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During the last decades, we have witnessed unprecedented advances in biological engineering and synthetic biology. These disciplines aim to take advantage of gene pathway regulation and gene expression in different organisms, to enable cells to perform desired functions. Yeast has been widely utilized as a model for the study of eukaryotic protein expression while bacteriophage T7RNAP and its promoter constitute the preferred system for prokaryotic protein expression (such as pET-based expression systems). The ability to integrate a T7RNAP-based expression system in yeast could allow for a better understanding of gene regulation in eukaryotic cells, and potentially increase the efficiency and processivity of yeast as an expression system. However, the attempts for the creation of such a system have been unsuccessful to date. This review aims to: (i) summarize the efforts that, for many years, have been devoted to the creation of a T7RNAP-based yeast expression system and ii) provide an overview of the latest advances in knowledge of eukaryotic transcription and translation that could lead to the construction of a successful T7RNAP expression system in yeast. The completion of this new expression system would allow to further expand the toolkit of yeast in synthetic biology and ultimately contribute to boost yeast usage as a key cell factory in sustainable biorefinery and circular economy., The work was supported by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [UIDB/04469/2020]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [UI/BD/151411/2021]., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

S. aureus is a pathogen that frequently causes severe morbidity and phage therapy is being discussed as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of S. aureus infections. In this in vitro and animal study, we demonstrated that the activity of anti-staphylococcal phages is severely impaired in plasma and synovial fluid. Despite phage replication in these matrices, lysis of the bacteria was slower than phage propagation, and no reduction of the bacterial population was observed. This phage inhibition is due to a 99% reduction of phage adsorption, already at 10% plasma concentration. Coagulation factors bind S. aureus resulting in the formation of aggregates and blood clots that protect the bacterium from the phages. This was confirmed by the finding that purified fibrinogen is sufficient to impair phage activity. In contrast, dissolution of the clots by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) partially restored phage activity. Consistent with these in vitro findings, phage treatment did not reduce bacterial burdens in a neutropenic mouse S. aureus thigh infection model. In summary, phage treatment of S. aureus infections may be fundamentally challenging, and more investigation is needed prior to proceeding to in-human trials.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a pathology associated with the presence of the JC virus, although it occurs in other conditions, nowadays most cases occur in patients with AIDS, in severe stages of immunosuppression. This condition, and hence its name, has always been associated with the presence of intracerebral lesions, where it can have a wide distribution. However, it is very rare, if ever, to report lesions of this disease in the spinal cord. We present a case of a 40-year-old patient, an HIV carrier in the AIDS stage, who, in addition to presenting brain lesions, had multiple lesions at the cervical spinal cord level. We believe that these lesions may be more common than believed and should be intentionally sought if possible.

Introduction There is a paucity of comparative clinical data between arthroscopic all-inside end-to-end meniscal root suture and transtibial pullout technique in medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT). Therefore, this study aimed to compare treatment failure, mid-term clinical and radiological outcomes of all-inside meniscus root repair versus the transtibial pullout technique and to analyze prognostic factors of postoperative clinical and radiological outcomes. Material and methods Forty-four patients were included in two therapeutic group: arthroscopic all-inside meniscal suture (MS: 13 knees) and transtibial pullout technique (TP: 31 knees). Primary clinical outcomes at a minimum of 27.2 months postoperatively included Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Lysholm Knee Questionnare (LKQ). Radiographic assessment of the knee was performed to determine osteoarthritis severity using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system. In addition, pre and postoperative MRI scans and intraoperative arthroscopic findings were recorded and the correlations between these findings, as outcome predictors and postoperative patients reported subjective outcome were assessed. Results No significant differences in postoperative KOOS and LKQ scores were found between the MS and TP group (p = 0.38 and 0.17, respectively). During follow-up one patients (7.7%) in the MS group and two (6.5%) in the TP group underwent total knee arthroplasty. The difference did not reach the statistical significance (p = 0.88). No differences were observed in postoperative MRI findings such as meniscal extrusion, osteochondral defect, chondromalacia patella, and bone morrow edema (p = 0.25, 0.97, 0.97, and 0.88, respectively). A univariate model revealed that the presence of postoperative meniscal extrusion; osteochondral defect; chondromalacia patella; increased BMI; age (>40 years) and longer time lapse between clinical onset to surgery (>6 months) were predictors of poor clinical outcome. The presence of meniscal extrusion, osteochondral defect and chondropatia patella portended worst postoperative outcomes in a multiple linear regression model. Conclusions It can be concluded that both techniques can reach good results when performed properly and if the injury pattern allows meniscal suture may be considered a treatment option for the management of MMPRT in well-selected patients. Patients with increased BMI, preoperative meniscal extrusion, chondromalacia patella, and osteochondral defect were at higher risk of poor clinical outcomes.

