MedWorm: Legionnaires' Disease

Structure of the Antibiotic Resistance Factor Spectinomycin Phosphotransferase from Legionella pneumophila [Protein Structure and Folding]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:36:03 +0100

We describe here the crystal structures of APH(9)-Ia in its apo form, its binary complex with the nucleotide, AMP, and its ternary complex bound with ADP and spectinomycin. The structures reveal that APH(9)-Ia adopts the bilobal protein kinase-fold, analogous to the APH(3') and APH(2'') enzymes. However, APH(9)-Ia differs significantly from the other two types of APH enzymes in its substrate binding area and that it undergoes a conformation change upon ligand binding. Moreover, kinetic assay experiments indicate that APH(9)-Ia has stringent substrate specificity as it is unable to phosphorylate substrates of choline kinase or methylthioribose kinase despite high structural resemblance. The crystal structures of APH(9)-Ia demonstrate and expand our understanding of the diversity of the APH ...

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Is domestic tap water a risk for infections in neutropenic patients?

Infection — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:15:14 +0100

Conclusion Although the risk of infection from household water-borne pathogens appears low, preventive measures may be considered on an individual basis in patients with long-term immunosuppression as well as in patients with long-term central-vascular catheterization. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Clinical and Epidemiological StudyDOI 10.1007/s15010-010-0005-4Authors H. von Baum, University Hospital of Ulm Section Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Steinhoevelstr. 9 89075 Ulm GermanyM. Bommer, University Hospital of Ulm Department of Internal Medicine Ulm GermanyA. Forke, University Hospital of Ulm Section Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Steinhoe...

Legionella pneumophila pangenome reveals strain-specific virulence factors

BioMed Central — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The dispensable genome disclosed by the pangenomic analysis seems to be a reservoir of new traits that have mainly been acquired by horizontal gene transfer and could confer evolutionary advantages over strains lacking them. (Source: BioMed Central)

Legionnaires' disease outbreak feared

Health News - UPI.com — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:10:06 +0100

CUDAHY, Wis., March 15 (UPI) -- Health officials in Cudahy, Wis., say they suspect thousands of people may have been recently been exposed to Legionnaires' disease. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Doctors Warn Of Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak In Wis.

WDSU.com - Health — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:58:44 +0100

Doctors warn of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Wisconsin's southern Milwaukee County. (Source: WDSU.com - Health)

A Coronin7 Homolog with Functions in Actin-driven Processes [Cell Biology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:36:08 +0100

Dictyostelium discoideum Coronin7 (DdCRN7) together with human Coronin7 (CRN7) and Pod-1 of Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans belong to the coronin family of WD-repeat domain-containing proteins. Coronin7 proteins are characterized by two WD-repeat domains that presumably fold into two β-propeller structures. DdCRN7 shares highest homology with human CRN7, a protein with roles in membrane trafficking. DdCRN7 is present in the cytosol and accumulates in cell surface projections during movement and phago- and pinocytosis. Cells lacking CRN7 have altered chemotaxis and phagocytosis. Furthermore, loss of CRN7 affects the infection process by the pathogen Legionella pneumophila and allows a more efficient internalization of bacteria. To provide a mechanism for CNR7 action,...

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Draft BS 8580 Consultation: 'Guide to Risk Assessments for Legionella'

Nature Network London - Upcoming Events — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:33:24 +0100

This event is intended to present a background to the development of the standard. Feedback will be elicited from those attending the event in order to supplement the documented returns from the public comment stage of the standardization process. Such feedback will form a vital step in the document development prior to publication. This standard will serve practitioners covering a comprehensive range of water uses, for example: – Industrial cooling waters, Hospitals, nursing homes and care homes; Leisure centres, Water distribution and use within buildings, Commercial and industrial uses of water, Power generation and Horticultural water use. BS 8580 risk assessment for the control of Legionella in water systems will provide independent risk assessors, regulators, facility managers ...

Structural mechanism of host Rab1 activation by the bifunctional Legionella type IV effector SidM/DrrA [Microbiology]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:27:19 +0100

Bacterial pathogens deliver effector proteins with diverse biochemical activities into host cells, thereby modulating various host functions. Legionella pneumophila hijacks... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

Pulmonary Collectins Protect Macrophages against Pore-forming Activity of Legionella pneumophila and Suppress Its Intracellular Growth [Immunology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:37:15 +0100

We examined whether pulmonary collectins play protective roles against L. pneumophila infection. SP-A and SP-D bound to L. pneumophila and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inhibited the bacterial growth in a Ca2+-dependent manner. The addition of LPS in the culture blocked the inhibitory effects on L. pneumophila growth by the collectins, indicating the importance of LPS-collectin interaction. When differentiated THP-1 cells were infected with L. pneumophila in the presence of SP-A and SP-D, the number of permeable cells was significantly decreased, indicating that pulmonary collectins inhibit pore-forming activity of L. pneumophila. The number of live bacteria within the macrophages on days 1–4 after infection was significantly decreased when infection was performed in the presence ...

Experts warn of compost link to Legion disease cases

Scotsman.com News - Health — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

EXPERTS have called for better warning labels on potting compost following three cases of Legionnaire's disease in Scotland. (Source: Scotsman.com News - Health)

Compost link to Legionnaire's bug

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:24:42 +0100

Experts call for better warning labels on potting compost following three cases of Legionnnaire's disease in Scotland. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

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Polar localization of the Coxiella burnetii type IVB secretion system

FEMS Microbiology Letters — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative pleomorphic bacterium and the causative agent of Q fever. During infection, the pathogen survives and replicates within a phagosome-like parasitophorous vacuole while influencing cellular functions throughout the host cell, indicating a capacity for effector protein secretion. Analysis of the C. burnetii (RSA 493 strain) genome sequence indicates that C. burnetii contains genes with homology to the Legionella pneumophila Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4BSS). T4BSSs have only been described in L. pneumophila and C. burnetii, marking it a unique virulence determinate. Characterization of bacterial virulence determinants ranging from autotransporter proteins to diverse secretion systems suggests that polar localization may be a virulence mechanism hal...

Using electronic health record alerts to provide public health situational awareness to clinicians.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lurio J, Morrison FP, Pichardo M, Berg R, Buck MD, Wu W, Kitson K, Mostashari F, Calman N Alerting providers to public health situations requires timeliness and context-relevance, both lacking in current systems. Incorporating decision support tools into electronic health records may provide a way to deploy public health alerts to clinicians at the point of care. A timely process for responding to Health Alert Network messages sent by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was developed by a network of community health centers. Alerts with order sets and recommended actions were created to notify primary care providers of local disease outbreaks. The process, effect, and lessons learned from alerts for Legionella, toxogenic E coli, and measles outbreaks are ...

New Endemic Legionella pneumophila Serogroup I Clones, Ontario, Canada.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tijet N, Tang P, Romilowych M, Duncan C, Ng V, Fisman DN, Jamieson F, Low DE, Guyard C The water-borne pathogen Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (Lp1) is the most commonly reported etiologic agent of legionellosis. To examine the genetic diversity, the long-term epidemiology, and the molecular evolution of Lp1 clinical isolates, we conducted sequence-based typing on a collection of clinical isolates representing 3 decades of culture-confirmed legionellosis in Ontario, Canada. Analysis showed that the population of Lp1 in Ontario is highly diverse and combines lineages identified worldwide with local strains. Identical types were identified in sporadic and outbreak-associated strains. In the past 15 years, the incidence of some lineages distributed worldwide has tended to dec...

Isolation of legionella-containing vacuoles by immuno-magnetic separation.

Current Protocols in Cell Biology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Urwyler S, Finsel I, Ragaz C, Hilbi H The environmental bacterium Legionella pneumophila naturally parasitizes free-living amoebae. L. pneumophila is an opportunistic human pathogen that grows in macrophages, thus causing a life-threatening pneumonia termed Legionnaires' disease. The bacteria replicate intracellularly in environmental and immune phagocytes within a unique compartment, the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). Formation of LCVs is a complex and robust process involving >150 secreted bacterial effector proteins, which are believed to subvert host cell signaling and vesicle trafficking pathways. This unit describes a simple approach to purify intact LCVs from Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae. The method comprises a two-step purification protocol that includes i...

Distinct roles of ppGpp and DksA in Legionella pneumophila differentiation

Molecular Microbiology — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

To transit between hosts, intracellular Legionella pneumophila transform into a motile, infectious, transmissive state. Here we exploit the pathogen's life cycle to examine how guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and DksA cooperate to govern bacterial differentiation. Transcriptional profiling revealed that during transmission alarmone accumulation increases the mRNA for flagellar and Type IV-secretion components, secreted host effectors and regulators, and decreases transcripts for translation, membrane modification and ATP synthesis machinery. DksA is critical for differentiation, since mutants are defective for stationary phase survival, flagellar gene activation, lysosome avoidance and macrophage cytotoxicity. The roles of ppGpp and DksA depend on the context. For macrophage transmission,...

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Legionella, springtime and potting soils

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

A cluster of Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella longbeachae linked to potting compost in Scotland, 2008-2009

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Three cases of Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella longbeachae Sg 1 associated with potting compost have been reported in Scotland between 2008 and 2009. The exact method of transmission is still not fully understood as Legionnaires' disease is thought to be acquired by droplet inhalation. The linked cases associated with compost exposure call for an introduction of compost labelling, as is already in place in other countries where L. longbeachae outbreaks have been reported. (Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Legionnaires' disease in Europe 2007-2008

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Each spring, countries that participate in the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires' Disease (EWGLINET) are requested to submit their annual dataset of all cases of Legionnaires' disease in residents of their country with onset of illness in the preceding year. These data have been collected annually since 1994 and are used to analyse epidemiological and microbiological trends within and between countries over time. This paper presents an overview of the data collected for 2007 and 2008. A total of 5,907 cases were reported by 33 countries in 2007 and 5,960 cases by 34 countries in 2008, a similar two-year total to that recorded in 2005 and 2006 [1]. The only countries with a major difference in case numbers between 2007 and 2008 were Russia, due to a large outbr...

