Noxythiolln-resistant organisms in a district general hospital.

Twelve strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, three strains of Klebsiella aerogenes, and two strains of Escherichia coli were found to be resistant to noxythiolin. Some of the pseudomonads were isolated from patients in the same ward, not all of whom were on noxythiolin treatment. The strains from these patients were indistinguishable from each other on phage typing, which suggested cross-contamination. No Gram-positive organism was found to be resistant to noxythiolin. Noxythiolin should not be used before a disc diffusion sensitivity test has been performed to determine whether the organisms are sensitive to it. This is particularly important when pseudomonads are the offending organisms.     

Modified Pseudomonas agar: new differential medium for the detection/enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mineral water.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been implicated as a foodborne and waterborne pathogen and is now considered a primary infectious agent. In the present study, the survival of P. aeruginosa inoculated in mineral water was evaluated by drop counts on Pseudomonas Agar Base (PAB), PAB with CN supplement X107, PAB with cetrimide, PAB with nalidixic acid, and these media with added FeSO(4). Initial counts, before starvation, were the same in all media tested. Following this period, P. aeruginosa became sensitive to PAB with added cetrimide. The addition of FeSO(4) did not improve the recovery of stressed P. aeruginosa but gave colonies a typical dark brown colour being easily differentiated from other species that can grow at 42 degrees C. The modified Pseudomonas agar medium was also tested with several P. aeruginosa strains, other species of Pseudomonas, and other genera. Only P. aeruginosa strains (pyocyanin positive) produced the typical colonies. Our results demonstrate that Pseudomonas agar with ferrous sulphate, used for the differentiation of P. aeruginosa colonies, and nalidixic acid, used as an inhibitor of Gram-positive bacteria, might be a useful medium for the detection of injured P. aeruginosa in mineral water.     

Paraffin baiting system for demonstration of growth and biofilm production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the commonest pathogens among the pseudomonads. This organism can grow in minimal nutritional requirements. Because of the ability of pseudomonads to grow on paraffin is not commonly found among other human pathogens and the primary human pathogen being P. aeruginosa, we studied the adaptation of this organism to paraffin baiting system for growth and biofilm formation. Strains were tested for the capacity to use paraffin as the sole source of carbon using Czapek's minimal salt medium. Of the 53 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, 20 strains exhibited growth by 24 hrs and 42 strains by 48 hrs. The remaining strains did not show any growth in the paraffin baiting system. The oxidase test with the paraffin baiting system was also performed. This simple and inexpensive method can be used to isolate and demonstrate the biochemical and biofilm forming capacity of the organism.     

Immunological properties of protocatechuate 3, 4-dioxygenase isofunctional enzymes.

Antiserum prepared against protocatechuate 3, 4-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms precipitin bands without spurs with isofunctional enzymes from different strains of the fluorescent pseudomonads on immunodiffusion plates. Catalytic activity of the isofunctional enzymes was inhibited by an immunoglobulin fraction prepared against the enzyme from organisms of the same genus and not from different genera.     

Characterization of CMR5c and CMR12a, novel fluorescent Pseudomonas strains from the cocoyam rhizosphere with biocontrol activity

AIM: To screen for novel antagonistic Pseudomonas strains producing both phenazines and biosurfactants that are as effective as Pseudomonas aeruginosa PNA1 in the biocontrol of cocoyam root rot caused by Pythium myriotylum. MATERIAL AND RESULTS: Forty pseudomonads were isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy white and red cocoyam plants appearing in natural, heavily infested fields in Cameroon. In vitro tests demonstrated that Py. myriotylum antagonists could be retrieved from the red cocoyam rhizosphere. Except for one isolate, all antagonistic isolates produced phenazines. Results from whole-cell protein profiling showed that the antagonistic isolates are different from other isolated pseudomonads, while BOX-PCR revealed high genomic similarity among them. 16S rDNA sequencing of two representative strains within this group of antagonists confirmed their relatively low similarity with validly described Pseudomonas species. These antagonists are thus provisionally labelled as unidentified Pseudomonas strains. Among the antagonists, Pseudomonas CMR5c and CMR12a were selected because of their combined production of phenazines and biosurfactants. For strain CMR5c also, production of pyrrolnitrin and pyoluteorin was demonstrated. Both CMR5c and CMR12a showed excellent in vivo biocontrol activity against Py. myriotylum to a similar level as Ps. aeruginosa PNA1. CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas CMR5c and CMR12a were identified as novel and promising biocontrol agents of Py. myriotylum on cocoyam, producing an arsenal of antagonistic metabolites. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Present study reports the identification of two newly isolated fluorescent Pseudomonas strains that can replace the opportunistic human pathogen Ps. aeruginosa PNA1 in the biocontrol of cocoyam root rot and could be taken into account for the suppression of many plant pathogens.     

