This survey was set up on a statistical sampling plan to determine the microbial quality of almonds as they are received at the processing plant. The total aerobic bacterial count and yeast and mold count distribution were skewed by a few high counts compared with the majority of relatively low coun...

The quality of minimally-processed carrots was studied during storage at 4 and 10 ?C by evaluating: (a) the physicochemical indices, namely: chlorogenic acid, carotenoids, sugars, and whiteness index (WI); (b) the microbial indices, namely: total bacterial count (TBC), coliforms, lactic acid bacteri...

Bactericides were applied to experimental open recirculating cooling-water systems at concentrations found to be effective under laboratory pure-culture conditions. Total aerobic plate counts and bacterial population structures were determined over a period of 48h. In all cases the total aerobic cou...

Each ground spice (Black Pepper, Turmeric, Ginger, Paprika and Basil), which was packaged into polyethylene film, was irradiated by electron beams at 5 different levels: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 kGy. Bacteriological tests for total bacterial count were carried out on spices before and after irradiation, but the tests for microfiora were carried out only before irradiation. Total bacterial count decreased in proportion to the level of electron beams. But the decreasing rate for Turmeric, Ginger and Basil was lower compared with that of other spices. The reason seems that rate of contamination by B. pumilus, which is thought as radiation resistant bacteria, was higher on these spices. (author)

Nonstained bacteria (NSB), rhodamine-stained bacteria (RSB), and fluorescence-labeled bacteria (FLB) were prepared from two enteric bacterial species, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Counts of CFU of NSB and RSB and total numbers of RSB and FLB were monitored over time, both in the prese...

The effects of bacterial injection, leg ablation and bacterial injection/leg ablation combination on cellular and biochemical parameters of the crab Carcinus aestuarii were evaluated. Total haemocyte count (THC), haemocyte volume, haemocyte proliferation, phenoloxidase (PO) activity in both haemocyte lysate (HL) and cell-free haemolymph (CFH) and CFH glucose levels were used as biomarkers of stress in crabs. After 24h following bacterial injection, no significant variation in THC were observed, whereas haemocyte diameter and volume decreased significantly in injected crabs with respect to controls. Haemocyte proliferation and glucose levels increased significantly in injected crabs, whereas no significant variations in PO activity was recorded between control and injected crabs. THC increa...

The aim of this study was to establish the particular biohydrogen-production related microbial community structure in a starch-feeding dark fermentation agitated granular sludge bed (AGSB) reactor which was operated under pH 6.0 and 5.5 as well as under different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The bacterial community diversity and percent of their cell count of the bioreactor were ascertained using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) individually. Based on the comparison of bacterial structure and hydrogen production efficiency under different HRT, no conclusion could be made on whether the diversity of Clostridium community could directly affect the reactor performance in these two pH systems. However, bacterial cell counts showed that the viable number of dominated Clostridium sp. changed along with the hydrogen production rate (HPR). It was believed that it could directly affect the hydrogen production efficiency. The highest HPR and hydrogen yield (HY) occurred when the reactor was operated at HRT 0.5 h, while the ratio of Clostridium sp. cell count and Bifidobacterium sp. cell count over the total Eubacteria cell count were around 40% and 40-60%, respectively. Therefore, we suggested that bacterial species which could degrade starch, such as Bifidobacterium sp. in this study, broke down starch into small molecules first and then these less complex compounds were utilized by the Clostridium species for hydrogen production. (author)

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and pharmacokinetic profiles of gentamicin, vancomycin, and levofloxacin in a rat air pouch model, in which Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25293) was used as the test organism. Antibiotic treatments (i.p.) were started 1 hour after bacterial inoculation and continued for 5 days. Bacterial counts and antibiotic concentrations were determined in pouch exudates that were obtained on the 5th day of antibiotic treatment. The following observations were made: 1) The concentrations of gentamicin or vancomycin in the exudate were found to be below the detection limit. 2) Levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin exhibited a dose-dependent effect on bacterial counts in the exudate. 3) The antibacterial efficacy of levofloxacin was found to be enhanced when the total daily dose of 10 mg was divided into smaller parts. The present study also showed that the air pouch infection model was a valuable tool to assess the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of antibiotics. PMID:22371910

The objective of this study was to evaluate the bacteriological quality of raw cow's milk utilized for the production of Traditional Minas Serro cheese, a Brazilian farmstead raw milk cheese. Raw milk samples were collected from six farmstead cheese operations manufacturing raw milk cheese from cow's milk. Coliform count (CC) and Escherichia coli counts were determined using Petrifilm™ EC plates, and Staphylococcus aureus counts were determined using Petrifilm™ Staph Express count plates. The standard plate count (SPC) was determined using plate count agar. The somatic cell count (SCC) was determined with a DeLaval cell counter. The detection of Listeria monocytogenes was based in the ISO 11290-1 protocol. A total of 165 samples were analyzed, and the SPC was 1.85-7.88 log CFU/mL. Coliform were detected in 140 (84.8%) of the 165 samples, with counts of 1-6.39 log CFU/mL. E. coli was detected in 17 (10.3%) samples, with counts of 1-2.18 log CFU/mL. The SCC in raw milk was 10,000-1,390,000 cells per mL, with mean and geometric mean values of 247,000 and 162,181, respectively. The SCC did not differ significantly between the seasons (p>0.05), but differed between different farms (pcheese has a low incidence of L. monocytogenes and a high incidence of S. aureus, and suggest that measurements (such as SCC or SPC) may not serve as a predictor of other bacterial (including pathogenic) presence. PMID:22217108

Aims: To identify the dominant culturable and nonculturable microbiota of rainbow trout intestine.Methods and Results: Microbial density of rainbow trout intestine was estimated by direct microscopic counts (4('),6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, DAPI) and by culturing on tryptone soya agar (TSA). Differential gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of bacterial DNA from intestinal samples, re-amplification of bands and sequence analysis was used to identify the bacteria that dominated samples where aerobic counts were less than or equal to2% of the DAPI counts. 16S rDNA gene sequences of 146 bacterial isolates and three sequences of uncultured bacteria were identified. A set of oligonucleotide probes was constructed and used to detect and enumerate the bacterial community structure of the gastrointestinal tract of rainbow trout by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Members of the gamma subclass of Proteobacteria (mainly Aeromonas and Enterobacteriaceae) dominated the bacterial population structure. Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Shewanella, Plesiomonas and Proteus were also identified together with isolates belonging to the beta subclass of Proteobacteria and Gram-positive bacteria with high and low DNA G + C content. In most samples, the aerobic count (on TSA) was 50-90% of the direct (DAPI) count. A bacterium representing a previously unknown phylogenetic lineage with only 89% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Anaerofilum pentosovorans was detected in intestinal samples where aerobic counts were less than or equal to2% of direct (DAPI) counts. Ten to 75% of the microbial population in samples with low aerobic counts hybridized (FISH) with a probe constructed against this not-yet cultured bacterium.Conclusions: Proteobacteria belonging to the gamma subclass dominated the intestinal microbiota of rainbow trout. However, in some samples the microflora was dominated by uncultivated, presumed anaerobic, micro-organisms. The bacterial population structure of rainbow trout intestine, as well as total bacterial counts, varied from fish to fish.Significance and Impact of the Study: Good correlation was seen between cultivation results and in situ analysis, however, a molecular approach was crucial for the identification of organisms uncultivated on TSA

Fresh dried and old dried sangari (Prosopis cineraria) were treated with 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.0 kGy of irradiation and subsequently stored at ambient temperatures. Proximate values and total bacterial counts were evaluated immediately after irradiation and at regular intervals of 1 month during 3 months of storage. No significant changes were found in moisture, fat, protein, ash and fiber contents. Total sugar content was increased in both control and irradiated samples possibly due to conversion of starch into sugars. Irradiation treatment reduces total bacterial counts of dried samples of both fresh and old dried sangari. However, a dose of 5.0 kGy completely decontaminated both sangari and there was no microbial growth in 5.0 kGy irradiated samples during the storage period. Irradiation at 5.0 kGy was enough to extend the shelf-life of dried sangari up to 3 months without any significant change in the nutritional qualities. - Highlights: > Sangari (Prosopis cineraria) was irradiated and stored at ambient temperature. > No significant changes were observed in proximate analysis during storage. > Starch content was decreased during storage at all irradiation doses. > A dose of 5 kGy was found appropriate to eliminate total bacterial counts.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in various herbal products. Twenty-nine herbal supplements (18 traditional and 11 organic products) were purchased from stores and analyzed microbiologically. Total bacterial counts were determined by pour plate and surface spreading on tryptic soy agar (TSA). Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were enumerated on TSA supplemented with ceftriaxone (64 microg/ml) or tetracycline (16 microg/ml). Total bacterial counts ranged from goldenseal contained low levels of resistant bacteria. Fifty-two isolates were further evaluated against nine antibiotics, and the prevalence of antibiotic resistance was in the following order: ampicillin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, ceftriaxone, and streptomycin. Resistant bacteria were identified as Bacillus spp., Erwinia spp., and Ewingella americana. Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacter cloacae, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia also were isolated. The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogens in these herbal products suggests that production and use of these products may need further evaluation. PMID:18680952

We present a single molecule method for counting proteins within a diffraction-limited area when using photoactivated localization microscopy. The intrinsic blinking of photoactivatable fluorescent proteins mEos2 and Dendra2 leads to an overcounting error, which constitutes a major obstacle for their use as molecular counting tags. Here, we introduce a kinetic model to describe blinking and show that Dendra2 photobleaches three times faster and blinks seven times less than mEos2, making Dendra2 a better photoactivated localization microscopy tag than mEos2 for molecular counting. The simultaneous activation of multiple molecules is another source of error, but it leads to molecular undercounting instead. We propose a photoactivation scheme that maximally separates the activation of different molecules, thus helping to overcome undercounting. We also present a method that quantifies the total counting error and minimizes it by balancing over- and undercounting. This unique method establishes that Dendra2 is better for counting purposes than mEos2, allowing us to count in vitro up to 200 molecules in a diffraction-limited spot with a bias smaller than 2% and an uncertainty less than 6% within 10 min. Finally, we demonstrate that this counting method can be applied to protein quantification in vivo by counting the bacterial flagellar motor protein FliM fused to Dendra2. PMID:18496517

Abstract in portuguese Padronizou-se um método de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) multiplex para detecção de Escherichia coli O157:H7 e avaliou-se a eficiência da PCR e de um método de cultivo convencional em placas na detecção desse patógeno experimentalmente adicionado em leite estéril e em leite cru com baixa contagem bacteriana total (média de 4,01 x 10³ UFC/ml) e com alta contagem bacteriana (média de 2,10 x 10(6) UFC/ml). Foram padronizadas duas reações de PCR com o u (more) so dos primers: "A" (RfbF; RfbR e FLICh7F/FLICh7R) e "B" (SLT-IF/SLTIR e SLT-IIF/SLT-IIR). A detecção de E. coli O157:H7 (1UFC/ml) a partir do leite estéril e do leite cru com baixa contaminação bacteriana foi possível quando se utilizou o método de contagem em placas e a PCR. A sensibilidade dos dois métodos foi menor quando se testou o leite cru com alta contaminação microbiana, sendo o método convencional mais sensível. Os resultados indicam que a presença de outros microrganismos, em alta quantidade no leite, dificulta a detecção de E. coli O157:H7 pelos métodos utilizados. Abstract in english This experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of the raw milk bacterial count on the efficiency of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction and a conventional plate count method for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. This pathogen was experimentally inoculated into sterile milk, raw milk with low bacterial count (count mean of 4.01 x 10³ cfu/ml) and, raw milk with high bacterial count (mean 2.10 x 10(6) cfu/ml). Two protocols of PCR were standardized u (more) sing primers "A" (Rfbf and Rfbr and FLICh7F/FLICh7R) and "B" (SLT-IF/SLTIR and SLT-IIF/SLT-IIR). Both conventional plate count and PCR methods were able to detect the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in either sterile milk or raw milk with low bacterial count initially inoculated with 1cfu of E. coli O157:H7 per ml. The sensibility of both methods for high-contaminated raw milk samples was lower, being the conventional approach more sensitive. These results indicate that high bacterial count in raw milk can affect E. coli O157:H7 detection.

Objectives The presence of bacterial biofilm, tolerance to antibiotics and dysfunctional activity of phagocytic cells are all related to difficulties in eradicating foreign-body infections. We aimed to quantify the presence of intracellular Staphylococcus aureus and to study the extent to which the intracellular activity of antibiotics might determine their efficacy against an experimental rat tissue-cage model of foreign-body infection. Methods Using this model, animals were treated for 7 days with 100 mg/kg/day levofloxacin or 200 mg/kg/12 h cloxacillin, or were left untreated. Antibiotic efficacy was evaluated by means of bacterial counts from tissue-cage fluid (TCF); these counts were derived separately in total, intracellular and extracellular bacteria. The presence of intracellular b...

Bacteria and virus particles were harvested from water samples by ultracentrifugation directly onto Formvar-coated electron microscopy grids and counted in a transmission electron microscope. With this technique, we have counted and sized bacteria and viruses in marine water samples and during laboratory incubations. By X-ray microanalysis, we could determine the elemental composition and dry-matter content of individual bacteria. The dry weight/volume ratio for the bacteria was 600 fg of dry weight microns-3. The potassium content of the bacteria was normal compared with previous estimates from other bacterial assemblages; thus, this harvesting procedure did not disrupt the bacterial cells. Virus particles were, by an order of magnitude, more abundant than bacteria in marine coastal waters. During the first 5 to 7 days of incubation, the total number of viruses increased exponentially at a rate of 0.4 day-1 and thereafter declined. The high proliferation rate suggests that viral parasitism may affect mortality of bacteria in aquatic environments.

Amino sugars (ASs), D-amino acids (D-AAs), and bacterial cell counts were measured in two Swiss lakes to study the contribution of bacterial cells to organic matter (OM) and the fate of ASs and bacterial amino biomarkers during OM degradation. Concentrations of individual ASs (glucosamine, galactosamine, muramic acid, and mannosamine) in the particulate and total OM pools were analyzed in water-column profiles of Lake Brienz (oligotrophic and oxic throughout the entire water column) and Lake Zug (eutrophic, stratified, and permanently anoxic below 170 m) in spring and in fall. Generally, carbon-normalized AS concentrations decreased with water depth, indicating the preferential decomposition of ASs. For Lake Brienz the relative loss of particulate ASs was higher than in Lake Zug, suggesting enhanced AS turnover in an oligotrophic environment. AS ratio changes in the water column revealed a replacement of plankton biomass with OM from heterotrophic microorganisms with increasing water depth. Similar to the ASs, highest carbon normalized D-AA concentrations were found in the upper water column with decreasing concentrations with depth and an increase close to the sediments. In Lake Zug, an increase in the percentage of D-AAs also showed the involvement of bacteria in OM degradation. Estimations of OM derived from bacterial cells using cell counts and the bacterial biomarkers muramic acid and D-AAs gave similar results. For Lake Brienz 0.2-14% of the organic carbon pool originated from bacterial cells, compared to only 0.1-5% in Lake Zug. Based on our estimates, muramic acid appeared primarily associated with bacterial biomass and not with refractory bacterial necromass. Our study underscores that bacteria are not only important drivers of OM degradation in lacustrine systems, they also represent a significant source of OM themselves, especially in oligotrophic lakes.

Abstract The present study aims to increase the shelf life of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fish using frozen green tea extract (GTE) with different concentrations (2, 4 and 6%, w/v). Biochemical characteristics (pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, trimethylamine-nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid), microbiological parameters (total viable bacterial count, psychrophilic bacteria and total mold and/or yeast count) and sensory quality outlines were determined during storage period at 4C. The results indicated that the samples stored on frozen GTE had better biochemical and microbiological characteristics, which resulted in increasing the shelf life of fish samples. The samples stored on frozen GTE with different concentrations (2, 4 and 6%, w/v) were rejected after 10, 14 and 14 days of ...

Abstract in english Ozonation tests with and without prior filtration by means of a 50 micron mesh cartridge filter were conducted with primary sanitary effluents. Filtration led to increased inactivation efficiencies with regard to total and thermotolerant coliforms but it did not seem to influence heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria inactivation efficiencies significantly. Application of the Chick-Watson model to experimental data obtained in the situation of constant inactivation sho (more) wed that the ozone dosage was more important to bacterial inactivation than the contact time with regard to the cases of thermotolerant coliform inactivation in filtered samples and HPC bacteria and total coliform inactivation in non-filtered samples.

Fillets of a hake, Merluccius merluccius hubbsi, were exposed to 2 kGy, 6 kGy, and 10 kGy of ionizing radIation from a Cobalt 60 source and were subsequently stored frozen at 0 degree C. Both these irradiated samples and control samples were examined to determine their bacterial counts and organoleptic qualities (texture, elasticity odor, color, and drip loss) for a period of seven weeks following the irradiation. The irradiated fillets showed an initial marked decrease in the total number of bacteria--amounting to roughly one order of magnitude for those exposed to 2 kGy and roughly three orders of magnitude for those exposed to 6 kGy and 10 kGy as compared to the controls. The samples irradiated with 6 and 10 kGy had bacterial counts well below the minimum acceptable level of 0.8 x 10(6) bacteria per gram for the entire seven-week study period. Regarding organoleptic quality, the fillets exposed to 2 kGy and 6 kGy were found to retain acceptable qualities for an average of about six weeks, somewhat longer than the controls and other irradiated samples. Considering both bacterial counts and organoleptic qualities, the most effective of the three radiation doses employed was 6 kGy.

There is an epidemiological association between influenza virus infection and meningococcal disease. Proposed mechanisms are the destruction of the normal epithelial barrier function of the upper respiratory tract by influenza virus or the expression of human or viral surface-exposed proteins that enhance bacterial adherence and/or invasion. To test these hypotheses, human nasopharyngeal mucosa specimens from a total of 19 individual donors were successfully infected with influenza B virus and then inoculated with serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis. Subsequent bacterial association with the epithelial surface was measured in three separate series of experiments by using transmission electron microscopy (n = 6), scanning electron microscopy (n = 6), and counting of viable bacteria within homogenates of explants (n = 7). Penetration of the mucosa was estimated by measuring the count of viable bacteria recovered from explants after exposure to sodium taurocholate. Bacterial association with the surface of explants was time dependent over 24 h of superinfection. Influenza virus did not positively or negatively influence bacterial attachment to or penetration of explant mucosa compared to those of uninfected controls, even when the period of preincubation with virus was extended to 7 days. When proteins were purified from mucosal epithelium and immobilized on nitrocellulose membranes, N. meningitidis attached predominantly to bands corresponding to proteins of 210 and 130 kDa. In the presence of influenza virus infection, these proteins were gradually lost over the course of 72 h. In conclusion, influenza B virus did not increase association of serogroup B N. meningitidis with human nasopharyngeal mucosa. PMID:10338524

Survival was measured as a function of the dose of germicidal UV light for the bacteria Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis spores, the enteric viruses poliovirus type 1 and simian rotavirus SA11, the cysts of the protozoan Acanthamoeba castellanii, as well as for total coliforms and standard plate count microorganisms from secondary effluent. The doses of UV light necessary for a 99.9% inactivation of the cultured vegetative bacteria, total coliforms, and standard plate count microorganisms were comparable. However, the viruses, the bacterial spores, and the amoebic cysts required about 3 to 4 times, 9 times, and 15 times, respectively, the dose required for E. coli. These ratios covered a narrower relative dose range than that previously reported for chlorine disinfection of E. coli, viruses, spores, and cysts.