Characterization of Legionella pneumophila isolates from patients in Japan according to serogroups, monoclonal antibody subgroups, and sequence types.

Journal of Medical Microbiology — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Amemura-Maekawa J, Kura F, Helbig JH, Chang B, Kaneko N, Watanabe Y, Isobe J, Nukina M, Nakajima H, Kawano K, Tada Y, Watanabe H We collected 86 unrelated clinical Legionella pneumophila strains that were isolated in Japan during the period 1980-2008. Most (80.2%) belonged to serogroup 1, followed by serogroups 5, 3, and 2. Interestingly, the patients with L. pneumophila serogroup 1 had a significantly higher male-to-female ratio (12.4) than the patients with other L. pneumophila serogroups (2.0) (OR, 10.5; 95% CI, 2.5-44.5). When the serogroup 1 strains were analyzed by monoclonal antibody (MAb) typing, the most prevalent subgroup was Benidorm (34.9% of all isolates). Moreover, 79.7% of the serogroup 1 isolates were bound by MAb 3/1, which recognizes the virulence-associated ...

Specific Diagnostic Tests for Atypical Respiratory Tract Pathogens

Infectious Diseases Clinics of North America — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:35:43 +0100

This article reviews the microbiological diagnostic tests that are currently available for the detection of M pneumoniae, C pneumoniae, and Legionella spp; their clinical performance; and their future in the clinical microbiology laboratory. When implementing a strategy, a balance between performance criteria (sensitivity, specificity) and convenience criteria (clinical utility, turnaround time, and costs) will have to be defined. In the end, this should result in the optimization of clinical patient management. (Source: Infectious Diseases Clinics of North America)

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Legionnaires' Disease: Clinical Differentiation from Typical and Other Atypical Pneumonias

Infectious Diseases Clinics of North America — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:35:42 +0100

This article describes the clinical differentiation of legionnaires' disease from typical and other atypical pneumonias, with reference to the history, microbiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation (including radiologic manifestations, clinical extrapulmonary features, nonspecific laboratory findings, clinical syndromic diagnosis, and differential diagnosis), therapy, complications, and prognosis of the disease. (Source: Infectious Diseases Clinics of North America)

Analysis of the Legionella longbeachae Genome and Transcriptome Uncovers Unique Strategies to Cause Legionnaires' Disease

PLoS Genetics — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Author Summary Legionella longbeachae, found in potting soil, and L. pneumophila, present in aquatic environments, are opportunistic human pathogens that cause Legionnaires' disease, a severe and often fatal pneumonia. The analysis and comparison of the genome sequences of four L. longbeachae genomes together with the study of its gene expression program and virulence pattern in different infection models provides important new insight on the organism's lifestyle and virulence strategies. L. longbeachae harbors a unique repertoire of secreted substrates, many of which encode eukaryotic like domains that may help the pathogen to subvert host functions and cause disease. Curiously, L. longbeachae may also be able to interact with plants. Several proteins present mainly in plants and phytopa...

The ClpP protease homologue is required for the transmission traits and cell division of the pathogen Legionella pneumophila

BMC Microbiology - Latest articles — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The data present in this study illustrate that the ClpP protease homologue plays an important role in the expression of transmission traits and cell division of L. pneumophila, and further suggest a putative role of ClpP in virulence regulation. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)

[Microbiological diagnosis of respiratory infections caused by Legionella pneumophila.]

Pneumonologia i Alergologia Polska — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:36:03 +0100

Authors: Rokosz N, Rastawicki W, Zasada AA, Baczewska-Rej M Legionella pneumophila is an important causative agent of pneumonia in humans which is difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are nonspecific and do not distinguish Legionella infection from other common causes of pneumonia. Currently, the diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease is based on phenotyping (culture, antibody detection in human sera, antigen detection in urine) and genotyping methods such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction). This review focuses on current diagnostic tests for surveillance of Legionella pneumophila infections in Poland. PMID: 20162519 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Pneumonologia i Alergologia Polska)

Sequential changes of Legionella antigens and bacterial load in the lungs and urines of a mouse model of pneumonia

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:29:54 +0100

Abstract: Legionella pneumophila is an important cause of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia. In spite of the introduction of the urinary antigen detection method, Legionella pneumonia may be still underdiagnosed. We performed kinetic and quantitative analysis of diagnostic markers, such as bacterial loads, DNA assays, and antigen titers, in a 28-day time course murine model of L. pneumophila pneumonia. L. pneumophila replicated approximately 100-fold in the lungs of A/J mice in the first 48 h, and then became undetectable on day 14. Unexpectedly, pathogens other than L. pneumophila were consistently recovered from the lungs and livers at the acute phases, although those numbers were far below Legionella loads in the lungs. The peaks of specific antigen titer were observed on 48 h...

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Legionella pneumophila Promotes Functional Interactions between Plasma Membrane Syntaxins and Sec22b

Traffic — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Biogenesis of a specialized organelle that supports intracellular replication of Legionella pneumophila involves the fusion of secretory vesicles exiting the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with phagosomes containing this bacterial pathogen. Here, we investigated host plasma membrane SNARE proteins to determine whether they play a role in trafficking of vacuoles containing L. pneumophila. Depletion of plasma membrane syntaxins by RNA interference resulted in delayed acquisition of the resident ER protein calnexin and enhanced retention of Rab1 on phagosomes containing virulent L. pneumophila, suggesting that these SNARE proteins are involved in vacuole biogenesis. Plasma membrane-localized SNARE proteins syntaxin 2, syntaxin 3, syntaxin 4 and SNAP23 localized to vacuoles containing L. pneumophi...

Genome analysis of microorganisms living in amoebae reveals a melting pot of evolution

FEMS Microbiology Reviews — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective is to highlight the genomic traits characterizing these microorganisms and their niche by comparison with other specialized pathogens. The genome of intra-amoebal microorganisms is significantly larger than that of their relatives, contradicting the genome reduction theory mostly accepted for intracellular pathogens. This is probably due to the fact that they are not specialized and therefore maintain their genome size. Moreover, the presence of many horizontally transferred genes and mobilomes in their genomes suggests that these microorganisms acquired genetic material from their neighbors and amoebal host, thus increasing their genome size. Important features involved in gene transfer and pathogenicity were thus acquired. These characteristics suggest that amoebae constitu...

Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella longbeachae and Legionella pneumophila: comparison of clinical features, host-related risk factors, and outcomes

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Clin Microbiol Infect Legionnaires' disease remains an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Disease caused by Legionella pneumophila has been extensively studied, and its clinical characteristics have been well described. There is, however, little information on disease caused by Legionella longbeachae, despite its importance in some countries. We undertook a retrospective review of culture-positive cases of Legionnaires' disease in the Canterbury region of New Zealand over 10 years, in order to compare the clinical features and outcomes of Legionnaires' disease caused by these two species. (Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection)

Induction of human {beta}-Defensin-2 in pulmonary epithelial cells by Legionella pneumophila: Involvement of TLR2 and TLR5, p38 MAPK, JNK, NF-{kappa}B and AP-1.

Am J Physiol Lung Ce... — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we investigated the effect of the pulmonary pathogen L. pneumophila on induction of hBD-2 in human pulmonary epithelial cells. Infection with L. pneumophila markedly increased hBD-2 production and the response was attenuated in TLR2- and TLR5-transient knock-down cells. Furthermore pre-treatment with SB202190 (an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, p38 MAPK) and JNK II (an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK), but not U0126 (an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK) reduced L. pneumophila-induced hBD-2 release in A549 cells. L. pneumophila-induced hBD-2 liberation was mediated via recruitment of NF-kappaB and AP-1 to the hBD-2 gene promoter. Additionally, we showed that exo- and endogenous hBD-2 elicited a strong antimicrobial effect to...

Phospholipase PlaB is a new virulence factor of Legionella pneumophila.

International Journal of Medical Microbiology — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we further characterized this protein and found it to be involved in the virulence of L. pneumophila. PlaB was mainly expressed and active during exponential growth. Active PlaB was outer membrane-associated and at least in parts surface-exposed. Transport to the outer membrane was not dependent on the type I (T1SS), II (T2SS), IVB (T4BSS) or Tat secretion pathways. Furthermore, PlaB activity was not dependent on the presence of the macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) or the major secreted zinc metalloproteinase A (MspA). Despite the fact that PlaB is not essential for replication in protozoa or macrophage cell lines, we found that plaB mutants were impaired for replication in the lungs and dissemination to the spleen in the guinea pig infection model. Histological sect...

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Prospective, randomised study to compare empirical treatment versus targeted treatment on the basis of the urine antigen results in hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Thorax — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:31:20 +0100

Conclusions The routine implementation of urine antigen detection tests does not carry substantial outcome-related or economic benefits to hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Narrowing the antibiotic treatment according to the urine antigen results may in fact be associated with a higher risk of clinical relapse. (Source: Thorax)

Update on Legionnaires' disease: pathogenesis, epidemiology, detection and control

Molecular Microbiology — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Legionellosis or Legionnaires' disease is an emerging and often-fatal form of pneumonia that is most severe in elderly and immunocompromised people, an ever-increasing risk group for infection. In recent years, the genomics of Legionella spp. has significantly increased our knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease by providing new insights into the evolution and genetic and physiological basis of Legionella[ndash]host interactions. The seventh international conference on Legionella, Legionella 2009, illustrated many recent conceptual advances in epidemiology, pathogenesis and ecology. Experts in different fields presented new findings on basic mechanisms of pathogen[ndash]host interactions and bacterial evolution, as well as the clinical management and environmental prevalence and per...