Cement removal during hip or knee arthroplasty revision surgery is technically demanding and prone to severe complications such as periprosthetic fractures, incomplete cement removal, or perforations. Several alternative techniques have been developed to enable complete, accurate, and safe removal of cement from bone, including osteotomies and cortical windows, endoscopic instruments, ultrasound devices, lithotripsy, and laser-assisted removal. We describe a cement-on-cement technique with a sterile, single-use tool for cement removal. The cement is removed piece by piece using a specifically designed device, without osteotomies or cortical windows.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of transtibial pullout technique and partial meniscectomy, and to establish prognostic factors in middle-aged patients with mild knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A comparative case–control analysis was conducted. 65 patients between 40 and 60 years of age were included into two groups: 30 patients who underwent transtibial pullout technique (group 1) and 35 patients who underwent partial meniscectomy (group 2). Mean follow-up was set at 27.2 months. Primary clinical outcomes included Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and Lysholm Knee Questionnare. Preoperative MRI and intraoperative arthroscopic findings were recorded. The correlation between these findings and patient-reported subjective outcome were assessed. RESULTS: The transtibial pullout group exhibited significantly greater improvement in clinical outcomes. A univariate model revealed that the presence of preoperative meniscal extrusion, body mass index (> 30), osteochondral defect, and female gender were predictors of poor clinical outcome. Multivariate regression analysis showed meniscal extrusion and osteochondral defect as significant prognostic factors for both study groups. CONCLUSION: Medial meniscus root repair leads to significantly improved clinical outcomes compared to partial meniscectomy in middle-aged patients with mild knee osteoarthritis. Presence of meniscal extrusion, osteochondral defect, BMI > 30, and female gender were deemed as predictors of poor postoperative patient-reported outcome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III therapeutic case–control study.

Neurological manifestations such as seizures, disorders of consciousness and abnormal movements such as hemichorea and hemiballismus can be the presenting symptoms of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar states. Exceptionally, focal signs as hemiparesis or aphasia are described. We report a 66-year-old man, presenting with nonfluent aphasia and right subtle hemiparesis. The computed tomography, computed tomography angiography and brain magnetic resonance did not show acute ischemic lesions or obstruction of arterial vessels. The initial laboratory evaluation disclosed a blood glucose of 936 mg/dL, a plasma osmolality of 331 mOsm/Kg, and positive plasma ketones. After the treatment of hyperglycemia and hyperosmolality, focal symptoms subsided.

The increase of urban expansion, whereby soils become altered or filled with buildings through human action, presents a global threat to biodiversity and the spread of disease. Many of the factors determining bird migration routes and disease spread are poorly understood. We studied the migration routes of common quail Coturnix coturnix in western Europe. We examined the recoveries of ringed birds to characterize their migration trajectories to understand how this nocturnal migrant crosses artificial areas and predict the risk of migration collapse and disease transmission. We evaluated the possible consequences of quail collisions with human infrastructure elements (i.e., buildings, cranes, overhead cables and wires, and wind farm structures) to assess disease transmission in relation to the amount of urban soil. Our results show that variations in the amount of artificialized soil in central Europe are correlated with the relative absence of quail migratory routes. Conceptual models incorporating environmental ecology showed the relationships between climate warming, agroecosystems, and urban ecosystems as well as human health and economic growth. We predict a drastic loss of biodiversity and spread of disease if we do not curb the spread of land consumption. Taking a broad view of the interrelations discussed here allows predictions of global vulnerability and increased risks to health due to losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Lessons drawn from migration route maps of quail in relation to the distribution of urbanized soils provide tools for global conservation political decision making., We are grateful to the ICO, ARANZADI, SEO, FEDENCA for allowing the use of their banding databases; MUTUASPORT, Real Federación Española de Caza, Federaciones Autonómicas de Caza, ARTEMISAN, Administraciones Autonómicas, for their support, JA. Delgado, Y. Campos and Q. de la Cruz assistance the study in Canary Islands; and contributions made by the hunters and their families, especially José Manzano, Santiago Iturmendi and Coturnix team. The comments of an anonymous reviewer improved a previous draft of this article. D.S. was supported by a research contract by MUTUASPORT and Federació Catalana de Caça.

