西瓜枯萎病拮抗菌Lh-1的鉴定及生物防治效果研究

对菌株Lh-1进行鉴定,并对其防治西瓜枯萎病的效果进行评价。通过形态观察、生理生化检测和16S r RNA基因同源性分析鉴定菌株Lh-1,测定其抑菌谱。设计盆栽试验来评价施用有机肥加Lh-1菌液(T2),施用有机肥(T1)和化肥(CK)3种处理的防治效果。结果显示,将Lh-1鉴定为解淀粉芽胞杆菌。该菌对多种植物病原菌都有抑制作用具有广谱抗菌活性,尤其对西瓜枯萎病有良好的防治效果。盆栽试验表明添加Lh-1后发病率仅为17.2%,与对照相比防治效果达到78.5%,植株高度、鲜重和干重指标均为最高;瓜苗中的SOD、POD和CAT活性显著提高而MDA含量明显下降;瓜苗根际的微生物区系中细菌与放线菌含量上升,真菌特别是尖孢镰刀菌的数量下降,瓜苗根际微生物区系结构得到明显改善。解淀粉芽胞杆菌Lh-1能够防治西瓜枯萎病。     

产紫篮状菌的生防潜力及其对土壤微生物群落的调控

产紫篮状菌Q2菌株是一株分离自健康黄瓜根际的有益微生物。本文通过平皿对峙培养、温室盆栽试验和田间试验评估了Q2菌株对4种土传病害的生防潜力及其与土壤熏蒸技术结合对苦瓜枯萎病的防治效果,并通过平皿稀释培养法、高通量技术和定量PCR技术对其防治苦瓜枯萎病及调控土壤微生物群落的机制进行研究。结果表明: 在温室条件下,Q2菌株对苦瓜枯萎病、烟草黑胫病、烟草根黑腐病和马铃薯茎基腐病具有明显的预防效果,对烟草黑胫病和苦瓜枯萎病防治效果分别达到75.3%和63.4%。在苦瓜枯萎病人工病圃中,单一产紫篮状菌Q2制剂对苦瓜枯萎病的防治效果为51.0%,其结合威百亩土壤熏蒸技术在相同试验条件下对枯萎病的防治效果则达到80%以上。威百亩土壤熏蒸显著降低了土壤中苦瓜枯萎病病原菌即尖镰孢菌的丰度,而Q2菌株有效地抑制了尖镰孢菌数量的恢复趋势。施用Q2菌株显著富集了土壤中的青霉菌、芽孢杆菌和Gaiella等有益微生物,抑制了尖镰孢菌的恢复。土壤熏蒸后,施用产紫篮状菌Q2菌株有助于土壤有益微生物菌群的形成,从而抑制尖镰孢菌,实现对苦瓜枯萎病的防治。     

黄绿绿僵菌Ma130821对暗黑鳃金龟幼虫的室内毒力及毒杀作用研究

采用浸渍法测定了黄绿绿僵菌Metarhizium flavoviride菌株Ma130821对暗黑鳃金龟Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky幼虫的毒力,采用室内盆栽拌土法、环施法和穴施法施用黄绿绿僵菌Ma130821分生孢子粉,测定了该菌株对暗黑鳃金龟幼虫的毒杀效果。结果表明:黄绿绿僵菌菌株Ma130821对暗黑鳃金龟3龄幼虫的侵染致病效应可利用"时间—剂量—死亡率"模型进行模拟分析和参数估计分析,侵染效应常数为0. 597。接种后第3天该菌株对暗黑鳃金龟3龄幼虫的致死剂量LC_(50)和LC_(90)的对数值分别为9. 2182±0. 2968和11. 2291±0. 4385。在6. 20×108孢子/m L黄绿绿僵菌菌悬液对暗黑鳃金龟幼虫侵染致病的LT_(50)和LT_(90)分别为1. 5 d和3. 8 d。室内盆栽拌土法、环施法和穴施法施用黄绿绿僵菌菌株Ma130821分生孢子粉对暗黑鳃金龟3龄幼虫均具有良好的毒杀作用,其中拌土法施用后对暗黑鳃金龟幼虫的毒杀效果高于其他两种方法,拌土法、环施法和穴施法施用后对暗黑鳃金龟3龄幼虫的累积死亡率分别为95. 69%、84. 35%和57. 43%,累积僵虫率分别为99. 65%、98. 65%和99. 37%。综合以上结果,黄绿绿僵菌Ma130821对暗黑鳃金龟幼虫具有良好的毒力和毒杀作用,在暗黑鳃金龟的生防制剂开发中具有良好潜力。     