Cereal products (soft and hard wheat) are a basic staple food in the Moroccan diet. A total of 60 samples of two types of wheat flours used for human consumption were collected; 30 samples among this collection were obtained from various households using Moroccan varieties of wheat produced in traditional flour mills. The rest of the samples were purchased from retail wheat flour sources in the Rabat and Sale city markets. Standard plate counts (SPC), total and faecal coliforms, Clostridium, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and molds, were carried out to assess the microbiological quality of wheat flour. Microbiological interpretation of the criteria was performed according to standards implemented by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Most frequent counts, in traditional and industrial wheat flour, were total aerobic mesophilic bacteria with an average 4 × 104 and 2.5 × 104 cfu/g, respectively. The results showed higher coliform and fungi counts in house than in commercial samples. Pathogenic flora as Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and Clostridium were not detected in all investigated samples. Bacterial strains isolated from both flours belong to the following genera: Enterobacter spp., Serratia spp., Klebsiella spp., Pantoea spp., Leclercia spp., Proteus spp. The most frequent genus of the investigated isolates was Aspergillus (81 %). Microbial counts were lower than the limit laid down in the Codex Alimentarius, attributing to these flours a satisfactory microbiological quality. PMID:22260306

Bacterial population dynamics were examined during bioremediation of an African soil contaminated with Arabian light crude oil and nutrient enrichment (biostimulation). Polymerase chain reaction followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were used to generate bacterial community fingerprints of the different treatments employing the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene as molecular marker. The DGGE patterns of the nutrient-amended soils indicated the presence of distinguishable bands corresponding to the oil-contaminated-nutrient-enriched soils, which were not present in the oil-contaminated and pristine control soils. Further characterization of the dominant DGGE bands after excision, reamplification and sequencing revealed that Corynebacterium spp., Dietzia spp., Rhodococcus erythropolis sp., Nocardioides sp., Low G+C (guanine plus cytosine) Gram positive bacterial clones and several uncultured bacterial clones were the dominant bacterial groups after biostimulation. Prominent Corynebacterium sp. IC10 sequence was detected across all nutrient-amended soils but not in oil-contaminated control soil. Total heterotrophic and hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial counts increased significantly in the nutrient-amended soils 2 weeks post contamination whereas oil-contaminated and pristine control soils remained fairly stable throughout the experimental period. Gas chromatographic analysis of residual hydrocarbons in biostimulated soils showed marked attenuation of contaminants starting from the second to the sixth week after contamination whereas no significant reduction in hydrocarbon peaks were seen in the oil-contaminated control soil throughout the 6-week experimental period. Results obtained indicated that nutrient amendment of oil-contaminated soil selected and enriched the bacterial communities mainly of the Actinobacteria phylogenetic group capable of surviving in toxic contamination with concomitant biodegradation of the hydrocarbons. The present study therefore demonstrated that the soil investigated harbours hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial populations which can be biostimulated to achieve effective bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil. PMID:21824988

Bacterial counts under liquid cultivation using 96-well microplates were performed. The counts under liquid and under solid cultivation were equivalent in foods, although the counts under liquid cultivation exceeded those under solid cultivation in seawater, suggesting that some bacteria in seawater were viable but did not form detectable colonies. Phylogenetic analysis of bacteria obtained under liquid cultivation was also performed.   

Microorganisms are an integral part of the biogeochemical processes in wetlands, yet microbial communities in sediments within constructed wetlands receiving acid mine drainage (AMD) are only poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize the microbial diversity and abundance in a wetland receiving AMD using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Seasonal samples of oxic surface sediments, comprised of Fe(III) precipitates, were collected from two treatment cells of the constructed wetland system. The pH of the bulk samples ranged between pH 2.1 and 3.9. Viable counts of acidophilic Fe and S oxidizers and heterotrophs were determined with a most probable number (MPN) method. The MPN counts were only a fraction of the corresponding FISH counts. The sediment samples contained microorganisms in the Bacteria (including the subgroups of acidophilic Fe- and S-oxidizing bacteria and Acidiphilium spp.) and Eukarya domains. Archaea were present in the sediment surface samples at < 0.01% of the total microbial community. The most numerous bacterial species in this wetland system was Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, comprising up to 37% of the bacterial population. Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans was also abundant.

The interaction between the gut microbiota and their mammalian host is known to have far-reaching consequences with respect to metabolism and health. We investigated the effects of eight days of oral antibiotic exposure (penicillin and streptomycin sulfate) on gut microbial composition and host metabolic phenotype in male Han-Wistar rats (n = 6) compared to matched controls. Early recolonization was assessed in a third group exposed to antibiotics for four days followed by four days recovery (n = 6). Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of the intestinal contents collected at eight days showed a significant reduction in all bacterial groups measured (control, 10(10.7) cells/g feces; antibiotic-treated, 10(8.4)). Bacterial suppression reduced the excretion of mammalian-microbial urinary cometabolites including hippurate, phenylpropionic acid, phenylacetylglycine and indoxyl-sulfate whereas taurine, glycine, citrate, 2-oxoglutarate, and fumarate excretion was elevated. While total bacterial counts remained notably lower in the recolonized animals (10(9.1) cells/g faeces) compared to the controls, two cage-dependent subgroups emerged with Lactobacillus/Enterococcus probe counts dominant in one subgroup. This dichotomous profile manifested in the metabolic phenotypes with subgroup differences in tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites and indoxyl-sulfate excretion. Fecal short chain fatty acids were diminished in all treated animals. Antibiotic treatment induced a profound effect on the microbiome structure, which was reflected in the metabotype. Moreover, the recolonization process was sensitive to the microenvironment, which may impact on understanding downstream consequences of antibiotic consumption in human populations. PMID:21591676

A greenhouse experiment was performed to evaluate effectiveness of goosegrass (Eleusine indica) in phytoremediation of soil contaminated with 8,247?mg?kg?1 of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). We determined seed germination toxicity, soil microbial viable counts, catalase activity, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and the concentrations of TPH and 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and plant tissue. After 5?months, the initial level of contamination was reduced by 47% in planted soil, whereas it was only reduced by 11% in nonplanted soil. Bacterial numbers were 72 times greater in the rhizosphere treated soil than in the unvegetated treatment at the end of the study. There was no correlation between microbial counts or DHA and catalase activity, and the correlation between m...

To investigate possible recycling of a brine solution for the production of salted cabbage (jeolimbaechu), bacterial cell counts in the brine solution and salted cabbages were measured after repeated salting processes. After a salting process with a 13% brine solution for 15 hr at 10?C, the salt concentration in brine and salted cabbage decreased to 9.0?9.9 and 1.5?3.2% (depending on parts), respectively. After 5 repetitions, the total microbial count in the brine solution and salted cabbage gradually increased to 8.9 and 8.7 log CFU/g, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCRDGGE) showed that the marine bacteria, Pseudoalteromonas sp. and Halomonas sp. appeared from the 3rd batch; their intensities increased steadily and dominated the recycled b...

Aim of the study was to evaluate the use of home-grown pea seeds as protein source in diets for lactating sheep. Two isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were fed to 12 mid-lactating Delle Langhe ewes for 73 days. The animals were fed with 1.5kg alfalfa hay and either 0.7kg commercial concentrate (control group, C) or 0.6kg home-grown pea-barley mix (experimental group, PB). The main protein sources in the supplements were sunflower meal and soybean seeds for C group, and pea seeds for PB group. Milk yield was recorded and milk samples were analysed for fat, protein, lactose, casein, solids non-fat, somatic cell count, total bacterial count and fatty acids. Results showed that milk yield and gross composition were not significantly affected by the supplementation types. Differences were i...

Abstract The present study aims to investigate physico-chemical and bacterial characteristics of Nasser Lake water and houses drinking water, as well as fish cultures and its wastewater, in three villages west of Lake Nasser, Egypt. Fifteen representative water samples (Nasser Lake, different drinking water, fish cultures, and wastewater sources) were collected from three villages (Garf Hussein, Bashaier, and Kalabsha) in the west of Lake Nasser. Physico-chemical, total viable counts, and bacterial qualification of water were achieved. The obtained results indicated that the produced water, supposed to be for domestic use in the three villages, contained all the tested organisms. The investigated water samples of the lake and drinking water in the selected three villages are supposed to be...

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the profiles of periodontopathogenic bacteria in a Chinese population using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Materials and methods Twenty-four periodontally healthy Chinese subjects and 60 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. qRT-PCR was used to quantify Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia as well as total bacterial counts from 252 samples collected from the saliva, supragingival plaque, and subgingival plaque of all 84 subjects. Results The detection frequency of A. actinomycetemcomitans was less than 50%. F. nucleatum was detected in all subjects and CP patients had higher bacterial loa...

Controlling bacterial growth in fluid milk is of economic interest, and supplemental methods to stop or reduce bacterial growth before and during the cooling chain may be valuable. Silver is effective in controlling growth of single-celled organisms, but has no effect on tissue cells. Smaller diameter (6-8nm) silver nanoparticles were produced, with purity over 99.99% (no chemical reaction used in the process), by using a terminated gas condensation principle. The first trial investigated effects of time, temperature, and accelerating voltages on total aerobic bacteria count in control milk and milk treated with silver nanoparticles. Metal braids were coated with silver nanoparticles using 3 accelerating voltages, 0, 100, and 200V, the results of which indicated that the braids coated usin...

The objective of the study was to evaluate the microbiological status of hides of grazing steers in a typical forage-based system in Uruguay. The study was conducted on a single farm with samples taken on 3 days during the spring of 2007. Four anatomical hide sites (perineum area, flank, back, and shoulder) of 10 steers were individually swabbed each sampling day at the farm environment (n = 120). Each sample was analyzed by the Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay for aerobic plate counts (APC), total coliform counts (TCC), and Escherichia coli counts (ECC). Mean log values for APC, TCC, and ECC on external animal hide surfaces, across all sampling sites, were 5.52, 1.89, and 1.70 log CFU/cm2, respectively. There were no significant differences among bacterial counts from the four hide surface locations. Mean log values for APC, TCC, and ECC were 1.49, 1.15, and 1.12 log CFU/cm2 lower, respectively, on sampling day 2 than on sampling day 3. Microbial populations on hides of grazing steers are highly variable and dependent on climatic and environmental conditions. To our knowledge this is the first study published evaluating the hygienic conditions of grazing livestock operations in Uruguay and their potential implications on the red meat chain. PMID:18810879

This study reports for the first time the induction of immunity in Antheraea assama Ww larvae against bacterial flacherie. In silkworms group of disease caused by bacteria are collectively called "flacherie." This refers to the flaccid condition of the larvae due to the infections of bacterial strains pathogenic to muga silkworm. Antibacterial activity against pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa AC-3 causing flacherie, was induced by injection of heat-killed cells of the same strain. Experiments on larval survivability and viable cell count revealed peak immune response on third day. Comparison of the amount of food ingested, excreta produced and larval weight of the saline-injected control, live bacteria-challenged larvae and heat-killed bacteria-injected larvae "(vaccinated)" confirmed the development of immunity against bacterial infection in the "vaccinated" set. The haemolymph of A. assama larvae was analyzed for proteins associated with bacterial infection. Out of the total 32 detected proteins, eleven (A1-2, A15-20, A22-23, and A29) were constitutively synthesized in both the control and live bacteria-injected larvae. Four inducible proteins A4, A9-10, and A21 were detected in the haemolymph of the live bacteria-injected larvae. Synthesis of rest of the proteins varied between the control and their live bacteria-injected counterparts. General protein profile of "vaccinated" larvae injected with live bacteria were found to be similar to that of the saline-injected control. PMID:15172214

Observations on biofilm formation in industrial air-cooling units were made over a 60-day operational period. Methods employed included: epifluorescent direct counts of water and slime samples, enumeration of culturable bacteria in water and slime samples, and ultrastructural observations of microbial attachment to formvar coated grids and epoxy resin blocks. Acridine orange direct counts and culturable counts of bacteria in water samples remained constant over the 60-day cycle, while culturable counts in slime samples increased with time. Interfering fluorescent materials present in the slime made accurate direct counts difficult to obtain. Initial increases in numbers of bacteria on formvar coated grids and culturable counts of slime samples were positively correlated with time. However, after 14 days, the formvar deteriorated and direct transmission electron microscopic bacterial counts could no longer be obtained. Submersion of epoxy resin blocks, especially those with pitted surfaces, provided an excellent method for the observation of bacterial attachment and colonization. 21 references, 3 figures.

Air artificially contaminated with increasing concentrations of benzene was treated in a laboratory scale compost-packed biofilter for 240 days with a removal efficiency of 81-100%. The bacterial community in the packing material (PM) at different heights of the biofilter was analysed every 60 days. Bacterial plate counts and ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) of the isolated strains showed that the number of cultivable aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and the species diversity increased with benzene availability. Identification of the isolated species and the main bands in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles from total compost DNA during the treatment revealed that, at a relatively low volumetric benzene load (1.2VBLVBL value (24.8 g m(-3) (PM) h(-1)) ensuring the maximum elimination capacity of the biofilter (20.1 g m(-3) (PM) h(-1)), strains affiliated to the genus Rhodococcus dominated the microflora, followed by beta-proteobacteria comprising the genera Bordetella and Neisseria. Under these conditions, more than 35% of the isolated strains were able to grow on benzene as the sole carbon source. Comparison of DGGE and automated RISA profiles of the total community and isolated strains showed that a complex bacterial succession occurred in the reactor in response to the increasing concentrations of the pollutant and that cultivable bacteria played a major role in benzene degradation under the adopted conditions. PMID:16502043

Ruminal microbial populations, fermentation characteristics, digestibility, and liquid flow rates in two ruminally cannulated bison and two ruminally cannulated Hereford steers fed a prairie hay diet were compared. No significant differences in anaerobic bacterial counts, volatile fatty acid concent...

Heterotrophic bacterial communities in water and sediment samples from 3 sites in a reservoir receiving acid mine drainage water were studied for stress-related changes due to the pollution. Acridine range direct counts and heterotrophic plate counts were made. Community similarity and numbers of acid and metal tolerant isolates were determined. Bacterial diversity was lower in water polluted by acid mine drainage and there were reduced numbers of heterotrophic bacteria.

Diarrhoea is a hallmark of HIV infections in developing countries, and many diarrhoea-causing agents are often transmitted through water. The objective of the study was to determine the diversity and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacterial organisms isolated from samples of household drinking-water consumed by HIV-infected and AIDS patients. In the present study, household water stored for use by HIV-positive patients was tested for microbial quality, and isolated bacterial organisms were analyzed for their susceptibility profiles against 25 different antibiotics. The microbial quality of water was generally poor, and about 58% of water samples (n=270) were contaminated with faecal coliforms, with counts varying from 2 colony-forming unit (CFU)/100 mL to 2.4x10? CFU/100 mL. Values of total coliform counts ranged from 17 CFU/100 mL to 7.9x10?/100 mL. In total, 37 different bacterial species were isolated, and the major isolates included Acinetobacter lwoffii (7.5%), Enterobacter cloacae (7.5%), Shigella spp. (14.2%), Yersinia enterocolitica (6.7%), and Pseudomonas spp. (16.3%). No Vibrio cholerae could be isolated; however, V. fluvialis was isolated from three water samples. The isolated organisms were highly resistant to cefazolin (83.5%), cefoxitin (69.2%), ampicillin (66.4%), and cefuroxime (66.2%). Intermediate resistance was observed against gentamicin (10.6%), cefepime (13.4%), ceftriaxone (27.6%), and cefotaxime (29.9%). Levofloxacin (0.7%), ceftazidime (2.2%), meropenem (3%), and ciprofloxacin (3.7%) were the most active antibiotics against all the microorganisms, with all recording less than 5% resistance. Multiple drug resistance was very common, and 78% of the organisms were resistant to three or more antibiotics. Education on treatment of household water is advised for HIV-positive patients, and measures should be taken to improve point-of-use water treatment as immunosuppressed individuals would be more susceptible to opportunistic infections. PMID:23082625

Sponges can filter large amounts of water, which exerts an important grazing impact on free bacteria, an important component of the diet of sponges. We examined the accumulation of bacteria in the Demospongiae (Hymeniacidon perlevis). Analyses were performed on homogenates from unstarved and starved sponges in seawater from their sampling site (the Ionian Sea). Culturable heterotrophic bacteria (22 degrees C), total culturable bacteria (37 degrees C) and vibrios densities were measured on marine agar 2216, plate count agar and TCBS agar, respectively. Total and fecal coliforms, as well as fecal streptococci, were determined by the most probable number method (MPN). H. perlevis was able to accumulate all of the six microbiological groups. Bacterial groups differed in their resistance to digestion by H. perlevis. Our data suggest that H. perlevis may accumulate, remediate and metabolize bacteria and that they may be employed as a useful bioindicator and bioremediator. PMID:20434181

The 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE and rpoB quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) techniques were used to evaluate the effects of dietary flavomycin and florfenicol on the autochthonous intestinal microbiota of hybrid tilapia. The fish were fed four diets: control, dietary flavomycin, florfenicol and their combination. After 8?weeks of feeding, 6 fish from each cage were randomly chosen for the analysis. The total number of intestinal bacteria was determined by RQ-PCR. The results showed that dietary antibiotics significantly influenced the intestinal microbiota and dramatically reduced the intensity of total intestinal bacterial counts. The intensity of some phylotypes (EU563257, EU563262 and EU563255) were reduced to non-detectable levels by both dietary antibiotics, while supplementation of florfenicol to the d...

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of two nights of sleep deprivation with or without energy restriction on immune indices at rest and in response to cold exposure. On three randomised occasions ten males slept normally [mean (SD): 436 (21)?min?night?1; CON], were totally sleep-deprived (SDEP), or were totally sleep-deprived and 90% energy-restricted (SDEP?+?ER) for 53?h. After 53?h (1200?h) participants performed a seated cold air test (CAT) at 0.0?C until T re decreased to 36.0?C. Circulating leucocyte counts, neutrophil degranulation, stress hormones and saliva secretory IgA (S-IgA) were determined at 0?h, 24?h, 48?h, pre-CAT, post-CAT, 1-h and 2-h post-CAT. One night on SDEP increased bacterially stimulated neutrophil degranulation (21%, P?P?T re decreased to 35.9 (0...

The effect of basal dietary supplemented with vegetable oils plus vitamin E (sunflower, soybean, linseed and a basal diet control), type of packaging (MAP or vacuum), addition of natural antioxidant (grape seed, rosemary) and storage time (0, 7, 14 and 21days) on lipid oxidation, color stability, vitamin E content, and total aerobic bacterial counts in steaks of Longissimus thoracis was studied. The triple interaction dietxtimexpackaging affected oxidative stability, redness and yellowness of the meat. TBARS values did not increase with time in vacuum-packaged samples for all dietary treatments. However, samples from MAP and control showed the highest TBARS values after 21days of storage (0.72mg MDA/kg of meat, P<0.05). Both exogenous antioxidant extracts and MAP maintained low total aerob...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bulk tank milk (BTM) quality of 9 East Tennessee dairy farms and to determine its relationship with selected quality milk parameters. Bulk tank milk samples (n=1,141) were collected over a 42-mo period (June 2006 through November 2009) from farms, based on their preliminary incubation count (PIC) history. Parameters of BTM quality evaluated in this study included somatic cell count (SCC), standard plate count (SPC), PIC, laboratory pasteurization count (LPC), Staphylococcus spp. count, Streptococcus spp. count, and coliform count. Strong correlations between SPC and Streptococcus spp. counts (0.72) and between SPC and PIC (0.70) were found. However, moderate correlations were seen among other milk quality parameters. In addition, seasonal variations for some milk quality parameters were noted. For example, milk quality parameters such as SCC, SPC, LPC, and coliform count were significantly higher in summer, whereas Streptococcus spp. counts were significantly higher in winter. No seasonal variation in PIC or Staphylococcus spp. counts was observed. Summarizing, results from this investigation showed the importance of using several bacterial counts (SCC, SPC, PIC, LPC, Streptococcus spp. count, Staphylococcus spp. count, and coliform counts) as simultaneous indicators of milk quality. PMID:22818441

Prokaryotic diversity in Aran-Bidgol salt lake, a thalasohaline lake in Iran, was studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), cultivation techniques, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified fragments of 16S rRNA genes and 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. Viable counts obtained (2.5-4×106 cells mL-1) were similar to total cell abundance in the lake determined by DAPI direct count (3-4×107 cells mL-1). The proportion of Bacteria to Archaea in the community detectable by FISH was unexpectedly high and ranged between 1:3 and 1:2. We analyzed 101 archaeal isolates and found that most belonged to the genera Halorubrum (55%) and Haloarcula (18%). Eleven bacterial isolates obtained in pure culture were affiliated with the genera Salinibacter (18.7%), Salicola (18.7%) and Rhodovibrio (35.3%). Analysis of inserts of 100 clones from the eight 16S rRNA clone libraries constructed revealed 37 OTUs. The majority (63%) of these sequences were not related to any previously identified taxa. Within this sampling effort we most frequently retrieved phylotypes related to Halorhabdus (16% of archaeal sequences obtained) and Salinibacter (36% of bacterial sequences obtained). Other prokaryotic groups that were abundant included representatives of Haloquadratum, the anaerobic genera Halanaerobium and Halocella, purple sulfur bacteria of the genus Halorhodospira and Cyanobacteria.   

Prokaryotic diversity in Aran-Bidgol salt lake, a thalasohaline lake in Iran, was studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), cultivation techniques, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified fragments of 16S rRNA genes and 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. Viable counts obtained (2.5—4 × 106 cells mL-1) were similar to total cell abundance in the lake determined by DAPI direct count (3—4×107 cells mL-1). The proportion of Bacteria to Archaea in the community detectable by FISH was unexpectedly high and ranged between 1:3 and 1:2. We analyzed 101 archaeal isolates and found that most belonged to the genera Halorubrum (55%) and Haloarcula (18%). Eleven bacterial isolates obtained in pure culture were affiliated with the genera Salinibacter (18.7%), Salicola (18.7%) and Rhodovibrio (35.3%). Analysis of inserts of 100 clones from the eight 16S rRNA clone libraries constructed revealed 37 OTUs. The majority (63%) of these sequences were not related to any previously identified taxa. Within this sampling effort we most frequently retrieved phylotypes related to Halorhabdus (16% of archaeal sequences obtained) and Salinibacter (36% of bacterial sequences obtained). Other prokaryotic groups that were abundant included representatives of Haloquadratum, the anaerobic genera Halanaerobium and Halocella, purple sulfur bacteria of the genus Halorhodospira and Cyanobacteria.   

