Isolation and identification of pathogenic Naegleria australiensis (Amoebida, Vahlkampfiidae) from a spa in northern Italy

Samples from therapeutic swimming pools and mud basins were cultured for free-living amoebae. Seven strains of pathogenic Naegleria species were isolated. Although some of the strains were as virulent as Naegleria fowleri, the etiological agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, they were identified as Naegleria australiensis with the indirect fluorescent-antibody technique. The virulence of the isolates for mice corresponded with the cytopathic effect for Vero cells. The N. australiensis strains were isolated from swimming pools with water temperatures ranging from 32 to 35 degrees C and from mud with temperatures from 25 to 43 degrees C. The presence of pathogenic N. australiensis in the swimming pools did not correlate with bacterial indicators.     

Isolation and identification of pathogenic Naegleria from Florida lakes.

Five cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis associated with swimming in freshwater lakes have been recorded in Florida over the past 14 years. The present study demonstrated that pathogenic Naegleria, the causative agent, is relatively widespread. Twelve of 26 lakes sampled only once yielded the amoeba. Populations in three of five lakes sampled routinely reached levels of one amoeba per 25 ml of water tested during the hot summer months. Overwintering in freshwater lake bottom sediments was demonstrated, showing that thermal-discharge pollution of waters plays a miniscule, if any, role in the maintenance of pathogenic Naegleria in nature in this semitropical area.     

Isolation and identification of pathogenic Naegleria from Florida lakes

Five cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis associated with swimming in freshwater lakes have been recorded in Florida over the past 14 years. The present study demonstrated that pathogenic Naegleria, the causative agent, is relatively widespread. Twelve of 26 lakes sampled only once yielded the amoeba. Populations in three of five lakes sampled routinely reached levels of one amoeba per 25 ml of water tested during the hot summer months. Overwintering in freshwater lake bottom sediments was demonstrated, showing that thermal-discharge pollution of waters plays a miniscule, if any, role in the maintenance of pathogenic Naegleria in nature in this semitropical area.     

Isolation of Naegleria australiensis from an Oklahoma Lake

Eight isolates of Naegleria australiensis were obtained from a small lake in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The eight strains were isolated during the hot summer months of July through September, when water temperatures ranged from 27 to 33 degrees C. All eight isolates were pathogenic for mice. The mean time to death for mice was 10 days (range 6-13 days). This pathogenic free-living ameba has not before been reported from the United States or the Western Hemisphere.     

Isolation of Naegleria australiensis from an Oklahoma Lake1

Eight isolates of Naegleria australiensis were obtained from a small lake in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The eight strains were isolated during the hot summer months of July through September, when water temperatures ranged from 27 to 33°C. All eight isolates were pathogenic for mice. The mean time to death for mice was 10 days (range 6–13 days). This pathogenic free-living ameba has not before been reported from the United States or the Western Hemisphere.     

一株牛蛙源金黄杆菌的分离鉴定及其致病特性

【背景】美国牛蛙养殖过程中病害问题非常突出,尤其是细菌性病害,其病原种类多、病原菌复杂多样、蔓延速度快、发病死亡率高,一直是牛蛙养殖过程中防控的难点。【目的】确定从患病牛蛙体内分离到的一株细菌NW1203的分类地位和致病性。【方法】无菌操作从牛蛙体内取样划线分离细菌,通过形态观察、生理生化试验、16S rRNA基因序列比对进行种属鉴定,通过人工感染、溶血性试验和病理切片观察分析其致病特性。【结果】经形态和生理生化鉴定及16S rRNA基因序列比对,菌株NW1203为金黄杆菌属细菌,与Chryseobacterium sp. F30的相似性达100%,进化树也显示该菌与金黄杆菌属细菌聚类;溶血性试验表明,菌株NW1203对绵羊、小鼠和牛蛙的血细胞都呈完全溶血;人工感染试验及感染病蛙的组织切片观察显示,菌株NW1203对牛蛙具有较强致病性,可引起牛蛙肝、肾、脾等主要组织严重病变,LD50为4.753×103 CFU/g。【结论】明确了菌株NW1203为牛蛙新病原,为牛蛙疾病的防控提供了理论依据。     

栖北散白蚁致病菌的分离鉴定与特性研究

[目的]了解散白蚁头部发红且死亡的原因,探究致病菌特性.[方法]从头部发红的散白蚁中分离菌株、培养并纯化,通过显微形态、革兰氏染色及16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定菌株种类.进一步探究菌株产生红色素的条件并通过液相色谱和质谱联用等方法鉴定发酵产物.[结果]散白蚁鉴定为栖北散白蚁Reticulitermes speratus.从该白蚁头部分离得到一株产红色素的革兰氏阴性细菌RS.16S rDNA序列分析表明RS菌株为黏质沙雷氏菌Serratiamarcescens.RS菌株不同于其它大多黏质沙雷氏菌,在37℃仍然产生红色素.HPLC检测分析红色素为灵菌红素.[结论]本文首次报道从栖北散白蚁分离纯化一株产生灵菌红素的黏质沙雷氏RS菌,研究结果为灵菌红素的生产及散白蚁生物防治技术的研发提供了新的思路.     