Due to the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance, and the difficulties of treating biofilm-associated infections, alternative treatments for S. aureus infections are urgently needed. We tested the lytic activity of several wild type phages against a panel of 110 S. aureus strains (MRSA/MSSA) composed to reflect the prevalence of S. aureus clonal complexes in human infections. The plaquing host ranges (PHR) of the wild type phages were in the range of 51% to 60%. We also measured what we called the kinetic host range (KHR), i.e., the percentage of strains for which growth in suspension was suppressed for 24 h. The KHR of the wild type phages ranged from 2% to 49%, substantially lower than the PHRs. To improve the KHR and other key pharmaceutical properties, we bred the phages by mixing and propagating cocktails on a subset of S. aureus strains. These bred phages, which we termed evolution-squared (ε 2 ) phages, have broader KHRs up to 64% and increased virulence compared to the ancestors. The ε 2 -phages with the broadest KHR have genomes intercrossed from up to three different ancestors. We composed a cocktail of three ε 2 -phages with an overall KHR of 92% and PHR of 96% on 110 S. aureus strains and called it PM-399. PM-399 has a lower propensity to resistance formation than the standard of care antibiotics vancomycin, rifampicin, or their combination, and no resistance was observed in laboratory settings (detection limit: 1 cell in 10 11 ). In summary, ε 2 -phages and, in particular PM-399, are promising candidates for an alternative treatment of S. aureus infections.

Cellodextrins are non-digestible oligosaccharides that have attracted interest from the food industry as potential prebiotics [1,2]. They are typically produced through the partial hydrolysis of cellulose, resulting in a complex mixture of oligosaccharides with a varying degree of polymerisation (DP). In our work [3], we explored the defined bottom-up synthesis of cellotriose (DP=3) as a product since this oligosaccharide is believed to be the most potent prebiotic in the mixture [1]. To that end, the cellobiose phosphorylase (CBP) from Cellulomonas uda and the cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP) from Clostridium cellulosi were evaluated as biocatalysts, starting from cellobiose and α-glucose 1-phosphate as acceptor and donor substrate, respectively. The CDP was shown to rapidly elongate the chains towards higher DPs, even after extensive mutagenesis. In contrast, an optimised variant of CBP was found to convert cellobiose to cellotriose with a molar yield of 73%. The share of cellotriose within the final soluble cellodextrin mixture (DP2-5) was 82%, resulting in a cellotriose product with the highest purity reported to date. Remarkably, the reaction could even be initiated from glucose as an acceptor substrate, which could further decrease the production costs. Further research on the affordable and environmentally sustainable enzymatic synthesis of speciality oligosaccharides such as cellotriose could result in the production of healthier carbohydrates (i.e., functional foods), now more relevant than ever due to the global rise in obesity and related health problems.

The ability of complex [Mo2Cp2{μ-P(2,4,6-C6H2tBu3)}(CO)4] to promote P–C and subsequent coupling processes has been analyzed by examining reactions with alkynes. The title compound reacted at room temperature with different terminal alkynes HC≡CR under visible-UV light irradiation to give, in a selective way, the corresponding phosphapropenediyl derivatives [Mo2Cp2(μ–κ1C:η3C,C,P-CRCHPR*)(CO)4] for R groups of varied electron-withdrawing nature, but low to medium size, such as Pr, CO2Me, and p-tol. These products follow from formal insertion of the alkyne into one of the Mo-phosphinidene bonds in the parent compound, with selective P–C coupling to the terminal carbon of the alkyne. In contrast, when R was the bulky tBu group, the corresponding photochemical reactions yielded a mixture of the cis and trans isomers of the phosphanyl- and formylalkenyl-bridged complex [Mo2Cp2{μ–κ2C,O:η2C,C-CHC(tBu)C(O)H}{μ-P(CH2CMe2)C6H2tBu2}(CO)2], which follow from a complex reaction sequence involving an H–C(sp3) bond clea...

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to analyse the microbiological traits and the population structure of carbapenemase-producing (CP) Escherichia coli isolates collected in Spain between 2012 and 2014. METHODS Two-hundred-and-thirty-nine E. coli isolates non-susceptible to carbapenems were studied. The carbapenemase genes and the phylogenetic groups were characterized using PCR. MLST was carried out using the typing schemes of the University of Warwick and the Institut Pasteur. The diversity of the population structure was estimated by calculating a simple diversity index (SDI). RESULTS One-hundred-and-twenty-one isolates (50.6%) produced carbapenemases, of which 87 (71.9%) were OXA-48, 27 (22.3%) were VIM-1, 4 (3.3%) were KPC-2, 2 (1.7%) were NDM and 1 (0.8%) was IMP-22; 4 isolates were collected in 2012, 40 in 2013 and 77 in 2014. Ertapenem was more sensitive than imipenem or meropenem for screening for OXA-48-producing E. coli. Using the Warwick typing scheme, 59 different STs were identified, the most prevalent being ST131 (16.5%). The population diversity was higher among VIM-1-producing isolates (SDI = 81.5%) than among OXA-48-producing isolates (SDI = 44.8%). The Pasteur scheme had a higher discrimination capability (SDI = 55.4%) than the Warwick scheme (SDI = 48.8%). CONCLUSIONS A progressive increase in the prevalence of CP E. coli was observed, mainly due to the dissemination of OXA-48 producers. The most sensitive method for detecting decreased susceptibility of CP E. coli to carbapenems was disc diffusion with ertapenem using the EUCAST screening cut-offs. The spread of CP E. coli was due to a polyclonal population. The Pasteur scheme showed the highest discrimination power. Surveillance is crucial for the early detection of CP E. coli.