Chicken litter is produced in large quantities from all types of poultry raising activities. It is primarily used for land application, thus it is essential to analyze its properties before it is released to the environment. The objective of this study is to compare the microbiological and chemical properties of litter generated from layer and broiler chickens reared under intensive and free-range production systems. The microbiological analysis consisted of the enumeration of total bacteria, total coliforms, Staphylococcus species, Salmonella species and Clostridium perfringens. Chicken litter from layers reared under intensive and free range systems showed lower mean total bacterial count than the litter collected from chicken broilers reared under either of the two systems (P = 0.0291). The litter from intensive layers had the lowest mean total coliform counts (P = 0.0222) while the lowest Staphylococcus species count was observed in the litter from free-range layers (P = 0.0077). The C. perfringens count was the lowest in chicken litter from intensively raised broilers and layers (P = 0.0001). The chemical properties of litter from the different chicken types and production systems were compared based on determination of pH, electrical conductivity, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, cadmium and zinc. Litter from free-range broilers showed the highest pH value (P = 0.0005); however, the electrical conductivity was higher in the litter from both intensive and free-range layers compared to the litter from both broiler production systems (P = 0.0117). Chicken litter from intensive systems had higher nitrogen content than litter from free-range systems (P = 0.0000). The total phosphorus was the lowest in free-range broiler litter (P = 0.0001), while the total potassium was the lowest in litter from intensively managed broilers (P = 0.0000). Zinc appeared higher in litter from layers compared to that from broilers (P = 0.0101). The cadmium content was higher in the litter from free-range broilers and layers compared to that in the litter from intensively managed systems (P = 0.0439). Staphylococcus species in the litter as well as cadmium concentrations seem to be the most critical parameters presenting risks on the environment and on human health. Based on the lowest coliform counts (an indication of water pollution), the high nutrient levels and the low cadmium values, litter from intensively managed layers appears as the most suitable for application on agricultural soils.

Although it is known that Palk Bay sediments harbor diverse and novel bacteria with important ecological and environmental functions, a comprehensive view of their molecular diversity is still lacking. In the present study, bacterial diversity in Palk Bay sediments was characterized using the molecular method terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (T-RFLP). The bacterial assemblages detected by T-RFLP analysis revealed that the nearshore sediment harbored high number of bacterial count, whereas the 2.5-m sediment harbored diverse and distinct bacterial composition with fine heterogeneity. The major bacterial groups detected in all the three sediment samples were Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria (including alpha (α), gamma (γ), delta (δ), and epsilon ...

The effect of storage at various temperatures on the bacterial community of a cooling-water sample and a tap-water sample was determined. Samples were stored at 4, 10, 20 and 30 degrees C for 24, 48, 72 and 216 h and the aerobic plate count and bacterial community structure of each were determined u...

In this study, the bacterial growth dynamics of a drinking water distribution system at low nutrient conditions was studied in order to determine bacterial growth rates by a range of methods, and to compare growth rates in the bulk water phase and the biofilm. A model distribution system was used to quantify the effect of retention times at hydraulic conditions similar to those in drinking water distribution networks. Water and pipe wall samples were taken and examined during the experiment. The pipes had been exposed to drinking water at approximately 131C, for at least 385 days to allow the formation of a mature quasi-stationary biofilm. At retention times of 12 h, total bacterial counts increased equivalent to a net bacterial growth rate of 0.048 day1. The bulk water phase bacteria exhibited a higher activity than the biofilmbacteria in terms of culturability, cell-specific ATP content, and cell-specific leucine incorporation rate. Bacteria in the bulk water phase incubated without the presence of biofilmexhibited a bacterial growth rate of 0.30 day1. The biofilmwas radioactively labelled by the addition of 14C-benzoic acid. Subsequently, a biofilmdetachm ent rate of 0.013 day1 was determined by measuring the release of 14C-labelled bacteria of the biofilm. For the quasi-stationary phase biofilm, the detachment rate was equivalent to the net growth rate. The growth rates determined in this study by different independent experimental approaches were comparable and within the range of values reported in the literature. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Total gastric resection is known to lead to changes in the microflora in the whole gastrointestinal tract. Dietary short-chain fructooligosaccharides (Sc-FOS) have been shown to also induce a change in the microflora in the large bowel by promoting an increase in the numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus which have beneficial effects on the host. In the present study, 4-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats received total gastrectomy or laparotomy, and each of these surgically treated groups was randomly divided into two experimental diet groups and given a 7.5% Sc-FOS diet or control diet. Enumeration and identification of the cecal bacteria was performed by using selective and non-selective media. In the gastrectomized rats, the total bacterial count, and the counts of Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were higher than those in the sham-operated rats. Sc-FOS promoted an increase in the numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, In the rats fed on the Sc-FOS diet, the predominant type of bacteria was Lactobacillus and in the rats fed on the control diet, it was Bacteroidaceae irrespective of gastrectomy. We confirmed that both gastrectomy and dietary Sc-FOS changed the composition of cecal microflora in the rats. Dietary Sc-FOS in the gastrectomized rats increased the proportions of Lactobacillus relative to other types of bacteria to levels similar to those seen in healthy normal rats, and decreased the proportion of Bacteroidaceae.   

To assess the microbiological quality and safety of export game meat; i) a total of 80 pooled meat samples for aerobic plate count (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae ii) water used in harvesting and processing for microbiological quality and iii) meat and rectal contents for Salmonella spp. and Shiga toxin Escherichia coli (STEC) were evaluated in 2009 and 2010. No differences (p>0.05) in the APCs were observed between the years, but the mean Enterobacteriaceae count for 2009 was 1.33±0.69log(10)cfu/cm(2) compared to 2.93±1.50log(10)cfu/cm(2) for 2010. Insignificant Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) levels were detected in 9/23 field water samples, while fecal bacterial (coliforms, Clostridium perfringens and enterococci) were absent in all samples. No Salmonella spp. was isolated and all E. coli isolates from meat were negative for STEC virulence genes (stx1, stx2, eae and hlyA), suggesting a negligible role by springbok in the epidemiology of STEC and Salmonella. PMID:22944735

This study evaluated the effects of a commercial prebiotic, Immunogen, on feed utilization, growth rate, immunity promotion and carcass composition of the common carp Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. The fingerlings were adopted for 2 weeks and then reared in triplicate groups in 250-l tanks (n = 15 per tank with average initial weights of 11.12 ± 0.55 g). The fish fed on five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets containing different levels of Immunogen (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.5 g prebiotic/kg diet) to apparent satiation thrice a day for 8 weeks. Weight gain showed no differences among the groups fed different Immunogen levels. Both feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing Immunogen levels from 0.5 to 1.5 g/kg diet. The highest protein content (p < 0.05) was found in the fish fed a diet containing 2.5 g/kg prebiotic. Haematological parameters and plasma total protein concentration were also significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the fingerlings fed diets containing 1.5 and 2.5 g/kg prebiotic in relation to the control. The control fish contained the highest mean of total bacterial counts. The lowest mean (p < 0.05) of total bacterial counts was observed in the fish fed the diet containing 2.5 g/kg Immunogen. The present study reveals that a dietary Immunogen supplementation from 1 to 1.5 g/kg is capable to improve the feed efficiency and growth performance of C. carpio fingerlings as well as their resistance to A. hydrophila infection. PMID:21707781

This study demonstrates the first use of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) to trace the Invivo infection kinetics of the well known deadly pathogen Staphylococcus aureus in Swiss albino mice. The growth curve of the bacteria from the point of injection (200mL of bacterial suspension (10^8cfu/mL)) into the mouse blood till mortality (death) was periodically analyzed using the plate counting method and MALDI-MS. Bacterial counts of 10^3cfu/mL were observed in the log phase of the growth curve in the blood and 10^2cfu/mL were observed in the urine samples. Death occurred in the log phase of the growth curve, where the bacterial counts showed steady increase. In other cases, the bacteria counts started decreasing after 48h and by 96h the bacteria got tota...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Bacterial blood stream infections constitute a significant public-health problem and it is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV infected patients. Little is known in developing countries regarding salmonella bacteraemia among HIV patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the bacterial pathogens causing blood stream infection among febrile adults attending in a tertiary hospital North-Western, Tanzania. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study involving 346 consecutive, febrile adult patients admitted at Bugando Medical Centre was conducted. Demographic and other data were collected using standardized questionnaires. Blood culture was done followed by susceptibility testing using disc diffusion method. HIV testing was also performed as per Tanzania national algorithm and total white blood cell counts and CD4+ counts determined. RESULTS: Of 346 febrile adult patients 33 (9.5 %) had blood stream infections. The common isolates were Salmonella spp 13(39.4%), Escherichia coli 8 (24.2%), Streptococcus pneumonia 5(15.2%), Staphylococcus aureus 4(12.1%), Citrobacter spp 1(3%), Streptococcus pyogenes 1(3%) and Klebsiella pneumonia 1(3%). A total of 156 (45.1%) patients were HIV infected; of whom 12/156 (7.6%) were infected by no-typhoid Salmonella spp compared to 1/190 (0.5%) of non-HIV infected patients (RRR 11.2, p=0.029) infected with Salmonella typhi. HIV infected patients with bacteraemia had significantly lower CD4+ count than those without bacteraemia (median 28 vs. 88 cells/ml, p=0.01). Patients with salmonella bacteraemia had significantly lower median of WBC than those with non-salmonella as well as those without bacteraemia (median, 3.6 vs. 17.5 vs. 9.8x109, p=0.0001). All Salmonella spp were sensitive to ceftriaxone and imipenem, while being 84%, 69.2%, 38% and 8% resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, sulphamethaxazole/trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin respectively. Predictors of mortality were HIV infection (OR 2.3, p=0.006), Glasgow coma score of less than 15 (OR 3.4, p=0.0001) and night sweats (OR 2.4, p=0.014). CONCLUSION: Non-typhoid Salmonella spp that are highly resistant to common antibiotics are predominant cause of bacterial blood stream infection among HIV patients attending Bugando Medical Centre. Continuous surveillance and intervention strategies should be put in place to monitor and manage cases of bloodstream infections in HIV-positive patients in Mwanza, Tanzania. PMID:23075077

Pre-established doses were applied to Panax ginseng powders for determining the effects of {gamma}-irradiation on the quality of samples from the microbiological, some physico-chemical and organoleptic points of view. Irradiation at 5 kGy was sufficient not only to reduce total bacterial counts (1.28 x 10{sup 5}/g) by about 3 orders of magnitude but to eliminate coliforms, yeast and molds during three months of storage at 30{sup 0}C and 50-60% RH. An established dose of 5 kGy caused little change in pH, acidity, TBA number, pigments, color, and overall acceptability of the sample, however there was a significant change in color and appearance of the irradiated sample at 10 kGy where all microorganisms were destroyed. (author).

The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of somatic cell count (SCC) thresholds to identify subclinical mastitis in Gyr cows caused by major and minor pathogens; (2) to study the effects of month of sampling, rear or front mammary quarters, herd, intramammary infection (IMI), and bacterial species on SCC at quarter level; and (3) to describe the prevalence of IMI in Gyr cows in commercial dairy herds. In total, 221 lactating Gyr cows from 3 commercial dairy farms were selected. Milk samples were collected from individual quarters once a month for 1 yr from all lactating cows for SCC and bacteriological analysis. Mammary quarters were considered the experimental units and the SCC results were log10-transformed. Four SCC thresholds (100, 20...

Nine tuna dumpling products were purchased at nine retail markets in southern Taiwan. Occurrence of biogenic amines, histamine-forming bacteria, and adulteration of pork and poultry were determined. This study showed the high contents of aerobic plate count, total coliform and Escherichia coli in tested tuna dumpling products. Average content of various biogenic amines in all tested samples was less than 2.0mg/100g. Fifteen histamine-producing bacterial strains isolated from tested samples produced 8.7-466ppm of histamine in trypticase soy broth supplemented with 1.0% l-histidine (TSBH). Assay of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed adulteration rates were 88.9% (8/9) and 33.3% (3/9) for pork and poultry, respectively, in tuna dumpling. In addition, six samples of tuna dumpli...

Summary Effect of turmeric and lemongrass essential oils (Eos) and their mixture on quality of green mussel stored at 4-C was investigated. The mixture of 0.25% turmeric and 0.25% lemongrass Eos could lower microbiological and chemical deterioration of mussel as evidenced by the lower microbial counts, total volatile base, ammonia, trichloroacetic acid-soluble peptide contents and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, compared with the control (P--0.05). It indicated that a mixture of turmeric and lemongrass Eos in mussel showed synergistic effect on the retardation of bacterial growth and lipid oxidation. However, samples treated with 0.5% lemongrass oil exhibited the higher likeness score for odour and flavour, compared with the samples treated with other Eos throughout the storage of...

Summary Changes in microbiological and biochemical quality of clams (Ruditapes decussatus) subjected to low doses of gamma irradiation (0.5 and 1 kGy) were investigated during alive storage, at 5 degreeC. The mortality rate was significantly lower for irradiated clams compared with the control. In the same way, ammonia content was lower for irradiated clams (especially 1 kGy irradiated group). Considerable levels of total mesophiles, coliforms, staphylococcus, faecal streptococcus and Escherichia coli were detected in the control and irradiation had immediately reduced these charges; all bacteria studied experienced a 1- to 3-log reduction following 1 kGy irradiation. At the last day of storage, irradiated groups showed a noticeable reduction in the bacterial counts, whereas the mesophiles...

Raw vegetables are usually contaminated by a variety of microorganisms. Post-harvest microflora differs considerably, reflecting environmental and handling conditions and might compromise the safety of the product and the consumer's health. Dipping or rinsing of vegetables in bleach solution is a common practice employed by the retailers and catering companies in order to minimize the initial bacterial load on the surface of vegetables. Rinsing or dipping vegetables in water saturated with ozone could be an alternative environmental friendly and safer process since no harmful by-products or residues are formed. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) dipped in chlorinated water (20 ppm) resulted in 1 log decrease of the total microbial count in the first 15 min. Immersi...

Summary Six strains of novel bacteria were isolated from profundal sediment of Lake Constance, a deep freshwater lake in Germany, by direct dilution of the sediment in mineral agar medium containing a background lawn of the hydrogen-scavenging Methanospirillum hungatei as a syntrophic partner. The numbers of colony-forming units obtained after incubation for more than 2 months were in the same range as those of total bacterial counts determined by DAPI staining (up to 108 cells per millilitre) suggesting that these organisms were dominant members of the community. Identical dilution series in the absence of methanogenic partners yielded numbers that were lower by two to three orders of magnitude. The dominant bacteria were isolated in defined co-culture with M. hungatei, and were further c...

A commercial production was analysed at six stages during ripening. Water content, pH and bacterial counts were followed, and volatile compounds from sausages were extracted by dynamic headspace sampling and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Total concentrations of all classes increased during ripening. Pepper compound concentrations peaked in the middle of the ripening period. Lipid oxidation products increased especially towards the end of ripening, in particular, the compounds 2-heptanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-heptanone and 2-nonanone. Surface moulds probably caused 4-heptanone to appear late in the processing. Benzeneacetaldehyde was absent in fresh mince, but increased to become one of the most abundant volatiles. Compounds from carbohydrate catabolism disappeared during the processing.

Experimental batches of smoked-cured pork in stewed beans sauce were inoculated with spores of psychrotrophic Bacillus cereus, more heat and radiation resistant than spores of non-proteolytic C. botulinum. After vacuum packaging, the meals were treated with combinations of pasteurizing heat treatments and gamma irradiation of 5 kGy. Prior and after treatments, and periodically during storage at 10 deg. C, total aerobic and total anerobic viable cell counts, and selectively, the viable cell counts of B. cereus and sulphite-reducing clostridia have been determined. The effects of the treatment order as well as addition of nisin to enhance the preservative efficiency of the physical treatments were also studied. Heat-sensitization of bacterial spores surviving irradiation occurred. The quality-friendly sous-vide cooking in combination with this medium dose gamma irradiation and/or nisin addition increased considerably the microbiological safety and the keeping quality of the meals studied. However, approx. 40% loss of thiamin content occurred as an effect of combination treatments, and adverse sensorial effects may also limit the feasible radiation doses or the usable concentrations of nisin.

Hydrocarbon phytoremediation by Cyperus laxus Lam. growing on perlite and inoculated with hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms was evaluated. Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were extracted from weathered soil (60.7 g of TPH kg(-1) of dry soil) and spiked on perlite at initial concentration of 5 g of TPH kg(-1) of dry perlite. Phenological characteristics, total microbial viable counts, hydrocarbon degraders and residual hydrocarbons were determined through 180 days of culture. Phenological characteristics of inoculated plants were improved as compared with non-inoculated plants: root biomass was 1.6 times greater, flowering time was reduced (13%), and the number of inflorescences was 1.5 times higher. The rhizospheric bacterial and fungi counts were higher for planted treatments (inoculated and not inoculated) than for unplanted pots. The maximum phytoremediation rate (0.51 mg of TPH g(-1) of dry plant d(-1)) for inoculated plants was reached at 60 days of culture, and was two times higher than for non-inoculated plants (55% TPH removal). Similar hydrocarbon phytoremediation extent values for inoculated (90%) and non-inoculated (85%) plants were obtained at 180 days of culture. The present study demonstrated that mutual benefits between C. laxus and inoculated hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms are improved during phytoremediation. It is pertinent to note that this is the first report of hydrocarbon phytoremediation by Cyperus laxus Lam., a native plant growing in highly contaminated swamps. PMID:15763093

Abstract in portuguese As águas da região do mangue de Cananéia foram analisadas bacteriológicamente, com o objetivo de estabelecer seu grau de contaminação. As contagens aeróbicas variaram significativamente nas várias épocas, locais e marés, com um máximo de 13.000 bactérias/ml e um mínimo de 21/ml, ao passo que as contagens de coliformes mostraram variação significativa somente segundo os diversos locais com um máximo de 1.600 e um mínimo de 3/ml. O grupo Pseudomonas/Achromo (more) bacter abrangeu a mais alta percentagem da flora total com cerca de 60%. As características bioquímicas das linhagens deste grupo são mais sacarolíticas do que proteolíticas, certamente devido ao grande número de diatomáceas presentes. Abstract in english Waters of the mangrove swamp at Cananeia were analysed bacteriologically aiming the determination of the degree of bacterial contamination. Aerobic counts varied significantly by season, tide and station with the highest of 13,000 and the lowest of 21/ml while coliform counts showed significant variation only by station with the highest of 1,600 and the lowest of 3 per ml. Pseudomonas-Achromobacter group comprised the highest percentage of the total flora at the level of (more) around 60%. The biochemical characteristic of the strains of this group are more saccharolytic than proteolytic, certainly due to the great number of diatoms present.

The antimicrobial and anticariogenic properties of a copper varnish (experimental mixture of Doc's Best Red Copper cement and Copalite varnish, Cooley and Cooley, Ltd, Houston, TX, USA: designated in this study as "Copper Seal") on the root surface were evaluated in an in vitro microbial caries model. Fifty-six human root specimens were prepared from anterior teeth and randomly divided into four groups: Groups 1 and 3-Copper Seal; Group 2-chlorhexidine varnish, the positive control (Cervitec, Ivolcar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) and Group 4-a negative control that received no treatment. The varnishes were painted in Groups 1, 2 and 3, then visually removed after 24 hours in Group 1. The specimens were demineralized in a microbial caries model for five days. Plaque was collected from the specimens to obtain bacterial colonization numbers, then the specimens were sectioned and analyzed for lesion extent using Confocal Laser Scanning microscopy. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the four groups in terms of bacterial count. Regarding caries lesion development, the group with copper varnish visually removed (Group 1) and the non-treated group (Group 4) had significantly greater total area caries lesions and total lesion fluorescence than the copper varnish without removal group (Group 3) and the chlorhexidine group (Group 2). Therefore, it was concluded that copper and chlorhexidine varnishes have anticariogenic effects on root surfaces, as tested in this model. PMID:18435187

Background: Pollen information is indispensable for allergic individuals and clinicians. This study aimed to develop forecasting models for the total annual count of airborne pollen grains based on data monitored over the last 20 years at the Mie Chuo Medical Center, Tsu, Mie, Japan. Methods: Airborne pollen grains were collected using a Durham sampler. Total annual pollen count and pollen count from October to December (OD pollen count) of the previous year were transformed to logarithms. Regression analysis of the total pollen count was performed using variables such as the OD pollen count and the maximum temperature for mid-July of the previous year. Results: Time series analysis revealed an alternate rhythm of the series of total pollen count. The alternate rhythm consisted of a cyclic alternation of an "on" year (high pollen count) and an "off" year (low pollen count). This rhythm was used as a dummy variable in regression equations. Of the three models involving the OD pollen count, a multiple regression equation that included the alternate rhythm variable and the interaction of this rhythm with OD pollen count showed a high coefficient of determination (0.844). Of the three models involving the maximum temperature for mid-July, those including the alternate rhythm variable and the interaction of this rhythm with maximum temperature had the highest coefficient of determination (0.925). Conclusions: An alternate pollen dispersal rhythm represented by a dummy variable in the multiple regression analysis plays a key role in improving forecasting models for the total annual sugi pollen count.   