Performance of Pseudomonas CFC-selective medium in the fish storage ecosystems

Pseudomonas agar base supplemented with cephaloridine, fucidin, and cetrimide (CFC) was used to count Pseudomonas populations on fish. Both Enterobacteriaceae and Shewanella putrefaciens were able to grow on the CFC medium. Evaluation of the performance of CFC-selective for pseudomonads medium, on fish samples stored aerobically and under a modified atmosphere at 0, 10 and 20 degrees C was tested.The selectivity of the medium was affected by storage temperatures and the type of packaging of the fish samples. The selectivity of the medium diminished as the population increased and for samples stored at high temperature (20 degrees C) or under modified atmospheres.When designing adequate selectivity of a medium, interfering organisms should be taken into account, especially when the background flora tends to be more robust than the organisms to be counted or detected.     

Evaluation of Pseudosel Agar as an Aid in the Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and thirty-five other species of gramnegative bacilli was observed on 0.03% cetrimide in heart infusion agar medium and Pseudosel agar (BBL). The 0.03% cetrimide agar was more selective for growth of P. aeruginosa than was Pseudosel agar; however, certain bacteria other than P. aeruginosa also grew on the former medium. Although Pseudosel agar was not a highly selective medium for P. aeruginosa, it was preferable to technicolor agar for detection of the pyocyanin and pyorubin pigments produced by P. aeruginosa.     

包装饮用水中铜绿假单胞菌快速检测试剂盒的研制与评价

【背景】在包装饮用水企业生产活动中,铜绿假单胞菌是被重点监测的致病菌之一。随着分子检测相关技术的不断发展,研制用于包装饮用水中铜绿假单胞菌简便、高效的快速检测产品至关重要。【目的】评价基于环介导恒温扩增(loop-mediated isothermal amplification,LAMP)技术的铜绿假单胞菌快速检测试剂盒在包装饮用水铜绿假单胞菌检测中的实效性。【方法】优化该LAMP反应体系,反应试剂采用冻干工艺,确定试剂盒组成,并评价其特异性、灵敏度、重复性、保质期等性能指标。【结果】铜绿假单胞菌标准菌株和分离菌株均检测为阳性,非铜绿假单胞菌标准菌株和分离菌株均检测为阴性,未发现有交叉反应;试剂盒最低检验限为18 CFU/mL;该试剂盒的特异性、灵敏度及准确度与传统方法相比具有较高的一致性;批内、批间检测重复率均为100%,可在4℃保存12个月以上,并且可在42℃环境中储存72 h以上。【结论】该试剂盒性能好,检测结果稳定、可靠,适用于包装饮用水中铜绿假单胞菌的快速检测。     

Extracellular Nuclease Activity of Fish Spoilage Bacteria, Fish Pathogens, and Related Species

The production of extracellular deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease by 23 marine and 3 dairy strains of Pseudomonas putrefaciens, 15 strains of fish-pathogenic fluorescent pseudomonads, 38 strains of fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from haddock, and 34 related organisms was determined by an agar plate method. All strains of P. putrefaciens produced both deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease. Of the other 87 organisms examined, 26.5% produced ribonuclease and 14.5% produced deoxyribonuclease. All organisms which produced deoxyribonuclease also produced ribonuclease. Deoxyribonuclease production by P. putrefaciens is suggested as a useful criterion of identity for members of this intense fish spoilage species.     

ICU耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌产金属酶检测及其耐药性分析

目的 了解重症监护病房(ICU)耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌(IRPA)的金属β-内酰胺酶(MBLs)的产生情况及其耐药特性,为临床抗感染治疗提供依据.方法 对深圳市观澜人民医院2010年1月至2011年12月ICU分离的587株铜绿假单胞菌(PAE),用双纸片协同试验检测MBLs产生情况,用VITEK 2 compact全自动微生物分析系统检测其对17种抗生素的耐药性.结果 在587株PAE中,IRPA 127株,占21.6％;IRPA对其中7种抗生素为全耐药,对其余10种抗生素的耐药率也在40％以上;IRPA组及亚胺培南敏感铜绿假单胞菌(ISPA)组两组间对常用抗生素的耐药率比较,除AMP、CZO、FTN、SXT、SAM及CTT外,两组其余抗生素的耐药率差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01);在127株IRPA中,产MBLs 45株,产酶率为35.4％.结论 IRPA的检出率较高,多药耐药现象较严重,产MBLs是PAE对IPM及头孢类抗菌药物耐药的主要原因之一,应参考实验室的药敏结果,合理选用抗菌药物.     