LnaB: a Legionella pneumophila activator of NF-κB

Cellular Microbiology — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Legionella pneumophila possesses a large arsenal of type IV translocated substrates. Over 100 such proteins have been identified, but the functions of most are unknown. Previous studies have demonstrated that L. pneumophila activates NF-[kappa]B, a master transcriptional regulator of the mammalian innate immune response. Activation of NF-[kappa]B is dependent on the Legionella Icm/Dot type IV protein translocation system, consistent with the possibility that translocated bacterial proteins contribute to this response. To test this hypothesis, an expression library of 159 known and putative translocated substrates was created to evaluate whether ectopic production of a single L. pneumophila protein could activate NF-[kappa]B in mammalian cells. Expression of two of these proteins, LnaB (Leg...

Genome analysis of microorganisms living in amoebae reveals a melting pot of evolution

FEMS Microbiology Reviews — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Severe non-type-1 Legionella pneumophila infection without pneumonia.

The Netherlands Journal of Medicine — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

We present a patient with myalgia and ongoing fever without respiratory symptoms caused by a Legionella pneumophilia infection. We conclude that in patients with fever of unknown origin legionellosis should be considered, even in the absence of pulmonary symptoms. When considering legionellosis, diagnostic tests should include the urinary antigen test. PMID: 20167960 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Netherlands Journal of Medicine)

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[Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Legionella isolates in the Environment and in Patients.]

The Korean Journal of Laboratory Medicine — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Legionella spp. isolates from Korea and Japan were most susceptible to gatifloxacin. Azithromycin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and gemifloxacin were also effective for treating legionellosis. PMID: 20197719 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Korean Journal of Laboratory Medicine)

Variable genetic element typing: a quick method for epidemiological subtyping of Legionella pneumophila

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:13:07 +0100

Abstract A total of 57 isolates of Legionella pneumophila were randomly selected from the German National Legionella strain collection and typed by monoclonal antibody subgrouping, seven-gene locus sequence-based typing (SBT) scheme and a newly developed variable element typing (VET) system based on the presence or absence of ten variable genetic elements. These elements were detected while screening a genomic library of strain Corby, as well as being taken from published data for PAI-1 (pathogenicity island) from strain Philadelphia. Specific primers were designed and used in gel-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. PCR amplification of the mip gene served as a control. The end-point was the presence/absence of a PCR product on an ethidium bromide-strained gel. In ...

Legionella in an Ice Machine May Be a Sentinel for Drinking Water Contamination •

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:11:21 +0100

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Volume 31, Issue 3, Page 317, March 2010. (Source: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue)

Preliminary report: outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the cities of Ulm and Neu-Ulm in Germany, December 2009 - January 2010

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Currently an investigation is ongoing to explore and control an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, affecting 65 people as of 22 January 2010, in the cities of Ulm and Neu-Ulm, south-west Germany. A hitherto unidentified wet cooling system in these twin cities is considered as the most likely source of infection. (Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Inhibition of Akt/GSK-3{beta} signaling pathway by Legionella pneumophila is involved in induction of T cell apoptosis

BJ Signal — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, L. pneumophila induces mitochondria-mediated T cell apoptosis through inhibition of the Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway. (Source: BJ Signal)

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Amoebal pathogens as emerging causal agents of pneumonia

FEMS Microbiology Reviews — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Despite using modern microbiological diagnostic approaches, the aetiological agents of pneumonia remain unidentified in about 50% of cases. Some bacteria that grow poorly or not at all in axenic media used in routine clinical bacteriology laboratory but which can develop inside amoebae may be the agents of these lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs) of unexplained aetiology. Such amoebae-resisting bacteria, which coevolved with amoebae to resist their microbicidal machinery, may have developed virulence traits that help them survive within human macrophages, i.e. the first line of innate immune defence in the lung. We review here the current evidence for the emerging pathogenic role of various amoebae-resisting microorganisms as agents of RTIs in humans. Specifically, we discuss the em...

Rapid and quantitative detection of Legionella pneumophila applying immunomagnetic separation and flow cytometry

Cytometry Part A — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Legionella is a pathogenic bacterium that establishes and proliferates well in water storage and distribution systems. Worldwide it is responsible for numerous outbreaks of legionellosis, which can be fatal. Despite recent advances in molecular and immunological methods, the official, internationally accepted detection method for Legionella spp. in water samples (ISO 11371) is still based on cultivation. This method has major disadvantages such as a long assay time of 10 days and the detection of cultivable cells only. Therefore, we developed a cultivation-independent, quantitative, and fast detection method for Legionella pneumophila in water samples. It consists of four steps, starting with (1) a concentrating step, in which cells present in one litre of water are concentrated into 5 ml ...

Rapid quantification of viable legionellae in water and biofilm using ethidium monoazide coupled with real-time quantitative PCR

Journal of Applied Microbiology — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The qPCR with EMA at 2·3 [mu]g ml[minus]1 may accurately quantify viable legionellae (including fastidious LLAP 6) and Leg. pneumophila pretreated with superheating and is applicable for water and biofilm samples obtained from cooling towers and hot water systems.Significance and Impact of the Study: The EMA-qPCR assay may be useful in environmental surveillance for viable legionellae and in evaluation of superheating efficacy against legionellae. (Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)

Evaluation of the usefulness of a new direct immunofluorescence assay (ScanVIT-Legionella™) for monitoring hospital water systems contaminated with Legionella spp.

Letters in Applied Microbiology — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The ScanVIT test may be recommended for investigating the presence of Legionella by qualitative testing.Significance and Impact of the Study: Given the simplicity of colony identification by fluorescence, the ScanVIT test can be used in laboratories where staffs are not experienced in identifying typical colonies of Legionella. (Source: Letters in Applied Microbiology)

2 nursing home Legionnaires' cases; 1 dead

Health News - UPI.com — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:21:53 +0100

KINGSTON, N.Y., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Health inspectors swept a county-run nursing home near New York City Thursday after two residents became infected with Legionnaires' disease and one died. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

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Efficacy of Copper-Silver Ionization in Controlling Biofilms and Planktonic-Associated Waterborne Pathogens.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shih HY, Lin YE The study was to determine the efficacy of copper-silver ionization against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter baumannii in biofilms and planktonic phases. At concentrations below the EPA limits, ionization has potential to control the three waterborne pathogens, in addition to Legionella, in hospital water systems for nosocomial infection control. PMID: 20080997 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology)

Multiple Paths to a Single End: What Legionella Pneumophila Learned from Amoebae...and What it Did Not

Nature Network Boston - Upcoming Events — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:06:19 +0100

Venue: Harvard Medical School Start date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:30:00 -0500 End date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:30:00 -0500 (Source: Nature Network Boston - Upcoming Events)

Infliximab: Legionella pneumonia: case report

Reactions — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:23:59 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Loss of Dictyostelium ATG9 results in a pleiotropic phenotype affecting growth, development, phagocytosis and clearance and replication of Legionella pneumophila

Cellular Microbiology — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Infection of Dictyostelium discoideum with Legionella pneumophila resulted in a large number of differentially regulated genes among them three core autophagy genes, ATG8, ATG9 and ATG16. Macroautophagy contributes to many physiological and pathological processes and might also constitute an important mechanism in cell-autonomous immunity. For further studies we selected the highly conserved ATG9. In colocalization studies with GFP-tagged ATG9 and different organelle marker proteins we neither observed colocalization with mitochondria, the ER nor lysosomes. However, there was partial colocalization with the Golgi apparatus and many ATG9-GFP-containing vesicles localized along microtubules and accumulated around the microtubule organizing centre. ATG9-deficient cells had pleiotropic defects...

Legionnaire's cases at under-fire hospital

Scotsman.com News - Health — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

TWO patients have contracted Legionnaire's disease at a hospital that was recently highlighted for having blood-splattered equipment and an unusually high death rate amon (Source: Scotsman.com News - Health)

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Nlrc4/Ipaf/CLAN/CARD12: more than a flagellin sensor.

The International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abdelaziz DH, Amr K, Amer AO Nlrc4 is a member of the Nod-like receptors (NLRs), a family of cytosolic receptors involved in sensing bacterial molecules. NLRs are a group of proteins containing spans of leucine-rich repeats that senses bacterial factors within the eukaryotic cytosol. The recognition of bacterial factors provokes the formation of the inflammasome complex which includes specific NLRs. The inflammasome is responsible for caspase-1 activation which leads to the cleavage and maturation of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta and IL-18. Nlrc4 was considered to be a devoted flagellin sensor in eukaryotic cells. However, studies using a variety of pathogens such as Salmonella, Legionella, Shigella and Pseudomonas at high bacterial burdens revealed that Nlrc4 can me...

Legionnaires' cases are confirmed

BBC News | Health | UK Edition — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:33:00 +0100

Two patients at Basildon University Hospital in Essex have Legionnaires' disease, it has been confirmed. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)

[Perspectives] Book: The life of a disease?

LANCET — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously wrote “There is properly no history; only biography.” What kind of history, then, is the biography of a disease? Or, for that matter, what kind of biography? Do diseases share the birth-to-death contours of an ordinary life, or perhaps the emotional and intellectual aspects of extraordinary ones? Epidemics possibly fit this frame, and so too the reactions to them, but it is hard similarly to configure disease itself, even if we can point to an occasional birth, such as Legionnaires' disease, or to a singular death, smallpox. Like cholera most diseases seem to live on, forever skulking around in the shadows of populations, and occasionally rising up to be shot down by magic bullets where they exist. (Source: LANCET)

Optimization of pulse-field gel electrophoresis for subtyping of Legionella pneumophila.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Zhou H, Ren H, Zhu B, Kan B, Xu J, Shao Z A total of 32 strains of Legionella pneumophila were used to optimize pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for subtyping of L. pneumophila. Twenty-six isolates of L. pneumophila with various origins and 11 isolates from five different water systems were used as the panels. When optimizing electrophoretic parameters (EPs) of SfiI PFGE, 26 isolates were analyzed with SfiI digest using four EPs, yielding the same D-value. The EP of 5s-50s for 21h had the smallest similarity coefficients and was declared the optimal EP in SfiI PFGE of L. pneumophila. By software analysis and pilot study, AscI was chosen as another enzyme. AscI PFGE could cluster the isolates from each water system into the same or very similar patterns, and had a high d...