Bacterial counts were compared in free-stall mattresses and teat ends exposed to 5 treatments in a factorial study design on 1 dairy farm. Mattresses in five 30-cow groups were subjected to 1 of 5 bedding treatments every other day: 0.5 kg of hydrated limestone, 120 mL of commercial acidic conditioner, 1 kg of coal fly ash, 1 kg of kiln-dried wood shavings, and control (no bedding). Counts of coliforms, Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus spp. were lowest on mattresses bedded with lime. Mattresses bedded with the commercial acidic conditioner had the next lowest counts for coliforms, Klebsiella spp., and Streptococcus spp. Wood shavings and the no-bedding control had the highest counts for coliform and Klebsiella spp. Compared with wood shavings or control, fly ash reduced the counts of coliforms, whereas for the other 3 bacterial groups, the reduction was not always significant. Streptococcus spp. counts were greatest in the control group and did not differ among the shavings and fly ash groups. Teat swab results indicated that hydrated lime was the only bedding treatment that significantly decreased the counts of both coliforms and Klebsiella spp. There were no differences in Streptococcus spp. numbers on the teats between any of the bedding treatments. Bacterial populations grew steadily on mattresses and were generally higher at 36 to 48 h than at 12 to 24 h, whereas bacterial populations on teats grew rapidly by 12 h and then remained constant. Hydrated lime was the only treatment that significantly reduced bacterial counts on both mattresses and teat ends, but it caused some skin irritation.

Urbanization and industrialization has increased the strength and qualities of municipal sewage in Bangalore, India. The disposal of sewage into natural water bodies became a serious issue. Byramangala reservoir is one such habitat enormously polluted in South India. The water samples were collected from four hotspots of Byramangala tank in 3 months. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and bacterial counts were determined. The fecal coliforms were identified by morphological, physiological, and biochemical studies. The antibiotics sensitivity profiling of isolated bacteria were further carried out. We have noticed that a high content of BOD in the tank in all the 3 months. The total and fecal counts were found to be varied from 1.6?×?10(6) to 8.2?×?10(6)?colony forming unit/ml and >5,500/100 ml, respectively. The variations in BOD and total count were found to be statistically significant at p?>?0.05. Many pathogenic bacteria were characterized and most of them were found to be multidrug resistant. Salmonella showed resistance to cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefixime, moxifloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam, co-trimoxazole, levofloxacin, trimethoprim, and ceftazidime. Escherichia coli showed resistance to chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, co-trimoxazole, rifampicin, and nitrofurantoin while Enterobacter showed resistant to ampicillin, cefepime, ceftazidime, cefoperazone, and cefotaxime. Klebsiella and Shigella exhibited multiple drug resistance to conventional antibiotics. Staphylococcus showed resistance to vancomycin, methicillin, oxacillin, and tetracycline. Furthermore, Salmonella and Klebsiella are on the verge of acquiring resistance to even the strongest carbapenems-imipenem and entrapenem. Present study revealed that Byramanagala tank has become a cesspool of multidrug-resistant "superbugs" and will be major health concern in South Bangalore, India. PMID:23114918

White blood cell (WBC) count is a common clinical measure from complete blood count assays, and it varies widely among healthy individuals. Total WBC count and its constituent subtypes have been shown to be moderately heritable, with the heritability estimates varying across cell types. We studied 1...

Abstract in portuguese Desejando colher informações sobre os aspectos bacteriológicos da indústria pesqueira da região sul do Brasil, com o objetivo de verificar onde e como poderia ser melhorada a situação vigente em relação à qualidade do pescado fresco, foram estudadas as condições microbiológicas existentes na pesca de arrasto de alto-mar e de parelhinhas de sol-a-sol, pesca com traina e pesca da baleia, assim como na água de lavagem, gelo e caixas de madeira utilizadas no aco (more) ndicionamento e manipulação do pescado. A pesquisa foi levada a efeito por meio de contagens totais de bactérias aeróbicas e em meio de extrato-de-peixe/peptona/agar, e contagem de bactérias coliformes em meio de agar/bile/vermelho-violeta, usando o método do número-mais-provável. O pescado capturado pelas parelhinhas apresentou nos locais de pesca, contagens de 10(5) - 10(7) bactérias por cm² de superfície da pele, mantendo nível quase idêntico no porto de descarga, com presença constante de bactérias coliformes. O peixe de arrasto de alto-mar demonstrou ter um número de bactérias igual a 10³ por cm² de superfície da pele, elevando-se a 10(4) - 10(6) ou números mais altos, no porto de descarga. Na pesca de traineira e da baleia o número de bactérias contadas atingir a 10(5) - 10(6) por ocasião da descarga. O número de bactérias das condições ambientes demonstrou ser alto: 10(5) - 10(6) bactérias por cm² da superfície do convés, 10(5) - 10(6) por cm² da superfície interna das caixas de madeira, 10(5) - 10(6) por ml de gelo derretido e 10³ - 10(4) por ml da água de lavagem retirada do canal de Santos, com presença constante de bactérias coliformes. São discutidos e sugeridos alguns métodos para melhorar as condições bacteriológicas acima mencionadas. Recomenda-se o uso da clorotetraciclina pelo método de imersão ou como aditivo ao gelo, cloração e filtração da água do canal para fins de lavagem e uso de caixas mais limpas para o acondicionamento do peixe. Abstract in english In order to obtain information on bacteriological aspects of the South Brazilian fish industry, with the object of finding out where and how to improve the actual situation for the better quality of fresh fish, microbiological conditions in short distance trawling, long distance trawling, purse-seining, whaling, wash-water, ice and wooden fish boxes, were studied by means of total aerobic counts on peptone-fish-extract-agar and coliform bacterial counts on violet-red-bile (more) -agar and by the most probable number method. In short distance trawling, fish at capture showed 10(5) - 10(7) level of bacterial counts per cm² of skin surface, and an almost equal level at landing with ordinary presence of coliform bacteria. In long distance trawling, bacterial count at capture was 10³ per cm² of skin surface and at landing, 10(4) - 10(6) or higher. In purse-seining and whaling, 10(5) - 10(6) level contamination was obtained at landing. Fishery environmental conditions showed rather high bacterial counts of 10(5) - 10(6) per cm² of deck surface, 10(5) - 10(6) per cm² of used wooden fish boxes (inside surface), 10(5) - 10(6) per ml of melted ice, and 10³ - 10(4) per ml of wash-water from canal, with the usual presence of coliform bacteria. Some methods to improve the above mentioned bacteriological conditions were discussed. The use of chlortetracycline in immersion method or as an additive to ice, chlorination and filtration of canal water for washing purpose, and the use of cleaner fish boxes are recommended.

The antibiotic protein synthesis inhibitor chloramphenicol specifically blocked the incorporation of (35 S) sulfate into the residue protein of two marine bacteria, Pseudomonas halodurans and Alteromonas luteo-violaceus. Simultaneous inhibition of total protein synthesis occurred, but incorporation of 35 S into low-molecular-weight organic compounds continued. A. luteo-violaceus rapidly autolyzed, with similar reduction in cell counts, total culture protein and cellular sulfur, whereas P. halodurans remained viable. Treatment with chloramphenicol, growth during nitrogen and carbon limitation, and the carbon and energy sources used for growth did not alter the sulfur content of P. halodurans protein. The mean value (1.09%, by weight), representing a wide variety of environmentally relevant growth conditions, was in agreement with model protein composition. The variability of cellular composition of P. halodurnas and A. luteo-violaceus is discussed with respect to the measurement of bacterial growth in natural environments. Total carbon and nitrogen per cell varied greatly (coefficient of variation, ca. 100%) depending on growth conditions. Variation in total sulfur and protein per cell was much less (coefficient of variation, less than 50%), but the least variation was found for sulfate incorporation into residue protein (coefficient of variation, ca. 15%). Thus, sulfate incorporation into residue protein can be used as an accurate measurement of de novo protein synthesis in these bacteria. (Refs. 26).

Boerewors is a South African fresh sausage preserved with 450mg/kg sulphur dioxide (SO(2)). The preservative effects of rosemary (Ros; 260mg/kg) and chitosan (Chi; 10g/kg) were compared to SO(2). Eight boerewors models were formulated. Microbial, colour, lipid and sensory characteristics were evaluated. Chi and Chi in combination with other preservatives had a significant effect on reducing total bacterial, coliform and Enterobacteriaceae counts, comparable to SO(2). Chi, however, had a better effect on decreasing yeasts and mould counts than SO(2). Chi showed good colour properties comparable to SO(2). Ros showed comparable lipid stability to SO(2) but better when compared to Chi. Ros had a better effect on the sensory taste when compared to Chi, but SO(2) was still preferred. Reduced levels of 100mg/kg SO(2) showed good antimicrobial and colour effects in combination with Chi and in combination with Ros as antioxidant and improving the sensory properties. Alternative preservatives can be used to reduce the SO(2) content of boerewors. PMID:22326060

The remediation of drilling mud-polluted sites in the Southeast of Mexico is a top priority for Mexican oil industry. The objective of this work was to find a technology to remediate these sites. A field trial was performed by composting in biopiles, where four 1ton soil-biopiles were established, one treatment in triplicate and one unamended biopile. Amended biopiles were added with nutrients to get a C/N/P ratio of 100/3/0.5 plus a bulking agent (straw) at a soil/straw ratio of 97/3. Moisture content was maintained around 30-35%. Results showed that, after 180 d, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations decreased from 99300+/-23000mgTPHkg(-1) soil to 5500+/-770mgTPHkg(-1) for amended biopiles and to 22900+/-7800mgTPHkg(-1) for unamended biopile. An undisturbed soil control showed no change in TPH concentrations. Gas chromatographic analysis showed residual alkyl dibenzothiophene type compounds. Highest bacterial counts were observed during the first 30 d which correlated with highest TPH removal, whereas fungal count increased at the end of the experimentation period. Results suggested an important role of the straw, nutrient addition and water content in stimulating aerobic microbial activity and thus hydrocarbon removal. This finding opens an opportunity to remediate old polluted sites with recalcitrant and high TPH concentration. PMID:16997351

The microbial composition and its spatial distribution of Grana Trentino, a hard Parmesan-like cheese, was determined, from vat milk to cheese. After cutting along the vertical axis of the cheese wheels, three layers were sampled diagonally across the cheese: under the cheese rind, an intermediate section and the cheese core. After two different ripening periods (9 and 18 months), the cheese samples were analysed using traditional culture dependent and culture independent methods. Milk samples were dominated by mesophilic and psychrophilic bacterial counts. Thermophilic bacteria (Lactobacillus helveticus) were found in high amounts in cooked whey and natural whey starter cultures. After 9 months of ripening, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts were higher than those after 18 months. Furthermore, the LAB numbers in the cheese core was lower than those under the rind or in the intermediate section. The main LAB species isolated from milk (Lactococcus lactis, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Streptococcus uberis and Lactococcus garvieae) were not found in the corresponding cheeses. Some differences were observed in the species composition among the three cheese sections. Microbiota under the rind and in the intermediate section was similar and dominated by Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The core, after 18 months of ripening, was characterized by a total absence of LAB. In each sample, all LAB were genotypically grouped and the different biotypes were subjected to several technological tests indicating that some non-starter LAB (NSLAB) displayed technological features that are favorable for the production of Grana Trentino cheese. PMID:21943677

The paper presents the methodology followed in order to define the relationship between the removal of inorganic and/or viable particulates and a commercial electrostatic precipitator, FEMEC like configured. Inorganic aerosols needed to control the efficiency removal were generated through an ultrasonic home humidifier, while a bacterial characterised air flow was obtained directly from the duet work of the central heating and cooling system serving the environmental analyses laboratory of the University of Ancona. Microbiological analyses were performed by a traditional plate count method. The difference between the amount of viable bacteria evaluated on plate count data, in the presence of electrostatic filtration, results statistically significative. Bacterial removal by electrostatic filtration resulted on an average of 79% of the samples analysed. [Italian] Il presente lavoro riassume la metodologia seguita per la definizione del rapporto esistente fra il funzionamento di un filtro elettrostatico commerciale a piastre doppio stadio tipo FEMEC e l'abbattimento sia di particolato inorganico sia di particolato di tipo biologico vivo, provenienti da impianti di termoventilazione. La generazione di particolato inorganico e' stata realizzata tramite generatore ultrasonico alimentato con soluzione salina di solfato di ammonio. La carica batterica in ingresso al filtro e' stata ottenuta direttamente dall'impianto di climatizzazione di tipo misto al servizio del laboratorio chimico ambientale dell'Universita' di Ancona. Nelle condizioni operative impiegate e' stata verificata una differenza statisticamente significativa dell'abbattimento della carica batterica totale ottenuta tramite filtrazione elettrostatica dell'aria. Il risultato dei conteggi nei campioni di aria filtrati evidenzia un conteggio nullo nel 79%, contro un 37% nei prelievi eseguiti in assenza di filtrazione.

For the first time, we report the fabrication of a titanium bacterial chip for MALDI-MS produced from a simple, cost effective and rapid heat treatment process. This bacterial chip can be reused many times and is highly versatile. These bacterial chips serve dual roles: (1) They can be applied as MALDI-MS target plates for direct and highly sensitive bacterial analysis. (2) They can be used as bacterial sensors for direct analysis of the captured bacteria using MALDI-MS. The sensitivity of these chips when used as bacterial sensors is <103cfu/mL. The lowest detectable concentration for direct MALDI-MS analysis was found to be 104cfu/mL. The results were further justified by using standard plate counting method combined with Tukey–Kramer statistical analysis and fluorescence...

Obesity is a consequence of a complex interplay between the host genome and the prevalent obesogenic factors among the modern communities. The role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of the disorder was recently discovered; however, 16S-rRNA-based surveys revealed compelling but community-specific data. Considering this, despite unique diets, dietary habits and an uprising trend in obesity, the Indian counterparts are poorly studied. Here, we report a comparative analysis and quantification of dominant gut microbiota of lean, normal, obese and surgically treated obese individuals of Indian origin. Representative gut microbial diversity was assessed by sequencing fecal 16S rRNA libraries for each group (n=5) with a total of over 3000 sequences. We detected no evident trend in the distribution of the predominant bacterial phyla, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. At the genus level, the bacteria of genus Bacteroides were prominent among the obese individuals, which was further confirmed by qPCR (P less than 0.05). In addition, a remarkably high archaeal density with elevated fecal SCFA levels was also noted in the obese group. On the contrary, the treated-obese individuals exhibited comparatively reduced Bacteroides and archaeal counts along with reduced fecal SCFAs. In conclusion, the study successfully identified a representative microbial diversity in the Indian subjects and demonstrated the prominence of certain bacterial groups in obese individuals; nevertheless, further studies are essential to understand their role in obesity. PMID:22922190

Abstract in english Antibiotic-resistant coliform bacteria from raw and treated water from activated sludge of a sewage treatment plant were isolated on eosin methylene blue agar (EMB) plates in the separate presence of ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and streptomycin. Antibiotic resistant coliforms obtained from inflow and effluent waters were studied to determine influences of treatment on the species composition, resistance patterns and transferable resistance in these bacteria. (more) The bacterial counts obtained showed a high proportion of antibiotic resistant coliforms in the treated effluent. The resistant coliform species were eliminated at different rates by the treatment. Escherichia coli decreased, whereas the proportion of Klebsiella sp increased. The percentage of multiple-resistant isolates increased at the end of the treatment process. The high frequency of resistance was to ampicillin, followed by tetracycline and sulpha-trimethoprim. Moderate incidence of resistance was to streptomycin, chloramphenicol and cephradine. The lowest rate of resistance was to kanamicin and nalidixic acid. Mating experiments of multiple-resistant coliforms with an E. coli K-12 donor confirmed the capability of transferring its resistance. The results of this study suggested that wastewater treatment could reduce the total number of enteric bacteria in sewage, but may increase the proportion of antibiotic resistant coliforms in effluent water. Environmental release and agricultural use of treated sewage effluent containing bacteria having elevated antibiotic resistance levels presents a potential public health risk, as well as the risk of transferring the antibiotic resistance to bacterial populations in the environment.

Membranes with antibacterial properties were developed using surface modification of polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes. Three different modification strategies using polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer (LbL) technique are described. The first strategy relying on the intrinsic antibacterial properties of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) exhibits only little antibacterial effects. The other two strategies contain silver in both ionic (Ag(+)) and metallic (Ag(0)) form. Ag(+) embedded into negatively charged poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) layers totally inhibits bacterial growth. Ag(0) nanoparticles were introduced to the membrane surface by LbL deposition of chitosan- and poly(methacrylic acid) - sodium salt (PMA)-capped silver nanoparticles and subsequent UV or heat treatment. Antibacterial properties of the modified membranes were quantified by a new method based on the Respiration Activity Monitoring System (RAMOS), whereby the oxygen transfer rates (OTR) of E. coli K12 cultures on the membranes were monitored online. As opposed to colony forming counting method RAMOS yields more quantitative and reliable data on the antibacterial effect of membrane modification. Ag-imprinted polyelectrolyte film composed of chitosan (Ag(0))/PMA(Ag(0))/chitosan(Ag(0)) was found to be the most promising among the tested membranes. Further investigation revealed that the concentration and equal distribution of silver in the membrane surface plays an important role in bacterial growth inhibition. PMID:22884245

Development of insecticide resistance has been a serious concern worldwide, whose mechanisms have been attributed to evolutionary changes in pest insect genomes such as alteration of drug target sites, up-regulation of degrading enzymes, and enhancement of drug excretion. Here, we report a previously unknown mechanism of insecticide resistance: Infection with an insecticide-degrading bacterial symbiont immediately establishes insecticide resistance in pest insects. The bean bug Riptortus pedestris and allied stinkbugs harbor mutualistic gut symbiotic bacteria of the genus Burkholderia, which are acquired by nymphal insects from environmental soil every generation. In agricultural fields, fenitrothion-degrading Burkolderia strains are present at very low densities. We demonstrated that the fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia strains establish a specific and beneficial symbiosis with the stinkbugs and confer a resistance of the host insects against fenitrothion. Experimental applications of fenitrothion to field soils drastically enriched fenitrothion-degrading bacteria from undetectable levels to >80% of total culturable bacterial counts in the field soils, and >90% of stinkbugs reared with the enriched soil established symbiosis with fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia. In a Japanese island where fenitrothion has been constantly applied to sugarcane fields, we identified a stinkbug population wherein the insects live on sugarcane and ?8% of them host fenitrothion-degrading Burkholderia. Our finding suggests the possibility that the symbiont-mediated insecticide resistance may develop even in the absence of pest insects, quickly establish within a single insect generation, and potentially move around horizontally between different pest insects and other organisms. PMID:17822128

The objective of this study was therefore to present factors affecting somatic cell counts in bovine bulk milk as a result of intramammary infections as well as non-infectious factors. The paper presents also the impact of on-farm management practices on the level of bulk milk somatic cell counts and presents quality indicators in bulk tank milk. At the farm level bulk milk bacterial infection takes place through three main sources: bacterial contamination from the external surface of the udder and teats, from the surface of the milking equipment, and from mastitis microorganisms within the udder. The threshold of 200,000 cells/ml identifies bacteriological negative quarters of the udder. The counts of mammary pathogens in bulk tank milk are relatively low, on average not exceeding 1,000 cfu/ml. Environmental pathogens predominate in bulk tank milk samples with somatic cells count < 300 × 103/ml.   

In this study, microbiological aspects of Grana Trentino, a variant of Grana Padano cheese, were defined by plate counts, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR genotying, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of bacterial isolates and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Results showed variability in monthly fluctuations of whey culture counts, differences in the diffusion of bacterial genotypes among producers and dairy plant-specific microbial associations. Moreover, the presence of bacteria not previously reported in this cheese type was highlighted, including coagulase-negative staphylococci and Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis-like micro-organisms.

