NCTR Research Highlights

Current Highlight from February 1, 2013

Food Safety
Scientists from NCTR and the University of Arkansas developed a novel, multilocus sequence typing method (MLST-seq) that combines a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based target enrichment and next-generation sequencing technology for genotyping foodborne pathogens. In the study, 21 target genes for genotyping Salmonella strains were simultaneously amplified and used to demonstrate that MLST-seq — with an increased number of target genes — is an efficient way to improve discrimination among closely related Salmonella strains. Thus, MLST-seq provides an improvement in resolution and high-throughput capacity over current MLST approaches. This study was recently published in Molecular and Cellular Probes (2013, 27: 80-85; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mcp.2012.11.004).
For additional information, please contact Rajesh Nayak, Ph.D., or Steven Foley, Ph.D., Division of Microbiology, FDA/NCTR.
Antibiotic Resistance
Scientists from NCTR and Korea's Chung-Ang University, Korea, have shown that a Microbacterium strain, isolated from a wastewater treatment plant, contains a glutamine synthetase enzyme involved in the detoxification of the antibacterial fluoroquinolone drug, norfloxacin. This enzyme plays a key role in the conversion of norfloxacin to the inactive N-acetylnorfloxacin. These results suggest that environmental bacteria that survive in the presence of low concentrations of fluoroquinolones in wastewater treatment plants may have the ability to enzymatically inactivate these drugs and contribute to drug resistance. This study was recently published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2013, 79:314-321; http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02347-12).
For additional information, please contact John Sutherland, Ph.D., Division of Microbiology, FDA/NCTR.