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Background Acinetobacter baumannii , a Gram-negative member of the ESKAPE pathogen group, is known to develop resistance to several antibiotics rapidly, and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) is highly implicated in life-threatening infections, especially within hospital settings. Objectives This study detected CRAB in clinical and hospital-environmental samples, evaluated the antibiotic resistance patterns and screened for prevalent carbapenemase genes in isolates from a hospital in Southwest Nigeria. Methods A total of 150 clinical and hospital environmental samples were analysed using culture-dependent and molecular methods for the detection of Acinetobacter baumannii. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique. Phenotypic screening for carbapenemase was via simplified carbapenem inactivation method (sCIM), and molecular detection of bla KPC type, bla OXA−48−like , bla VIM type, bla NDM−1 , bla IMP variants and bla OXA−23−like genes by Polymerase chain reaction. Results Altogether, only 29.4% (42/143 isolates) of recovered isolates were identified as A. baumannii , giving a prevalence of 28.0% (42/150 samples), predominantly from sputum. All isolates had the gluconolactonase gene, while 5/42 had the bla OXA - 51 - like gene. Resistance to meropenem and cefiderocol was 100.0% and 88.1%, respectively, while gentamicin was most effective in vitro (7.1%); 54.8% were multidrug-resistant, and 88.1% (37/42) had MARI ≥ 0.2. Overall, 39/42 (92.9%) isolates had ≥ one or more carbapenemase genes; 61.9% (26/42) had the bla KPC type gene, 59.5% (25/42) had the bla IMP variants while 45.2% had the bla VIM type gene; no strain had the bla NDM−1 or the bla OXA−23−like gene. Conclusion This study reports the occurrence of MDR strains, and of bla KPC type, bla IMP variants and bla VIM type carbapenemase genes in A. baumannii isolates from clinical and hospital environmental samples, contributing to the pool of existing data on their occurrence. It also highlights the need for monitoring and continued surveillance of the strains, most especially in the clinical setting.

Background Staphylococcus aureus strains are highly virulent and associated with an eclectic range of severe nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Objectives This study assessed methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/VRSA) from clinical and ready-to-eat (RTE) food sources, screened for antibiotic resistance; and molecular determinants of antibiotic and virulence genes. Methods Altogether, 465 clinical and RTE food samples were analyzed via conventional microbiological techniques and S. aureus identification was confirmed by nuc gene detection. Phenotypic screening for methicillin and vancomycin-resistance was by agar-screen cum micro-broth dilution respectively, while antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by the disc-diffusion technique. VanA/vanB/VanC1 , femA , mecA/mecC; pvl/hlg and spa gene detection was via Polymerase chain reaction. Results Phenotypically, 211 Staphylococcal isolates were recovered, 138 (65.4%) of them carrying the nuc gene – all 138 (100.0%) were VRSA, while 59/138 (42.8%) were MRSA phenotypically. Overall, 114/138 (82.6%), 7/138 (5.1%), and 6/138 (4.3%) of isolates had the femA , mecA , and mecC genes, while van genes were detected in only 3 (2.2%) isolates, with virulence determinants pvl , hlg , and spa gene carriage in 8 (5.8%), 10 (7.2%), and 77 (55.8%) isolates respectively. In all, 11.6% carried resistance-associated genes, 55.8% carried virulence genes, and co-detection of resistance and virulence genes was observed in 12.3%. Overall, 96/138 (69.6%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR), while one strain was extremely drug-resistant (XDR). MAR Indices ≥ 0.2 was observed in 83.3% of isolates. Conclusion This study highlights virulence levels of MRSA and VRSA circulating strains in Osogbo, contributing to their sustained surveillance, and improving available data for successive epidemiology investigations. This study also reports the occurrence of the mecC gene in S. aureus isolates from RTE foods and human samples in Southwestern Nigeria.

Background Macrophomina phaseolina is a pathogen that causes an opportunistic disease that spreads by soil and seeds and affects more than 500 different plant species, like fruits, trees, and row crops. Mycotoxins, such as phaseolinic acid, and phaseolinone, are produced by M. phaseolina isolates in previous investigations; however, the production of these mycotoxins seems to vary depending on the host and the region. Methods and results In this study, Macrophomina phaseolina strain 3 A was isolated from rotten cassava tuber and identified using the analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region. The isolate was inoculated on a fresh healthy cassava tuber at 25 °C and tuber-rotting potential was monitored for 4 weeks. Virulence genes MPH_06603, MPH_06955, and MPH_01521 were determined with designed primers, and secondary metabolites were characterized by FTIR and GCMS. The rotten tuber effect was observed from the 2nd week of the experiment with severe tuber rot and weight reduction. The PCR showed the presence of MPH_06603 virulence gene. The GCMS showed N-Methylpivalamide (115.0 m/z), Butane, 1,4-dimethoxy- (119.0 m/z), and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (126.0 m/z) were the predominant metabolites produced by the pathogen. The compounds in the metabolites inhibit CYP3A4 enzymes, cause eye irritation, and Human Ether-a-go-go-related gene inhibition. Conclusion This study revealed that M. phaseolina was responsible for the cassava tuber rot which leads to a lower yield of farm produce. The metabolites produced are toxic and unsafe for human consumption. It is suggested that farmers should destroy any cassava affected by this pathogen to prevent its toxic effects on humans and animals.

Staphylococcus aureus strains are highly virulent and associated with an eclectic range of severe nosocomial and community-acquired infections. This study assessed methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/VRSA) from clinical and ready-to-eat (RTE) food sources, screened for antibiotic resistance; and molecular determinants of antibiotic and virulence genes. Altogether, 465 clinical and RTE food samples were analyzed via conventional microbiological techniques and S. aureus identification was confirmed by nuc gene detection. Phenotypic screening for methicillin and vancomycin-resistance was by agar-screen cum micro-broth dilution respectively, while antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by the disc-diffusion technique. VanA/vanB/VanC1, femA, mecA/mecC; pvl/hlg and spa gene detection was via Polymerase chain reaction. Phenotypically, 211 Staphylococcal isolates were recovered, 138 (65.4%) of them carrying the nuc gene - all 138 (100.0%) were VRSA, while 59/138 (42.8%) were MRSA phenotypically. Overall, 114/138 (82.6%), 7/138 (5.1%), and 6/138 (4.3%) of isolates had the femA, mecA, and mecC genes, while van genes were detected in only 3 (2.2%) isolates, with virulence determinants pvl, hlg, and spa gene carriage in 8 (5.8%), 10 (7.2%), and 77 (55.8%) isolates respectively. In all, 11.6% carried resistance-associated genes, 55.8% carried virulence genes, and co-detection of resistance and virulence genes was observed in 12.3%. Overall, 96/138 (69.6%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR), while one strain was extremely drug-resistant (XDR). MAR Indices [greater than or equal to] 0.2 was observed in 83.3% of isolates. This study highlights virulence levels of MRSA and VRSA circulating strains in Osogbo, contributing to their sustained surveillance, and improving available data for successive epidemiology investigations. This study also reports the occurrence of the mecC gene in S. aureus isolates from RTE foods and human samples in Southwestern Nigeria.