Background: The hygienic-microbiological control of 6 dental units being in use for the past 16 years revealed a significantly increased microbial contamination of their cooling water system. In order to comply with the requirements of the drinking water directive ("Trinkwasserverordnung"), the commercially available production system ActiDes, producing on-site ActiDes-Blue which is based on hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and generated by anodic oxidation, was investigated. Method: Water samples from the 6 contaminated dental units were examined for the total number of colony forming units (cfu), contamination with molds, L. pneumophila and P. aeruginosa. The control period for the total colony count was 4 weeks (8 samples/unit). The subsequent application phase of the ActiDes-Blue procedure was 6 months (31 samples/unit). Additionally, the redox potential and the pH value were measured.Futhermore, the decontamination agent CARELA HYDRO-DES, a two component agent based on H(2)O(2) with the addition of a mixture of sodium hydrogen sulphate and sulphuric acid in an aqueous solution effective at 0.1% and higher, was applied in a unit that had been put out of service for a month before. Before application, the system was first filled with a 5% solution of the alkaline pre-cleaning agent CARELA Solvent for bacterial slime; the system was left with this solution for 1 h. The pre-cleaning agent was then completely displaced from the system with tap water and a decontaminating solution of 5% CARELA HYDRO-DES and left in place for 1 h.Results: Drinking water quality level was reached only twice during the control phase. The average values of the dental units ranged between 3,633 CFU/ml and 29,417 c/ml. During the application phase, drinking water level could be achieved in 11 water samples. In another 6 water samples a total colony count of dental units' total colony count ranged between 529 cfu/ml and 87,450 cfu/ml. No significant differences between the control phase and the action phase could be demonstrated. During the control phase, contamination of the water samples with a mold was noticed so that examinations for molds were carried out beyond the scope of the drinking water directive. For this parameter as well, no significant differences between the phases of the study could be shown.The Legionella load of the dental units was low. L. pneumophila were yielded in only 4 out of 130 water samples. During the control phase, twice colony counts at 50 cfu/1,000 ml and 110 cfu/1,000 ml were measured. During the action phase, counts with Legionella spp. could be measured at 5 cfu/1,000 ml for one unit only. Also, with 1-10 cfu/100 ml, the P. aeruginosa contamination was low. During the application phase, it ranged between 0-7 cfu/100 ml.Redox potential and pH value showed a slight decrease during the application phase.Before treatment with CARELA Solvent and CARELA HYDRO-DES, the initial contamination of the total count of bacterial colonies was 1,432 cfu/ml at 22°C and 846 cfu/ml at 36°C as well as >1,000 cfu/100 ml for molds. 1 h after the decontamination, no bacteria and molds could be detected in 1,000 ml of tap water. Despite the fact that the unit was not used any longer, after 7 d the bacterial colony count was 3 cfu/ml at 22°C and 2 cfu/ml at 36°C while molds could not be detected. Even after a rest time of 14 d only 167 cfu/ml or 42 cfu/ml could be yielded. Molds were further not cultivable. A material damage could not be observed. Discussion: Pertaining to the ActiDes technology's effectiveness, it has to be pointed out that the dental units investigated were those used for dental students' teaching and therefore were clearly less frequently used than clinically used units in a dental practice. This resulted in distinctly longer stagnation periods which favored formation of biofilms. Conclusions: In summary, the ActiDes technology and ActiDes-Blue showed not to be sufficiently effective for the sanitation of contaminated water reservoirs in dental units under aggravated conditions of repeated and longer periods of non-use in connection with longer water stagnation periods. In comparison, the biofilm was sustainably eliminated through the combined application of CARELA(®) Solvent for Bacterial Slime with subsequent decontamination using CARELA(®) HYDRO-DES. PMID:22558043

Three years of regular weekly/biweekly monitoring of seasonal changes in temperature, transparency, chlorophyll a (CHL) and bacteria [erythrosine-stained microscopic counts and cultivable colony forming units (CFUs)] at the vertical profile in the South basin of Lake Baikal (51°54?195?N, 105°04?235?E, depth 800 m) were evaluated. In more detail, the structure and function of phytoplankton and the microbial loop in the euphotic layer at the same site were investigated during the late-winter early-spring period under the ice. The depth of euphotic zone (up to 1% of surface irradiation) was 35 to 40 m. Primary production was measured three times a week with the 14C method in 2, 10, 20, 30 and 40 m. Maximum production was found in 10 m, with lower values towards the surface (light inhibition) and towards the lower layers. The total production in cells larger than 1 ?m in the column (0 40 m) was 204 240 mg C d-1 m-2, 30 40% of it being in cells 1 3 ?m (mostly picocyanobacteria), which represented roughly 9% of the total chlorophyll a (estimated from pigment analyses). A major part of phytoplankton biomass was formed by diatoms (Synedra acus Hust., Asterionella formosa Hass. and Stephanodiscus meyerii Genkal & Popovskaya). Total production (including extracellular, dissolved organic matter) was 235 387 mg C day-1 m-2, and the exudates were readily used by bacteria (particles 0.2 1 ?m). This part amounted to 1 5% of cellular production in 2 to 20 m and 11 77% of cellular production in 20 40 m, i.e., in light-limited layers. From 0 to 30 m, chlorophyll a concentration was 0.8 to 1.3 ?g l-1, wherefrom it decreased rapidly to 0.1 ?g l-1 towards the depth of 40 m. Bacteria (DAPI-stained microscopic counts) reached 0.5 1.4×106 ml-1; their cell volumes measured via image analysis were small (average 0.05 ?m-3), often not well countable when erythrosine stain was used. Bacterial biomasses were in the range of 6 21 ?g C l-1. Numbers of colony forming units (CFUs) on nutrient fish-agar were c. 3 4 orders lower than DAPI counts. The amounts of heterotrophic protists were low, whereby flagellates reached 6 to 87 ml-1 and ciliates, 0.2 1.2 ml-1 (mostly Oligotrichida). Bacterial production was measured in the same depths as primary production using 3H-thymidine (Thy) and 14C-leucine (Leu) uptake. Consistently, bacterial abundances, biomasses, thymidine and leucine production were higher by 30 50% in layers 2, 10 and 20 m compared with that in the deeper 30 and 40 m, where cellular primary production was negligible. Leucine uptake in the deeper layers was even three times lower than in the upper ones. From the comparison of primary and bacterial production, bacteria roughly use 20 40% of primary production during 24 h in the layers 2 to 20 m.

Abstract in english Earthworms are soil invertebrates that play a key role in recycling organic matter in soils.In Nigeria, earthworms include Libyodrillus violaceous. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial counts, as well as fungal counts of viable microorganisms in soils and gut sections, were made on twenty L. violaceous collected from different sites on the campus of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. The samples were collected between April and November, 2002. Numbers of microor (more) ganisms were higher in castings and gut sections than in uningested soil samples. The guts and their contents also had higher moisture and total nitrogen contents than the uningested soils. Bacteria and fungi isolated from the samples were identified by standard microbiological procedures on the bases of their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Isolated bacteria were identified as Staphylococcus, Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, Clostridium, Spirocheata spp., Azotobacter spp., Micrococcus lylae, Acinetobacter spp., Halobacterium for bacteria. Yeast isolates were identified as Candida spp., Zygosaccharomyces spp., Pichia spp., and Saccharomyces spp while molds were identified as, Aspergillus spp., Pytium spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp and Rhizopus spp. Of the five locations examined, the refuse dump area had the highest numbers of both aerobic and anaerobic organisms, followed by the arboretum while the cultivated land area recorded the lowest counts. The higher numbers of microorganisms observed in the gut sections and casts of the earthworms examined in this work reinforce the general concept that the gut and casts of earthworms show higher microbial diversity and activity than the surrounding soil. Rev. Biol. Trop. 54 (1): 49-58. Epub 2006 Mar 31.

A defined mixed bacterial culture was established which catalyzed dissimilatory sulfate reduction, using glycerol as electron donor, at pH 3.8-4.2. The bacterial consortium comprised a endospore-forming sulfate reducing bacterium (isolate M1) that had been isolated from acidic sediment in a geothermal area of Montserrat (West Indies) and which had 94% sequence identity (of its 16S rRNA gene) to the Gram-positive neutrophile Desulfosporosinus orientis, and a Gram-negative (non sulfate-reducing) acidophile (isolate PFBC) that shared 99% gene identity with Acidocella aromatica. Whilst M1 was an obligate anaerobe, isolate PFBC, as other Acidocella spp., only grew in pure culture in aerobic media. Analysis of microbial communities, using a combination of total bacterial counts and fluorescent in situ hybridization, confirmed that concurrent growth of both bacteria occurred during sulfidogenesis under strictly anoxic conditions in a pH-controlled fermenter. In pure culture, M1 oxidized glycerol incompletely, producing stoichiometric amounts of acetic acid. In mixed culture with PFBC, however, acetic acid was present only in small concentrations and its occurrence was transient. Since M1 did not oxidize acetic acid, it was inferred that this metabolite was catabolized by Acidocella PFBC which, unlike glycerol, was shown to support the growth of this acidophile under aerobic conditions. In fermenter cultures maintained at pH 3.8-4.2, sulfidogenesis resulted in the removal of soluble zinc (as solid phase ZnS) whilst ferrous iron remained in solution. Potential syntrophic interactions, involving hydrogen transfer between M1 and PFBC, are discussed, as is the potential of sulfidogenesis in acidic liquors for the selective recovery of heavy metals from wastewaters. PMID:16456614

This study was carried out to evaluate the microbiological accumulation capability of the demosponge Spongia officinalis var. adriatica. Six microbiological parameters were researched in two sampling periods in the water and in reared sponge samples coming from sites with different degrees of microbial contamination: an off-shore fish farm displaced off the Apulian coast (Southern Adriatic Sea) and a no-impacted area displaced into the Marine Protected Area of Porto Cesareo (Apulian coast-Ionian Sea). We detected the density of culturable heterotrophic bacteria by spread plate on marine agar, total culturable bacteria at 37 degrees C on Plate Count Agar and vibrios on thiosulphate-citrate-bile-sucrose-salt (TCBS) agar. Total and fecal coliforms as well as fecal streptococci concentrations were detected by the MPN method. Bacterial densities were always higher in the sponge homogenates compared with the corresponding seawater in the sampling points and in both sampling periods. As regard vibrios, total culturable bacteria at 37 degrees C and fecal streptococci concentrations, the highest values were observed in the sponge samples coming from the off-shore fish farm during the summer period. The ability of Spongia officinalis var. adriatica to accumulate the microbial pollution indicators suggests that this species can be employed as a bioindicator for monitoring water quality. PMID:18325562

Aerosol size distributions are measured during smog chamber experiments to determine some physical characteristics of the aerosol such as total aerosol yield. These size distributions can be corrected by ac-counting for particle loss to the chamber walls. Greater than 30 % of the total aerosol mass yield is ac-counted for using wall loss corrections. (author)

Spent steamed compost, phase II compost, and dust emanating from spent compost during dumping of stationary-bed mushroom houses were examined bacteriologically. The total count for spent compost was 16 X 10(8) microorganisms per g. The total count for dust was 333 microorganisms per liter of air. Ac...

Abstract in portuguese Cem exemplares adultos de tilápia, Oreochromis niloticus, foram inoculadas intraperitonealmente com 10(8) UFC de Mycobacterium marinum e outras 100 foram mantidas sem inoculação. Inicialmente, o sangue de 6 exemplares não inoculados foi colhido e considerado como "tempo zero". Do grupo dos inoculados foi retirado sangue de 6 animais por colheita, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56 e 84 dias após inoculação. Os parâmetros hematológicos: hematócrito (Hct), taxa d (more) e hemoglobina (Hgb), contagem de eritrócitos (RBC), foram determinados e os índices hematológicos (VCM, HCM e CHCM), calculados. Foram determinados também o número de trombócitos e o número total e diferencial de leucócitos. Não ocorreram alterações nos valores de Hct, Hgb, HCM e CHCM. Entretanto houve diminuição dos valores de RBC e VCM. Os valores médios de RBC e Hct dos animais no "tempo zero" foram maiores e os de VCM e HCM, menores que os dos animais inoculados. Ocorreu neutrofilia e, após 3 dias de inoculação, ocorreram linfocitose e neutropenia nos animais. No 49º. dia após inoculação bacteriana, ocorreu monocitose. Abstract in english A hundred adult of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, were inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(8) c.f.u. of Mycobacterium marinum. Other 100 speciemns were maintained without inoculation. Blood samples of six inoculated animals were collected at 01, 03, 07, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56 and 84 days after inoculation. Initially, six specimens were taken from the non inoculated group ("time zero"). The haematological parameters determined were: haematocrit (Hct), haemoglobin con (more) centration (Hgb), total erythrocytes count (RBC), hematological indexes (MCV, MCH and MCHC), thrombocyte count (Tr), leukocyte count (WBC) and leukocyte differential count. There were no changes in Hct, Hgb, MCH and MCHC. However, the mean values for RBC and MCV decreased. The mean values for RBC and Hct of specimens from the "time zero" group were higher and the MCV and MCH lower than in inoculated animals. Occurred neutrophilia, and, at 72 h there was lymphocytosis and neutropenia. By the 49th day after bacterial inoculation, there was monocytosis.

Cultivation-independent microbial molecular ecology approaches were used to examine the effects of antibiotic growth promoters on the pig ileal microbiota. Five-week-old barrows were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. Three diets meeting or exceeding the minimum nutrient requirements were fed for 5 wk and supplemented as follows: 1) negative control (no antibiotic; n = 5), 2) continuous tylosin administration (n = 5), and 3) an antibiotic rotation sequence (wk 1, chlorotetracycline sulfathiazole penicillin; wk 2, bacitracin and roxarsone; wk 3, lincomycin; wk 4, carbadox; wk 5, virginiamycin; n = 5). Ileal luminal contents were collected for DNA isolation at the end of each of the 5 wk of the testing period. The V3 region of 16S rDNA was amplified by PCR and analyzed via denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Resulting PCR-DGGE band numbers (bacterial species) were counted, and the banding patterns analyzed by calculating Sorenson's pairwise similarity coefficients (C(S)), an index measuring bacterial species in common among samples. Band numbers and total bacterial DNA concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) temporally in antibiotic-treated pigs compared with controls. Comparisons between treatments yielded low intertreatment C(S) indices, indicating treatment-dependent alterations in banding patterns, whereas intratreatment comparisons revealed increased homogeneity in antibiotic-treated vs. control pigs. Sequence analysis of treatment-specific bands identified three Lactobacillus, one Streptococcus, and one Bacillus species that were diminished with antibiotic rotation treatment, whereas tylosin selected for the presence of L. gasseri. Lactobacillus-specific qPCR was performed and analyzed as a percentage of total bacteria to further evaluate the effects of antibiotic administration on this genus. Total bacteria were decreased (P < 0.05) by tylosin and rotation treatments, whereas the percentage of lactobacilli increased (P < 0.05) by d 14 and through d 28 in tylosin-treated pigs. The decrease in total bacteria by antibiotics may reduce host-related intestinal or immune responses, which would divert energy that could otherwise be used for growth. Conversely, the ability of tylosin to improve animal growth may relate to its apparent selection for lactobacilli, commensals known to competitively exclude potentially pathogenic species from colonizing the intestine. PMID:14677859

INTRODUCTION: High-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) has been known as a chromosomal protein for many years. HMGB1 has recently been shown to be a proinflammatory cytokine with a role in the immunopathogenesis of sepsis. Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) has a central role in the innate immune response when the host is challenged by bacterial pathogens. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been suggested as a marker of severe bacterial infections and sepsis. The aim of the present study was to investigate levels of HMGB1, LBP and PCT in a well-characterised sepsis cohort. The study plan included analysis of the levels of the inflammatory markers in relation to the severity of infection, to the prognosis and to the ability to identify patients with bacteraemia. METHODS: Patients suspected of having severe infections and admitted to a department of internal medicine were included in a prospective manner. Demographic data, comorbidity, routine biochemistry, microbiological data, infection focus, severity score and mortality on day 28 were recorded. Plasma and serum were sampled within 24 hours after admission. Levels of all studied markers (HMGB1, LBP, PCT, IL-6, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count and neutrophils) were measured with commercially available laboratory techniques. RESULTS: A total of 185 adult patients were included in the study; 154 patients fulfilled our definition of infection. Levels of HMGB1, LBP and PCT were higher in infected patients compared with a healthy control group (P < 0.0001). Levels of HMGB1, LBP and PCT were higher in the severe sepsis group compared with the sepsis group (P < 0.01). No differences were observed in levels of the inflammatory markers in fatal cases compared with survivors. Levels of all studied markers were higher in bacteraemic patients compared with nonbacteraemic patients (P < 0.05). PCT performed best in a receiver-operator curve analysis discriminating between bacteraemic and nonbacteraemic patients (P < 0.05). HMGB1 correlated to LBP, IL-6, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count and neutrophils (P < 0.001). LBP correlated to PCT, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Levels of HMGB1, PCT and LBP were higher in infected patients compared with those in healthy controls, and levels were higher in severe sepsis patients compared with those in sepsis patients. Levels of all studied inflammatory markers (HMGB1, LBP, PCT, IL-6) and infection markers (C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, neutrophils) were elevated among bacteraemic patients. PCT performed best as a diagnostic test marker for bacteraemia. Udgivelsesdato: 2007-null

Abstract in portuguese Avaliou-se o efeito de uma dieta suplementada com Lactobacillus plantarum na engorda de Litopenaeus vannamei sobre a microbiota bacteriana do trato digestivo, a sobrevivência e alguns parâmetros hematoimunológicos após desafio com Vibrio harveyi. Não foi observada diferença significativa na sobrevivência (80±6%) e no peso final dos camarões (6,63±0,56g) durante a engorda (60 dias). A população de bactérias totais e Vibrio spp. no intestino não diferiu até o (more) 40° dia de cultivo, mas foi inferior nos camarões alimentados com dieta suplementada com probiótico no 60° dia de cultivo. A população de bactérias lácticas foi superior no intestino de camarões alimentados com dieta suplementada com probióticos após o 20° dia de cultivo. Dez horas após o desafio, a sobrevivência dos camarões alimentados com dieta suplementada com probiótico foi superior (65,7±2,9%) a dos camarões do controle (39,9±4,4%). Camarões alimentados com dieta suplementada com probióticos e desafiados com V. harveyi apresentaram menor contagem de bactérias na hemolinfa e hepatopâncreas. A contagem total de hemócitos e a atividade aglutinante da hemolinfa foram superiores nos camarões inoculados com V. harveyi alimentados com dieta suplementada com probióticos. A suplementação da dieta com probióticos modifica a microbiota bacteriana intestinal dos camarões aumentando sua resistência ao desafio com V. harveyi. Abstract in english The effect of a Lactobacillus plantarum-supplemented diet on shrimp growth, digestive tract bacterial microbiota, survival, and some hemato-immunological parameters after an experimental challenge with Vibrio harveyi was studied. No difference (P>0.05) was observed in shrimp survival (80±6%) and final weight (6.63±0.56g) after 60 days feeding trial. Total bacteria count and Vibrio spp. count in the digestive tract were not diferent (P>0.05) until day 40, but they (more) were lower (P

Samples of green and brown leaves of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) were incubated in seawater without an additional carbon source. Parallel leaf samples were used for acridine orange bacterial counting and water-soluble aniline blue estimation of fungal biovolume. The incubations produced no evidence...

The bacteriological composition and ultrastructure of mesophilic granular methanogenic sludge from a large-scale Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor treating wastewater from a sugar plant and of sludge granules adapted to ethanol and propionate were studied by counting different bacterial groups...

The postantibiotic effect (PAE) of meropenem was determined for 11 strains, both clinical isolates and reference strains of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The study compares PAE results obtained by five methods used to monitor bacterial regrowth, including viable counting, alone and in co...

Horn fly and face fly counts (n = 394) taken on 194 beef cows representing seven breed groups were used to determine the effects of horn fly and face fly counts. Breed groups included were Angus (ANI and ANII), Chianina (CA), Charolais (CH), Hereford (HH), Polled Hereford (PH), and Red Poll (RP). The breed group designated ANI consisted of small-framed cows. Total horn fly and total face fly counts were determined weekly on each cow beginning in May and ending in late October or early November in a 3-yr (1988-90) study. Face flies were not counted on the ANI and ANII breed groups in 1988. All fly counts were taken when cows were grazing Ozark upland native grass pastures with only containment fences separating breeding groups. No insecticides were used in the study. Data for analysis were the mean annual horn fly and face fly counts (averaged across weeks), spring weight and fall weights, gain/day between spring and fall weights, and skin surface area in the spring (SSAS) and fall (SSAF) for each cow. Relationships among measurements were examined by correlation and regression procedures. Horn fly count was correlated (P < .05) with face fly count, spring weight, gain/day, and SSAS (.23, .11, -.25, and .12, respectively). Correlations of horn fly count with fall weight and SSAF were non-significant. Horn fly count, breed, and the breed x horn fly count interaction were significant (P < .05) for the face fly regression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:8002446

This study characterised the airborne mycobiota of a rice plantation in Bauta (Havana, Cuba), with a view to improving crop quality. Culturable airborne fungi were sampled between March 2007 and February 2008 using a volumetric method (SAS Super 100) with potato dextrose agar as culture medium. The total fungal count was 51,425?cfu/m3. The 39 filamentous genera identified included several major rice pathogens (Bipolaris, Curvularia, Alternaria, Pyricularia, Cercospora and Fusarium) as well as potentially mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus. Analysis of the influence of weather-related factors on spore counts revealed that total counts and Penicillium counts correlated positively with daily relative humidity, mean temperature and dew point.

