CC 130, a distinctly new type of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that is not detected by traditional genetic screening methods has been discovered in patients in Irish hospitals according to research to be published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. These findings provide significant insights into how new MRSA strains emerge and highlight the potential for the transmission of infectious agents from animals to humans.
http://asm.org/index.php/news-room/aacmrsa.html
http://asm.org/images/Communications/aac00187-11_2.pdf
Microarrays can help with Genotyping of EHEC Serotype O104:H4 Strains
In the outbreak of Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains of serotype 0104:H4 the identification of the source of infections and transmission routes is a challenge for health protection. E.coli strains, that has been found on cucumber in Hamburg, Germany, has been suspected to be the cause of the outbreak. However, it was finally shown that they were not identical to the strains of patients. Infection sources and transmission routes at this stage therefore remained unknown so that immediate, effective and preventing measures against the spreading of the EHEC strains were limited.
Microarrays based on molecularbiological methods can help to differentiate precisely between different strains of bacteria. Alere has developed an experimental microarray with 393 different genetic markers that can be detected in parallel in one test within 24-48 hours. This test offers a tool to identify different strains, based on virulence factors, resistance genes and O&H Typing. The result is a genetic fingerprint of the organism, which can be compared between Patients and possible sources of infection.
We can also offer typing on demand in cooperation with a lab-partner
Please contact us for further information.