Objectives NDM carbapenemases have spread worldwide. However, little information exists about the impact of NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Spain. By WGS, we sought to elucidate the population structure of NDM-like-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Spain and to determine the plasmids harbouring blaNDM-like genes. Methods High-resolution SNP typing, core-genome MLST and plasmid reconstruction (PlasmidID) were performed on 59 NDM-like-producing K. pneumoniae and 8 NDM-like-producing E. coli isolated over an 8 year period in Spain. Results Five major epidemic clones of NDM-producing K. pneumoniae caused five important nationwide outbreaks: ST437/NDM-7, ST437/NDM-1, ST147/NDM-1, ST11/NDM-1 and ST101/NDM-1; in contrast, the spread of NDM-producing E. coli was polyclonal. Three blaNDM types were identified: blaNDM-1, 61.2%; blaNDM-7, 32.8%; and blaNDM-5, 6%. Five K. pneumoniae isolates co-produced other carbapenemases (three blaOXA-48 and two blaVIM-1). The average number of acquired resistance genes was higher in K. pneumoniae than in E. coli. The plasmids encoding blaNDM-like genes belonged to IncFII, IncFIB, IncX3, IncR, IncN and IncC types, of which IncF, IncR and IncC were associated with MDR. The genetic surroundings of blaNDM-like genes showed a highly variable region upstream of ISAba125. Conclusions In recent years NDM-producing K. pneumoniae and E. coli have emerged in Spain; the spread of a few high-risk K. pneumoniae clones such as ST437/NDM-7, ST437/NDM-1, ST147/NDM-1, ST11/NDM-1 and ST101/NDM-1 have caused several interregional outbreaks. In contrast, the spread of NDM-producing E. coli has been polyclonal. Plasmid types IncFII, IncFIB, IncX3, IncR, IncN and IncC carried blaNDM, and the same IncX3 plasmid was detected in K. pneumoniae and E. coli.

Thermal annealing was initially introduced for multiplexing purposes, since it can induce a permanent negative Bragg wavelength shift for polymer fibre grating sensors. At a later stage, it is shown that annealing can also provide additional benefits, such as strain and humidity sensitivity enhancement and augmented temperature operational range. In this paper, we report additional usage of thermal annealing on PMMA fibre Bragg grating sensors. We show the possibility to tune Bragg wavelengths to longer wavelengths permanently by stretching the polymer optical fibre during the thermal annealing process. An array of sensors fabricated with only one phase-mask, demonstrates the concept by having Bragg wavelengths below and above the original inscribed spectral position. In addition, we report that thermal annealing can be also used to enhance the performance of sensors when used for stress and force monitoring.

The title complex reacted with the aryl isocyanides CNXyl and CN(p-tol) rapidly at room temperature to yield the corresponding derivatives [Mo2Cp2(μ-PR∗)(CO)2(CNR)2] (Cp = η5-C5H5; R = Xyl, p-tol; R∗ = 2,4,6-C6H2tBu3) even when using 1 equiv of reagent. In contrast, reactions with 1 equiv of CNtBu yielded the isocyanide-bridged derivatives cis- or trans-[Mo2Cp2(μ-PR∗)(μ-η1:η2-CNtBu)(CO)2] depending on reaction conditions (Mo–Mo = 3.0818(3) and 3.1453(8) A, respectively). The cis isomer was computed to be 16 kJ/mol more stable than the trans isomer, and could be also prepared by heating petroleum ether solutions of the latter at 333 K, while reaction of excess CNtBu with the trans isomer yielded [Mo2Cp2(μ-PR∗)(CO)2(CNtBu)2]. The title complex reacted with Me2PCH2PMe2 (dmpm) to give the corresponding diphosphine-bridged derivative [Mo2Cp2(μ-PR∗)(CO)2(μ-dmpm)] or its chelate isomer [Mo2Cp2(μ-PR∗)(CO)2(κ2-dmpm)], depending on reaction conditions (Mo–Mo = 3.342(1) and 3.176(1) A, respectively), whereas its room-temperature reaction with PH2Cy involved a H-shift to the phosphinidene ligand, to give the bis(phosphide) derivative [Mo2Cp2(μ-PHCy)(μ-PHR∗)(CO)2]. Photolysis of the latter induced decarbonylation, C–H bond cleavage, and dehydrogenation, to eventually yield the triply-bonded phosphaindanide derivative [Mo2Cp2{μ-P(CH2CMe2)C6H2tBu2}(μ-PHCy)(μ-CO)] (Mo–Mo = 2.511(2) A). Density functional theory analysis of the bonding in the title complex revealed a substantial mixing of one of the δ components of the intermetallic triple bond with the pπ orbital of the phosphinidene ligand. As a result of this, the LUMO of the molecule is mainly centered at the P atom, but leads to little reactivity because of the steric protection provided by the ortho-tBu groups of the phosphinidene substituent. The electron-acceptor reactivity of the molecule is then dominated by the close LUMO+1 orbital, which has Mo–Mo antibonding character and is well suited for interaction with donors approaching the dimetal site from the less congested side of the molecule, located between the carbonyl ligands.

