BACKGROUND Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), a group of enzymes conferring resistance to third generation cephalosporins have rapidly increased in Enterobacteriacae and pose a major challenge to human health care. Resistant isolates are common in domestic animals and clinical settings, but prevalence and genotype distribution varies on a geographical scale. Although ESBL genes are frequen...

BACKGROUND Multiple genome alignment remains a challenging problem. Effects of recombination including rearrangement, segmental duplication, gain, and loss can create a mosaic pattern of homology even among closely related organisms. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We describe a new method to align two or more genomes that have undergone rearrangements due to recombination and substantial amou...

Bacteria associated with sap-feeding insect herbivores include not only symbionts that may increase their hosts' fitness but also harmful plant pathogens. Calophya spp. gall-inducing psyllids (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) are being investigated for their potential as biological control agents of the noxious weed, Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia), in Florida. Although there are no examp...

background: the science of identification and employment of medicinal plants dates ‎back to the early days of man on earth. cannabis (hashish) is the most common illegal ‎substance used in the united states and was subjected to extensive research as a ‎powerful local disinfecting agent for mouth cavity and skin and an anti-tubercular agent ‎in 1950.‎ methods: clinical strains were isolated from...

Background: The science of identification and employment of medicinal plants dates ‎back to the early days of man on earth. Cannabis (hashish) is the most common illegal ‎substance used in the United States and was subjected to extensive research as a ‎powerful local disinfecting agent for mouth cavity and skin and an anti-tubercular agent ‎in 1950.‎ Methods: Clinical strains were isolated fro...

Ciprofloxacin is the most commonly used fluoroquinolone. Ciprofloxacin is prescribed for 1 in 44 Americans. Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum bactericidal antibiotic, effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, being especially active against the Enterobacteriacae, including many microorganisms resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins and aminoglycosides, and also is effect...

BACKGROUND Bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common reason for antimicrobial therapy in dogs. A reported increase in multi-drug resistance in canine bacterial pathogens, including resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) is of concern as antimicrobial resistance complicates therapy in dogs. In addition, it is a possible public health concern. The objectives of this study ...

The first betalactamases were identified in a species of E.coli in 1940 (1). However, the ability of bacteria to produce enzymes that destroy the b-lactam ring was noted even before penicillin was developed. In fact, many of the gram-negative bacteria possess chromosomally mediated blactamases, which help the bacteria find a niche when faced with competition from other bacteria that naturally p...

BACKGROUND Description of the clinical pictures of patients colonized or infected by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates and admitted to hospital are rather scarce in Europe. However, a better delineation of the clinical patterns associated with the carriage of ESBL-producing isolates may allow healthcare providers to identify more rapidly at risk patients. This matter is of particular c...

F or most people, mention of plague conjures up images of an antiquated threat. Infection by the bacterium Yersinia pestis is most often associated with the infamous Black Death of the Middle Ages, a pandemic that cost Europe a third of its population in the 14th and 15th centuries. 1 Far from being a historic medical curiosity, this zoonotic disease continues to be a threat to the health of hu...