Molecular characterization of Legionella pneumophila-induced interleukin-8 expression in T cells

BMC Microbiology - Latest articles — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Taken together, L. pneumophila induced a flagellin-dependent activation of TAK1, p38 MAPK, and JNK, as well as NF-kappaB and AP-1, which resulted in IL-8 production in human T cells, presumably contributing to the immune response in Legionnaire's disease. (Source: BMC Microbiology - Latest articles)

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Basildon faces legionnaires' disease outbreak probe

Nursing Times Breaking News — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:46:00 +0100

Health chiefs are investigating a possible outbreak of legionnaires’ disease at a hospital that was recently under scrutiny for blood splattered equipment and an unusually high patient mortality rate. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Basildon faces legionnaires' probe

HSJ — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:27:00 +0100

A quick and easy method to identify bacteria by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry : RCM — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report deals with the detection of bacteria, more precisely of Legionella spp., and the development of an analytical strategy for a rapid and unambiguous identification of these pathogens in water from diverse origins. Therefore, a protein mass mapping using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) of whole bacteria combined with a home-made database of bacteria spectra is applied. A large variety of different bacteria and microorganisms is used to approach the actual composition of samples with numerous interferents. The objective is to propose a universal method for sampling preparation before MALDI MS analysis and optimised spectrometric conditions for reproducible intense peaks. Several experimental factors known to influence signal quality such as ...

Rapid clinical diagnosis in fatal swine influenza (H1N1) pneumonia in an adult with negative rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs): Diagnostic swine influenza triad

Heart & Lung — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Clinicians can use the Winthrop-University Hospital Infectious Disease Division's Diagnostic swine influenza triad to make a rapid clinical diagnosis of probable H1N1 pneumonia in hospitalized adult patients with negative RIDTs. (Source: Heart & Lung)

A case of legionella pneumonia linked to a hot spring facility in gunma prefecture, Japan.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kurosawa H, Fujita M, Kobatake S, Kimura H, Ohshima M, Nagai A, Kaneko S, Iwasaki Y, Kozawa K PMID: 20093771 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases)

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Sero diagnosis of Legionella infection in community acquired pneumonia.

Indian J Med Res — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Combination of serology and antigenuria detection may be a valuable tool for the diagnosis of Legionella infection in absence of culture positivity. In order to evaluate the actual burden of Legionella in community acquired pneumonia, further studies with larger samples need to be done. PMID: 20167980 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Indian J Med Res)

Urinary Antigen Tests Often Miss Legionella Infection

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:09:16 +0100

Urinary antigen tests for Legionella serotype 1 have high specificity but low sensitivity, according to a meta-analysis from Japan. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

RabGDI Displacement by DrrA from Legionella Is a Consequence of Its Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Activity

Molecular Cell — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:00:15 +0100

Stefan Schoebel, Lena Katharina Oesterlin, Wulf Blankenfeldt, Roger Sidney Goody, Aymelt Itzen. Prenylated Rab proteins exist in the cytosol as soluble, high-affinity complexes with GDI that need to be disrupted for membrane attachment and targeting of Rab proteins. The Legionella pneumop.... (Source: Molecular Cell)

Structure of the GTPase and GDI domains of FeoB, the ferrous iron transporter of Legionella pneumophila

FEBS Letters — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Prokaryotic pathogens have developed specialized mechanisms for efficient uptake of ferrous iron (Fe2+) from the host. In Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, the transmembrane GTPase FeoB plays a key role in Fe2+ acquisition and virulence. FeoB consists of a membrane-embedded core and an N-terminal, cytosolic region (NFeoB). Here, we report the crystal structure of NFeoB from L. pneumophila, revealing a monomeric protein comprising two separate domains with GTPase and guanine-nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) functions. The GDI domain displays a novel fold, whereas the overall structure of the GTPase domain resembles that of known G domains but is in the rarely observed nucleotide-free state. (Source: FEBS Letters)

Detection of Bacterial Endosymbionts in Clinical Acanthamoeba Isolates

Ophthalmology — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Purpose: To determine the presence of 4 clinically relevant bacterial endosymbionts in Acanthamoeba isolates obtained from patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and the possible contribution of endosymbionts to the pathogenesis of AK.Design: Experimental study.Participants: Acanthamoeba isolates (N = 37) recovered from the cornea and contact lens paraphernalia of 23 patients with culture-proven AK and 1 environmental isolate.Methods: Acanthamoeba isolates were evaluated for the presence of microbial endosymbionts belonging to the bacterial genera Legionella, Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, and Chlamydia using molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization) and transmission electron microscopy. Corneal toxicity and virulence of Acan...

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Molecular mechanism of elongation factor 1A inhibition by a Legionella pneumophila glycosyltransferase

BJ Disease — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Legionnaires' disease is caused by a lethal colonization of alveolar macrophages with the Gram negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila. An L. pneumophila glucosyltransferase (LpGT or Lgt1) has recently been identified as a virulence factor, shutting down protein synthesis in the human cell by specific glucosylation of elongation factor 1A (EF1A), using an unknown mode of substrate recognition, and retaining glycosyl transfer. We have determined the crystal structure of LpGT in complex with substrates, revealing a GT-A fold with two unusual protruding domains. Through structure-guided mutagenesis of LpGT, several residues essential for binding of the UDP-glucose donor and EF1A acceptor substrates were identified, also affecting L. pneumophila virulence as demonstrated by microinjection st...

Epic Hotel cleared in Legionnaire's death

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:03:21 +0100

The Epic Hotel in Miami remained closed to guests Thursday, despite a report from a Miami-Dade County Health Department doctor that the hotel was not the source of a fatal strain of Legionnaire's disease that killed a guest. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

Epic Hotel cleared in Legionnaire's death

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:03:21 +0100

Etiology of Community‐Acquired Pneumonia: Increased Microbiological Yield with New Diagnostic Methods

Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:25:37 +0100

Conclusions. By supplementing traditional diagnostic methods with new PCR‐based methods, a high microbial yield was achieved. This was especially evident for patients with complete sampling. Mixed infections were frequent (most commonly S. pneumoniae together with a respiratory virus). (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Hotel facing Legionnaires' disease scare

Health News - UPI.com — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:34:43 +0100

MIAMI, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Guests of a Miami hotel have been relocated after one former guest died and two others fell ill due to Legionnaires' disease, health officials said. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

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Rare Pneumonia May Be Linked To Luxury Hotel

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 03:03:49 +0100

One foreign visitor died after coming down with a rare case of pneumonia following a stay at downtown Miami luxury hotel. The incident caused hotel officials to voluntarily relocate more than 400 guests and residents Saturday, CBS station WFOR-TV reports. Two others also contracted Legionnaires' disease since October at the EPIC Hotel, health officials said. (Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire)

Legionnaires Disease—Reordered •

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:36:40 +0100

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Volume 31, Issue 1, Page 104-105, January 2010. (Source: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue)

Severe Legionnaires disease complicated by multi-organ dysfunction in a previously healthy patient: a case report

BioMed Central — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A case of a previously healthy lady with community-acquired pneumonia who progressed to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation and sepsis is reported. Treatment with antibiotics and various modes of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit were successful. A urinary legionella antigen test was positive for Legionella pneumophila. (Source: BioMed Central)

Legionella pneumophila monoclonal antibody subgroups and DNA sequence types isolated in Canada between 1981 and 2009: Laboratory Component of National Surveillance

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:19:52 +0100

Abstract Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is a significant cause of nosocomial, community-acquired, and travel-associated pneumonia in industrialized regions. Legionellosis has been a nationally notifiable disease in Canada since 1986, with an average of 75 cases reported annually; however, only the most severe, and often fatal, cases are reported or investigated. Here, epidemiological relationships, types, and distribution of Lp referrals to the Canadian national reference center were studied. Lp strains from different years, sources, and geographic locations were subtyped using a sequence-based typing (SBT) scheme and by the ‘Joly’ and/or ‘Dresden’ monoclonal antibody panels. Included were 128 epidemiologically unrelated clinical and 86 unrelated environmental strain...

Scientists get up close to bacteria's toxic pumps

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:52:35 +0100

Scientists are building a clearer image of the machinery employed by bacteria to spread antibiotic resistance or cause diseases such as whooping cough, peptic stomach ulcers and legionnaires' disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

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Commentary on Bek et al

Critical Care — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Water suitable for drinking is unsuited for use in the preparation of haemodialysis fluid and undergoes additional treatment. The primary component of the additional treatment is reverse osmosis, which does not remove low molecular weight contaminants and the water treatment system must contain carbon beds or filters to ensure effective removal of such contaminants.The article by Bek and colleagues highlights an unrecognised issue with respect to chemicals that may be added to the water within hospitals to ensure that the distribution network is free of pathogens (eg, Legionella, pseudomonas, mycobacteria) and underlines the need for personnel responsible for dialysis in a renal or intensive care setting to be aware of any potential effects that disinfection of the hospital water treatment...

Evaluation of three Immunochromatographic Assays for Detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 Antigen in Urine Samples.