We report the epidemiological impact of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in Spain in 2012. Of the 237 carbapenemases detected, 163 were from the OXA-48 group, 60 were from VIM-1, 8 were from KPC-2, 5 were from IMP, and 1 was from NDM-1. Interhospital spread of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was due to a limited number of multilocus sequence types (MLST) and carbapenemase types, including ST15-VIM-1, ST11-OXA-48, ST405-OXA-48, ST101-KPC-2, and ST11-VIM-1. The number of CPE cases in Spain has increased sharply in recent years, due mainly to the emergence of OXA-48. This study was supported by the Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Program of the Spanish Centro Nacional de Microbiología of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Verónica Bautista was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofinanced by the European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe” ERDF, Spanish Network for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD12/0015). Sí

Background: IgG4-related disease is a systemic lymphoproliferative syndrome that shows IgG4-producing plasma cell expansion in affected organs with fibrotic or sclerotic changes. The lacrimal glands, salivary glands and pancreas are typically affected. We report a case of IgG4-related disease presenting a soft tissue tumor affecting skeletal muscle. Case Report: A 32-year-old man presented a soft tissue mass in his left arm. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spindle like, peripheral mass, in the lateral head of the triceps of his left arm. Tru-Cut Biopsy provided the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease affecting skeletal muscle. Glucocorticoid treatment was effective. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of IgG4-related disease affecting skeletal muscle and presenting a soft tissue mass.

Here we describe the clinical, microbiological, epidemiological, and molecular characterization of an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) involving 5 patients admitted to the internal medicine ward of our hospital. Over a 6-week period, 5 MRAB isolates were recovered from 5 patients, including 1 with fatal meningitis, 3 with skin and soft tissue infections, and 1 with respiratory colonization. One sample obtained during environmental monitoring in the ward was A. baumannii-positive. According to the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing results, the strains isolated from all patients and the environmental sample belonged to a single clone, identified as ST79 by multilocus sequence typing. The blaOXA-24 and blaOXA-51 carbapenemases were detected in all isolates. Four patients died, but only the death of the meningitis patient was probably related to the A. baumannii infection. The infection source was probably the hands of the healthcare workers because the outbreak strain was isolated from the surface of a serum container. The results of the present study revealed the importance of strict adherence to control measures by all healthcare workers because the consequences of noncompliance can be very serious.

Little information is available about pediatric infections caused by extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli . We characterized an outbreak caused by a CTX-M-14-producing E. coli isolate in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and studied other infections caused by ESBL-producing E. coli in non-NICU pediatric units. All children ≤4 years old who were infected or colonized by ESBL-producing E. coli isolates between January 2009 and September 2010 were included. Molecular epidemiology was studied by phylogroup analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multilocus sequence typing. Antibiotic resistance genes were analyzed by PCR and sequencing. Plasmids were studied by PFGE with S1 nuclease digestion and by incompatibility group analysis using a PCR-based replicon-typing scheme. Of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates colonizing or infecting the 30 newborns, identical PFGE results were observed for 21 (70%) isolates, which were classified as CTX-M-14-producing E. coli of ST23 phylogroup A. bla CTX-M-14a was linked to IS Ecp1 and was carried on an ∼80-bp IncK plasmid. A smaller ongoing outbreak due to SHV-12-producing ST131 E. coli was also identified in the same NICU. Fifteen additional infections with ESBL-producing E. coli were identified in non-NICU pediatric units, but none was caused by the CTX-M-14-producing E. coli epidemic clone. Overall, CTX-M-14 (71.1%), CTX-M-15 (13.3%), and SHV-12 (13.3%) were the most important ESBLs causing pediatric infections in this study. Infections of newborns with CTX-M-14-producing E. coli were caused by both clonal and nonclonal isolates.