西伯利亚鲟(Acipenser baerii)致病性维氏气单胞菌的分离鉴定

摘要：【目的】本研究旨在寻找引起养殖西伯利亚鲟鱼(Acipenser baerii)病害的致病因子。【方法】从北京地区自然患病的西伯利亚鲟鱼体内分离到致病菌株X-1-06909,采用生理生化鉴定结合16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育学分析确定该菌株的系统发育地位。同时采用琼脂扩散法对抗菌类药物的敏感性进行测定。【结果】菌株X-1-06909与Aeromonas veronii ATCC 35624T的16S rRNA基因序列相似性达99.6％;结合形态特征与生理生化测定结果,革兰氏阴性杆菌,具极生单鞭毛     

草鱼致病性类志贺邻单胞菌的分离与鉴定

摘要:【目的】分离鉴定引起草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)肌肉糜烂的类志贺邻单胞菌(Plesiomonas shigeloide)菌株JX-09。【方法】从患病草鱼分离致病菌,经形态学观察、人工感染试验、生理生化特性测定和16S rRNA基因序列分析对其进行分类鉴定和致病性检验;同时对分离到的菌株做药物敏感性试验。【结果】从回归感染后的草鱼体内再次分离到菌株JX-09,表明该菌株为致病菌;菌株JX-09对草鱼的半致死量为6.4×104cfu/g。通过生化特征和分子系统学分析,将菌株JX-09鉴定为类志贺邻单胞菌。药敏试验表明该菌株对氨曲南、头孢唑林、头孢噻吩、头孢曲松等头孢类药物敏感,对卡那霉素、麦迪霉素、万古霉素和哌拉西林等耐药。【结论】类志贺邻单胞菌是草鱼肌肉糜烂病的致病菌,这是首次报道了该菌对草鱼有致病性。     

A comparative study of 14 strains of Naegleria australiensis demonstrates the existence of a highly virulent subspecies: N. australiensis italica n. spp

Fourteen strains of Naegleria australiensis, including the type strain, were compared for virulence for mice, maximum growth temperature, lectin agglutination, isoenzyme pattern, and total protein banding pattern. Their relation to other species of Naegleria also was compared by immunoelectrophoretic analysis. Strains with high virulence, comparable to that of N. fowleri, were found to be different in concanavalin A agglutination as well as with regard to zymograms and total protein patterns. Although serologically different from N. fowleri and reacting with N. australiensis antiserum in the fluorescent antibody test, these high-virulence strains differed in number of immunoelectrophoretic precipitin bands. Because of these results, the high-virulence strains are considered to be a subspecies of N. australiensis. The low-virulence strains showed minor differences from the type strain. Thus, N. australiensis does not appear to be as homogenous a species as N. fowleri. Pathogenic N. australiensis also seems to be more widespread than previously thought.     

Molecular identification of free-living amoebae of the Vahlkampfiidae and Acanthamoebidae isolated in Arizona (USA)

Sediment samples from rivers, canals and lakes in Arizona (USA) were cultured for free-living amoebae at three different incubation temperatures (22, 37 and 40 degrees C). Isolates belonging to the Vahlkampfiidae were identified by sequencing the PCR-amplified ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 rDNA. With this molecular method three Naegleria spp. were identified, N. gruberi sensu stricto, N. australiensis and N. tihangensis. Also a strain each of Willaertia magna and Vahlkampfia avara were identified. Three samples yielded two new Tetramitus spp. of which the closest relative is T. ovis. Many Acanthamoeba strains were also isolated. The genotype of these strains was identified using Acanthamoeba-specific primers (JDP1 and JDP2) amplifying a part of the SSUrDNA and sequencing with an internal primer (892c). Five of the Acanthamoeba isolates belong to genotype T5 (A. lenticulata), while five are genotype T4.     

Aprocta matronensis in crows (Corvus corone corone) from northern Italy.

Aprocta matronensis (Nematoda, Spirurida) has been found in the orbital cavities of carrion crows. Hooded crows and crows from the hybrid crow zone in the studied areas were not infected. The parasite population showed the typical morphology described for this species. This is the first record of A. matronensis in crows in Italy and in Corvus corone corone. Some hypotheses about the distribution of the parasites in crow populations are discussed.     

