小菌虫肠道可培养细菌的分离鉴定 及产消化酶活性分析

摘要：目的 分离小菌虫肠道可培养细菌,并研究其产消化酶活性,探讨肠道细菌对小菌虫消化食物的影响。方法 采用传统细菌分离培养方法分离小菌虫肠道细菌,利用16S rDNA序列进行细菌分子鉴定;利用筛选培养基鉴别各细菌的产蛋白酶、脂肪酶、淀粉酶和纤维素酶活性。结果 在小菌虫肠道中分离到4种可培养细菌,分别是枯草芽胞杆菌（Bacillus subtilis）、肺炎克雷伯菌（Klebsiella pneumoniae）、Pseudocitrobacter faecalis和芽胞杆菌（Bacillus sp.）。其中,2种芽胞杆菌属细菌有产消化酶活性。枯草芽胞杆菌有产纤维素酶、淀粉酶和蛋白酶活性;芽胞杆菌仅有产蛋白酶活性,但产酶能力低于枯草芽胞杆菌。结论 小菌虫肠道细菌中可培养细菌结构简单,但其中的芽胞杆菌属细菌有产纤维素酶、淀粉酶和蛋白酶能力,说明小菌虫肠道中的2种芽胞杆菌属细菌可能有协助小菌虫进行食物消化的功能。     

野生东亚钳蝎消化道可培养细菌的分离鉴定、耐药性及产消化酶活性

目的分离东亚钳蝎消化道中的可培养细菌,并研究其产消化酶活性和耐药性,探讨消化道细菌对东亚钳蝎消化食物的影响。方法野生东亚钳蝎采用传统细菌分离培养方法分离其消化道内可培养细菌,利用16S rRNA序列进行细菌的分子鉴定;利用平板透明圈法测定可培养细菌产淀粉酶、蛋白酶、脂肪酶和纤维素酶等消化酶的活性;采用药敏纸片扩散法进行消化道可培养细菌的药敏试验。结果在东亚钳蝎消化道中共分离到4个属10种细菌,其中芽胞杆菌属7种,分别为蛋白水解芽胞杆菌、解淀粉芽胞杆菌、巨大芽胞杆菌、枯草芽胞杆菌、蜡样芽胞杆菌、婴儿芽胞杆菌和长形赖氨酸芽胞杆菌;葡萄球菌属、纤维微菌属和短波单胞菌属各1株,分别为松鼠葡萄球菌、纤维化纤维微细菌和泡囊短波单胞菌。对10种细菌的产消化酶活性分析表明,8种细菌有产消化酶活性,占细菌总数的80%;5种细菌有产蛋白酶活性,分别为蛋白水解芽胞杆菌、枯草芽胞杆菌、蜡样芽胞杆菌、松鼠葡萄球菌和纤维化纤维微细菌;7种细菌有产淀粉酶活性,分别为蛋白水解芽胞杆菌、解淀粉芽胞杆菌、巨大芽胞杆菌、枯草芽胞杆菌、蜡样芽胞杆菌、松鼠葡萄球菌和婴儿芽胞杆菌;未筛选到产纤维素酶和脂肪酶活性的细菌;蛋白水解芽胞杆菌、枯草芽胞杆菌、蜡样芽胞杆菌和松鼠葡萄球菌可同时产2种消化酶。在药敏试验中,8种细菌对多粘菌素B耐药,5种细菌对四环素耐药,3种细菌对万古霉素耐药。结论东亚钳蝎消化道中可培养细菌的组成相对单一,多数细菌有分泌淀粉酶和蛋白酶的功能,说明东亚钳蝎消化道中的细菌可能有协助其进行食物消化的功能。消化道细菌对抗生素多表现为敏感,推测其生存环境中抗生素的污染较少,同时在对东亚钳蝎人工饲养的场所进行消毒时,要谨慎选择抗生素,防止抗生素使用不当致使东亚钳蝎肠道菌群紊乱引起疾病。     