The phosphinidene-bridged complex [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-PR*)(CO) 4 ] (R = 2,4,6- C 6 H 2 t Bu 3 ) experiences an intramolecular C-H bond cleavage from a t Bu group to give the phosphide-hydride derivative [Mo 2 -Cp 2 (μ-H){μ-P(CH2CMe2)C 6 H 2 t Bu 2 }(CO) 4 ] in refluxing diglyme (ca. 438 K) or under exposure to near-UV-visible light. In contrast, its exposure to UV light yields two different dicarbonyl derivatives depending on the reaction conditions, either the triply bonded [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-PR*)(μ-CO) 2 ] (Mo-Mo = 2.5322(3) A) or its isomer [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-κ 1 :κ 1 ,η 6 -PR*)(CO) 2 ], in which the phosphinidene ligand bridges asymmetrically the metal centers while binding its aryl group to one of the molybdenum atoms in a η 6 -fashion. The latter complex experiences a proton-catalyzed tautomerization to yield the cyclopentadienylidene-phosphinidene derivative [Mo 2 Cp(μ-κ 1 :κ 1 ,η 5 -PC 5 H 4 )(η 6 -R*H)(CO)2]. Carbonylation of the η 6 -phosphinidene complex proceeds stepwise through the η 4 -tricarbonyl complex [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-κ 1 :κ 1 ,η 4 -PR*)(CO) 3 ] and then to the starting tetracarbonyl compound, whereas its reaction with CN t Bu yields only the η 4 -complex [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-κ 1 :κ 1 ,η 4 -PR*)(CN t Bu)(CO) 2 ], which was characterized through an X-ray study. The η 4 -tricarbonyl species reacts with CN t Bu in tetrahydrofuran to give the metal-metal bonded derivative [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-PR*)(CN t Bu)(CO) 3 ]. In petroleum ether, however, this reaction yields the bis(isocyanide) derivative [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-PR*)(CN t Bu)2(CO) 3 ], which has an asymmetric trigonal phosphinidene bridge and no metal-metal bond. All the above results can be explained by assuming the operation of two primary processes in the photolysis of [Mo 2 Cp 2 (μ-PR*)(CO) 4 ], one of them involving a valence tautomerization of the phosphinidene ligand, from the trigonal (four-electron donor) to the pyramidal (two-electron donor) coordination mode. The carbonylation reaction of the η 6 -complex is accelerated by the presence of CuCl, due to the formation of the trimetal species [CuMo2(Cl)Cp 2 (μ-κ 1 :κ 1 :κ 1 ,η 6 -PR*)(CO) 2 ] and [CuMo 2 (Cl)-Cp 2 (μ-κ 1 :κ 1 :κ 1 ,η 4 -PR*)(CO)3]. The latter complexes were also characterized by single-crystal X-ray studies.

The unsaturated complexes [W2Cp2(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2] (Cp = eta5-C5H5; R = R' = Ph, Et; R = Et, R' = Ph) react with HBF4.OEt2 at 243 K in dichloromethane solution to give the corresponding complexes [W2Cp2(H)(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2]BF4, which contain a terminal hydride ligand. The latter rearrange at room temperature to give [W2Cp2(mu-H)(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2]BF4, which display a bridging hydride and carbonyl ligands arranged parallel to each other (W-W = 2.7589(8) A when R = R' = Ph). This explains why the removal of a proton from the latter gives first the unstable isomer cis-[W2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2]. The molybdenum complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2] behaves similarly, and thus the thermally unstable new complexes [Mo2Cp2(H)(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2]BF4 and cis-[Mo2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2] could be characterized. In contrast, related dimolybdenum complexes having electron-rich phosphide ligands behave differently. Thus, the complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-PR2)2(CO)2] (R = Cy, Et) react with HBF4.OEt2 to give first the agostic type phosphine-bridged complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-PR2)(mu-kappa2-HPR2)(CO)2]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.748(4) A for R = Cy). These complexes experience intramolecular exchange of the agostic H atom between the two inequivalent P positions and at room-temperature reach a proton-catalyzed equilibrium with their hydride-bridged tautomers [ratio agostic/hydride = 10 (R = Cy), 30 (R = Et)]. The mixed-phosphide complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)(mu-PPh2)(CO)2] behaves similarly, except that protonation now occurs specifically at the dicyclohexylphosphide ligand [ratio agostic/hydride = 0.5]. The reaction of the agostic complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)(mu-kappa2-HPCy2)(CO)2]BF4 with CN(t)Bu gave mono- or disubstituted hydride derivatives [Mo2Cp2(mu-H)(mu-PCy2)2(CO)2-x(CNtBu)x]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.7901(7) A for x = 1). The photochemical removal of a CO ligand from the agostic complex also gives a hydride derivative, the triply bonded complex [Mo2Cp2(H)(mu-PCy2)2(CO)]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.537(2) A). Protonation of [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)2(mu-CO)] gives the hydroxycarbyne derivative [Mo2Cp2(mu-COH)(mu-PCy2)2]BF4, which does not transform into its hydride isomer.

