoked Bnls Turkey Breast
1347123 05-28-2007
Chipotle Peppered Turkey Breast

1353125 05-28-2007
Herbed Oven Roasted Turkey Breast 1386123
05-28-2007
Peppered Oven Roasted Turkey Breast 1379123 05-28-2007
Pastrami Seasoned Turkey Breast 1383125 05-28-2007
Chunks – Deli Turkey (1 lb/pc)
Pastrami Seasoned Turkey Breast 1382125 05-23-2007

For your information, the product “Sell By” date can be found in two places: on the box-end label and on the product nutritional label. The box end label will read as follows, “Sell or Freeze By 05-28-07” for Whole Pieces and “Sell or Freeze By 05-23-07” for Pastrami Chunks. The product nutritional label will read, “Sell By 05-28-07” for Whole Pieces and “Sell By 05-23-07” for Pastrami Chunks.

Thank you for your consideration regarding this matter. Please be assured we will replace and/or credit all products. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. Please feel free to contact Mick Williams, General Manager, or Maureen Miller, Customer Service Team Leader, at 209/532-4950 for any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Diestel Family Turkey Ranch

Biophage Pharma Inc has report its first financial result for 2006 - 2007. The company is a high-potential, revenue-driven biotechnology company focused on the development of an integrated approach for the prevention and control of bacterial infections within the food industry.

Overview of operations
Biophage reached an important milestone in its Biosensors Division in the first quarter of 2007 in the development of its compact PDS96 (R) Biosensor. The Corporation is now conducting extensive in-house performance testing and validation of this alpha prototype. Biophage also furthered the development of its four new biosensors: The BacTrapping(R) system, the micro-fluidics system, the “FastBac” biosensor and the e.sensor. In this context, Biophage signed an important collaborative agreement aimed at combining a2sp’s Magic Tag(R) immobilization technology with Biophage’s biosensor platform. Magic Tag(R) uses linkers, which are activated by daylight, for the immobilization of
biomolecules (including phages) onto different surfaces such as magnetic beads, biosensors and micro-array surfaces. Biophage and a2sp also jointly filed a patent application on February 16, 2007, relating to “methods for immobilizing viruses (phages) using photo-reactive linkers”.

In the Therapeutics Division, Biophage concluded initial sales of its LISTEX(TM) product to an important cheese producer in the U.S. Securing this
sale marked the beginning of a business relationship with our first client who intends to develop and use phage therapy as a biological solution to control potential Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) contamination in cheese. On December 4, 2006, Biophage signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with EBI Food Safety (La Hague, Netherlands) for the sale and distribution of LISTEX(TM) in North America. LISTEX(TM) is the first bacteriophage product to receive FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) recognition for the control of Listeria contamination in cheese.

In ImmunotoxLabs, Biophage hired Dr. Michel Heyne as director of its Beryllium Reference Lab to meet the increasing demand for Beryllium and MELISA(R) testing. With his vast experience in laboratory testing, this eminent hematologist will help expedite the accreditation process of
Biophage’s Beryllium laboratory by the Quebec National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ).

Financial Results
Contract revenues for the three months ended February 28, 2007 amounted to $107,551 compared with $195,944 in the same three month period in fiscal 2006. The decrease in substantially attributable to the completion of significant projects with important clients, although partially offset by an increase in revenues generated from Beryllium testing. Other income for the first quarter in 2007 reached $824 compared to $601 in the same period in fiscal 2006.

Research and development costs for the three months ended February 28, 2007 (before tax credits) amounted to $135,006, representing a $61,303, or 83% increase over the $73,703 recorded in the same interim period in the preceding fiscal year. The increase is substantially attributable to the hiring of additional staff affected to R&D, including a director for the Corporation’s Biosensors Division, commensurate with Biophage’s overall accelerated efforts in developing the phage therapy segment. Research and development tax credits for the first quarter amounted to $35,000, which compares to $20,000 for the three month period ended February 28, 2006, representing 26% and 27% of
related costs, respectively.