The purpose of this examiner-blind study was threefold: to compare the microbial counts obtained by two different techniques for assessing bacterial motility, to assess the inter-rater reliability of these two techniques and to evaluate the effect of a water irrigating device (Water Pik) on bacterial motility at 3- and 6-mm probing depths. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from 10 healthy patients having at least two sites that probed greater than 6 mm, (one control, one experimental). Half of the patients were sampled at 3 mm, the other half at 6 mm, both at baseline (Day 0) and at Day 21. Two slides were prepared from each plaque sample, one for dark-field evaluation and one stained with a simplified silver-plating technique for flagella. All slides were read simultaneously by 3 observers, and the per cent motility calculated for spirochetes, motiles and all others. Strong positive inter-rater reliability correlations ranging from r = 0.95 to r = 0.99 were found for both the dark-field and flagella staining techniques. Spirochete counts obtained by both techniques were highly correlated (r = 0.91), whereas counts for motiles resulted in negative correlations between the techniques. Dark-field counts were consistently higher than the flagella stain counts for motile rods. Spirochetes were reduced, but not significantly, after irrigation of both 3-mm and 6-mm sites. Bacterial motility can be evaluated by both dark-field and flagella-staining techniques with a high degree of inter-rater reliability. PMID:2439675

The depth distribution of sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the water column of a meromictic lake, Lake Suigetsu, Fukui, Japan was investigated using quantitative competitive PCR targeting the gene coding for portions of the ?-subunit of dissimilatory sulphite reductase (dsrA). The total bacterial cell density (DAPI count) was 5?13×106 cells mL?1 in the water column of the lake with maximum abundance occurring at the oxic-anoxic interface layer. SRB were not detected in oxic surface water using competitive PCR. SRB were found in the anoxic waters below the oxycline ranging from 104 to 105 cells mL?1, accounting for 0.3–8.9% of the total bacteria. The SRB cell densities were higher than previously estimated using the most-probable-number (MPN) method. Sequencing of the cloned PCR product of dsrA showed the existence of different SRB groups in the anoxic water. The majority of the dsrA sequences were associated with the Desulfosarcina-Desulfococcus-Desulfonema group and members of the Desulfobulbaceae family. Other dsrA clones belonged to the Desulfomicrobium and Desulfovibrio species as well as to a deeply branched group in the dsrA tree with no representatives from previously isolated SRB groups. These SRB species appear to be important for the sulphur and carbon cycle in the anoxic waters of Lake Suigetsu.   

As there is no pasteurization procedure for the manufacture of fresh vegetable juice, both industry and consumers have sought a method for improving the storage stability and shelf-life of this category of products. In this study, the effects of commercially available, non-thermal pasteurization processes, such as gamma and UV irradiation, were compared for their efficacy in sanitizing fresh carrot juice (FCJ). FCJ was manufactured, packaged, and gamma irradiated with doses of 0, 1, 3, and 5 kGy. The manufactured FCJ was also passed through 4 UV light lamps at doses of 3.67, 4.69, and 6.50 kGy. The total aerobic bacterial count of the FCJ approached the legal limit (105 CFU/mL) after manufacturing. Both treatments were effective in reducing the number of total aerobic bacteria, and the reduced number was maintained during storage for 7 days. Gamma irradiation was more effective in suppressing microbial growth during storage. When the doses for UV treatment and gamma irradiation were higher, the inactivation effects were higher. The reduction of ascorbic acid content was greater upon gamma irradiation than UV treatment. No difference was found in the contents of flavonoids and polyphenols in FCJ after either treatment. After 3 days of refrigerated storage, the sensory scores of gamma- or UV-irradiated FCJ were superior to those of the control. The results indicate that both non-thermal treatments were effective in improving storage stability and extending shelf-life, but gamma irradiation was slightly better in suppressing microbial growth after treatment.

The 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE and rpoB quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) techniques were used to evaluate the effects of dietary flavomycin and florfenicol on the autochthonous intestinal microbiota of hybrid tilapia. The fish were fed four diets: control, dietary flavomycin, florfenicol and their combination. After 8 weeks of feeding, 6 fish from each cage were randomly chosen for the analysis. The total number of intestinal bacteria was determined by RQ-PCR. The results showed that dietary antibiotics significantly influenced the intestinal microbiota and dramatically reduced the intensity of total intestinal bacterial counts. The intensity of some phylotypes (EU563257, EU563262 and EU563255) were reduced to non-detectable levels by both dietary antibiotics, while supplementation of florfenicol to the diet also reduced the intensity of the phylotypes EU563242 and EU563262, uncultured Mycobacterium sp.-like, uncultured Cyanobacterium-like and uncultured Cyanobacterium (EU563246). Dietary flavomycin only reduced the OTU intensity of one phylotype, identified as a member of the phylum Fusobacteria. The antibiotic combination only reduced the phylotypes EU563242 and EU563262. Based on our results, we conclude that the reduced effect of florfenicol on intestinal microbiota was stronger than that of flavomycin, and when flavomycin and florfenicol were added in combination, the effect of florfenicol overshadowed that of flavomycin. PMID:20844867

We describe the resident heterotrophic aerobic microflora of the salmonid posterior intestine before, during, and after the administration of rations with erythromycin in a hatchery raceway environment. We compare the profiles of medicated Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha with those of control fish that were not fed erythromycin. The combined counts of bacteria and yeasts per gram of fish intestine originating from four upstream raceways ranged from 3.0 ?? 102 to 9.6 ?? 105 colony-forming units (CFU) over the study period. Yeasts were commonly identified in the gut, and abundances ranged from 0% to more than 80% of the CFU. Erythromycin therapy decreased the total microbial population and altered the bacterial diversity in the gut during treatment. The intestinal microbial populations in fish medicated with erythromycin increased rapidly after treatment ceased, and by 25 d after treatment the CFU were similar in samples from both medicated and control fish populations. Of 325 isolates from fish selected for biochemical profiles, we identified a total of eight gram-positive and eight gram-negative genera. Bacillus spp. were common throughout sampling and were identified in samples of fish feed. Erythromycin-resistant, gram-positive bacteria were observed throughout the sampling in medicated and control fish. We identified seven gram-positive and two gram-negative genera in 74 selected isolates from control and erythromycin feeds. Our studies suggest that the aerobic microflora of the posterior intestine varies over time, and it is likely that few resistant genera of concern to human health are present.

Microbial colonization of the different support materials used to enhance methane production in anaerobic digestors is rapid and occurs in the first 24 h of sludge incubation. Scanning electron microscopy studies reveal a predominant presence of filamentous methanogenic forms, closely resembling Methanosaeta (Methanothrix), which are located on the outer layer and in the bacterial framework of the biofilm. These findings are consistent with the results obtained from microbial counts using both the most probable number and epifluorescence microscopic techniques, which show an increase in the numbers of aceticlastic methanogens compared to other microbial groups involved, such as sulphate-reducing bacteria, the numbers of which are similar to those obtained under the initial conditions. Moreover, a sharp increase in the bacterial counts is observed by using the epifluorescence microscopic technique applied to homogenized samples, probably due to the count of bacteria released from the support materials. (orig.)

Refrigerated storage of good-quality milk from a single cow resulted in moderate deterioration of its quality, low level of bacterial growth (standard plate and psychrotroph counts), and low small losses of curd yield. When milk was collected from farm bulk milk tanks and from dairy silos, its quality deteriorated faster than that of single-cow milk, resulting in high bacteria counts and high loss of curd yield, most of which was already apparent for the farm bulk milk tank. Statistical analyses did not reveal any significant interaction between bacterial growth, milk composition, somatic cell count, and curd yield loss, indicating that other mechanisms such as enzymatic activity might be responsible. From the comparison between the high-quality milk from an uninfected cows udder and the c...

We tested the activity of epinecidin-1, a novel antimicrobial peptide structurally related to pleurocidin, in commercial cleaning solutions stored at 4 and 25^oC for 7 and 14 days. The peptide's activities against Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, and Candida albicans were measured in a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) determination, disk diffusion test, and a count of the bacterial numbers. Exposure to epinecidn-1 in a cleaning solution following MIC value comparisons in the disk diffusion test and counts of bacterial numbers after 16, 24, 48, and 72h suggested that bacterial numbers were much lower than those treated with only co...

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the bacteriological quality of raw cow's milk utilized for the production of Traditional Minas Serro cheese, a Brazilian farmstead raw milk cheese. Raw milk samples were collected from six farmstead cheese operations manufacturing raw milk cheese from cow's milk. Coliform count (CC) and Escherichia coli counts were determined using Petrifilm? EC plates, and Staphylococcus aureus counts were determined using Petrifilm? Staph Express count plates. The standard plate count (SPC) was determined using plate count agar. The somatic cell count (SCC) was determined with a DeLaval cell counter. The detection of Listeria monocytogenes was based in the ISO 11290-1 protocol. A total of 165 samples were analyzed, and the SPC was 1.85?7.88 log CFU/mL....

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) mapping of genomic DNA and complementary DNA (cDNA) amplicons was attempted to analyze total and active bacterial populations within soil and activated sludge samples. Distinct differences in the number and species of bacterial populations and those that were metabolically active at the time of sampling were visually observed especially for the soil community. Statistical analyses and sequencing based on the 2-DGE data further revealed the relationships between total and active bacterial populations within each community. This high-resolution technique would be useful for obtaining a better understanding of bacterial population structures in the environment.   

Monthly counts of medical visits across several years for persons identified to have alcoholism problems are modeled using two-state hidden Markov models (HMM) in order to describe the effect of alcoholism treatment on the likelihood of persons to be in a 'healthy' or 'unhealthy' state. The medical visits can be classified into different types leading to multivariate counts of medical visits each month. A multiple indicator HMM is introduced, which simultaneously fits the multivariate Poisson counts by assuming a shared hidden state underlying all of them. The multiple indicator HMM borrows information across different types of medical encounters. A univariate HMM based on the total count across types of medical visits each month is also considered. Comparisons between the multiple indicator HMM and the total count HMM are made, as well as comparisons with more traditional longitudinal models that directly model the counts. A Bayesian framework is used for the estimation of the HMM and implementation is in Winbugs. PMID:18991318

Abstract in portuguese Todos os animais vivem em íntima associação com micro-organismos que desempenham importantes funções em seu desenvolvimento normal. Nos vertebrados, a mais populosa e complexa comunidade de micro-organismos reside no trato intestinal. O intuito do estudo foi quantificar, classificar e verificar morfologicamente a população microbiana intestinal de duas importantes espécies de peixes de água doce, o curimbatá (Prochilodus lineatus) e o cascudo cinza (Pterygoplich (more) thys anisitsi). As amostras foram coletadas por meio de raspagens da mucosa intestinal, diluídas seriadamente até 10-4, semeadas em placas contendo ágar soja tripticaseína (TSA) e ágar chocolate (AC) para contagem de bactérias totais e identificação morfológica por Gram, em aerobiose e em anaerobiose facultativa, respectivamente. As contagens de bactérias totais mostraram resultados que variaram entre 10³ e 10(4)ufc.mL-1. Os tipos morfológicos encontrados foram cocos, leveduras e bastonetes Gram negativos e positivos. Estudos adicionais sobre os padrões de colonização microbiana e a morfologia dos micro-organismos aderidos à mucosa intestinal foram possíveis com o uso da microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), sendo encontradas formas variadas de micro-organismos, tais como leveduras, formas cocoides e bacilares flageladas e não flageladas. A microbiota intestinal do curimbatá e a do cascudo cinza provaram ser bastante diversas e populosas, com o predomínio de micro-organismos Gram negativos. Abstract in english All animals exist in intimate associations with microorganisms that play important roles in the hosts' normal development. In vertebrates, the most populous and complex community of microbes resides in the digestive tract.The aim of this research was to morphologically quantify, classify and verify the composition of intestinal microbiota of two species of freshwater fish, the Prochilodus lineatus and the Pterygoplichthys anisitsi. The samples were collected by scrapings (more) of intestinal mucosa, serially diluted to 10-4, plated on tryptic soy agar (TSA) and chocolate agar (CA) for total bacterial counting and morphological identification by Gram, in aerobiosis and facultative anaerobiosis conditions, respectively. In the total bacterial counting results ranged between 10³ to 10(4) cfu.mL-1. The morphological types found were cocci, yeasts and Gram negative and positive rods. Additional studies about patterns of microbial colonization and the morphology of the adhered microorganisms to the intestinal mucosa were possible using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and several forms of microorganisms, such as yeasts, cocci and bacillary shapes flagellated and non-flagellated were found. The intestinal microbiota of P. lineatus and P. anisitsi was diverse and populous, with a predominance of Gram negative microorganisms.

Abstract in portuguese Este trabalho analisou o efeito da temperatura e período de incubação e da diluição do inóculo, em dois meios de cultura, sobre a quantificação de bactérias totais e esporuladas. O crescimento quantitativo e qualitativo de bactérias totais e esporuladas depende tanto do meio de cultura, temperatura, diluição e tempo utilizados como da interação desses fatores. O meio de TSA apresentou maior contagem que o meio de Thorton de unidades formadoras de colônias ( (more) UFC) de bactérias totais mas não de Bacillus spp. As colônias crescidas no meio de TSA apresentaram maior tamanho e forma mais nítida. O cultivo à temperatura de 30°C propiciou maior número de UFC que a 25°C, sobretudo nos primeiros dias de incubação. O crescimento bacteriano correspondeu a uma equação de 3° grau. Dependendo do meio de cultura, da temperatura de incubação e da diluição, os períodos de máximo crescimento foram de 4,9 a 6,9 dias para as bactérias totais e de 4,4 a 7,2 dias para Bacillus spp. Embora tenham sido utilizadas diluições decimais dos inóculos, as proporções entre as contagens variaram de 6,3 a 10,0 vezes para as bactérias totais e de 2,0 a 7,0 para as esporuladas. Abstract in english This work studied the effect of the temperature and incubation time and of the inoculum dilution, in two culture media, on the quantification of total and sporulating bacteria. The quantitative and qualitative growth of total and sporulating bacteria depended on the growth medium, temperature, dilution and incubation time, as well as on the interaction of these factors. Tryptic Soil Agar medium presented a greater number of colony forming units (CFU) for total bacteria. H (more) owever, for Bacillus spp. there were higher counts on Thorton medium. Colonies grown on Tryptic Soy Agar medium were of larger size and had a more clearly defined shape. An incubation temperature of 30°C yielded more CFU than incubation at 25°C, especially during the first days of incubation. Bacterial growth was fit to a mathematical model and corresponded to a third degree equation. Depending on the growth culture medium, incubation temperature and dilution, periods of maximum growth were between 4.9 and 6.9 days for total bacteria and between 4.4 and 7.2 days for Bacillus spp. Although decimal inoculum dilutions were used, proportions between counts based on different conditions ranged from 6.3 to 10.0 times for total bacteria and from 2.0 to 7.0 times for sporulating bacteria.

Low permeability regions sandwiched between high permeability regions such as clay lenses are difficult to treat using conventional treatment methods. Trace concentrations of contaminants such as non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) remain trapped in these regions and over the time diffuse out into surrounding water thereby acting as a long term source of groundwater contamination. Bacterial chemotaxis (directed migration toward a contaminant source), may be helpful in enhancing bioremediation of such contaminated sites. This study is focused on simulating a two-dimensional dual-permeability groundwater contamination scenario using microfluidic devices and evaluating transverse chemotactic migration of bacteria from high to low permeability regions. A novel bi-layer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device was fabricated using photolithography and soft lithography techniques to simulate contamination of a dual- permeability region due to leakage from an underground storage tank into a low permeability region. This device consists of a porous channel through which a bacterial suspension (Escherchia Coli HCB33) is flown and another channel for injecting contaminant/chemo-attractant (DL-aspertic acid) into the porous channel. The pore arrangement in the porous channel contains a 2-D low permeability region surrounded by high permeability regions on both sides. Experiments were performed under chemotactic and non-chemotactic (replacing attractant with buffer solution in the non porous channel) conditions. Images were captured in transverse pore throats at cross-sections 4.9, 9.8, and 19.6 mm downstream from the attractant injection point and bacteria were enumerated in the middle of each pore throat. Bacterial chemotaxis was quantified in terms of the change in relative bacterial counts in each pore throat at cross-sections 9.8 and 19.6 mm with respect to counts at the cross-section at 4.9 mm. Under non-chemotactic conditions, relative bacterial count was observed to decrease at 9.8 mm and 19.6 mm cross-sections in low permeability regions due to dilution with the injectate from the non-porous channel (Figure 1). However, relative bacterial counts increased in the low permeability region at both downstream cross-sections under chemotactic conditions. A large increase in relative bacterial count in the pore throats just outside the low permeability region was also observed at both cross-sections (Figure 1). The bacterial chemotactic response was observed to decrease linearly with increasing Darcy velocity and at flow rate 0.220 mm/s the chemotactic effect was offset by the advective flow in the porous channel.

Abstract in spanish El objetivo del presente trabajo fue aislar diversidad de bacterias endófitas cultivables asociadas a raíces del pasto colosuana Bothriochloa pertusa (L) A. Camus en tres localidades del departamento de Sucre, Colombia. La diversidad de bacterias endófitas fue realizada mediante el aislamiento de colonias en medios de cultivos. La densidad poblacional fue estimada por conteo directo de colonias en placa y las características culturales de cada morfotipo fueron obtenid (more) as mediante observación de cada colonia formada. Se determinó la correlación diversidad, densidad poblacional y localidades, utilizando ANOVA y análisis de componentes principales o de correspondencia simple, mediante el programa estadístico R, 2009 (4,5). Fueron muestreadas 20 fincas por lo-calidad; se observó presencia de diversos morfotipos de bacterias endófitas. Se encontró diferencias significativas entre diversidad (morfotipos), densidad poblacional (UFC. raíz-1) y localidades. La diversidad de bacterias endófitas representa apenas una pequeña fracción de la diversidad total existente en la naturaleza, siendo escasas las informaciones que se tienen de la presencia de estos microorganismos en agroecosistemas específicos, razón por lo cual este trabajo se convierte en la primera evidencia de asociación entre bacterias endófitas y raíces del pasto colosuana en Colombia. Abstract in english The objective of this study was to isolate endophytes diversity of culturable bacteria associated with grass roots colosuana Bothriochloa pertusa (L) A. Camus in three localities of the department of Sucre, Colombia. Endophytes bacterial diversity was performed by isolation of colonies on media culture. The population density was estimated by direct counting of colonies on plate and cultural characteristics of each morphotype were obtained by observation of each colony ma (more) de. We determined the correlation diversity, population density and locations, using ANOVA and principal component analysis or simple correspondence, using the statistical program R, 2009 (4.5). 20 farms livestock were sampled by locality, it was observed the presence of various bacterial morphotypes endophytes.We found significant differences between diversity (morphotypes), population density (UFC.raíz-1) and locations. The diversity of bacterial endophytes represents only a small fraction of the total diversity present in nature; being little information we have of the presence of these microorganisms in specific agroecosystems, which is why this work becomes the first evidence of association between bacteria and roots of grass endophytes colosuana in Colombia.

We compute the liquid scintillation counting efficiency for 137Cs+137mBa and ''129 I taking into account the scintillator chemical composition. We consider the beta transition shape factors for the for bidden beta transitions of these nuclides, and the effects of 137mBa and 129mXe half-lives on the total counting efficiency. (Author) 8 refs.

Pilot-scale constant-rate and declining-rate direct filtration systems were evaluated for treating a high quality surface water, using two flow rates and alum or cationic polymer as the primary coagulant. Turbidity, particle count, and total coliform count were used to compare fi...

The microbiota of ten seeds and ready-to-eat sprouts produced thereof was characterized by bacteriological culture and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of amplified DNA fragments of the 16S rRNA gene. The predominant bacterial biota of hydroponically grown sprouts mainly consisted of enterobacteria, pseudomonades and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). For adzuki, alfalfa, mung bean, radish, sesame and wheat, the ratio of these bacterial groups changed strongly in the course of germination, whereas for broccoli, red cabbage, rye and green pea the ratio remained unchanged. Within the pseudomonades, Pseudomonas gesardii and Pseudomonas putida have been isolated and strains of the potentially pathogenic species Enterobacter cancerogenes and Pantoea agglomerans were found as part of the main microbiota on hydroponically grown sprouts. In addition to the microbiota of the whole seedlings, the microbiota of root, hypocotyl and seed leafs were examined for alfalfa, radish and mung bean sprouts. The highest and lowest total counts for aerobic bacteria were found on seed leafs and hypocotyls, respectively. On the other hand, the highest numbers for LAB on sprouts were found on the hypocotyl. When sprouting occurred under the agricultural conditions, e.g. in soil, the dominating microbiota changed from enterobacteria to pseudomonades for mung beans and alfalfa sprouts. No pathogenic enterobacteria have been isolated from these sprout types. Within the pseudomonades group, Pseudomonas jessenii and Pseudomonas brassicacearum were found as dominating species on all seedling parts from soil samples. In practical experiments, a strain of P. jessenii was found to exhibit a potential for use as protective culture, as it suppresses the growth of pathogenic enterobacteria on ready-to-eat sprouts. PMID:17512686

To develop a hazard analysis and critical control point plan for food processing operations, critical control points must be determined. Swine slaughtering and dressing operations were investigated to establish their critical control points. We monitored the microbiology of swine carcasses by surface swabbing carcass bellies at various steps during the process and by quantitating total aerobic plate count (APC) and coliforms. Starting with a dehaired carcass, the sequential steps monitored included presingeing, postsingeing, polishing, and chilling. Initial results indicate that singeing and chilling substantially reduced the levels of APC and coliforms, whereas polishing increased their levels. The hygienic characteristics of individual operations involved in dressing swine carcasses were then evaluated in the second experiment. A set of 40 randomly selected carcasses leaving singeer, polisher, shaver, and washer were sampled. Carcasses were heavily contaminated during the final polishing procedure, and the APC increased threefold compared with prepolishing levels. Washing reduced the bacterial numbers by 69%. To reduce the microbial load on swine carcasses, final polishing and manual shaving steps were not used during the dressing operation on a set of 90 carcasses. APCs on singed carcasses were reduced from 1.34 to -0.15 log10 CFU/cm2 when the final polisher and manual shavers were not used. However, carcasses were subsequently recontaminated with bacteria after evisceration, and the APCs were similar (P > 0.05) regardless of whether the final polishing and manual shaving steps were used, averaging 1.30 and 1.46 log10 CFU/cm2. These results indicated that individual operations can be identified as critical control points, appropriate limits can be set and monitored in a hazard analysis and critical control point system, and steps where further changes to reduce bacterial levels may be needed for swine slaughtering plants. PMID:10606156

The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of pollution on seabed bacterial diversity, structure and activity in the Port of Livorno. Samples of seabed sediments taken from five selected sites within the port were subjected to chemical analyses, enzymatic activity detection, bacterial count and biomolecular analysis. Five different statistics were used to correlate the level of contamination with the detected biological indicators. The results showed that the port is mainly contaminated by variable levels of petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals, which affect the structure and activity of the bacterial population. Irrespective of pollution levels, the bacterial diversity did not diverge significantly among the assessed sites and samples, and no dominance was observed. The ...