青海可可西里嗜碱芽胞杆菌资源调查

【目的】了解可可西里嗜碱芽胞杆菌资源多样性及产酶多样性,为芽胞杆菌功能资源挖掘和菌剂开发提供基础。【方法】采用Horikoshi I培养基,通过可培养法分离青海可可西里土壤中的嗜碱芽胞杆菌,利用16S r RNA基因序列初步鉴定分离获得的芽胞杆菌。采用透明圈法分析分离菌株的产蛋白酶、纤维素酶及木聚糖酶活性。【结果】从青海可可西里土壤中共分离获得66株嗜碱芽胞杆菌,根据16S r RNA基因序列相似性分析,发现它们隶属于6个属22个种,分别为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、纤细芽胞杆菌属(Gracilibacillus)、喜盐芽胞杆菌属(Halobacillus)、咸海鲜芽胞杆菌属(Jeotgalibacillus)、类芽胞杆菌属(Paenibacillus)和嗜冷芽胞杆菌属(Psychrobacillus),其中以芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)为优势属。2株嗜碱芽胞杆菌与它们最近匹配模式菌株的16S r RNA基因序列相似性为97.00%和98.65%,为潜在新种。三种酶活检测结果表明产酶菌株约占总分离菌株的95.00%,其中55株具有产蛋白酶活性,27株具有产纤维素酶活性,8株能够产木聚糖酶。【结论】青海可可西里蕴藏着较丰富的嗜碱芽胞杆菌资源及丰富的产酶资源,为后续嗜碱芽胞杆菌的挖掘提供理论基础。     

马蜂肠道菌的分离鉴定及产消化酶功能菌株的筛选

【背景】马蜂(Vespa mandarinia Smith)可以防治多种田间害虫,还具有药用价值,其肠道菌群结构和功能还有待研究。【目的】获得马蜂肠道可培养细菌并筛选出具有产消化酶功能的菌株,为理解肠道菌对宿主的影响机理及功能菌株的利用提供科学依据和研究材料。【方法】采用传统细菌分离培养法获得马蜂肠道菌,结合形态学以及16S rRNA基因序列分析进行鉴定;利用水解圈法分别筛选产蛋白酶、脂肪酶、淀粉酶和纤维素酶菌株;通过测量水解圈D与菌落直径d的比值,比较不同细菌的产酶能力。【结果】在马蜂肠道中共分离出6属10种细菌,其中芽孢杆菌属5种,肠球菌属、葡萄球菌属、明串珠菌属、乳球菌属和不动杆菌属各1种。从获得的61个菌株中筛选出6个具有产消化酶功能的菌株。其中,苏云金芽孢杆菌V44具有产蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶和纤维素酶4种消化酶的能力;粪肠球菌V6具有产淀粉酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶3种消化酶的能力;蜡样芽孢杆菌V43具有产蛋白酶、淀粉酶和纤维素酶3种消化酶的能力;粪肠球菌V20、蜡样芽孢杆菌V19和维德曼氏芽孢杆菌V22均具有产蛋白酶的能力。【结论】马蜂肠道细菌资源较丰富,部分有产消化酶的功能,可帮助马蜂消化食物,对宿主健康有一定影响。本研究筛选的6个菌株都能产蛋白酶,其中菌株V43和V44分别具有最强产淀粉酶和脂肪酶的能力,是可进一步开发利用的肠道功能菌株资源。     

一株耐高温细菌CHB1的分离和产酶特性研究

从土壤中分离到1株耐高温细菌CHB1,经鉴定为嗜热脂肪土芽胞杆菌(Geobacillus stearothermophilus)。通过平板透明圈法研究其产酶特性,结果表明CHB1具有蛋白酶、淀粉酶和纤维素酶活性,产酶最适温度均为60℃;最佳产酶时间因酶的种类而不同,淀粉酶为24 h,蛋白酶和纤维素酶为48 h。培养基厚度对产酶有一定的影响,以每皿20~25 mL为宜。     