Costs of contracts for the three months ended February 28, 2007 amounted to $117,410, relatively unchanged from the $118,359 incurred during the same period in the preceding fiscal year. The slight decrease in the costs of contracts results from lower subcontracting and laboratory supply costs, which was almost entirely offset by an increase in salaries from the hiring of additional staff between the interim periods.

Biophage’s net loss for the three month period ended February 28, 2007 amounted to $261,287 ($0.01 per share) compared to a net loss of $157,821 ($0.00 per share) for the corresponding three month period in the preceding fiscal year.

Liquidity and Financial Resources
As at February 28, 2007 Biophage had cash and cash equivalents of $426,733 compared to $214,344 at November 30, 2006. The increase in cash and cash equivalents from November 30, 2006 levels is substantially attributable to the private placements completed during the interim period, although partially offset by cash used in operating activities (after changes in non-cash working capital items).

During December 2006 and February 2007, the Corporation issued 4,045,458 units through private placement. Each unit is made up of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, whereby each common share purchase warrant is exercisable for a period of two years at an exercise price of $0.17 per common share. The 4,045,458 shares were issued for a total cash consideration of $525,910. More detailed information regarding the foregoing can be found in the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and related management
discussion and analysis which have been filed today on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Granting of Stock Options
On April 27, 2007, the Corporation’s Board of Directors granted stock options to purchase an aggregate 1,114,000 common shares of the Corporation at an exercise price of $0.12 per share to certain directors, employees and consultants of the Corporation, all of which vest immediately other than 150,000 options that will vest on the first anniversary of the grant and 150,000 options that will vest on the second anniversary of the grant. The grant of such stock options is made in accordance with the stock option plan of the Corporation. The granted options will expire on April 27, 2012.

About Biophage Pharma Inc.
Biophage Pharma is a high potential, revenue-driven Canadian biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative phage-based
products and technologies for the detection, prevention and control of bacterial infections. Founded in 1995, Biophage operates three divisions:

(1) The Biosensors division for the development and commercialization of Biosensors, more particularly a portable PDS96(R) Biosensor which is now in the pre-commercialization stage; (2) The phage therapy division for the prevention and control of bacterial contaminations in the medical, veterinary and environment fields; (3) The Immunotox Labs division, which provides services in Immunogenicity and Immunotoxicity, Beryllium sensitivity testing and MELISA(R) testing for the detection of sensitization to more than 200 different allergens including metals, penicillin, gluten and pollens.

Source: www.biophagepharma.net www.immunotoxlabs.com

Did you know that Candidiasis is a commonly known as a yeast or fungi infection and will occur at least once in 75 percent of all women. There are over 20 species of Candida with the most common strain being Candida albicans. These fungi live on all surfaces of our bodies. Under certain conditions, they can become so numerous they cause infections, particularly in warm and moist areas. Examples of such infections are vaginal yeast infections, thrush, skin and diaper rash, and nailed infections.

Symptoms include itching, irritation and a thick, white vaginal discharge. These infections often result after taking an antibiotic, which kills the protective lactobacilli microflora of the vagina. Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted.

Prevention tips: Drink plenty of water, urinate after sex, and eat a low-carbohydrate diet (yeast tends to grow when blood sugar is high), and consume live culture yogurt or acidophilus supplements.

Treatments include over the counter antifungal preparations like Monistat and prescription antifungal. One type is Azole medications and these are a family of antifungal drugs that end in the suffix “-azole.” They act by blocking the manufacture of ergosterol, a crucial material of the yeast cell wall.

Without ergosterol, the yeast cell wall becomes leaky and the yeast die. Fortunately, ergosterol is not a component of human membranes, and azoles do not harm human cells.

Another group is the polyene antifungals which includes nystatin and amphotericin B. Nystatin is used for thrush and superficial candidal infections. Doctors normally reserve amphotericin B for more serious systemic fungal infections. Unlike Azole, Polyene antifungals work by attaching to the yeast cell wall building material, ergosterol. These medications then form artificial holes in the yeast wall that causes the yeast to leak and die.