Reaction of the hydride complexes [M 2 Cp 2 (μ-H)(μ-PPh 2 )(CO) 4 ] (M = Mo, W; Cp = η 5 -C 5 H 5 ) with [FeCp 2 ]BF 4 proceeds in a 1:2 ratio to give the unsaturated tetracarbonyl salts [M 2 Cp 2 -(μ-PPh 2 )(CO) 4 ]BF 4 , which spontaneously (M = Mo) or in the presence of CO (M = W) transform into the corresponding electron-precise pentacarbonyls [M 2 Cp 2 (μ-PPh 2 )(μ-CO)-(CO) 4 ]BF 4 . In contrast, reaction of the above hydride complexes with [FeCp 2 ](BAr' 4 ) (Ar' = 3,5-C 6 H 3 (CF 3 ) 2 ) proceeds in a 1:1 ratio to give the paramagnetic salts [M 2 Cp 2 (μ-H)(μ-PPh 2 )-(CO) 4 ](BAr' 4 ). No further reaction takes place with [FeCp 2 ](BAr' 4 ) unless a proton acceptor such as water or tetrahydrofuran is present, in which case the corresponding salts [M 2 Cp 2 -(μ-PPh 2 )(CO) 4 ](BAr' 4 ) or [M 2 Cp 2 (μ-PPh 2 )(μ-CO)(CO) 4 ](BAr' 4 ) are rapidly formed. Reactions of the anions [M 2 Cp 2 (μ-PPh 2 )(CO) 4 ] - (as (H-DBU) + salts, DBU = 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene) with [FeCp 2 ]BF 4 proceed stepwise to give first the 33-electron radicals [M 2 Cp 2 (μ-PPh 2 )(CO) 4 ], which can be isolated as very air-sensitive green solids, and then the unsaturated salts [M 2 Cp 2 (μ-PPh 2 )(CO) 4 ]BF 4 , which are identical to those formed from the neutral hydrides. The structure and dynamic behavior of the new compounds are analyzed on the basis of solution IR, 1 H, 3 1 P, and 1 3 C NMR or ESR spectroscopic data. In addition, the redox and other chemical transformations connecting all the new compounds are??

The new hydride complexes [Mo2Cp2(µ-H)(µ-PHR)(CO)4] having bulky substituents (R = 2,4,6-C6H2tBu3 = Mes*, R = 2,4,6-C6H2Me3 = Mes) have been prepared in good yield by addition of Li[PHR] to the triply bonded [Mo2Cp2(CO)4] and further protonation of the resulting anionic phosphide complex [Mo2Cp2(µ-PHR)(CO)4]−. Protonation of the Mes* compound with either [H(OEt2)2][B{3,5-C6H3(CF3)2}4] or HBF4·OEt2 gives the cationic phosphinidene complex [Mo2Cp2(µ-H)(µ-PMes*)(CO)4]+ in high yield. In contrast, protonation of the analogous hydride compounds with Mes or Cy substituents on phosphorus give the corresponding unsaturated tetracarbonyls [Mo2Cp2(µ-PHR)(CO)4]+, which are unstable at room temperature and display a cis geometry. Decomposition of the latter give the electron-precise pentacarbonyls [Mo2Cp2(µ-PHR)(µ-CO)(CO)4]+, also displaying a cis arrangement of the metal fragments. In the presence of BF4− as external anion, fluoride abstraction competes with carbonylation to yield the neutral fluorophosphide hydrides [Mo2Cp2(µ-H)(µ-PFR)(CO)4]. Similar results were obtained in the protonation reactions of the hydride compounds having a Ph substituent on phosphorus. In that case, using HCl as protonation reagent gave the chloro-complex [Mo2ClCp2(µ-PHPh)(CO)4] in good yield. The structures and dynamic behaviour of the new compounds are analyzed on the basis of solution IR and 1H, 31P, 19F and 13C NMR data as well as the X-ray studies carried out on [Mo2Cp2(µ-H)(µ-PHMes)(CO)4] (cis isomer), [Mo2Cp2(µ-H)(µ-PFMes)(CO)4] (trans isomer), [Mo2Cp2(µ-PHCy)(µ-CO)(CO)4](BF4) and [Mo2ClCp2(µ-PHPh)(CO)4].