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the effects of rinsing with zinc- and chlorhexidine-containing mouth rinse with or without adjunct tongue scraping on volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in breath air, and the microbiota at the dorsum of the tongue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized single-masked controlled clinical trial with a cross-over study design over 14 days including 21 subjects was performed. Bacterial samples from the dorsum of the tongue were assayed by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. RESULTS: No halitosis (identified by VSC assessments) at day 14 was identified in 12/21 subjects with active rinse alone, in 10/21with adjunct use of tongue scraper, in 1/21 for negative control rinse alone, and in 3/21 in the control and tongue scraping sequence. At day 14, significantly lower counts were identified only in the active rinse sequence (p?VSC scores were correlated with several bacterial species. The use of a tongue scraper combined with active rinse did not change the levels of VSC compared to rinsing alone. CONCLUSIONS: VSC scores were not associated with bacterial counts in samples taken from the dorsum of the tongue. The active rinse alone containing zinc and chlorhexidine had effects on intra-oral halitosis and reduced bacterial counts of species associated with malodor. Tongue scraping provided no beneficial effects on the microbiota studied. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Periodontally healthy subjects with intra-oral halitosis benefit from daily rinsing with zinc- and chlorhexidine-containing mouth rinse. PMID:22573244

Abstract in spanish El objetivo de este estudio fue medir la formación de histamina y los cambios microbiológicos en Chalcalburnus tarichi fresco procedente del lago Van y almacenado a 4 °C por un período de hasta 15 días. Muestras del músculo de los pescados fueron tomadas en intervalos de tiempo (días 1, 5, 7, 9,11, 13 y 15) durante el almacenaje. El contenido de la histamina fue determinado usando un método espectrofluorométrico y el conteo total y características de las Enteroh (more) acteriaceae y Pseudomonas spp. presentes en las muestras fueron establecidas por procedimientos microbiológicos estándares. La concentración inicial de histamina era de 27,5 mg/kg, aumentando gradualmente hasta 134,38 mg/kg en el día 15. El conteo bacteriano viable total varió de 8,0x10² a 9,0x10(9) ufc/g. Las Enterohacteriaceae estaban en el rango de 2,0 x 10² a 6,5 x 10(9) ufc/g, mientras las Pseudomonas spp. estaban entre 3,0 x 10² a 7,3 x 10(9) ufc/g Abstract in english Histamine accumulates in food via microbial decarboxylation of histidine. Small amounts of histamine naturally occurring in food under normal circumstances do not pose a public health hazard. Certain microbial species such as Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. have considerable capacity for histamine formation and can proliferate during handling or processing of foodstuffs, possibly elevating the histamine content to a harmful level. The objective of this study was t (more) o measure the formation of histamine and microbiological changes in fresh Chalcalburnus tarichi from Van lake and stored at 4 °C for up to 15 days. Fish muscle samples were taken on day 1,3,5,7,9,11,13 and 15 of experiment, during storage. Histamine content was determined using a spectrofluorometric method and the total count and features of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. present in the samples were established by standard microbiological procedures. The initial concentration of histamine was 27.5 mg/kg, increasing gradually up to 134.38 mg/kg on day 15. Total viable bacterial count varied from 8.0 x 10² to 9.0x10(9) cfu/g. Enterobacteriaceae was in the 2.0 x 10² to 6.5 x 10(9) cfu/g range, while Pseudomonas spp. was in the 3.0 x 10² to 7.3 x 10(9) cfu/g range

We have found a significant relationship between blood lymphocyte count and prognosis in 45 patients receiving either total lymphoid irradiation or sham irradiation for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. Patients with sustained lymphocyte counts less than 900 mm-3 for prolonged periods after treatment showed less rapid progression over the ensuing 3 years than did patients with multiple sclerosis who had lymphocyte counts above this level (p less than 0.01). Our results suggest that a simple laboratory test, the absolute blood lymphocyte count, may serve as a valuable barometer for monitoring the amount of immunosuppressive therapy needed to prevent progression in patients with multiple sclerosis, and possibly other autoimmune diseases.

We carried out a study to investigate the effectiveness of chloramphenicol alone as a treatment for bacterial meningitis. A total of 70 consecutive children aged > 3 months with bacterial meningitis, who had been admitted to the paediatric hospital of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, wer...

Translocation of viable bacteria from gut to bloodstream and other sterile body sites during shock has been demonstrated in several experimental and clinical studies. The factors causing translocation and its incidence at different stages of shock are not known. The aim of the study was to evaluate the importance of several factors causing translocation of indigenous microflora in an experimental model of septic shock based on intraperitoneal Escherichia coli sepsis in rats. Counts of inoculated E. coli and translocated bacteria in different locations, gut morphology and haematological values were evaluated at different stages of sepsis. Sepsis developed in all animals and E. coli achieved the highest counts in blood 6 h after inoculation. Translocation was commonest at 6 and 12 h after inoculation. Frequently translocating bacteria were lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, bacteroides and peptostreptococci. In early sepsis, translocation was associated with high E. coli counts in blood, yet in late sepsis the opposite correlation was present. Low infiltration by neutrophils in the ileum and decreased mitotic activity in the colon were associated with a high translocation rate. In early sepsis, translocation was associated with low lymphocyte counts, but in late sepsis, with low neutrophil counts. Translocation of bacteria (including anaerobes) that colonise the gut in high counts takes place during sepsis. Putative influencing factors such as activity of the primary disease (bacterial counts in blood), gut morphology or haematological values seem to have different impacts on translocation, depending on the stage of the disease. PMID:10798556

An increase in the incidence of debilitated loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) strandings in the southeastern United States has been observed in recent years. These turtles are characterized by emaciation and heavy burdens of external and internal parasites, and bacterial infections, but the underlying cause of their condition is unknown. To investigate further the causes of these strandings, a health assessment was performed on stranded, debilitated loggerhead turtles, and contaminant concentrations in various tissues were compared to those from healthy turtles. This portion of the study investigated the potential role of mercury (Hg) toxicity in the debilitated condition described above. Hematocrit, total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, calcium, lymphocyte counts, heterophil:lymphocyte ratios, aspartate aminotransferase, uric acid, sodium, and chloride were altered in debilitated loggerheads relative to healthy animals. However, none of the aforementioned health indicators correlated with Hg concentrations in either red blood cells (RBCs) or plasma. The Hg concentration in RBCs was 129+/-72 (mean+/-standard deviation) times higher than in plasma, causing a significant dilution of Hg in whole blood due to extreme anemia. Mercury concentrations in RBCs (73.7+/-21.2 ng/g) and scutes (455+/-57 ng/g) from debilitated turtles were similar to or lower than those reported for healthy animals, indicating no elevation in Hg exposure before and during the progression of this condition. These findings suggest that Hg toxicity does not play a role in the debilitated loggerhead condition observed in the southeastern United States. PMID:20090024

Bacterial biofilms on long-term catheters are a major source of infection. Exposure to ultraviolet C (UVC - 265 nm) light was shown in an earlier study to reduce the number of bacteria substantially on ex vivo treated urinary patient catheters. Very large doses (long treatment times) should, however, be applied to obtain 99.9% disinfection rates. The major reason was that besides cells the mature biofilm contained absorbing and scattering particulates, which made the biofilm opaque. The potential of UVC light emitting diodes (LED) for disinfection purposes in catheter-like tubes contaminated with biofilm was investigated. It was shown that UVC light propagation was possible through both Teflon and catheter tubes (silicone). The disinfection efficiency of the diodes was demonstrated on tubes contaminated artificially with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm. The tubes were connected to a flow system and biofilms were produced during a 3 day period. Tubes in lengths of 10 (Teflon, silicone) and 20 cm (Teflon) werecontaminated. Tubes for control and for UVC treatment were contaminated in parallel. Biofilms were sampled from the total inner surface of the tubes. Colony counts on the control samples were in the range of 5 x 10(5)-1.3 x 10(9) CFU ml(-1), with disinfection rates in the range 96-100%. The applied UVC doses corresponded to treatment times between 15 and 300 min. Disinfection (100%) was obtained in 10 cm Teflon tubes exposed for 30 min (detection limit

We investigated the intestinal microflora of coastal fish including Takifugu niphobles using both culture techniques and library cloning. As a result, the numbers of bacteria appeared on agar media were 1.0x10(4) to 1.4x10(9) CFU/g (colony forming units/gram), whereas those of total bacteria stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole were 4.7x10(10) to 1.9x10(11) cells/gram, irrespective of different fish species. In addition, the culture technique showed that the intestinal microflora in all specimens was mainly composed of the genus Vibrio. In contrast, the direct count method showed that spirochaetes with length of 2.5-4.5 mum were present in the intestinal contents of T. niphobles at high densities, whereas such bacteria could not be detected in those of other fish species. Library cloning yielded the sequences of 16S rRNA genes that were divided into seven taxonomic categories of bacteria including Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Clostridia, Gammaproteobacteria, Mollicutes, Spirochaetes and an unclassified bacterial group. These results demonstrate that the molecular diversity of the intestinal bacteria in T. niphobles based on the clone library method reflects the direct observation by fluorescence microscopy to some extent. PMID:20483242

Two hundred and two strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from digestive tracts of cultivated and wild adult shrimp, including Litopenaeus vannamei, Metapenaeus brevicornis and Penaeus merguiensis were selected based on their antibacterial activity against Vibrio harveyi. LAB strain of MRO3.12 exhibiting highest reduction of V. harveyi was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum MRO3.12 based on the nucleotide sequence of its 16S rDNA, which showed 99% (780/786 bp) homology to L. plantarum strain L5 (GenBank accession number DQ 239698.1). Co-cultivation of V. harveyi and L. plantarum MRO3.12 showed complete reduction of V. harveyi at 24 h under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, whereas L. plantarum increased from 5.29 to 9.47 log CFU ml(-1). After 6-week feeding trial with L. plantarum supplemented diet, white shrimp (L. vannamei) exhibited significant differences (p shrimp showed higher level of 5.0 ± 0.14 log CFU/g than the non-supplemented ones (3.34 ± 0.21 log CFU/g). However, total bacterial and non-fermenting vibrios counts decreased in shrimps fed on L. plantarum. Ten days after infection with V. harveyi (5.3-5.5 log CFU ml(-1)), significant survival (p shrimp, while only 67% survival was observed in the control. PMID:22126856

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is an important process for nitrogen removal in marine pelagic and benthic environments and represents a major sink in the global nitrogen cycle. We applied a suite of complementary methods for the detection and enumeration of anammox activity and anammox bacteria in marine sediments of the Gullmar Fjord, and compared the results obtained with each technique. 15N labelling experiments showed that nitrogen removal through N(2) production was essentially limited to the upper 2 cm of the sediment, where anammox contributed 23-47% of the total production. The presence of marine anammox bacteria belonging to the genus 'Candidatus Scalindua' was shown by 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison. FISH counts of anammox bacteria correlated well with anammox activity, while quantitative PCR may have underestimated the number of anammox bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies at this site. Potential nitrogen conversion by anammox ranged from 0.6 to 4.8 fmol N cell-1 day-1, in agreement with previous measurements in the marine environment and in bioreactors. Finally, intact ladderane glycerophospholipid concentrations better reflected anammox activity and abundance than ladderane core lipid concentrations, most likely because the core lipid fraction contained a substantial fossil component, especially deeper in the sediment.

Abstract in english The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between the composition of the subgingival microbiota and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism in Brazilian adults with chronic periodontitis. The clinical parameters of probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, plaque accumulation and suppuration were measured in 60 Caucasian adults who were divided into two groups: 30 healthy individuals (control) and 30 with chronic per (more) iodontitis (ChP). Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 6 sites per subject and analyzed for 38 bacterial species using the Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization. DNA was obtained from the subjects' epithelial cells by scraping the buccal mucosa and using a mouthwash containing 3% of glucose. Polymorphism in the VDR gene was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by Taql digestion (RFLP). The healthy subjects presented significantly lower levels (0.3 × 10(7) ± 0.7 × 10(7)) of total microbial counts in comparison with subjects with chronic periodontitis (4.5 × 10(7) ± 2.9 × 10(7)). Regarding the occurrence of VDR polymorphism, it was observed that the Tt genotype was more prevalent in the Periodontitis group (60%) than in the Healthy group (30%), while the prevalences of the TT genotype were 23.3% and 53.3%, respectively (Chi-square test, p

Foodborne hazards in seafood have only recently received increased attention in Singapore since the illness outbreak in 2009 that was associated with consumption of Indian rojak (a traditional salad of fruits, vegetables, and seafood). The microbiological quality of seafood must be evaluated for assurance of food safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality and to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Vibrio spp. in seafood sold in Singapore. A total of 116 samples (41 prawn, 44 shellfish, and 31 fishball samples) were collected from major supermarkets and wet markets in Singapore. The mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacterial counts for prawn, shellfish, and fishballs were 2 to 7 log CFU/g. One Salmonella Lexington strain was isolated from a thawed-frozen shellfish product and two Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were isolated from commercial fishball and shrimp meat products. Thus, seafood sold in Singapore has the potential to be contaminated with Vibrio spp. and Salmonella, and proper handling at food service establishments is required to ensure food safety. Effective control measures also are needed to prevent cross-contamination during postharvest seafood processing. PMID:22980017

Water from Lake Anna in Virginia, a lake that is used to cool reactors at a nuclear power plant and for recreational activities, was assessed for the presence of Naegleria fowleri, an ameba that causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). This survey was undertaken because it has been reported that thermally enriched water fosters the propagation of N. fowleri and, hence, increases the risk of infection to humans. Of 16 sites sampled during the summer of 2007, nine were found to be positive for N. fowleri by a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. However, total ameba counts, inclusive of N. fowleri, never exceeded 12/50 mL of lake water at any site. No correlation was obtained between the conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH of water and presence of N. fowleri. To date, cases of PAM have not been reported from this thermally enriched lake. It is postulated that predation by other protozoa and invertebrates, disturbance of the water surface from recreational boating activities, or the presence of bacterial or fungal toxins, maintain the number N. fowleri at a low level in Lake Anna. PMID:19043740

Biofouling, especially microfouling, is a major concern with the use of titanium (Ti) in the marine environment as a condenser material in cooling water systems. Earlier, copper-nickel (Cu/Ni) alloys were extensively used in marine environments due to their high corrosion and biofouling resistance. However, the choice of condenser material for the new fast breeder reactor in Kalpakkam is Ti to avoid steam side corrosion problems, which may pose a threat to steam generator parts having sodium as the secondary coolant. This study evaluates the surface modification of Ti using nano films of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) to utilize the antibacterial property of copper ions in reducing microfouling. The surface modification of Ti was carried out by the deposition of a Cu/Ni bilayer and (Cu/Ni)(10) multilayer films using a pulsed laser deposition technique. Various surface characterization studies revealed that the deposited Cu/Ni films were thin and nanocrystalline in nature. The antibacterial properties were evaluated using total viable count and epifluorescence microscopic techniques. The results showed an apparent decrease in bacterial attachment on multilayered and bilayered Cu/Ni thin films on Ti surfaces. Comparative studies between the two types of films showed a bigger reduction in numbers of microorganisms on the multilayers. PMID:20183129

Abstract in english Blood samples of 50 healthy specimens from each of the following species: Bothrops alternatus, Bothrops jararacussu, Bothrops moojeni, and Bothrops neuwiedi diporus all kept in captivity were taken to determine the hematocrit (PCV) value, red blood cell count (RBC), total leukocyte (WBC) and differential leukocyte count, thrombocyte count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin concentration (HbC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin conc (more) entration (MCHC). These hematological parameters were compared to those obtained from other Bothrops species. PCV values, RBC, hemoglobin, WBC count, and differential leukocyte count are within the range of values reported for other Bothrops species, while the thrombocyte count was significantly lower. All the hematological parameters obtained from the four studied Bothrops species were higher than those described for B. ammodytoides.

The aim of this study was to investigate development over time of the surface expression of CD44 on macrophages during an inflammatory response of bovine mammary gland. Intramammary instillation of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a significant increase in the total count of CD44+ non-vacuolised macrophages (NMAC) after 24h. During resolution of the inflammatory response, there was observed a gradual decrease in the total count CD44+ NMAC. The lower total count and proportion of CD44+vacuolised macrophages (VMAC) was observed as the effect of MDP and LPS at 24h after induction (P<0.01). During resolution, the total count and proportion of CD44+VMAC increased. We have demonstrated CD44 receptor is expressed during the inflammatory response caused by LPS and M...

The objective of this research was to determine the microflora of full fat and reduced fat Edam cheese during maturation. Reduced fat (16% fat) and full fat (28% fat) Edam cheese was stored up to 20 weeks at 6°C after manufacture. The cheeses were analyzed for pH, moisture, total solids, fat and protein content. Reduced fat cheese had higher protein and water content than full fat. We determined total bacteria, lactococci, and lactobacilli counts of reduced and full fat cheese during 5 months of ripening. Results revealed that total bacteria counts were about 1.9×105/g at one day for reduced fat cheese and 8×106/g for full fat cheese. Total counts decreased during maturation in both cheeses. Initial lactococcal counts were about the same in both products.   

In contrast, no such change in extractable Fe concentrations or Fe(II) content is noted ... There were also increases in both total and heterotrophic cell counts in this region, ..... Carotenoid biomarkers as an imperfect reflection of the anaerobic ...

The reticuloendothelial system, including the spleen, subserves important immunologic functions. Loss of splenic function results in an increased incidence of severe bacterial infections and is accompanied by thrombocytosis. Several nephrotic children were noted to have remarkably high platelet counts and predisposition to bacterial infection with encapsulated organisms. We, therefore, investigated the splenic function of nine children with primary nephrotic syndrome and measured the phagocytic function of the spleen by sequestration of Technetium-99-labelled heat-treated autologous RBC, administered intravenously. Four children had decreased splenic function. Repeat studies performed in two of these children after remission of the nephrotic syndrome gave normal results. There were six episodes of bacterial infection (3 peritonitis, 1 septic arthritis, 1 cellulitis, and 1 Escherichia coli urinary tract infection) among the four patients with decreased splenic function. There were no episodes of bacterial infection among the five nephrotic children with normal splenic function. Nephrotic patients with decreased splenic function had significantly increased platelet counts (921,000 +/- 196,000; mean +/- SEM) compared to those with normal function (435,000 +/- 46,000; P less than 0.001). Our findings suggest the possibility that some nephrotic children may have decreased splenic function in association with increased susceptibility to bacterial infections.

Neurologic complications of bacterial meningitis can occur any time during the course of the disease and some of them need neurosurgical aproach. Objective: to determine the incidence of neurologic complications of bacterial meningitis in children requring neurosurgical treatment. Material and methodology: a total of 277 children were followed and treated for bacterial meningitis at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Prishtina. The authors have analyzed cases who developed acute neurologic complications and treatment procedures. Results: of the 277 children treated for bacterial meningitis, due to the suspicion for neurologic complications, 109 children underwent a head computerized tomography scan. About 47 cases (43%) had evident structural abnormalities while only 15/277 cases (5%) re...