基因工程微生物生态学研究进展

基因工程微生物(genctically enginccred microorganism,GEM)生态学的研究已成为微生物分子生态学的一项主要研究内容之一．随着分子标记和分子生物学检测手段的引入,传统的微生物生态学研究被注入了新的活力,在分子水平上探讨基因工程微生物与环境及环境中土著生物之间的关系已成为可能．基因工程微生物生态学是一门内容涉及分子生物学、微生物学、生态学等诸多学科的新型交叉边缘学科．本文提出加紧进行转基因生物生态学和转基因生物的风险评价的研究工作,建立适合中国国情的检测手段和评价标准,有助于我国基因工程微生物生态学的健康发展．     

大连新港原油降解微生物的分离纯化及降解效率评价

目的 在大连新港原油污染海域分离纯化出可降解原油的“土著”微生物,评价其原油降解能力,并研究提高降解效率的方法.方法 取海水样品进行富集培养,分离纯化出“土著”原油降解微生物,以16S rDNA测序法鉴定微生物种类,并采用MEGA 5.0进行多序列比对分析,选用最大相似法构建系统发育树.在实验室纯培养的条件下以气相色谱法对微生物的原油降解能力进行分析,选出优势菌种,再将优势菌种混配分析最佳原油降解条件.结果 分离纯化得到的“土著”原油降解微生物分属枯草芽孢杆菌属、动性球菌属、嗜冷菌属等多个菌属,“土著”原油降解微生物资源丰富,优势菌种的混配有助于加快和提高原油降解效率,是有效且对生态环境友好的生物处理法.     

多功能农药降解基因工程菌株m-CDS-1环境释放安全评价

[目的]为了评价多功能农药降解基因工程菌株m-CDS-1的环境释放中间试验水平的安全性.[方法]通过农药检测、平板计数、Most probable number-PCR(MPN-PCR)和Denaturing Gradient GelElectrophoresis(DGGE)等方法在江苏大丰进行了工程菌株m-CDS-1田间降解农药效果、定殖动态和对土壤微生物群落结构影响的研究.[结果]投加1.01×107CFU/g干土的工程菌株m-CDS-1在30 d时均能完全降解10.71 mg/kg的甲基对硫磷和1.29 mg/kg的呋喃丹.平板计数表明工程菌株m-CDS-1在土壤中快速下降;MPN-PCR检测结果显示,在4 d,15 d和30 d时,0～10 cm混合土壤中该工程菌株的数目分别为2.15±0.98×106CFU/g干土,3.70±4.66×106 CFU/g干土和检测不出.工程菌株m-CDS-1的投加不会对土壤可培养三大微生物菌群数量产生显著影响;基于细菌16S rDNA V3区的DGGE分析结果表明,施加农药对细菌菌落结构有显著影响,4 d,11 d,30 d时农药施用区与空白对照区的图谱相似性分别为17.16%,49.81%和75.01%,但到60 d时的相似性为98.62%.工程菌株m-CDS-1释放在前期对细菌群落结构有一定影响,4 d,11 d和30 d工程菌株释放区相对于空白的相似性分别为49.57%,38.30%和83.30%.在60 d时,空白、施药和施菌小区的图谱相似性都在90%以上.[结论]工程菌株m-CDS-1不仅可同时高效降解甲基对硫磷和呋喃丹,仍保持了实验室内的原有特性,而且不会成为优势菌群长期在土壤环境中存在,也不会对土壤微生物群落结构造成长期影响.     

不同蜜环菌菌株对红天麻农艺性状、产量及质量的影响

为研究不同蜜环菌菌株对菌材的侵染情况以及对红天麻主要农艺性状、产量及有效成分含量的影响,筛选适宜黔西北地区天麻生长的野生蜜环菌菌株。采用不同蜜环菌菌株培养菌材,并与红天麻伴栽,观察记录不同蜜环菌栽培种对青冈菌材的侵染情况以及不同处理红天麻的农艺性状,检测天麻的有效成分含量。不同蜜环菌栽培种对青冈菌材的侵染情况不同,对红天麻农艺性状、产量及质量的影响也不同。其中菌株MHJ-1满袋时间最短、上菌速度最快,对菌材的侵染效果最好,且能显著提高红天麻产量,每平方米鲜天麻平均产量为（8.78±0.38）kg,比对照菌株提高5%;其伴栽的天麻醇溶性浸出物含量、天麻素含量、天麻素与对羟基苯甲醇总含量均最高,分别为（29.24±0.43）%、（0.946±0.012）%、（1.140±0.009）%,且极显著高于对照菌株,仿野生栽培试验表现出良好的伴栽效果。结果表明菌株 MHJ-1与红天麻的伴栽效果最好,适宜用于黔西北地区红天麻种植。     

接种木霉菌对黄瓜幼苗生长和根际土壤AM真菌侵染的影响

在盆栽试验中分别接种3株长枝木霉菌株Trichoderma longibrachiatum MF-1、MF-2和MF-3,以不接种木霉菌处理作为对照,研究木霉菌接种对土著AM真菌和黄瓜幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,菌株MF-1和MF-2显著提高了AM真菌侵染率和根外菌丝密度,与对照相比,AM真菌侵染率分别提高了26.85%和54.66%,根外菌丝密度分别是对照的3.94和3.76倍。接种菌株MF-2使植株地上部生物量显著提高了39.07%。菌株MF-3显著提高土壤pH和土壤有效磷含量。Pearson相关分析发现,添加木霉菌后,AM真菌侵染率与根外菌丝密度和孢子密度均呈显著正相关关系,土壤pH与植株地上部生物量和土壤有效磷含量均呈显著正相关关系。研究表明,3株长枝木霉与土著AM真菌的联合作用效果有明显差异,菌株MF-1和MF-2显著促进AM真菌生长,菌株MF-2更有利于黄瓜幼苗生长,而菌株MF-3主要改善土壤pH和有效磷含量。将几种木霉菌复合应用,有助于达到联合促生和改善土壤环境的综合效果。     

酸性土壤中高效半纤维素降解菌的筛选与鉴定

【目的】筛选能够适应南方酸性土壤的高效半纤维素降解菌株,并进行鉴定,确定菌株的安全性。【方法】采用半纤维素平板水解圈法和胞外酶测定法进行菌株筛选,通过拮抗实验构建复合微生物菌系。利用培养特征、形态学、生理生化特征和分子生物学方法进行菌株鉴定。【结果】筛选出效果稳定,互不拮抗的高效半纤维素降解放线菌4株(NA9、NA10、NA12和NA13),半纤维素酶活分别为:217.6、229.8、221.1和211.8 U/mL。真菌2株NF1和NF7,半纤维素酶活为217.7和244.2 U/mL。复合微生物菌系半纤维素酶活可达299.0 U/mL。经鉴定菌株NA9、NA10、NA12和NA13为链霉菌中的哥斯达黎加链霉菌(Streptomyces costaricanus)。菌株NF1为亮白曲霉(Aspergillus candidus),菌株NF7为黄蓝状菌(Tarlaromyces flavus)。     

黄绿绿僵菌Mf82菌株对不同虫态褐飞虱的毒力

对水稻重要害虫褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens目前市场上尚无一种理想的微生物杀虫剂。昆虫病原真菌具有从体壁侵入的能力因而对刺吸性害虫的防治具有优势。为此, 本研究选用不同原寄主和来源地的3种昆虫病原真菌（金龟子绿僵菌Metarhizium anisopliae、 黄绿绿僵菌Metarhizium flavoviride和球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana）的12个不同菌株, 以1 100孢子/mm²孢子悬浮液进行室内毒力测定。结果表明： 在参试的不同菌种12个菌株中, 黄绿绿僵菌Mf82菌株对褐飞虱成虫致病力最高, 10 d累计校正死亡率为83.5%, 致死中时（LT₅₀）为4.6 d。其不同浓度孢子液对褐飞虱3个发育阶段有不同程度的致病力, 毒力大小顺序为成虫>高龄若虫>低龄若虫。黄绿绿僵菌孢子液对各处理稻株褐飞虱产卵痕部位、 卵粒均有侵染作用, 10 d侵染率分别为66.7%和51.2%, 卵龄越低, 侵染效果越好, 卵龄为0.5 d时侵染率最高。本研究表明黄绿绿僵菌Mf82菌株对褐飞虱成虫、 若虫和卵均有较强的致病性, 是一株极具应用潜力的生防真菌。     

功能与分子影像在头颈部肿瘤放射治疗计划和疗效评价中的应用

目前临床普遍采用功能与分子影像检测手段能来评价头颈部肿瘤的放射治疗计划和疗效,可指导个体化治疗从而提高疗效。文章概述了功能与分子影像技术CT,MRI,PET-CT,超声检测技术在头颈部肿瘤放射治疗计划制定和疗效评价中的应用进展。结果显示,不同分子影像检测方法如在检查时机的选择、诊断和鉴别诊断的价值、观察放射治疗后肿瘤的残存和复发、预测放射治疗效果、指导后续治疗等方面均可起到重要作用。采用图像融合技术进行联合应用,如PET-CT和MRI-CT等,可提高检测的准确率。临床医生需在常规影像学手段的基础上,根据头颈部肿瘤患者病情和治疗方法的不同选用正确的功能和分子影像检测手段,更好地指导制定放射治疗计划及综合评价放射治疗后的疗效。     

Enhanced microbial safety of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fillet using recently invented medium molecular weight water-soluble chitosan coating

Chitosan with higher molecular weight exhibited higher antimicrobial efficacy against foodborne pathogens. However, the poor water solubility of higher or medium molecular weight chitosan limits its applications. To overcome the challenge, our research team searched for simple preparation procedure for fast-dissolving medium molecular weight chitosan in water. Throughout the process, we were able to obtain a higher concentration of medium molecular weight water-soluble (MMWWS) chitosan (400 kDa). The MMWWS chitosan showed physicochemical properties that are suitable for edible coating. Antibacterial activities of 400-kDa chitosan coating prepared in acetic acid (1% v/v) or aspartic acid (1% or 3% w/v) were examined. The surface of catfish cubes was inoculated with six foodborne pathogens and then coated with chitosan solutions. The survival of each pathogen was evaluated during shelf life storage. Compared with the control, 3% w/v chitosan coating in aspartic acid solution exhibited the most effective antibacterial activities among other coating treatments, completely inhibiting Vibrio parahaemolyticus on the surface of catfish. The study suggested that chitosan dissolved in aspartic acid has the potential for use as an alternative antimicrobial coating for catfish fillet.     

Assessment of the efficacy of parasiticides for the control of tick infection in dogs under field conditions: what's new?

For their biological and ecological characteristics, ticks are vectors of the widest variety of pathogens causing tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Little information is available about the ways in which time spent by ticks to feed on hosts, transmission times and TBD prevention are related and it is exclusively limited to laboratory reports on adult stages. In particular, the time required by immature stages to transmit pathogens has not been determined for most TBDs. Considering their importance for animal and human health, effective control of immature ticks is advisable to reduce the damage ticks cause. Recently, the efficacy of a combination of imidacloprid 10%/permethrin 50% was compared with that of fipronil 10%/S-methoprene 9% against ticks when administered to naturally infected dogs. A semi-quantitative method was used to assess the methodological parameters to calculate drug efficacy on immature stages. On adult ticks, the efficacy of both products was high and overall very similar, whereas for the immature stages the combination of imidacloprid 10% and permethrin 50% had a higher efficacy than fipronil 10% and methoprene 9% throughout the observation period (statistically significant difference on day + 28 only). The semi-quantitative method proposed for the evaluation of immature stages can be considered a useful tool for calculating the efficacy of a drug in the field. Due the important role of immatures in the spread of TBDs, the immature tick load should be calculated to assess the efficacy of acaricidal products both under laboratory and field conditions.     

Molecular approaches to the identification and treatment monitoring of periodontal pathogens

Two different PCR-based molecular approaches, a commercial kit for detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, B. forsythus and T. denticola (Amplimedical "Paradonthosis") and a home-made multiplex PCR for A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and B. forsythus were compared for monitoring the efficacy of different dental treatments on localized persistent periodontal pockets. 44 sites were randomized in two treatment groups: mechanical treatment (22 control sites) and in conjunction with the application of tetracycline fibres (22 experimental sites). 40/44 sites were found positive with both tests for A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis and B. forsythus pretheraphy. P. intermedia was detected alone in only three sites during the follow-up, while T. denticola. was always associated with the other pathogens. 20 sites were positive in conventional cultures for one to three of the pathogens. PCR-based approaches provided a sensitive and reliable method for identification and monitoring treatment of periodontal pathogens.     

Rapid Diagnosis of Bloodstream Infections with PCR Followed by Mass Spectrometry

Achieving a rapid microbiological diagnosis is crucial for decreasing morbidity and mortality of patients with a bloodstream infection, as it leads to the administration of an appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy. Molecular methods may offer a rapid alternative to conventional microbiological diagnosis involving blood culture. In this study, the performance of a new technology that uses broad-spectrum PCR coupled with mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) was evaluated for the detection of microorganisms directly from whole blood. A total of 247 whole blood samples and paired blood cultures were prospectively obtained from 175 patients with a suspicion of sepsis. Both sample types were analyzed using the PCR/ESI-MS technology, and the results were compared with those obtained by conventional identification methods. The overall agreement between conventional methods and PCR/ESI-MS performed in blood culture aliquots was 94.2% with 96.8% sensitivity and 98.5% specificity for the molecular method. When comparing conventional methods with PCR/ESI-MS performed in whole blood specimens, the overall agreement was 77.1% with 50% sensitivity and 93.8% specificity for the molecular method. Interestingly, the PCR/ESI-MS technology led to the additional identification of 13 pathogens that were not found by conventional methods. Using the PCR/ESI-MS technology the microbiological diagnosis of bloodstream infections could be anticipated in about half of the patients in our setting, including a small but significant proportion of patients newly diagnosed. Thus, this promising technology could be very useful for the rapid diagnosis of sepsis in combination with traditional methods.     

Relationship of Tooth Wear to Chronological Age among Indigenous Amazon Populations

In indigenous populations, age can be estimated based on family structure and physical examination. However, the accuracy of such methods is questionable. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate occlusal tooth wear related to estimated age in the remote indigenous populations of the Xingu River, Amazon. Two hundred and twenty three semi-isolated indigenous subjects with permanent dentition from the Arara (n = 117), Xicrin-Kayapó (n = 60) and Assurini (n = 46) villages were examined. The control group consisted of 40 non-indigenous individuals living in an urban area in the Amazon basin (Belem). A modified tooth wear index was applied and then associated with chronological age by linear regression analysis. A strong association was found between tooth wear and chronological age in the indigenous populations (p <0.001). Tooth wear measurements were able to explain 86% of the variation in the ages of the Arara sample, 70% of the Xicrin-Kaiapó sample and 65% of the Assurini sample. In the urban control sample, only 12% of ages could be determined by tooth wear. These findings suggest that tooth wear is a poor estimator of chronological age in the urban population; however, it has a strong association with age for the more remote indigenous populations. Consequently, these findings suggest that a simple tooth wear evaluation method, as described and applied in this study, can be used to provide a straightforward and efficient means to assist in age determination of newly contacted indigenous groups.     

Molecular biomarker-based screening for early detection of cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a molecular biomarker-based screening method for early detection of cervical cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Fluorescent immunochemical labeling was used to classify cervical cytology specimens as probably normal or probably abnormal. These specimens were then Papanicolaou stained and evaluated twice by a cytotechnologist and by a pathologist when appropriate. The first evaluation was performed as conventional Pap screening to assign a reference per-specimen diagnosis. The second evaluation assigned a cytologic diagnosis to each cell in the specimen. The fluorescence results were correlated with those from each of the two morphologic evaluations to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the method on a per-specimen and a per-cell basis. Where available, in cases of positive morphologic analysis, biopsy was compared to fluorescence results. RESULTS: The per-specimen sensitivity and specificity were 87.5% and 81.8%, respectively, when using atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and "above" as the decision threshold. For the same specimens evaluated on a cell-by-cell basis, the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 71.4% and 66.3% when the same threshold was used. The per-specimen sensitivity for high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was 100% under these conditions. CONCLUSION: This method appears to be a robust and reliable means of detecting cervical dysplasia and is now being evaluated in additional clinical studies.     

A comparative heat inactivation study of indigenous microflora in beef with that of Listeria monocytogenes,Salmonella serotypes and Escherichia coli O157:H7

AIMS: Thermal inactivation of a mixture of five strains of Listeria monocytogenes, four strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and eight serotypes of Salmonella were compared with that of indigenous microflora in 75% lean ground beef. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inoculated meat was packaged in bags that were completely immersed in a circulating water bath and held at 55, 57.5 and 60 degrees C for predetermined lengths of time. The surviving cell population was enumerated by spiral plating heat-treated samples onto tryptic soya agar supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract and 1% sodium pyruvate. D-values, determined by linear regression, in beef were 77.49, 21.9, and 10.66 min at 55, 57.5, and 60 degrees C, respectively, for indigenous microflora (z = 5.81 degrees C). When either of the three pathogens were heated in beef, their D-values calculated were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of indigenous microflora at all temperatures. The slope of the thermal death time curve for L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and indigenous microflora were similar. Using a survival model for nonlinear survival curves, the D1-values at all temperatures for L. monocytogenes were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with those for Salmonella serotypes, E. coli O157:H7 or indigenous microflora. However, higher recovery of a subpopulation of the indigenous microflora in beef exposed to heating at 55, 57.5 or 60 degrees C resulted in significantly higher (P < 0.05) D2-values at all three temperatures, compared with those of the three pathogens at the same test temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: If the thermal process is designed to ensure destruction of indigenous microbial flora, it should also provide an adequate degree of protection against L. monocytogenes, Salmonella serotypes or E. coli O157:H7. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results of this study will assist the retail food industry in designing acceptance limits on critical control points that ensure safety, without introducing pathogens in a retail food environment, against L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in cooked ground beef.     

Antibody-Based Resistance to Plant Pathogens

Plant diseases are a major threat to the world food supply, as up to 15% of production is lost to pathogens. In the past, disease control and the generation of resistant plant lines protected against viral, bacterial or fungal pathogens, was achieved using conventional breeding based on crossings, mutant screenings and backcrossing. Many approaches in this field have failed or the resistance obtained has been rapidly broken by the pathogens. Recent advances in molecular biotechnology have made it possible to obtain and to modify genes that are useful for generating disease resistant crops. Several strategies, including expression of pathogen-derived sequences or anti-pathogenic agents, have been developed to engineer improved pathogen resistance in transgenic plants. Antibody-based resistance is a novel strategy for generating transgenic plants resistant to pathogens. Decades ago it was shown that polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies can neutralize viruses, bacteria and selected fungi. This approach has been improved recently by the development of recombinant antibodies (rAbs). Crop resistance can be engineered by the expression of pathogen-specific antibodies, antibody fragments or antibody fusion proteins. The advantages of this approach are that rAbs can be engineered against almost any target molecule, and it has been demonstrated that expression of functional pathogen-specific rAbs in plants confers effective pathogen protection. The efficacy of antibody-based resistance was first shown for plant viruses and its application to other plant pathogens is becoming more established. However, successful use of antibodies to generate plant pathogen resistance relies on appropriate target selection, careful antibody design, efficient antibody expression, stability and targeting to appropriate cellular compartments.     

Antimicrobial efficacy of Achillea ligustica All. (Asteraceae) essential oils against reference and isolated oral microorganisms

The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of Achillea ligustica essential oils against several oral microorganisms in comparison with a commercial essential oil-containing mouthrinse (Listerine(?)) and clove oil (containing 89% eugenol). The inhibition efficacy of A. ligustica essential oils alone and in combination with Listerine(?) was evaluated by the micro-dilution method. The most susceptible microorganisms were Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Candida albicans. The efficacy was similar to that of the clove oil. The antiseptic mouthwash Listerine(?) did not exert a strong inhibition on microbial strains tested, whereas its effectiveness increased significantly when essential oil was added. The study provides additional evidence for the in vitro inhibitory activity of A. ligustica essential oils on several pathogens, suggesting their usefulness in mouthrinse formulations as an adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene regimens. Essential oil-containing mouthrinses can be beneficial, safe components of daily oral health routines, representing an efficient and without side effect alternative to prevent and control oral infections.