Sequence heterogeneity of the ferripyoverdine uptake (fpvA), but not the ferric uptake regulator (fur), genes among strains of the fluorescent pseudomonads Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aureofaciens, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aureofaciens, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas putida are of importance to medicine, agriculture and biocycling. These microbes acquire ferric ion via the use of the siderophores pyochelin and the family known as the pyoverdines or pseudobactins. The ferric uptake regulator (fur) gene is responsible, at least in part, for the regulation of siderophore synthesis and uptake in P. aeruginosa.To determine whether the organisms contain single or multiple homologues of the siderophore-related genes fpvA (ferripyoverdine uptake) and fur, and whether these homologues displayed sequence heterogeneity, their chromosomal DNAs were probed with fur and fpvA sequences. As a representative of a non-fluorescent pseudomonad, the bacterium Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia was also examined.The pseudomonads all contained fpvA- and fur-like homologues, and heterogeneity was observed among the different species. The presence of two or more fpvA-like genes is indicated in all of the fluorescent pseudomonads surveyed. In contrast, B. cepacia DNA either did not hybridize to these probes, or did so only very weakly, suggesting that fur- and fpvA-like homologues are either absent or significantly different in B. cepacia compared to the fluorescent pseudomonads examined.     

Tinopal AN as a selective agent for the differentiation of phytopathogenic and saprophytic Pseudomonas species

The selective toxicity of the respiratory inhibitor Tinopal AN (1,1-bis (3, N -5–dimethylbenzoxazol-2-yl) methine p -toluene sulphonate) towards phytopathogenic bacteria was investigated further and in general was confirmed using more than 160 additional strains of Pseudomonas spp. The mechanism(s) of the resistance shown by saprophytic fluorescent pseudomonads were studied to elucidate the differences between resistant saprophytic and sensitive phytopathogenic Pseudomonas species. Damage to, or partial removal of the cell wall of Tinopal AN-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa , resulted in a marked Tinopal AN-sensitivity, as judged by the ability of Tinopal AN to inhibit oxygen uptake. Furthermore, removal of part of the lipo-polysaccharide (LPS) component of the outer membrane also resulted in sensitivity. Mutants of Ps. aeruginosa with modified outer cell walls were tested for their reactions towards Tinopal AN, and two cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mutants of Escherichia coli (env Al) and Salmonella typhimurium (rfa) were, in contrast to the wild-type strains, found to be sensitive towards Tinopal AN. The results therefore suggest that the resistance of saprophytic pseudomonads towards Tinopal AN is due (at least in part) to the selectively permeable properties of the outer membrane of the cell wall. The usefulness of Tinopal AN for screening potentially phytopathogenic strains of Pseudomonas was confirmed.     

耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌金属酶的筛选及基因型研究

目的研究重庆医科大学附属第一医院分离的29株耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌中金属酶（Metallo-β-Lactamase,MBL）的基因型分布情况。方法用亚胺培南-EDTA纸片法筛选29株铜绿假单胞菌中产MBL的铜绿假单胞菌,用PCR扩增法检测29株菌中金属酶VIM和IMP基因。结果29株耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌中,亚胺培南-EDTA纸片法筛选出MBL阳性菌株5株,阳性率为17％。PCR扩增出IMP基因型有4株,阳性率为14％,均为金属酶IMP-9型,未扩增出VIM基因。以PCR法结果为判定标准,亚胺培南-EDTA纸片法敏感性100％,特异性96％。结论IMP-9型为该院分离的这29株耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌中主要MBL基因型。本实验中所用的亚胺培南一EDTA纸片法能简单有效的筛选出产MBL的铜绿假单胞菌。     

Free and membrane-bound forms of bacterial cytochrome c4.