Revista Espanola de Quimioterapia — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Muñoz MJ, Martínez MC, Yagüe G, Segovia M The Uni-Gold, the SAS and the Binax NOW immunochromatographic test (ICT) urinary antigen assays for the qualitative detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 were compared using 39 unfrozen and nonconcentrated urine samples from patients with Legionnaires disease (LD). The Uni-Gold antigen test detected the urinary antigen in 41% (16/39), the SAS antigen test in 61.5% (24/39), and the Binax NOW antigen test in 74.3% (29/39). The Binax NOW ICT assay showed the best results when detecting L. pneumophila urinary antigen. PMID: 20082041 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Revista Espanola de Quimioterapia)

Modulation of caspases and their non-apoptotic functions by Legionella pneumophila

Cellular Microbiology — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Legionella pneumophila has become a model system to decipher the non-apoptotic functions of caspases and their role in immunity. In permissive cells, the L. pneumophila-containing vacuole evades endosomal traffic and is remodelled by the endoplasmic reticulum. Evasion of the endosomes is mediated by the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. Upon L. pneumophila infection of genetically restrictive cells such as wild-type (WT) C57Bl/6J murine macrophages, flagellin is sensed by the NOD-like receptor Nlrc4 leading to caspase-1 activation by the inflammasome complex. Then, caspase-7 is activated downstream of the Nlrc4 inflammasome, promoting non-apoptotic functions such as L. pneumophila-containing phagosome maturation and bacterial degradation. Interestingly, caspase-3 is activated in permissive...

A combined molecular typing approach does not discriminate Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 strains of a predominant sequence-based type in Palermo, Italy

Journal of Infection and Public Health — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:36:24 +0100

In this study, extended sequence-based typing and pulsed field gel electrophoresis were used in a combined approach in the aim to enhance discriminatory power of the molecular typing procedures. However, probably due to a common environmental reservoir and genetic stability, most of the strains circulating in the geographic area under study belong to the same clone and are, consequently, indistinguishable by molecular typing. Investigations of clinical cases and tracing to their environmental source require caution and support from sound epidemiological data. (Source: Journal of Infection and Public Health)

Rapid identification of Legionella species by mass spectrometry.

Journal of Medical Microbiology — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Moliner C, Ginevra C, Jarraud S, Flaudrops C, Bedotto M, Couderc C, Etienne J, Fournier PE Legionella species are facultative intracellular bacteria infecting macrophages and protozoa, these latter acting as transmission vectors to humans. These fastidious bacteria mostly cause pulmonary tract infections and are routinely identified by various molecular methods, mainly PCR targeting the mip gene and sequencing, which are time- and money-consuming. Recently, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has emerged as a rapid and inexpensive identification method of bacterial species. We evaluated the use of MALDI-TOF-MS for rapid species and serogroup identification for 21 Legionella species recognized as human pathogens. To this e...

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Winthrop-University Hospital Infectious Disease Division's swine influenza (H1N1) pneumonia diagnostic weighted point score system for hospitalized adults with influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) and negative rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs)

Heart & Lung — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: In hospitalized adults with ILIs and negative RIDTs, the diagnostic weighted diagnostic point score system, may be used to make a presumptive clinical diagnosis of swine influenza H1N1 pneumonia. (Source: Heart & Lung)

Methylprednisolone: Pneumonia caused by Legionella feeleii in an elderly patient?: case report

Reactions — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:02:00 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Caenorhabditis is a metazoan host for Legionella

Cellular Microbiology — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We investigated whether nematodes contribute to the persistence, differentiation and amplification of Legionella species in soil, an emerging source for Legionnaires' disease. Here we show that Legionella spp. colonize the intestinal tracts of Caenorhabditis nematodes leading to worm death. Susceptibility to Legionella is influenced by innate immune responses governed by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and insulin/insulin growth factor-1 receptor signalling pathways. We also show that L. pneumophila colonizes the intestinal tract of nematodes cultivated in soil. To distinguish between transient infection and persistence, plate-fed and soil-extracted nematodes-fed fluorescent strains of L. pneumophila were analysed. Bacteria replicated within the nematode intestinal tract, did not ...

Prevalence of antibodies against Legionella spp. in HIV-infected subjects and blood donors

Journal of Infection — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Legionella spp. are considered as opportunistic pathogens causing pneumonia mainly in compromised hosts, in the elderly or in tobacco and/or alcohol addicted. Although immunocompromised patients are also considered at risk for legionellosis, pneumonia by Legionella spp. has been rarely described in AIDS patients. Furthermore, antibodies against Legionella not always have been detected in AIDS patients with Legionella pneumonia. To our knowledge, no systematic survey of the prevalence of antibodies to Legionella spp. has been performed among HIV-infected subjects with no clinical records of Legionella pneumonia. (Source: Journal of Infection)

Interferons Direct an Effective Innate Response to Legionella pneumophila Infection [Mechanisms Of Signal Transduction]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:16:34 +0100

Legionella pneumophila remains an important opportunistic pathogen of human macrophages. Its more limited ability to replicate in murine macrophages has been attributed to redundant innate sensor systems that detect and effectively respond to this infection. The current studies evaluate the role of one of these innate response systems, the type I interferon (IFN-I) autocrine loop. The ability of L. pneumophila to induce IFN-I expression was found to be dependent on IRF-3, but not NF-B. Secreted IFN-Is then in turn suppress the intracellular replication of L. pneumophila. Surprisingly, this suppression is mediated by a pathway that is independent of Stat1, Stat2, Stat3, but correlates with the polarization of macrophages toward the M1 or classically activated phenotype. (Source: Journal of ...

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Adverse events and efficacy of TNF-{alpha} blockade with infliximab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: long-term follow-up of 13 patients

Rheumatology — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:06:48 +0100

Conclusions. Short-term therapy with four infusions of infliximab in combination with AZA was relatively safe, and had remarkable long-term efficacy for lupus nephritis and, potentially, also interstitial lung disease. Long-term therapy with infliximab, however, was associated with severe adverse events in two out of three SLE patients, which may have been provoked by infliximab and/or by their long-standing refractory SLE and previous therapies. (Source: Rheumatology)

Legionnaires disease cluster linked to a metal product aqueous pre-treatment process, Staffordshire, England, May 2008.

Euro Surveill — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:32:02 +0100

Authors: Coetzee N, Liu W, Astbury N, Williams P, Robinson S, Afza M, Duggal H In May 2008, a report of two workers from the same construction equipment manufacturing plant who were admitted to hospital with Legionnaires disease confirmed by urine antigen prompted an outbreak investigation. Both cases were middle aged men, smokers, and with no travel, leisure or other common community exposure to Legionella sources. There were no wet cooling towers at the plant or in the surrounding area. No increase in respiratory disease or worker absenteeism occurred at the plant during the preceding month. Wider case ascertainment including alerts to hospitals and medical practitioners yielded no further cases. The environmental investigation (and sampling of water systems for Legionella) identifie...

Cellular pharmacokinetics and intracellular activity of torezolid (TR-700): studies with human macrophage (THP-1) and endothelial (HUVEC) cell lines

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:43:34 +0100

Conclusions Torezolid exerts intracellular activity at lower extracellular concentrations than linezolid because of its greater potency independent of its greater intracellular accumulation. This may confer an advantage to torezolid in vivo if the drug can be used at dosages creating serum concentrations similar to those achieved with linezolid. (Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy)

Liverpool Hospital Fined Over Legionella, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0100

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a strong health warning after high levels of the legionella bacteria were found at a Liverpool hospital. The Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Trust was ordered to pay nearly Â£48,000 following an HSE investigation at the NHS Trust's hospital on Thomas Drive, Liverpool. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Trust accused of 'complacency' over legionella outbreak

Nursing Times Breaking News — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:37:00 +0100

A hospital trust in Liverpool has been forced to pay £48,000 after unsafe levels of legionella bacteria were found in its bathing water supply. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

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Health and Safety Executive slates trust's "complacency" over water supply legionella

HSJ — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:33:00 +0100

A hospital trust in Liverpool has been forced to pay £48,000 after unsafe levels of legionella bacteria were found in its bathing water supply. (Source: HSJ)

Health and Safety Executive slates trust's 'complacency' over water supply legionella

HSJ — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:33:00 +0100

A hospital trust in Liverpool has been forced to pay £48,000 after unsafe levels of legionella bacteria were found in its bathing water supply. (Source: HSJ)

Legionnaires' disease cluster linked to a metal product aqueous pre-treatment process, Staffordshire, England, May 2008

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In May 2008, a report of two workers from the same construction equipment manufacturing plant who were admitted to hospital with Legionnaires' disease confirmed by urine antigen prompted an outbreak investigation. Both cases were middle aged men, smokers, and with no travel, leisure or other common community exposure to Legionella sources. There were no wet cooling towers at the plant or in the surrounding area. No increase in respiratory disease or worker absenteeism occurred at the plant during the preceding month. Wider case ascertainment including alerts to hospitals and medical practitioners yielded no further cases. The environmental investigation (and sampling of water systems for Legionella) identified a Legionella pneumophila serogroup1 (Mab 2b) count of >3.0x104cfu/l in water sam...

Role of 'atypical pathogens' among adult hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Respirology — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This study examined the role of these 'atypical pathogens' (AP) among adult hospitalized patients with CAP.Methods: A prospective, observational study of consecutive adult CAP (clinico-radiological diagnosis) patients hospitalized during 2004[ndash]2005 was conducted. Causal organisms were determined using cultures, antigen testing and paired serology. Clinical/laboratory/radiological variables and outcomes were compared between different aetiologies, and a clinical prediction rule for AP was constructed.Results: There were 1193 patients studied (mean age 70.8 ± 18.0 years, men 59.3%). Causal organisms were identified in 468 (39.2%) patients: 'bacterial' (48.7%), 'viral' (26.9%), 'AP' (28.6%). The AP infections comprised Mycoplasma or Chlamydophila pneumoniae (97.8%) and co-infection wi...