New hydrido complexes of the type [M2Cp2(μ-H)(μ-PRR‘)(CO)4] (M = Mo, W) have been prepared through the thermal reaction of [Mo2Cp2(CO)6] with HPCy2, H2PCy, or HPEt2 or the thermal reaction of [W2Cp...

Several isolates of four different carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae species were recovered from a patient hospitalized for 4 months in a teaching hospital in Madrid. These species comprised seven Klebsiella pneumoniae belonging to ST15, four Escherichia coli belonging to ST2531, two Serratia marcescens and one Citrobacter freundii. This patient was the index case of a small outbreak of four patients infected and/or colonized by carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae. Molecular results identified the blaOXA-48 gene in all Enterobacteriaceae isolates from the index case and in all isolates from the other three patients, suggesting intra- and interpatient dissemination. Our results highlight the great ability of OXA-48 carbapenemase to spread among different enterobacterial species by both clonal and nonclonal dissemination.

Structural studies of a series of tin(II) imido cubanes, [SnNR]4, containing donor-functionalised organic substituents (R), have allowed the systematic investigation of the factors controlling and affecting association of these architypal tin(II) complexes in the solid state. In addition to steric shielding of the Sn4N4 cores, intra- and inter-molecular O and N donation modifies or curtails association via Sn⋯Sn interactions, and can even facilitate fragmentation of the cubane cores.

The phosphide-bridged complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-P)(CO)2(η6-HR*)][BAr‘4] (1) [Cp = η5-C5H5; R* = 2,4,6-C6H2tBu3, Ar‘ = 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2] is deprotonated by KH in THF at 293 K to give the (cyclopentadienylidene)phosphinidene derivative [Mo2Cp(μ-κ1:κ1,η5-PC5H4)(η6-HR*)(CO)2]. In contrast, reaction with K[BHsBu3] at 213 K gives the cyclopentadiene complex [Mo2Cp(μ-P)(CO)2(η6-HR*)(η4-C5H6)], resulting from hydride attack at a carbon atom. This compound undergoes spontaneous C−H bond cleavage above 253 K to give the phosphinidene complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-PH)(CO)2(η6-HR*)], which turns out to be the direct product of the reaction of 1 with Li[BHEt3] in THF at 213 K. This thermally unstable species can be stabilized through reaction with BH3·THF, to give [Mo2Cp2{μ-κ1:κ1,η2-HPBH3}(CO)2(η6-HR*)], the first complex reported to have the phosphinidene−borane (HPBH3) ligand.

Here we describe the clinical, microbiological, epidemiological, and molecular characterization of an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) involving 5 patients admitted to the internal medicine ward of our hospital. Over a 6-week period, 5 MRAB isolates were recovered from 5 patients, including 1 with fatal meningitis, 3 with skin and soft tissue infections, and 1 with respiratory colonization. One sample obtained during environmental monitoring in the ward was A. baumannii-positive. According to the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing results, the strains isolated from all patients and the environmental sample belonged to a single clone, identified as ST79 by multilocus sequence typing. The blaOXA-24 and blaOXA-51 carbapenemases were detected in all isolates. Four patients died, but only the death of the meningitis patient was probably related to the A. baumannii infection. The infection source was probably the hands of the healthcare workers because the outbreak strain was isolated from the surface of a serum container. The results of the present study revealed the importance of strict adherence to control measures by all healthcare workers because the consequences of noncompliance can be very serious.

Most Escherichia coli resistant to quinolones are not haemolytic. The objective of this study was to determine the phylogroup, clonal relationship, mechanism of quinolone resistance and virulence factors in 70 haemolytic E. coli resistant to nalidixic acid. Sixty-six isolates contained the hlyA gene, belonged to phylogroup B2, and 61 of them presented low-level resistance to fluoroquinolones. Four isolates presented high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones, contained the clyA gene and were included in phylogroup D. One single isolate (phylogroup D, with low level resistance to fluoroquinolones) contained both cytotoxins. Supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain, co-financed by European Development Regional Fund “A way to achieve Europe” ERDF, Spanish Network for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD12/0015). Alicia Márquez-López was supported by the REIPI and has been supported by a grant from the Instituto de Formación e Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IFIMAV), Santander, Spain. We want to thank Eduardo López for his review of English version of the manuscript. Sí

Newborns are rarely infected by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing members of the Enterobacteriaceae. In a neonatal intensive care unit, 14 newborns were infected or colonized by CTX-M-15-producing Enterobacter cloacae. All seven infected patients had underlying medical conditions, and five of them were treated successfully with meropenem, whilst one untreated patient died. Paediatric infections caused by multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing Enterobacter cloacae constitute a critical clinical and epidemiological issue.