Mechanism of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) invasion through intestinal mucosa is not completely understood. In the present study, we developed an in vivo multiple-intestinal loop model in lambs to investigate (i) the type of cells involved in the bacterial uptake across the intestinal mucosa, (ii) the efficiency of bacterial uptake in different segments of the small intestine and (iii) the ability of different strains of Map to invade the various segments of the small intestine. Four loops on ileum and four loops each on Peyer's patch and non-Peyer's patch areas of jejunum were constructed by surgical procedure. The caprine, bovine, and vaccine strains of Map were used for infection. Map-infected intestinal loop tissues were collected at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24h post-infection and processed for electron microscopy, histology, bacterial culture and bacterial counting. All these parameters revealed that Map invaded through M cells and the enterocytes and bacterial translocation across M cells was greater than the enterocytes. Bacterial invasion was greater in ileal loops when compared to jejunal loops. Within the jejunal loops, bacterial uptake was higher in Peyer's patch areas than that of non-Peyer's patch areas. The caprine and bovine strains of Map showed greater ability for invasion into the small intestinal mucosa than that of the vaccine strain. PMID:23122809

Our objective was to determine the suppressive abilities of bacterial metabolites derived from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp. on Glomerella cingulata, Phomopsis sp., Phytophthora cactorum, and Fusicladosporium effusum, which are fungal or oomycete pathogens of pecan, and Monilinia fructicola, a fungal pathogen of peach. In the first set of in vitro assays, when metabolites were compared based on initial bacterial cell count, X. bovienii (SN) metabolites generally exhibited the greatest suppression of phytopathogens and Xenorhabdus sp. (355) the least with Photorhabdus luminescens (Hb) and Xenorhabdus nematophila (All) being intermediate. In a second set of in vitro assays, in which metabolites were compared at 50 mg per ml acetone, P. luminescens (VS) exhibited greater suppression ...

Frequently there is an inability to process and analyze samples of low biomass due to limiting amounts of relevant biomaterial in the sample. Furthermore, molecular biological protocols geared towards increasing the density of recovered cells and biomolecules of interest, by their very nature, also concentrate unwanted inhibitory humic acids and other particulates that have an adversarial effect on downstream analysis. A novel and robust fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS)-based technology has been developed for purifying (removing cells from sampling matrices), separating (based on size, density, morphology), and concentrating cells (spores, prokaryotic, eukaryotic) from a sample low in biomass. The technology capitalizes on fluorescent cell-sorting technologies to purify and concentrate bacterial cells from a low-biomass, high-volume sample. Over the past decade, cell-sorting detection systems have undergone enhancements and increased sensitivity, making bacterial cell sorting a feasible concept. Although there are many unknown limitations with regard to the applicability of this technology to environmental samples (smaller cells, few cells, mixed populations), dogmatic principles support the theoretical effectiveness of this technique upon thorough testing and proper optimization. Furthermore, the pilot study from which this report is based proved effective and demonstrated this technology capable of sorting and concentrating bacterial endospore and bacterial cells of varying size and morphology. Two commercial off-the-shelf bacterial counting kits were used to optimize a bacterial stain/dye FACS protocol. A LIVE/DEAD BacLight Viability and Counting Kit was used to distinguish between the live and dead cells. A Bacterial Counting Kit comprising SYTO BC (mixture of SYTO dyes) was employed as a broad-spectrum bacterial counting agent. Optimization using epifluorescence microscopy was performed with these two dye/stains. This refined protocol was further validated using varying ratios and mixtures of cells to ensure homogenous staining compared to that of individual cells, and were utilized for flow analyzer and FACS labeling. This technology focuses on the purification and concentration of cells from low-biomass spacecraft assembly facility samples. Currently, purification and concentration of low-biomass samples plague planetary protection downstream analyses. Having a capability to use flow cytometry to concentrate cells out of low-biomass, high-volume spacecraft/ facility sample extracts will be of extreme benefit to the fields of planetary protection and astrobiology. Successful research and development of this novel methodology will significantly increase the knowledge base for designing more effective cleaning protocols, and ultimately lead to a more empirical and true account of the microbial diversity present on spacecraft surfaces. Refined cleaning and an enhanced ability to resolve microbial diversity may decrease the overall cost of spacecraft assembly and/or provide a means to begin to assess challenging planetary protection missions.

Background- Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) still remains a significant problem in transfusion with potential important clinical consequences, including death. The International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party on Transfusion-Transmitted Infectious Diseases, Subgroup on Bacteria, organised an international study on Transfusion-Relevant Bacteria References to be used as a tool for development, validation and comparison of both bacterial screening and pathogen reduction methods. Material and Methods- Four Bacteria References (Staphylococcus epidermidis PEI-B-06, Streptococcus pyogenes PEI-B-20, Klebsiella pneumoniae PEI-B-08 and Escherichia coli PEI-B-19) were selected regarding their ability to proliferate to high counts in PCs and distributed anonymised to ...

The diagnostic performance of procalcitonin and neopterin as markers for bacterial and viral causes of fever was evaluated in a cohort of 69 febrile travellers with known etiological agents. Our aim was to establish a decision rule to minimize empirical antibiotic treatment. Compared with C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte (differential) counts, procalcitonin and neopterin had a disappointing diagnostic accuracy. Refraining from antibiotics in case of combined presence of lymphocytosis and/or CRP @?10mg/l would result in an 85% reduction in unwanted antibiotic treatment in patients with viral disease but in adequate antibiotic coverage of all patients with bacterial disease.

Chlorination is a common antifouling method adopted by industrial units to minimize the fouling growth on cooling systems. In the present study, the effect of sodium hypochlorite on extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, hydrophobicity, cell adhesion and viability of marine bacteria involved in biofilm formation were assessed in laboratory condition. Two bacterial strains, tentatively identified as Alteromonas sp. and Pseudomonas sp. isolated from the surface of seaweeds were used as test organisms for the present study. The bacterial cultures were treated with sodium hypochlorite at 25% of the minimum inhibitory concentration. Results showed considerable variation in the production of EPS, viable counts, hydrophobicity and adhesion ability of bacteria treated with sodium hypo...

Abstract in english Hydrogen peroxide and chlorine are compared as possible disinfectants for water-cooling circuits. To this purpose, samples taken from the cooling system of a steel making plant were treated (at 25ºC and pH values of 5.5 and 8.5) with varying amounts of the two oxidizing agents (0.0 mg/L, 2.0 mg/L and 6.0 mg/L). The results were evaluated through bacterial counting and measurement of corrosion rates upon AISI1020 carbon steel coupons. Bacterial removal and corrosion effects proved to be similar and satisfactory for both reagents.

The testis is an immunologically privileged organ. Sertoli cells can form a blood-testis barrier and protect sperm cells from self-immune system attacks. Spermatogenesis may be inhibited by severe illness, bacterial infections and chronic inflammatory diseases but the mechanism(s) is poorly understood. Our objective is to help in understanding such mechanism(s) to develop protective agents against temporary or permanent testicular dysfunction. Lipopolysaccaride (LPS) is used as a model of animal sepsis while L-carnitine (LCR) is used as a protective agent. A total of 60 male Swiss albino rats were divided into four groups (15/group). The control group received Saline; the 2(nd) group was given LCR (500 mg/kg i.p, once). The third group was treated with LPS (5 mg/kg i.p once) and the fourth group received LCR then LPS after three hours. From each group, five rats were used for histopathological examination. Biochemical parameters were assessed in the remaining ten rats. At the end of the experiment, animals were lightly anaesthetized with ether where blood samples were collected and testes were dissected on ice. Sperm count and motility were evaluated from cauda epididymis in each animal. Also, oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring testicular contents of reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-HDG, the DNA adduct for oxidative damage) in testicular DNA. The pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO) in addition to lactate dehydrogenase (LDHx) isoenzyme-x activity as an indicator for normal spermatozoal metabolism were assessed in testicular homogenate. Serum interlukin (IL)-2 level was also assessed as a marker for T-helper cell function. The obtained data revealed that LPS induced marked reductions in sperm's count and motility, obstruction in seminiferous tubules, hypospermia and dilated congested blood vessels in testicular sections concomitant with decreased testicular GSH content and LDHx activity. Moreover, the testicular levels of MDA, 8-HDG (in testicular DNA) and NO as well as serum IL-2 level were increased. Administration of LCR before LPS returned both sperm count and motility to normal levels. Also, contents of testicular GSH, MDA, 8-HDG and NO returned back to the corresponding control values. In addition, serum IL-2 level as well as histological abnormalities were markedly improved in LCR + LPS-treated rats. In conclusion, LPS increased proinflammatory and oxidative stress markers in the testis leading to a marked testicular dysfunction. L-carnitine administration ameliorates these effects by antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory mechanisms suggesting a protective role against male infertility in severely infected or septic patients. PMID:20357928

Abstract in portuguese OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a qualidade microbiológica de leite pasteurizado comercializado, isolar e identificar sorologicamente cepas de Escherichia coli enteropatogênica clássica (EPEC) nesse alimento. MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas 90 amostras de leite pasteurizado, de três marcas comerciais diferentes, dos tipos B e C, obtidas em padarias e supermercados do Rio de Janeiro, RJ. A contagem de coliformes totais e fecais foi estimada aplicando-se a técnica do número mais prováv (more) el. A quantificação de microorganismos mesófilos, psicrotróficos e termodúricos foi determinada pela técnica da contagem padrão em placa. A identificação fisiológica de E. coli foi realizada por metodologia convencional e a identificação sorológica de EPEC, com a utilização de soros comerciais. RESULTADOS: As três marcas de leite pasteurizado apresentaram contagens bacterianas acima do padrão permitido pela legislação brasileira. Foram isoladas 208 cepas de E. coli, entre as quais 46 (22,1%) foram sorogrupadas como EPEC. O sorogrupo mais freqüente foi o O55 (15,2%). CONCLUSÕES: Apesar de estudos recentes sobre fatores de virulência indicarem que nem todas as cepas sorogrupadas como EPEC são capazes de causar a lesão A/E (attaching/ effacing), considerou-se que o isolamento de sorogrupos de EPEC, nesse alimento, representa risco potencial para crianças e, também, possível meio de veiculação de outros enteropatógenos. Abstract in english OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the microbiological quality of pasteurized milk commercialized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and determine serologically enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains in E. coli isolates obtained from milk samples. METHODS: Ninety samples of pasteurized milk -- types B and C -- of three different commercial brands, purchased in supermarkets and bakeries in Rio de Janeiro, were examined. The amount of total and fecal coliform bacteria was estimated u (more) sing the Most Probable Number technique. Mesophilic, psychrotrophic, and thermoduric microorganism counts were determined by the Standard Plate Count technique. Isolation and identification of E. coli were carried out using conventional physiological tests. Commercial antisera were used for serological characterization of EPEC. RESULTS: The three milk brands analyzed revealed bacterial counts above the regulated values of the Brazilian government. It was found that among 208 strains of E. coli isolated, 46 (22.1%) were serologically classified as EPEC. The most common EPEC serogroup was O55 (15.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Though recent studies on virulence factors indicate that not all strains serologically classified as EPEC are able to attaching/effacing lesion, it is believed that the isolation of EPEC serogroups from pasteurized milk represent a potential risk for children, as well as an indicative of the presence of other enteropathogens.

The fate of indicator bacteria, a bacterial pathogen, and total aerobic bacteria during aerobic and anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge under laboratory conditions was determined. Correlation coefficients were calculated between physical and chemical parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, p...

Mar 7, 2005 ... quantitative PCR data indicate that AAP bacteria were usually a small fraction of total prokaryotic ... waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Long Island Sound did have relatively high AAP bacterial ..... High-throughput methods for ...

Eukaryotic and bacterial communities were characterized and quantified in microalgal photobioreactor cultures of freshwater Chlorella vulgaris and marine Dunaliella tertiolecta. The microalgae exhibited good growth, whilst both cultures contained diverse bacterial communities. Both cultures included Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while C. vulgaris cultures also contained Actinobacteria. The bacterial genera present in the cultures were different due to different growth medium salinities and possibly different extracellular products. Bacterial community profiles were relatively stable in D. tertiolecta cultures but not in C. vulgaris cultures likely due to presence of ciliates (Colpoda sp.) in the latter. The presence of ciliates did not, however, cause decrease in total number of C. vulgaris or bacteria during 14days of cultivation. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) reliably showed relative microalgal and bacterial cell numbers in the batch cultures with stable microbial communities, but was not effective when bacterial communities varied. Raw culture samples were successfully used as qPCR templates. PMID:22995170

A range of ethnic foods was examined for their microbiological content in relation to total viable counts (TVC) of aerobic bacteria, counts of presumptive coliforms, yeast and mould counts; presence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter spp.; total enumeration of Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus spp.; identification of moulds and the presence of total aflatoxins. Samples, which included cereals, nuts, dried fruits, herbs and spices, were obtained from local retail outlets and distributors. It was established that three samples of pistachio nuts contained significant levels of aflatoxins. The concentration of total aflatoxins in these three nut samples ranged from 15 to 259 microg/kg of sample. Only two other samples contained trace amounts of aflatoxins, all other samples analysed were found to be free of any detectable level of aflatoxins. TVCs, coliform counts and yeast and mould counts varied widely depending on the matrix tested. Generally, rice, wheat and peanuts produced low counts whereas other nuts, gram flour and spices produced much higher counts. Cl. perfringens, Staph. aureus, and Bacillus spp. were common in spices, nuts and gram flour, however, Listeria monocytogenes was only detected in four samples and in no sample could Salmonella spp, E. coli O157:H7 or Campylobacter spp. be detected. PMID:11288910

Microbially enhanced compost extracts ('compost tea') are being used in commercial agriculture as a source of nutrients and for their perceived benefit to soil microbiology, including plant disease suppression. Rumen content material is a waste of cattle abattoirs, which can be value-added by conversion to compost and 'compost tea'. A system for compost extraction and microbial enhancement was characterised. Molasses amendment increased bacterial count 10-fold, while amendment based on molasses and 'fish and kelp hydrolysate' increased fungal count 10-fold. Compost extract incubated at 1:10 (w/v) dilution showed the highest microbial load, activity and humic/fulvic acid content compared to other dilutions. Aeration increased the extraction efficiency of soluble metabolites, and microbial growth rate, as did extraction of compost without the use of a constraining bag. A protocol of 1:10 dilution and aerated incubation with kelp and molasses amendments is recommended to optimise microbial load and fungal-to-bacterial ratio for this inoculum source. PMID:21752637

This work was aimed at isolating and identifying the microbiota present during the semi-dry method of coffee processing using polyphasic methods and to evaluate microbial diversity with PCR-DGGE. Samples of Coffea arabica L. were collected during different processing stages in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The bacterial and fungal isolates were phenotypically characterised and grouped according to the ARDRA technique, in which the 16-23S and ITS1-5.8S regions of the rDNA were sequenced for species identification. The bacterial counts varied from 3.7 to 7 log CFU g-1. The yeast counts ranged from 3.4 to 6.9 log CFU g-1, and the filamentous fungal population varied from 2 to 3.7 log CFU g-1. Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter agglomerans, Bacillus cereus and Klebsiella pneumo...

Malaria is the most important parasitic disease, leading to annual death of about one million people, and the Plasmodium falciparum develops resistance to well-established antimalarial drugs. The newest antiplasmodial drug from a marine microorganism helps in addressing this problem. In the present study, Haliclona Grant were collected and subjected for enumeration and isolation of associated bacteria. The count of bacterial isolates was maximum in November 2007 (18???104?colony-forming units (CFU)?g?1, and the average count was maximum during the monsoon season (117???103?CFU?g?1). Thirty-three morphologically different bacterial isolates were isolated from Haliclona Grant, and the extracellular ethyl acetate extracts were screened for antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum. The an...

A blinded randomized study was conducted on 24 cats to confirm the presence of bacterial and/or fungal secondary infections associated with otoacariasis and to verify the efficacy of Oridermyl, an acaricidal/antibiotic/antifungal/anti-inflammatory ointment, for treatment of the primary infestation and secondary infections. Sixteen cats were treated once daily for 10 d; 4 cats were not treated and 4 were treated with a placebo ointment. On Days 0 and 10, ears were swabbed for counts of bacteria and yeasts, for bacterial culture and sensitivity, and examined for determination of the degree of clinical otitis. Auricular secretions were removed for mite counts on Day 10, except for 8 treated cats that were done on Day 30. There was a high number of bacteria and yeasts in most cats and Oridermyl treatment significantly decreased those numbers. Staphylococci were the most frequently isolated bacteria. No live ear mites were found in cats treated with Oridermyl or the placebo ointment. PMID:12928886

Information on factors limiting the shelf life of extended shelf life (ESL) milk produced by microfiltration and subsequent pasteurization is very limited. In this study, three different batches of ESL milk were analyzed at different stages of the production process and during storage at 4^oC, 8^oC and 10^oC in order to evaluate the changes in bacterial cell counts, microbial diversity and enzymatic quality. Additionally, detailed biodiversity analyses of 250 retail ESL milk packages produced by five manufacturers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland were performed at the end of shelf life. It was observed that microfiltration decreased the microbial loads by 5-6 log10 units to lower than 1CFU/mL. However, bacterial counts at the end of shelf life were extremely variable and ranged between ...

In a broad market survey, 145 samples of tattoo- and permanent make-up pigments were bacteriologically analysed. The pigments originated from 39 unopened vials and 106 opened vials in use. The samples were collected from 33 tattoo shops and 22 beauty studios and the analyses were effected by direct plating on four agar media and by enrichment in a non-selective broth. None of the used media could detect all contaminated samples. The best performance was obtained with sheep blood agar (BA), which detected bacterial counts in 7 of 39 (17.9?%) of unopened vials and in 22 of 106 (20.8?%) opened vials. In 12 of 145 samples (8.3?%), bacterial growth was observed in the enrichment broth but not on sheep BA. In most cases, contaminations were in a low range of 101?102?cfu?/?mL. Counts in the range...

Malaria is the most important parasitic disease, leading to annual death of about one million people, and the Plasmodium falciparum develops resistance to well-established antimalarial drugs. The newest antiplasmodial drug from a marine microorganism helps in addressing this problem. In the present study, Haliclona Grant were collected and subjected for enumeration and isolation of associated bacteria. The count of bacterial isolates was maximum in November 2007 (18?×?104 colony-forming units (CFU)?g?1, and the average count was maximum during the monsoon season (117?×?103 CFU g?1). Thirty-three morphologically different bacterial isolates were isolated from Haliclona Grant, and the extracellular ethyl acetate extracts were screened for antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum. The an...

Shellfish and shellfish-raising waters from a variety of Long Island and New Jersey marine embayments were examined for the presence of human enteroviruses. Little difference in virological quality was noted between areas designated as being open or closed to shellfishing. Viral isolations could not be correlated with coliform counts from identical samples, indicating the need to re-evaluate the use of bacterial standards as indices of the overall sanitary quality of water and shellfish.

The bibliography contains citations concerning the use of marine plants and animals as indicators of organic and inorganic pollutant distribution. Topics include descriptions of specific species and assemblages, regional and local monitoring studies, and analyses of the soft and hard parts of marine animals. Studies of algae, bivalves, corals, crustaceans, bacterial counts, and seagrasses in estuaries and benthic areas are included. (Contains 250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Background and Objectives- Cord blood unit (CBU) total colony-forming unit (CFU) count both pre-cryo and post-thaw has been shown to be associated with platelet (PLT) engraftment. Pre-cryo CBUs show good growth of megakaryocytic CFUs (CFU-Mk); however, CFU-Mk have rarely been studied in post-thaw CBUs. Materials and Methods Nucleated cells (NCs) from post-thaw CB were cultured in a collagen-based assay designed to support growth of CFU-Mk. To ensure accurate counting two independent investigators evaluated four culture chambers per sample for CFU-Mk growth. Post-thaw CFU and other cellular characteristics of the CBUs were enumerated independently and compared to CFU-Mk. Results The post-thaw CBU total CFU count varied from 047 to 420--106-colonies (median, 099--106) and total CFU-Mk count ...

Scalding has been found to lower the levels of Campylobacter on broiler carcasses. However, the numbers recovered from whole-carcass rinse samples increase following defeathering. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of a second scald applied after defeathering on microbial levels recovered from carcass rinses. Four treatments were evaluated: 1) immersion at 60 C for 28 s 30 min after defeathering, 2) immersion at 60 C for 28 s immediately after defeathering, 3) spray at 73 C for 20 s 30 min after defeathering, and 4) spray at 71 C for 20 s immediately after defeathering. As reported earlier, a significant increase in Campylobacter counts per mL whole carcass rinse was noted after carcasses were defeathered. However, when applied 30 min after defeathering, neither the immersion nor the spray second scald treatments lowered the Campylobacter counts. Likewise, neither treatment had any affect on Escherichia coli or coliform bacteria counts, even though total counts were slightly reduced by the treatments. When the second scald treatment immediately followed defeathering, the same trends were observed. Campylobacter counts after the second scald remained at the postpick levels, as did counts for E. coli and coliform bacteria, but total plate counts were slightly reduced. Overall, it would appear that a postscald treatment gentle enough not to alter the carcass appearance or meat quality would not effectively lower Campylobacter, E. coli, or coliform bacteria counts. PMID:11092344