The metal efflux island of Legionella pneumophila is not required for survival in macrophages and amoebas

FEMS Microbiology Letters — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen causing pneumonia-like disease in humans. A 43-kb putative heavy metal efflux gene island was found on the L. pneumophila genome. Large Legionella deletion strains of the metal efflux genes were tested in human THP-1-derived macrophages and amoebal Acanthamoeba castellanii cells and were able to survive and replicate similar to the wild type, suggesting that they do not play a significant role within the intracellular environment. Examination of the sequence of this genomic island revealed that some genes were not accurately annotated and there were no known metal-responsive regulators encoded in this region. Therefore, functional roles of these metal resistance genes were tested by conducting metal resistance assays. Individual genes wer...

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Detergent-like activity and alpha-helical structure of warnericin RK, an anti-legionella peptide.

Biophysical Journal — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

In this study we aimed to understand the mode of action of warnericin RK and to explain its particular target specificity. We found that warnericin RK permeabilizes artificial membranes in a voltage-independent manner. Osmotic protection experiments on erythrocytes showed that warnericin RK does not form well-defined pores, suggesting a detergent-like mode of action, as previously described for delta-lysin at high concentrations. Warnericin RK also permeabilized Legionella cells, and these cells displayed a high sensitivity to detergents. Depending on the detergent used, Legionella was from 10- to 1000-fold more sensitive than the other bacteria tested. Finally, the structure of warnericin RK was investigated by means of circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. The peptide adopted an amphi...

Legionella in industrial cooling towers: monitoring and control strategies

Letters in Applied Microbiology — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: For effective decontamination of outdoor industrial cooling towers, disinfectants should be distributed in a targeted way, taking into account the possible sources of contamination.Significance and Impact of the Study: The data of the research permitted to modify the procedure of disinfection for better reduce the water and aerosol contamination and consequently the exposure risk. (Source: Letters in Applied Microbiology)

Evaluation of Legionella pneumophila contamination in Italian hotel water systems by quantitative real-time PCR and culture methods

Journal of Applied Microbiology — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This study showed a high percentage of buildings colonized by Leg. pneumophila. Moreover, real-time PCR proved to be sensitive enough to detect lower levels of contamination than the culture method.Significance and Impact of the Study: This study indicates that the Italian hotels represent a possible source of risk for Legionnaires' disease and confirms the sensitivity of the molecular method. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate Legionella contamination in Italian hotels using real-time PCR and culture methods. (Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)

The Chest Radiographic Manifestations of Legionnaires' Disease in Taiwan: A Retrospective Study

Tzu Chi Medical Journal — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:35:34 +0100

Objective: To evaluate the chest radiographic manifestations of Legionnaires' disease in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: From January 2003 to August 2008, we reviewed the chest X-rays of 53 patients from a medical center in east Taiwan with a ...more (Source: Tzu Chi Medical Journal)

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for a severe legionella pneumonia case.

Tuberkuloz ve Toraks — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:18:03 +0100

Authors: Eryüksel E, Karakurt S, Balci M, Celikel T Legionella pneumonia has a serious clinical course and requires treatment at intensive care unit. The need for mechanical ventilation is one of the determinants of prognosis. Mortality rate is higher in patients treated with mechanical ventilation. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) provides mechanical ventilation without endotracheal intubation and decreases the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia. It is a treatment modality for patients with hypoxia due to community acquired pneumonia. The present case was admitted to intensive care unit with a diagnosis of legionella pneumonia, and his hypoxemic respiratory failure was successfully treated with NPPV. PMID: 19787476 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Tub...

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Phospholipase PlaB of Legionella pneumophila Represents a Novel Lipase Family: PROTEIN RESIDUES ESSENTIAL FOR LIPOLYTIC ACTIVITY, SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY, AND HEMOLYSIS [Enzyme Catalysis and Regulation]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Legionella pneumophila possesses several phospholipases capable of host cell manipulation and lung damage. Recently, we discovered that the major cell-associated hemolytic phospholipase A (PlaB) shares no homology to described phospholipases and is dispensable for intracellular replication in vitro. Nevertheless, here we show that PlaB is the major lipolytic activity in L. pneumophila cell infections and that PlaB utilizes a typical catalytic triad of Ser-Asp-His for effective hydrolysis of phospholipid substrates. Crucial residues were found to be located within the N-terminal half of the protein, and amino acids embedding these active sites were unique for PlaB and homologs. We further showed that catalytic activity toward phosphatidylcholine but not phosphatidylglycerol is directly link...

Legionella pneumophila secretes an endoglucanase that belongs to the family-5 of glycosyl hydrolases and is dependent upon type II secretion

FEMS Microbiology Letters — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Examination of cell-free culture supernatants revealed that Legionella pneumophila strains secrete an endoglucanase activity. Legionella pneumophila lspF mutants were deficient for this activity, indicating that the endoglucanase is secreted by the bacterium's type II protein secretion (T2S) system. Inactivation of celA, encoding a member of the family-5 of glycosyl hydrolases, abolished the endoglucanase activity in L. pneumophila culture supernatants. The cloned celA gene conferred activity upon recombinant Escherichia coli. Thus, CelA is the major secreted endoglucanase of L. pneumophila. Mutants inactivated for celA grew normally in protozoa and macrophage, indicating that CelA is not required for the intracellular phase of L. pneumophila. The CelA endoglucanase is one of at least 25 p...

Mediators of Lipid A Modification, RNA Degradation, and Central Intermediary Metabolism Facilitate the Growth of Legionella pneumophila at Low Temperatures.

Current Microbiology — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Söderberg MA, Cianciotto NP Legionella pneumophila is an aquatic bacterium that is also the agent of Legionnaires' disease pneumonia. Since L. pneumophila is transmitted directly from the environment to the lung, it is important to understand how legionellae survive at low temperatures. To identify genes that are needed for L. pneumophila growth at low temperature, we screened a population of mutagenized legionellae for strains that are specifically impaired for growth at 17 degrees C. From the 7,400 mutants tested, 11 displayed defects ranging from ca. 10-fold to a complete inability to grow at the low temperature. PCR and sequence analysis were then utilized to identify the genes whose loss had compromised growth. The proteins thereby implicated in low-temperature growt...

The Amoebal MAP Kinase Response to Legionella pneumophila Is Regulated by DupA.

Cell Host and Microbe — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:30:10 +0100

Authors: Li Z, Dugan AS, Bloomfield G, Skelton J, Ivens A, Losick V, Isberg RR The amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum can support replication of Legionella pneumophila. Here we identify the dupA gene, encoding a putative tyrosine kinase/dual-specificity phosphatase, in a screen for D. discoideum mutants altered in allowing L. pneumophila intracellular replication. Inactivation of dupA resulted in depressed L. pneumophila growth and sustained hyperphosphorylation of the amoebal MAP kinase ERK1, consistent with loss of a phosphatase activity. Bacterial challenge of wild-type amoebae induced dupA expression and resulted in transiently increased ERK1 phosphorylation, suggesting that dupA and ERK1 are part of a response to bacteria. Indeed, over 500 of the genes misregulated in the dupA(-) mut...

Shower heads and lung disease

NHS News Feed — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:43:00 +0100

The Daily Telegraph today reported that a “daily shower could be hazardous”. It said that US researchers have found that shower heads are “breeding grounds for bacteria and when water is passed through them, they blast out the bugs”. One of the main microbes identified was Mycobacterium avium, which can cause respiratory infections mainly in people with a weak immune system or chronic respiratory disease. This small study looked at the microbes in 45 shower heads from nine cities in the US. Although it did find the presence of mycobacteria and other bacteria, it did not look at whether using a shower actually increased the risk of mycobacterial or other infections. This research should not cause healthy individuals to be concerned about having showers, as the mycobacterium identifi...

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First isolation of Legionella species, including L. pneumophila serogroup 1, in Greek potting soils: possible importance for public health

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Clin Microbiol Infect A total of 21 Legionella isolates were recovered from six out of 22 samples of potting soil from the Athens area, Greece. Legionella pneumophila (serogroups 1 and 2[ndash]15) and species and serotypes included in the group of L. longbeachae serogroups 1 and 2, L. bozemanii serogroups 1 and 2, L. dumoffii, L. gormanii, L. jordanis, L. micdadei and L. anisa were isolated on BCYE[alpha] agar containing cysteine, GVPC and natamycin and on BCYE[alpha] agar containing cysteine, Wadowsky Yee supplement and natamycin. The bacterial load was 4000[ndash]120 000 CFU/g of potting soil. The isolation of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 from Greek potting soils is reported here for the first time. (Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection)

Innate immune response during Yersinia infection: critical modulation of cell death mechanisms through phagocyte activation.

Journal of Leukocyte Biology — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Bergsbaken T, Cookson BT Yersinia pestis, the etiological agent of plague, is one of the most deadly pathogens on our planet. This organism shares important attributes with its ancestral progenitor, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, including a 70-kb virulence plasmid, lymphotropism during growth in the mammalian host and killing of host macrophages. Infections with both organisms are biphasic, where bacterial replication occurs initially with little inflammation, followed by phagocyte influx, inflammatory cytokine production, and tissue necrosis. During infection, plasmid-encoded attributes facilitate bacterial-induced macrophage death, which results from two distinct processes and corresponds to the inflammatory crescendo observed in vivo: Naïve cells die by apoptosis (nonin...