Cytochrome c4 was isolated from cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Azotobacter vinelandii. The dihaem nature, Mr of approx. 20,000 and ferrohaem spectra in the region of the alpha- and beta-peaks define this family of cytochromes c. The behaviour of the holocytochromes in SDS was atypical, but removal of the haem groups resulted in a normal migration. In all three organisms most of the cytochrome c4 was tightly bound to the membrane, but some free cytochrome was detected. The membrane-attached cytochrome could be extracted with butanol, and this solubilized form was then indistinguishable in properties from the free form. Denitrifying rather than aerobic growth conditions hardly affected the total cytochrome c4 in the two pseudomonads, but there was slightly more free form and less membrane-attached form in denitrifying growth. The nature of the attachment of cytochrome c4 to the membrane is discussed and a model is proposed for the process of solubilization.     

Multiple enzyme restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for high resolution distinction of Pseudomonas (sensu stricto) 16S rRNA genes

Members of the genus Pseudomonas (sensu stricto) are important phytopathogens and agents of human infections, while other strains and species have beneficial bioremediation and biocontrol activities. Traditionally, these important species have been difficult to differentiate phenotypically; thus, rRNA lineage analyses have often been invoked. In this report, a newly developed approach is described to rapidly detect and distinguish fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates: PCR amplification of a Pseudomonas-specific 990-bp ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) fragment [Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64 (1998) 2545.] coupled with multiple enzyme restriction fragment length polymorphism (MERFLP) analysis using a single digestion mixture of AluI, HinfI, RsaI, and Tru9I incubated at 37 degrees C. The method distinguished 116 published sequences and 47 reference strains of authentic Pseudomonas representing 28 nomenspecies. A total of 55% (64/116) of the sequences analyzed by MERFLP were grouped into distinct phylogenetic clusters including Pseudomonas putida, P. syringae, P. aeruginosa, P. stutzeri, and P. fluorescens. The utility of the MERFLPs was confirmed when 100% (33/33) of the above named control reference strains were correctly placed into their phylogenetic clusters. The environmental relevance of the MERFLP method was confirmed when 67% of 28 forest and agricultural soil-derived presumptive Pseudomonas environmental clones and isolates were placed into the five major pseudomonad clusters, one clone fell into the P. agarici cluster, and five clones clustered near related pseudomonads. These data demonstrated that the PCR-MERFLP protocol provides an efficient and powerful tool for distinguishing isolates and rDNA gene libraries of environmental Pseudomonas species.     

Composts containing fluorescent pseudomonads suppress fusarium root and stem rot development on greenhouse cucumber

Three composts (Ball, dairy, and greenhouse) were tested for the ability to suppress the development of Fusarium root and stem rot (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum) on greenhouse cucumber. Dairy and greenhouse composts significantly reduced disease severity (P = 0.05), while Ball compost had no effect. Assessment of total culturable microbes in the composts showed a positive relationship between disease suppressive ability and total population levels of pseudomonads. In vitro antagonism assays between compost-isolated bacterial strains and the pathogen showed that strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited the greatest antagonism. In growth room trials, strains of P. aeruginosa and nonantagonistic Pseudomonas maculicola, plus 2 biocontrol strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, were tested for their ability to reduce (i) survival of F. oxysporum, (ii) colonization of plants by the pathogen, and (iii) disease severity. Cucumber seedlings grown in compost receiving P. aeruginosa and P. fluorescens had reduced disease severity index scores after 8 weeks compared with control plants without bacteria. Internal stem colonization by F. oxysporum was significantly reduced by P. aeruginosa. The bacteria colonized plant roots at 1.9 × 10(6) ± 0.73 × 10(6) CFU·(g root tissue)-1 and survival was >107 CFU·(g compost)-1 after 6 weeks. The locus for 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol production was detected by Southern blot analysis and confirmed by PCR. The production of the antibiotic 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol in liquid culture by P. aeruginosa was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. These results demonstrate that composts containing antibiotic-producing P. aeruginosa have the potential to suppress diseases caused by Fusarium species.     

