Members of the Bacillus cereus group are spore-forming organisms commonly associated with food poisoning and intestinal infections. Moreover, some strains of the group (i.e., B. cereus sensu stricto and Bacillus thuringiensis) can cause bacteremia in humans, mainly in immunocompromised individuals. Here we performed the genetic characterization of 17 human clinical strains belonging to B. cereus group isolated from blood culture. The whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that the isolates were closely related to B. cereus sensu stricto and B. thuringiensis–type strain. Multilocus sequence typing analysis performed on the draft genome revealed the genetic diversity of our isolates, which were assigned to different sequence types. Based on panC nucleotide sequence, the isolates were grouped in the phylogenetic groups III and IV. The NHE, cer, and inhA gene cluster, entA, entFM, plcA, and plcB, were the most commonly detected virulence genes. Although we did not assess the ability to generate biofilm by phenotypic tests, we verified the prevalence of biofilm associated genes using an in silico approach. A high prevalence of pur gene cluster, xerC, clpY, codY, tasA, sipW, sinI, and sigB genes, was found. Genes related to the resistance to penicillin, trimethoprim, and ceftriaxone were identified in most of the isolates. Intriguingly, the majority of these virulence and AMR genes appeared to be evenly distributed among B. cereus s.s. isolates, as well as closely related to B. thuringiensis isolates. We showed the WGS represents a good approach to rapidly characterize B. cereus group strains, being able to give useful information about genetic epidemiology, the presence of virulence and antimicrobial genes, and finally about the potential hazard related to this underestimated risk.

The ongoing outbreak of the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is characterized by sustained human-to-human transmission, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of the MPXV infection identified in Southern Italy. Clinical samples for each suspected case identified from 1 June to 1 August 2022 were tested for MPXV, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on two strains. Ten cases were identified: eight were young adult males, including six MSMs, and two were female. Nine subjects reported recent sexual exposure. One female subject without sexual exposure only reported attendance at a social gathering. Overall, 7 of 10 skin lesion samples had a high viral load of MPXV DNA, and 6/9 whole blood samples and 6/8 nasopharyngeal swab samples also tested positive. The analyzed sequences belonged to Clade 3, lineage B.1, and B.1.5, respectively. Despite this recent multinational outbreak of MPXV cases having revealed a high proportion of cases occurring among MSM, the identification of cases among heterosexual subjects and in a female subject without sexual risk factors should raise awareness among clinicians about the possible spread of MPXV in the general population.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology is currently increasingly used in diagnostic laboratories as a cost effective, rapid and reliable routine technique for the identification and typing of microorganisms. In this study, we used MALDI-TOF MS to analyze a collection of 160 strains belonging to the Bacillus cereus group (57 B. anthracis, 49 B. cereus, 1 B. mycoides, 18 B. wiedmannii, 27 B. thuringiensis, 7 B. toyonensis and 1 B. weihenstephanensis) and to detect specific biomarkers which would allow an unequivocal identification. The Main Spectra Profiles (MSPs) were added to an in-house reference library, expanding the current commercial library which does not include B. toyonensis and B. wiedmannii mass spectra. The obtained mass spectra were statistically compared by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) that revealed seven different clusters. Moreover, for the identification purpose, were generated dedicate algorithms for a rapid and automatic detection of characteristic ion peaks after the mass spectra acquisition. The presence of specific biomarkers can be used to differentiate strains within the B. cereus group and to make a reliable identification of Bacillus anthracis, etiologic agent of anthrax, which is the most pathogenic and feared bacterium of the group. This could offer a critical time advantage for the diagnosis and for the clinical management of human anthrax even in case of bioterror attacks.

In order to provide insights into the evolutionary and epidemiological viral dynamics during the current COVID-19 pandemic in South Eastern Italy, a total of 298 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 strains collected in the Apulia and Basilicata regions, between March 2020 and January 2021, were sequenced. The genomic analysis performed on the draft genomes allowed us to assign the genetic clades and lineages of belonging to each sample and provide an overview of the main circulating viral variants. Our data showed the spread in Apulia and Basilicata of SARS-CoV-2 variants which have emerged during the second wave of infections and are being currently monitored worldwide for their increased transmission rate and their possible impact on vaccines and therapies. These results emphasize the importance of genome sequencing for the epidemiological surveillance of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants’ spread.

The coding-complete sequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was obtained from a sample from a 25-year-old female returning to the Apulia region of Italy from England. The characterized strain showed all of the spike protein mutations defining SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01, as well as other mutations in the spike protein and in other genomic regions.