Survivors Oppose Motion To Dismiss Wrongful Death, Premises Liability Lawsuit

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:46:57 +0100

SAN DIEGO - The survivors of a man killed by Legionella virus who allege that Harrah's Entertainment Inc. is liable for his death and the company were granted a joint motion to reset an Aug. 14 hearing on the motion to dismiss to Sept. 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California (Rachel Almazan, et al. v. Harrah's Entertainment Inc., No. 09-1189, S.D. Calif.; See 7/7/09, Page 22). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News)

Many substrates and functions of type II secretion: lessons learned from Legionella pneumophila

Future Microbiology — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:40:29 +0100

Future Microbiology , September 2009, Vol. 4, No. 7, Pages 797-805. (Source: Future Microbiology)

Diagnostic and typing methods for investigating Legionella infection.

New South Wales Public Health Bulletin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Blyth CC, Adams DN, Chen SC Legionella infection is an important cause of community-acquired pneumonia in Australia. Morbidity and mortality is significant. Diagnosis remains a challenge with infection often unrecognised, particularly early in the course of illness. An understanding of available diagnostic methods and their limitations is important to public health practitioners and clinicians alike. PMID: 19917208 [PubMed - in process] (Source: New South Wales Public Health Bulletin)

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Evidence for Practice

AORN Journal — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Infection with Legionella, a gram-negative bacterium, can cause either pneumonia due to Legionnaires disease or Pontiac fever, a milder, influenza-like disease. There are 50 species and at least 64 serogroups in the Legionellaceae family, and Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is implicated in the majority of human cases of Legionella infection. The most frequent mechanism of transmission in humans is by inhalation of aerosols from contaminated water; this water might come from condensers, showers, cooling towers, humidifiers, whirlpool spas, decorative fountains, or residential water sources. (Source: AORN Journal)

Detection of IgM Antibodies against Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 in Malaysian Blood Donors and Patients with Respiratory Illnesses: Evaluation of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tay ST, Lakhbeer Singh HK, Ramasame SD, Vadivelu J PMID: 19762997 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases)

Development of a pilot-scale 1 for Legionella elimination in biofilm in hot water network: heat shock treatment evaluation

Journal of Applied Microbiology — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Thermal disinfection does not seem to be efficient enough to eliminate Legionella when it is used as a curative treatment.Significance and Impact of the Study: This work could help water managers for a better management of water network and for a better control of Legionella. (Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)

Legionella pneumophila - Host Interactions: Insights Gained from Comparative Genomics and Cell Biology.

Genome Dynamics — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:08:02 +0100

Authors: Lomma M, Valero G, Rusniok C, Buchrieser C Legionella pneumophila is the etiological agent of Legionnaires' disease and of the less acute disease Pontiac fever. It is a Gram-negative bacterium present in fresh and artificial water environments that replicates in protozoan hosts and is also found in biofilms. Replication within protozoa is essential for the survival of the bacterium. The last years have seen a giant step forward in the genomics of L. pneumophila. The establishment and publication of the complete genome sequences of three clinical L. pneumophila isolates in 2004 and a fourth in 2007 has paved the way for major breakthroughs in understanding the biology of L. pneumophila in particular and Legionella in general. Sequence analysis identified several specific featur...

Legionella species colonization in cooling towers: Risk factors and assessment of control measures

American Journal of Infection Control — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Background: Cooling towers can be colonized by Legionella spp, and inhalation of aerosols generated by their operation may cause Legionnaires' disease in susceptible hosts. Environmental investigations of Legionnaires' disease outbreaks linked with cooling towers have revealed poorly maintained systems, lack of control measures, and failure of system equipment. The purpose of this study was to identify Legionella-contaminated cooling towers, identify risk factors for contamination, and assess the effectiveness of control measures.Methods: A total of 96 cooling towers of public buildings were registered and inspected, and 130 samples were collected and microbiologically tested. Microbiological test results were associated with characteristics of cooling towers, water samples, inspection res...

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Detective's wife dies from Legionnaire's disease after being misdiagnosed with swine flu

The Telegraph : Swine Flu A H1N1 — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:52:10 +0100

A detective's wife died in "terrible circumstances" from sepsis due to Legionnaire's disease after she was misdiagnosed with Swine Flu. (Source: The Telegraph : Swine Flu A H1N1)

Company Fined For Inadequate Legionella Assessments At Welsh Care Homes

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0100

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning companies responsible for carrying out legionella surveys on water systems of the need to ensure that their work is thorough and accurate. The warning follows the conviction of a Berkshire-based water treatment company for carrying out inadequate and misleading surveys at nursing homes in Blaenau Gwent and Powys. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A Legionella type IV effector activates the NF-{kappa}B pathway by phosphorylating the I{kappa}B family of inhibitors [Biochemistry]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

NF-B is critical in innate immune defense responses against invading microbial pathogens. Legionella pneumophila infection of lung macrophages causes Legionnaire's... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

Legionella Cases Linked to Nonsterile Ice for Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Medscape Medical News Headlines — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:15:54 +0100

The use of nonsterile ice to cool saline syringes for bronchoalveolar lavage appears to be the cause of a pseudo-outbreak of Legionnaire's disease that occurred last year in Arizona, according to findings in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for August 14. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)

Pseudo-Outbreak of Legionnaires Disease Among Patients Undergoing Bronchoscopy --- Arizona, 2008

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:01:54 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

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Legionnaires caused by unsterilized ice

Health News - UPI.com — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:29:45 +0100

ATLANTA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Four patients at an Arizona hospital were incorrectly diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease last year because of un-sterilized ice, health officials said. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Pseudo-outbreak of legionnaires disease among patients undergoing bronchoscopy - Arizona, 2008.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This report summarizes the results of that investigation, which determined that the patients did not have LD and that nonsterile ice used to cool saline-filled syringes for bronchoalveolar lavage was the likely source of Legionella contamination of these clinical specimens. Ice was supplied by two ice machines, which became contaminated by heavy Legionella colonization within the center's potable water supply during a 6-month period (February--July 2008). Findings from the investigation underscore the importance of adherence to recommended infection control practices and surveillance for LD in health-care settings. Clinicians and endoscopy technicians should ensure that nonsterile items are not introduced during bronchoscopy procedures. PMID: 19680220 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMW...

Pseudo-Outbreak of Legionnaire's Blamed on Bad Ice

MedPage Today Infectious Disease — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:22:07 +0100

Using nonsterile ice to cool saline-filled syringes for bronchoalveolar lavage creates a risk of Legionnaire’s disease, the CDC said. (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)

Kent hospitals confirm new Legionnaires' disease cases

Nursing Times Breaking News — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:58:00 +0100

Investigations are continuing after further cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed at an NHS trust in east Kent. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

New Legionnaires' cases investigated

Scotsman.com News - Health — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:43:53 +0100

TWO new cases of Legionnaires' disease are being investigated at a hospital where a man died and two women are seriously ill, officials said yesterday. (Source: Scotsman.com News - Health)

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Legionnaires' disease strikes Kent hospital

Nursing Times Breaking News — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:51:09 +0100

Swift action by NHS staff at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent, has limited the spread of Legionnaires’ disease after it was contracted by an elderly patient. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)

Aetiology of, and risk factors for, recurrent community-acquired pneumonia

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Clin Microbiol Infect Recurrent community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization is a matter of particular concern. However, current information on its prevalence, aetiology and risk factors is lacking. To address these issues, we performed an observational analysis of a prospective cohort of hospitalized adults with CAP. Recurrence was defined as two or more episodes of CAP 1 month apart within 3 years. Patients with severe immunosuppression or local predisposing factors were excluded. Of the 1556 patients, 146 (9.4%) had recurrent CAP. The most frequent causative organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae, both in patients with recurrent CAP and in those without recurrence. Haemophilus influenzae, other Gram-negative bacilli and aspiration pneumonia were more frequent among patien...

Molecular mimicry: an important virulence strategy employed by Legionella pneumophila to subvert host functions

Future Microbiology — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:21:13 +0100

Future Microbiology , August 2009, Vol. 4, No. 6, Pages 691-701. (Source: Future Microbiology)

Health Warning After Lancashire Workers Catch Legionnaires' Disease, UK

Health News from Medical News Today — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:00:00 +0100

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies in Lancashire to ensure they carry out regular, simple checks to protect employees from Legionnaires' disease. The warning follows the prosecution of butchery processing company Kepak UK Ltd after two employees caught the disease at Kepak's Carr Place premises on the Walton Summit Industrial Estate, Bamber Bridge, Preston. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

[Evaluation of Seeplex(TM) Pneumobacter Multiplex PCR Kit for the Detection of Respiratory Bacterial Pathogens in Pediatric Patients.]

The Korean Journal of Laboratory Medicine — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Seeplex(TM) Pneumobacter detection kit could be a useful screening tool for the rapid detection of respiratory bacterial pathogens. Further studies with lower respiratory tract specimens would be needed for the clinical evaluation of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae detected by multiplex PCR. PMID: 19726892 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Korean Journal of Laboratory Medicine)

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Legionella pneumophila in rainwater on roads.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Sakamoto R, Ohno A, Nakahara T, Satomura K, Iwanaga S, Kouyama Y, Kura F, Kato N, Matsubayashi K, Okumiya K, Yamaguchi K During rain, transient puddles form on roads, and this water is splashed into the air by moving vehicles. To determine whether this water contains Legionella pneumophila, we collected samples from roads. We found that L. pneumophila are abundant in these puddles, especially during warm weather. PMID: 19751596 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)

Legionella

Nature Network London - Recent News — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:30:34 +0100

Venue: SCI International Headquarters Start date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +0100 End date: Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:00:00 +0100 (Source: Nature Network London - Recent News)

Bacterial toxin and effector glycosyltransferases.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Authors: Belyi Y, Aktories K Clostridial glucosylating cytotoxins, including Clostridium difficile toxins A and B, Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin, and Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin, are major virulence factors and causative agents of human diseases. These toxins mono-O-glucosylate (or mono-O-GlcNAcylate) a specific threonine residue of Rho/Ras-proteins, which is essential for the function of the molecular switches. Recently, a related group of glucosyltransferases from Legionella pneumophila has been identified. These Legionella glucosyltransferases modify the large GTPase elongation factor eEF1A at a serine residue by mono-O-glucosylation, thereby inhibiting protein synthesis of target cells. Recent results on structures, functions and biological roles of both groups of bacterial ...