Expression of L-ornithine Ndelta-oxygenase (PvdA) in fluorescent Pseudomonas species: an immunochemical and in silico study

Omega-amino acid monooxygenases (EC 1.14.13.-), catalysing the formation of hydroxamate precursors of microbial siderophores (e.g., pyoverdine), have so far eluded structural and biochemical characterisation. Here, the expression of recombinant L-ornithine-Ndelta-oxygenase (PvdA) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is reported. A library of eight monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against PvdA has been generated. Two MAb families recognising the N- and C-terminal regions of PvdA were identified. The MAbs made it possible to demonstrate that 45-48 kDa PvdA homologues are expressed in response to iron limitation by different species and strains of fluorescent pseudomonads. Despite the different degrees in sequence similarity between P. aeruginosa PvdA and putative homologues from Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas syringae, Burkholderia cepacia, and Ralstonia solanacearum, in silico domain scanning predicts an impressive conservation of putative cofactor and substrate binding domains. The MAb library was also used to monitor PvdA expression during the transition of P. aeruginosa from iron-sufficient to iron-deficient growth.     

沈阳地区铜绿假单胞菌药物敏感性测定及质粒图谱分析

目的 测定铜绿假单胞菌对22种药物的敏感性,帮助临床选择用药。并对分离株进行质粒图谱分析以了解耐药菌株的流行情况。方法 药物敏感性实验采用纸片琼脂扩散法,质粒指纹图谱分析采用碱变性法提取质粒DNA,限制性内切酶切割后进行凝胶电泳分析。结果 铜绿假单胞菌对头胞哌酮、氧派酸、丁胺卡那霉素、壮观霉素、多粘菌毒和头孢三嗪的敏感率在84％－100％之间。所有菌株对其他16种抗性素均有不同程度的耐药。质粒DNA图谱分析显示,12株被检测菌株中有11株含有质粒DNA,其中8株含有23kb质粒DNA。结论 铜绿假单胞菌对头胞哌铜、氟派酸、丁胺卡那霉素、壮观霉素、多粘菌素敏感;多数耐药菌株含23kb质粒DNA。     

Frequency of Antibiotic-Producing Pseudomonas spp. in Natural Environments

The antibiotics phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (Phl) are major determinants of biological control of soilborne plant pathogens by various strains of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. In this study, we described primers and probes that enable specific and efficient detection of a wide variety of fluorescent Pseudomonas strains that produce various phenazine antibiotics or Phl. PCR analysis and Southern hybridization demonstrated that specific genes within the biosynthetic loci for Phl and PCA are conserved among various Pseudomonas strains of worldwide origin. The frequency of Phl- and PCA-producing fluorescent pseudomonads was determined on roots of wheat grown in three soils suppressive to take-all disease of wheat and four soils conducive to take-all by colony hybridization followed by PCR. Phenazine-producing strains were not detected on roots from any of the soils. However, Phl-producing fluorescent pseudomonads were isolated from all three take-all-suppressive soils at densities ranging from approximately 5 x 10(sup5) to 2 x 10(sup6) CFU per g of root. In the complementary conducive soils, Phl-producing pseudomonads were not detected or were detected at densities at least 40-fold lower than those in the suppressive soils. We speculate that fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. that produce Phl play an important role in the natural suppressiveness of these soils to take-all disease of wheat.     

铜绿假单胞菌氨基糖苷16SrRNA甲基化酶基因分析

目的调查215株湖州地区临床分离铜绿假单胞菌对氨基糖苷类抗生素的耐药性和16S rRNA甲基化酶基因分布情况。方法收集2011年1月至2012年12月湖州地区临床分离铜绿假单胞菌215株,琼脂稀释法测定5种氨基糖苷类抗菌药物（庆大霉素、阿米卡星、妥布霉素、伊帕米星、奈替米星）的MIC值;PCR检测armA、rmtA、rmtB、rmtC、rmtD和npmA六种氨基糖苷类16S rRN甲基化酶基因,序列分析明确基因型。测定产16S rRNA甲基化酶菌株对常见抗菌的敏感性,并检测碳青霉烯耐药株产碳青霉烯酶情况。结果铜绿假单胞菌对异帕米星敏感率最高为81.4%,对5种氨基糖苷类抗生素全部耐药的22株菌株中,17株检出armA基因;未发现其他16S rRNA甲基化酶基因阳性菌株。17株armA阳性菌株对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药5株（耐药率为29.4%）,对头孢他啶、头孢吡肟、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、环丙沙星耐药率均超过40%。5株碳青霉烯耐药菌株中检测到2株产VIM-2型金属碳青霉烯酶。结论铜绿假单胞菌对氨基糖苷类抗生素耐药率高,检测到16S rRNA甲基化酶基因armA。产16S rRNA甲基化酶铜绿假单胞菌耐药性强,部分菌株同时产金属碳青霉烯酶,给临床抗感染治疗及院内感染控制带来挑战。