野生大鲵肠道细菌多样性及产酶活性研究

[目的]纯培养分离大鲵肠道细菌并研究其多样性及产酶活性。[方法]分离大鲵肠道细菌并进行胞外淀粉酶、蛋白酶、纤维素酶和脂肪酶活性研究,并应用16S rRNA系统发育分析对菌落进行分子鉴定。[结果]纯培养分离得到65株细菌,产酶活性结果表明:62株产蛋白酶、46株产淀粉酶、61株产纤维素酶、2株产脂肪酶。将65株细菌16S rRNA序列扩增并进行RFLP分析后选取33株进行测序,可划分为2个门5个属:变形菌门(Proteobacteria)占总数的54.5%,分为普罗维登斯菌属(Providencia)、柠檬酸杆菌属(Citrobacter);厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)占总数的45.5%,分为漫游球菌属(Vagococcus)、芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)、赖氨酸芽孢杆菌属(Lysinibacillus)。[结论]大鲵肠道细菌产酶活性,分离出的细菌多样性丰富进行测序的肠道细菌可分为2门5属。     

芦笋老茎堆肥中嗜热细菌的分离与鉴定

利用稀释涂布法对芦笋老茎堆肥不同发酵阶段6个样品中的嗜热细菌进行分离,并采用16S rDNA序列分析方法对分离得到的菌落形态有明显区别的22株细菌进行鉴定.根据16S rDNA序列分析结果,22株细菌菌株中13株属于芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus),1株属于类芽胞杆菌属(Paenibacillus),4株属于假黄色单胞菌属(Pseudoxanthomonas),1株属于肠杆菌属(Enterobacter),1株属于副球菌属(Paracoccus),1株属于短芽胞杆菌属(Brevibacillus),菌株D-b2在GenBank数据库中未找到与其相似的已知细菌属的序列,分类地位待定.从以上鉴定结果可以看出,芦笋老茎堆肥中的优势嗜热细菌主要是芽胞杆菌(Bacillus spp.)和假黄色单胞菌(Pseudoxanthomonas spp.).     

龟纹瓢虫四虫态肠道细菌分离及鉴定

目的通过对龟纹瓢虫四个虫态肠道菌群研究,探讨其营养生理,为改良龟纹瓢虫人工饲料,大量扩繁天敌昆虫奠定基础。方法按照传统的分离方法从龟纹瓢虫瓢卵、幼虫、蛹及雌成虫或肠道内分离15个不同菌株,对其染色反应、培养性状,菌体形态和生理生化性状进行系统研究。结果从龟纹瓢虫卵内分离鉴定出短芽胞杆菌（Bacillus brevis）、球性芽胞杆菌（Bacillus sphaericus）、棍状杆菌属（Clavibacter）和一种未知分类地位的菌;幼虫肠道内分离鉴定柠檬酸杆菌属（Citrob acter）、短状杆菌属（Brachybacterium）、微杆菌属（Microbacterium）、皮杆菌属（Dermabacter）、浸麻芽胞杆菌属（Bacillus macerans）、纤维单胞菌属（Cellulomonas）;蛹肠道分离鉴定出短芽胞杆菌（Bacillus brevis）、蜡状芽胞杆菌（Bacillus cereus）、微杆菌属（Microbacterium）、不动杆菌属（Acinetobacter）;成虫肠道分离鉴定出短芽胞杆菌（Bacillus brevis）、球性芽胞杆菌（Bacillus sphaericus）、柠檬酸杆菌属（Citrob acter）、不动杆菌属（Acinetobacter）、地衣芽胞杆菌（Bacillus licheniformis）、凝结芽胞杆菌（Bacillus coagulans）和巨大芽胞杆菌（Bacillusmegaterium）。结论不同虫态龟纹瓢虫肠道中细菌种类不同,为进一步研究适合龟纹瓢虫不同时期生长和繁殖的人工饲料的配比提供了依据。     

杜比亚蟑螂肠道菌的分离鉴定及产消化酶功能菌株的筛选

【背景】杜比亚蟑螂(Blaptica dubia)可用于活体饲料、化妆品和医药保健品的生产,其肠道菌的研究对杜比亚蟑螂的饲养和肠道菌资源的开发与利用都十分重要。【目的】揭示杜比亚蟑螂肠道可培养菌的种类,筛选具有产消化酶功能的菌株,为理解肠道菌对宿主的影响机理及功能菌株的利用提供科学依据和研究材料。【方法】采用体外培养法获得杜比亚蟑螂肠道菌,结合形态学和分子生物学方法进行鉴定;用水解圈法分别筛选产纤维素酶、蛋白酶、脂肪酶和淀粉酶菌株。【结果】在杜比亚蟑螂肠道中共分离出4属7种细菌,其中芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)2种,沙雷氏菌属(Serratia)和柠檬酸杆菌属(Citrobacter)各2种,肠球菌属(Enterococcus)1种。从获得的20个菌株中筛选出10个具有产消化酶功能的菌株。其中,芽孢杆菌属的菌株D6、D12和D20具有产纤维素酶、蛋白酶、淀粉酶及脂肪酶4种消化酶的功能;沙雷氏菌属的菌株D3、D7、D9、D11和D15具有产纤维素酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶3种消化酶的能力;柠檬酸杆菌属的菌株D5具有产纤维素酶的功能;肠球菌属的菌株D17具有产蛋白酶的能力。【结论】杜比亚蟑螂肠道多种细菌具有产消化酶帮助降解大分子营养物质的功能,可通过协助食物消化影响宿主健康。菌株D12、D7和D11分别具有最强产纤维素酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶的能力,是可进一步开发利用的肠道功能菌株资源。     

一株耐高温细菌CHB1的分离和产酶特性研究

从土壤中分离到1株耐高温细茵CHB1,经鉴定为嗜热脂肪土芽胞杆菌(Geobacillus stearother-mophilus).通过平板透明圈法研究其产酶特性,结果表明CHB1具有蛋白酶、淀粉酶和纤维素酶活性,产酶最适温度均为60℃;最佳产酶时间因酶的种类而不同,淀粉酶为24 h,蛋白酶和纤维素酶为48 h.培养基厚度对产酶有一定的影响,以每皿20～25 mL为宜.     

Occurrence of conjugated R-plasmids in bacteria of the Aeromonas genus isolated from purified urban sewage water]

The aim of the study was to determine a participation of Aeromonas sp., having conjugation R plasmids, in a population of the bacteria present in purified urban sewage . In 1 ml of sewage 1.8 x 10(3) - 50 x 10(3) of Aeromonas sp., were found. The isolated strains belonged to the following genera: A. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. sorbia. All tested strains were sensitive to gentamicin, tetracycline, kanamycin and nalidixic acid. Among 186 strains of Aeromonas sp., two belonging to A. caviae genus transferred resistance to streptomycin to A. hydrophila and E. coli recipients on the other hand two strains of A. caviae transferred resistance to streptomycin exclusively to A. hydrophila recipient.     

Comparative electrophoretic profiles of esterases, and of glutamate, lactate and malate dehydrogenases, from Aeromonas hydrophila, A. caviae and A. sobria

Esterases, and glutamate, lactate and malate dehydrogenases of 64 Aeromonas hydrophila, A. caviae and A. sobria strains, were analysed by polyacrylamide agarose gel electrophoresis and by thin layer isoelectrofocusing. On the basis of the isoelectric points of malate dehydrogenase from the three species and the mobility of lactate dehydrogenase from A. sobria, 8 species specific zymotypes were defined: three for A. hydrophila strains, three for A. caviae strains and two for A. sobria strains. These zymotypes correlated with previously established DNA hybridization groups. The other electrophoretic data were found to be less useful for distinction between A. hydrophila and A. sobria strains, but supported differentiation into zymotypes for A. caviae strains. The two-dimensional electrophoretic profile established by plotting isoelectric point against electrophoretic mobility of the major esterase illustrated the degree of enzyme polymorphism among the strains of the three species. Variation in electrophoretic patterns within A. hydrophila and A. caviae might provide useful epidemiological markers.     

Distribution and characterization of hemolytic, and enteropathogenic motile Aeromonas in aquatic environment

A year-long survey on the distribution of motile Aeromonas species in the surface waters of riverine and marine environments was conducted. The filtered membranes were directly placed onto the modified Pril-xylose-ampicillin agar for the enumeration of Aeromonas species. High counts of motile aromonads were found in riverine stations and this bacterial population was also observed in significant quantities in polluted marine samples. In the identification of 2,444 isolates, three species of motile Aeromonas were observed. A. caviae (43%) was prevalent followed by A. sobria (35%) and A. hydrophila (20%). A. hydrophila was high in clean riverine samples, A. sobria was predominantly isolated from a stagnant water sampling area, and A. caviae was distributed more in marine samples. Statistical analyses suggested that the densities of Aeromonas were related to the cumulative effect of various physicochemical parameters rather than to a single factor. Among the species of Aeromonas, A. hydrophila, and A. sobria were highly hemolytic whereas only 11% of A. caviae were observed to lyse sheep erythrocytes. Suckling-mouse assay was performed to elucidate the enterotoxicity of motile aeromonads and 21% of the tested strains (one A. caviae strain) were found to produce enterotoxin.     

Enterotoxigenic aeromonads on retail lamb meat and offal

Enrichment in alkaline peptone water was compared with the direct plating method for the isolation of Aeromonas spp. from lamb meat and offal samples. The enrichment method significantly increased the isolation rate of aeromonads. Motile Aeromonas species ( A. hydrophila, A. sobria and A. caviae ) were present in all kinds of samples investigated. Seventy-three Aeromonas strains isolated in this survey were characterized to species level and examined for their ability to produce virulence factors. Strains identified as A. sobria were the strongest producers of haemolysin and enterotoxin, whereas A. caviae strains were consistently non-haemolytic and non-enterotoxigenic. Thus it is likely that lamb meat and offal are potentially significant sources of virulent Aeromonas species and may play an important role in the aetiology of Aeromonas -associated gastro-enteritis.     

Interactions of clinical and environmental Aeromonas isolates with Caco-2 and HT29 intestinal epithelial cells

AIM: Evaluation of adherence and invasion of Aeromonas spp. to human colon carcinoma cell lines Caco-2 and HT29 and assessment of cytotoxic activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: A number of 27 strains of Aeromonas caviae and 23 strains of Aeromonas hydrophila was analysed. All strains were capable to adhere to sub-confluent monolayers of Caco-2 and HT29 cell types, presenting aggregative and diffuse adherence patterns cells, respectively. In the cytotoxic assays all strains showed cytopathic and/or cytotoxic activities to Vero cells. The evaluation of the tetrazolium salt (MTT test) reduction capability was carried out in Vero, Caco-2, and HT29 cells. MTT test showed that Vero cell line was the most sensitive cell type. In the invasion test, 13 strains were analysed on Caco-2 and HT29 monolayers. Only two (15%) of the 13 strains, A. hydrophila and A. caviae species, both isolated from vegetables were invasive to Caco-2 cells. No strains were able to invade the HT29 cells. CONCLUSIONS: A. hydrophila and A. caviae isolated from human diarrhoeic faeces, vegetables, and water, were able to adhere to and produce cytotoxic/cytopathic effects in intestinal epithelial cell lines. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of Aeromonas spp. in food and water samples expressing virulence factors suggest that these sources may act as dissemination vehicles of human pathogen with implication in the public health.     

嗜水气单胞菌WQ中PHBHHx的合成及其分子基础研究

聚羟基脂肪酸酯(Polyhydroxyalkanoate,PHA)是一系列生物合成的高分子材料,其单体可由多种3-羟基脂肪酸(3-hydroxyalkanoate,3HA)构成^[1]。PHA物理和机械性能的变化很大,从高脆性到弹性体,这跟它们的单体成分有很大关系^[2]。短链和中长链单体共聚的PHA比短链单体或中长链单体聚合得到的PHA有着更好的性能^[3]。在1994年,豚鼠气单胞菌(Aeromonas caviae)FA440被发现能以偶数碳原子数脂肪酸或植物油作为碳源在体内积累PHBHHx^[4]其PHA生物合成基因被成功克隆^[5]。根据亚基数目和底物特异性,PHA合成的关键酶,即PHA合酶或PhaC,被分成了3种类型。A．caviae的PHA合酶属于第1类PHA合酶^[6]。PHA合酶的一些类型含有一些保守的基因序列,该特征可被用于克隆,特别是第Ⅱ类PHA合酶^[2,8]。嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)WQ和A．hydrophila 4AK4是能够合成PHBHHx的另外两种菌株,其中A．hydrophila 4AK4已被用作大规模生产PHBHHx。就目前来说,不管生长条件怎么改变,其合成的PHBHHx中3羟基己酸单体(3-hydroxyhexanoate,3HHx)的含量始终在12％～17％之间变化^[9]。而A．hydrophila WQ合成的PHBHHx中则含有6％～14％ 3HHx。本论文研究了A．hydrophila WQ的PHA生物合成及其分子基础。     

Enumeration and characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae isolated from grocery store produce.

Starch-ampicillin agar was used to quantitatively isolate Aeromonas sp. from retail grocery store produce. All produce sampled, including parsley, spinach, celery, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, and lettuce, contained Aeromonas sp. In most instances, the count of Aeromonas sp. increased 10- to 1,000-fold during 2 weeks of storage at 5 degrees C. Eleven (92%) of 12 kinds of produce yielded cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. Identification as Aeromonas hydrophila was the strongest indicator of cytotoxicity, and all 29 (100%) A. hydrophila isolates and 1 (6%) of 16 A. caviae isolates were cytotoxic. Twenty-seven (90%) of 30 cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. strains produced hemolysins. Strong correlations were also noted between ability to produce cytotoxin and positive Voges-Proskauer, lysine decarboxylase, and sorbitol fermentation reactions. It appears that grocery store produce is a potentially significant source of cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. and should be considered in the epidemiology of A. hydrophila gastroenteritis.     

Enumeration and characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae isolated from grocery store produce

Starch-ampicillin agar was used to quantitatively isolate Aeromonas sp. from retail grocery store produce. All produce sampled, including parsley, spinach, celery, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, and lettuce, contained Aeromonas sp. In most instances, the count of Aeromonas sp. increased 10- to 1,000-fold during 2 weeks of storage at 5 degrees C. Eleven (92%) of 12 kinds of produce yielded cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. Identification as Aeromonas hydrophila was the strongest indicator of cytotoxicity, and all 29 (100%) A. hydrophila isolates and 1 (6%) of 16 A. caviae isolates were cytotoxic. Twenty-seven (90%) of 30 cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. strains produced hemolysins. Strong correlations were also noted between ability to produce cytotoxin and positive Voges-Proskauer, lysine decarboxylase, and sorbitol fermentation reactions. It appears that grocery store produce is a potentially significant source of cytotoxic Aeromonas sp. and should be considered in the epidemiology of A. hydrophila gastroenteritis.     

Occurrence of Vibrionaceae in crude and mechanically purified urban sewage; evaluation of their sensitivity to selected drugs

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether bacteria from Vibrionaceae family are present in crude and mechanically cleaned urban sewage and what is their profile of resistance to selected chemotherapeutics. The presence in sewage of bacteria of Vibrionaceae family was proved. They constitute only small percentage of total number of bacteria. No influence of mechanical purification process of sewage on the reduction of total number of bacteria and bacteria from Vibrionaceae family was seen. The number of bacteria from Vibrionaceae family amounted to 6-9 cells per 100 ml of crude sewage and 2-16 cells per 100 ml of mechanically cleaned sewage. From samples tested the following species were isolated: non 01 V. cholerae, V. fluvialis, V. parahaemolyticus, A. hydrophila, A. caviae, A. sobria. All strains were sensitive to neomycin and nalidixic acid and with few exceptions of A. caviae strains to streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline and chloramphenicol .     

Production of exotoxins by Aeromonas spp. at 5 degrees C

The ability of 60 strains of Aeromonas to produce enterotoxin and haemolysin after cultivation at 5 degrees C for 7-10 d was investigated. The strains were isolated from lamb meat, offal, carcasses and faeces, and had previously been tested for their ability to produce these exotoxins at 37 degrees C. The results showed that some strains of Aeromonas hydrophila and A. sobria were capable of producing enterotoxin and haemolysin at 5 degrees C, but none of the A. caviae strains tested produced these two factors. Of the 30 A. hydrophila strains investigated 25 and 27 were enterotoxigenic and haemolytic respectively. Likewise, of the 24 A. sobria strains investigated 16 and 18 were enterotoxigenic and haemolytic respectively. The results indicate that certain strains of Aeromonas species, in particular A. hydrophila and A. sobria, are of potential public health significance in meats stored at refrigeration temperature.