Legionella-induced Sudden Hearing Loss: a Rare Complication

Infection — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:41:42 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory CorrespondenceDOI 10.1007/s15010-009-9016-4Authors J. E. Nolte, Sheba Medical Center Dept. of Medicine B Tel-Hashomer 52621 IsraelA. Altman, Sheba Medical Center Dept. of Medicine B Tel-Hashomer 52621 IsraelM. Szyper-Kravitz, Sheba Medical Center Dept. of Medicine B Tel-Hashomer 52621 IsraelY. Shoenfeld, Sheba Medical Center Dept. of Medicine B Tel-Hashomer 52621 IsraelE. Zimlichman, Sheba Medical Center Dept. of Medicine B Tel-Hashomer 52621 Israel Journal InfectionOnline ISSN 1439-0973Print ISSN 0300-8126 (Source: Infection)

Compost facilities as a reservoir of Legionella pneumophila and other Legionella species

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Data on the presence of Legionellae outside the aquatic environment are scarce. Alternative ecosystems that could act as a reservoir for Legionella spp. have been investigated to identify unconventional contaminated substrates that are able to produce bioaerosols. We considered eight green waste collection sites including three composting facilities. Legionella pneumophila sg 1[ndash]15, Legionella bozemanii, Legionella cincinnatiensis, Legionella jamestowniensis, Legionella micdadei and L. oakridgensis were isolated from samples taken at six of the eight sites. The degree of contamination ranged from 103 to 108 CFU/g. Compost facilities appear to comprise an important reservoir for Legionellae. (Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection)

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Legionella as a Cause of Hyperpyrexia

Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:26:18 +0100

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 49, Issue 4, Page 646-647, 15 August 2009. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases Latest Issue)

Sequence-based and monoclonal antibody typing of Legionella pneumophila isolated from patients in Portugal during 1987-2008.

Euro Surveill — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:32:02 +0100

This study enabled, for the first time in Portugal, not only to characterise the L. pneumophila sg1 clinical isolates, but also to create a database of Portuguese profiles for use in epidemiological surveillance efforts. PMID: 19607780 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Euro Surveill)

Temporal resolution of two-tracked NF-κB activation by Legionella pneumophila

Cellular Microbiology — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila activates the transcription factor NF-[kappa]B in macrophages and human epithelial cells, contributing to cytokine production and anti-apoptosis. The former is important for the innate immune response to infection, the latter for intracellular replication by securing host cell survival. Here, we demonstrate biphasic activation of NF-[kappa]B by L. pneumophila in human epithelial cells, using a p65-GFP expressing variant of A549 cells. Early in infection, a strong but transient nuclear translocation of p65 was observed. Only flagellin-deficient ([Delta]fliA and [Delta]flaA) mutants could not induce this first, TLR5 and MyD88-dependent activation. The second p65 translocation event, however, is a long-term activation, independent of flagellin...

Region of Elongation Factor 1A1 Involved in Substrate Recognition by Legionella pneumophila Glucosyltransferase Lgt1: IDENTIFICATION OF Lgt1 AS A RETAINING GLUCOSYLTRANSFERASE [Protein Synthesis, Post-Translational Modification, and Degradation]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

We report that the decapeptide 50GKGSFKYAWV59 of eEF1A is efficiently modified by Lgt1. This peptide covers the loop of the helix-loop-helix region formed by helices A* and A' of eEF1A and is part of the first turn of helix A'. Substitution of either serine 53, phenylalanine 54, tyrosine 56, or tryptophan 58 by alanine abolished or severely decreased glucosylation. Lgt1 modified the decapeptide 50GKGSFKYAWV59 with a higher glucosylation rate than full-length eEF1A purified from yeast, suggesting that a specific conformation of eEF1A is the preferred substrate of Lgt1. A GenBankTM search on the basis of the substrate decapeptide for similar peptide sequences retrieved heat shock protein 70 subfamily B suppressor 1 (Hbs1) as a target for glucosylation by Lgt1. Recombinant Hbs1 and the corres...

Travel-associated Legionnaires disease in Europe in 2007.

Euro Surveill — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:52:02 +0100

Authors: Joseph CA, Yadav R, Ricketts KD, Nine hundred and forty six cases of travel-associated Legionnaires disease were reported to the European Surveillance Scheme for Travel Associated Legionnaires Disease (EWGLINET) with onset during 2007; 890 were confirmed and 56 were presumptive. Twenty eight cases died, giving a case fatality rate of 3.0%. 8.2% of cases were diagnosed by culture, an important increase from 5.2% in 2006. One hundred and twelve new clusters were identified; the largest involved nine cases. Sixteen of these clusters (14.3%) occurred in countries outside EWGLINET, and three involved cruise ships. Twenty nine of the new clusters (25.9%) would not have been detected without the EWGLINET scheme. A total of 151 investigations were conducted in Europe, 42 of which wer...

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Innate immunity: DCs take one for the team

Nature Reviews Microbiology — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:13:36 +0100

Nature Reviews Microbiology 7, 548 (2009). doi:10.1038/nrmicro2187 Author: Rachel David Intracellular pathogens are detected and phagocytosed by innate immune cells, including dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, and are then rapidly degraded in intracellular compartments to prevent further dissemination of the pathogen. However, some pathogens, such as Legionella pneumophila, can subvert these defence mechanisms and (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)

Sequence-based and monoclonal antibody typing of Legionella pneumophila isolated from patients in Portugal during 1987-2008

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, we analysed the clinical strains received in two Portuguese laboratories since 1987, including the strains isolated in Portugal during the four years of the surveillance scheme for Legionnaires' disease implemented in 2004. (Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Epidemiological investigation of a case of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease in Taiwan: implications for routine environmental surveillance

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Clin Microbiol Infect An epidemiological investigation with Legionella and molecular subtyping was conducted to determine the source of a case of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease (LD) who was hospitalized in three hospitals within a month. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 3, an uncommon serogroup for infection, was isolated from the patient's sputum. Environmental surveillance revealed Legionella colonization in all three hospitals; the patient isolate matched the isolate from the first hospital by molecular typing. Culturing the hospital water supply for Legionella is a pro-active strategy for detection of nosocomial LD even in hospitals experiencing no previous cases. (Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection)

C. pneumoniae community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in mimicking Mycoplasma pneumoniae meningoencephalitis complicated by asthma

Heart & Lung — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We present the case of a young man who presented with M. pneumoniae-like illness and was hospitalized for severe CAP that was accompanied by a pertussis-like cough and severe headache. Although his chest x-ray showed a right upper lobe infiltrate, a lumbar puncture was performed to rule out meningitis, but his cerebrospinal fluid profile was unremarkable. Titers for non-zoonotic atypical pneumonia pathogens were negative except for a highly elevated C. pneumoniae immunoglobulin-M titer (1:320). Testing for legionella and pertussis was negative. Q fever and adenoviral titers were also negative. Cold agglutinin titers were repeatedly negative. The patient was successfully treated with moxifloxacin but developed permanent asthma after C. pneumoniae CAP. This case is unusual in several aspects...

An unusual case of hospital-acquired infection: Legionella Longbeachae.

Australasian Psychiatry — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:50:06 +0100

Authors: Dhillon R, Bastiampillai T, Hong S PMID: 19585301 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Australasian Psychiatry)

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A Cluster of Cases of Nosocomial Legionnaires Disease Linked to a Contaminated Hospital Decorative Water Fountain •

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:24:36 +0100

Conclusions. This cluster was caused by contamination of a decorative fountain despite its being equipped with a filter and ozone generator. Fountains are a potential source of nosocomial Legionnaires disease despite standard maintenance and sanitizing measures. In our opinion, fountains present unacceptable risk in hospitals serving immunocompromised patients. (Source: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue)

The clinical efficacy of fluoroquinolone and macrolide combination therapy compared with single-agent therapy against community-acquired pneumonia caused by Legionella Pneumophila

Journal of Infection — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Legionella pneumophila pneumonia is an acute infectious disease that causes severe pneumonia. Legionella community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has a mortality rate of 10%, which increases to 27% in patients who do not receive adequate antibiotic treatment as part of the empirical treatment on admission. Erythromycin has been the treatment of choice for Legionnaires disease since a retrospective study of the epidemic outbreak in Philadelphia in 1976 showed a significantly lower death rate in patients treated with this antibiotic. Recently, fluoroquinolones have been found to achieve high intracellular levels with a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Legionella than erythromycin, resulting in successful treatment of patients with L. pneumophila pneumonia. Some clinical observa...

Hospitality Company Removes Survivor Lawsuit; Avers Federal Jurisdiction Lacking

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:09:13 +0100

SAN DIEGO - Harrah's Entertainment Inc. filed a notice of removal on June 2 of a premises liability and wrongful death lawsuit lodged against it in the San Diego County Superior Court by the survivors of a man who died in March 2007 of complications from Legionella virus infection; on June 5, Harrah's moved to dismiss the lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and for failure to state a claim (Rachel Almazan, et al. v. Harrah's Entertainment Inc., No. 09-1189, S.D. Calif.). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News)

Mutational paths towards increased fluoroquinolone resistance in Legionella pneumophila

Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Specific mutational trajectories were identified, strongly suggesting that intermolecular epistatic interactions between DNA topoisomerases underlie the mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance in L. pneumophila. Our results suggest that L. pneumophila has strong potential to become resistant to fluoroquinolone compounds and warrant further investigation of resistance in clinical and environmental strains of this pathogen. (Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy)