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Bioprospection for potential microbial biocontrol agents associated with three major insect pests of economic relevance for olive cultivation in the Mediterranean area, namely the olive fly, Bactrocera oleae, the olive moth, Prays oleae, and the olive psyllid, Euphyllura olivina, led to the isolation of several strains of readily cultivable Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria from Tunisian olive orchards. Determination of 16S ribosomal RNA encoding sequences identified the bacteria as members of the taxonomic genus Providencia (Enterobacterales; Morganellaceae). A more detailed molecular taxonomic analysis based on a previously established set of protein-encoding marker genes together with DNA-DNA hybridization and metabolic profiling studies led to the conclusion that the new isolates should be organized in a new species within this genus. With reference to their original insect association, the designation “Providencia entomophila” is proposed here for this hypothetical new taxon.

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BackgroundThis epidemiological study was carried out in Sfax (south of Tunisia) and focused on genital Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) genovar distribution.MethodsOne hundred and thirty seven genital samples from 4067 patients (4.2%) attending the Habib Bourguiba University hospital of Sfax over 12 years (from 2000 to 2011) were found to be C. trachomatis PCR positive by the Cobas Amplicor system. These samples were genotyped by an in house reverse hybridization method.ResultsOne hundred and eight (78.8%) samples contained only one genovar and 29 (21.2%) samples contained two or three genovars. Genovar E was the most prevalent (70.8%) single genovar and it was detected in 90.6% of all the cases. Genovars J, C and L1-L3 were not detected in our samples whereas ocular genovars A and B were in 5 cases. All the five cases were mixed infections. Men had more mixed infections than women (p=0.02) and were more frequently infected by genovars F and K (p<0.05). No associations between current infection, infertility and the genovar distribution were observed. Patients coinfected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae were also significantly more frequently infected with mixed genovars (p=0.04).ConclusionsIn conclusion, we have reported a high prevalence of genovar E and of mixed infections in our study population. Such data could have implications for the control and vaccine development of C. trachomatis in Tunisia.

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Aim To develop and evaluate an in‐house reverse hybridization technique for Chlamydia trachomatis genotype identification. Methods and Results The evaluation of the developed and optimized reverse hybridization method on reference strains showed the specific detection of all genotypes. This technique showed its ability to type one inclusion‐forming unit of C. trachomatis genotype E and equivalent sensitivity to the Cobas TaqMan assay. It was also able to detect mixed infections in vitro. Application of the reverse hybridization method on 38 isolated C. trachomatis strains and their respective swabs allowed the detection of six urogenital genotypes D, E, F, G, H and K and one trachoma genotype B. Genotype E was the most prevalent, detected in 73% of the swab samples. Mixed infections were detected in 26% of swab cases. Conclusion The reverse hybridization technique is simple and does not require specialized instruments. It is powerful in the diagnosis of mixed infections and is suitable for use in epidemiological studies. Significance and Impact of the Study This technique allowed rapid C. trachomatis genotype identification.