斑点叉尾鮰一株致病菌的分离鉴定及系统发育分析

从发生急性流行性传染病的斑点叉尾肝、肾分离到一高致病性的菌株(CCF00024),经人工感染实验证实其为该病的病原菌。对该菌的形态、生理生化及16S rDNA序列分析结果表明,其为非发酵型,严格需氧,革兰氏阴性杆菌,极生多鞭毛,对除麦芽糖和甘露糖以外的多种糖类不能利用产酸,氧化酶阴性,DNA酶、蛋白酶、脲酶、赖氨酸脱羧酶阳性,MR阴性。在以该菌16S rDNA序列(GenBank登录号AY970826)和GenBank及RDP数据库内同源性较高的细菌16S rDNA序列构建的系统发育树中,分离菌CCF00024与嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonasmaltophilia)聚在一簇,特别是与S.maltophiliaM5-1的同源性最高,其序列相似性达99.6%,结合形态和生理生化特点将其鉴定为嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas maltophilia)。     

新疆石河子地区甜樱桃采后腐烂致病真菌的分离鉴定

【背景】甜樱桃果实柔软多汁,采后腐烂率高。石河子是新疆新兴的甜樱桃种植地区之一,但由于采后储运不当造成巨大的经济损失。【目的】鉴定石河子地区的甜樱桃果实腐烂病原菌,以期提高该地区甜樱桃的采后品质、延长货架期。【方法】从石河子136团种植的甜樱桃腐坏组织中分离真菌菌株,根据柯赫氏法则将分离得到的菌株重新接种到健康的甜樱桃果实上确定其致病性;结合形态学和真菌核糖体转录间隔区(r DNA-ITS)序列分析对致病真菌进行鉴定。【结果】从石河子地区甜樱桃腐烂的果肉中分离出5类丝状真菌,其中3类是甜樱桃果实的致病真菌,转录间隔区序列比对确定3类真菌中代表菌株分别为易脆毛霉(Mucorfragilis)、镰刀菌(Fusariumsp.)和干酪青霉(Penicillium camemberti)。【结论】导致新疆石河子地区甜樱桃果实腐烂的致病真菌主要有易脆毛霉(Mucor fragilis)、镰刀菌(Fusarium sp.)和干酪青霉(Penicillium camemberti)。     

Isolation, identification and antifungal susceptibility of lemon pathogenic and non pathogenic fungi

Numerous species of filamentous fungi were isolated from lemon on different plantations in the province of Tucuman, Argentina. The techniques suggested by the Subcommittee of Antifungal Susceptibility of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, (USA) were adapted. The effect of three different concentrations of the fungicides imazalil, guazatine, SOPP and thiabendazole on the fungi Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliforme, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus clavatus, Geotrichum candidum, Rhizopus sp, Penicillium sp, Penicillium digitatum and Mucor sp were studied. All the tested strains were resistant to thiabendazole. We assayed a mixture of SOPP (5%), guazatine (350 ppm) and imazalil (100 ppm), which showed a synergic effect on Rhizopus sp. Mucor sp was the only fungus resistant to the four fungicides tested as well as to the above mentioned mixture.     

绵羊肺源性致病性大肠杆菌的分离与鉴定

【目的】近年来,羊呼吸系统疾病日益频发,由肠外致病性大肠杆菌感染引起的呼吸道疾病也日渐增多,给养羊业带来了一定经济损失。本文旨在确定新疆石河子地区某羊场表现为呼吸道感染症状的病死羔羊的细菌性病原及其特性。【方法】采用细菌常规分离鉴定结合16S rRNA基因序列分析的方法从发病羔羊的肺脏中分离鉴定细菌,并对分离株进行药敏试验、特异基因PCR检测、小鼠致病性试验及肺脏组织的病理学观察。【结果】从病死羔羊肺脏组织分离得到一株致病性大肠杆菌,该分离株呈多重耐药现象,检测到iutA、fyuA和ireA三种毒力基因;病变肺脏肺泡壁毛细血管充血,界限不清,支气管管腔充血,周围淋巴细胞浸润、增生。【结论】从病死羔羊肺中分离的细菌性病原是肠外致病性大肠杆菌(ExPEC)。     

A Comparative Study of 14 Strains of Naegleria australiensis Demonstrates the Existence of a Highly Virulent Subspecies: N. australiensis italica n. spp.1

Fourteen strains of Naegleria australiensis, including the type strain, were compared for virulence for mice, maximum growth temperature, lectin agglutination, isoenzyme pattern, and total protein banding pattern. Their relation to other species of Naegleria also was compared by immunoelectrophoretic analysis. Strains with high virulence, comparable to that of N. fowleri, were found to be different in concanavalin A agglutination as well as with regard to zymograms and total protein patterns. Although serologically different from N. fowleri and reacting with N. australiensis antiserum in the fluorescent antibody test, these high-virulence strains differed in number of immunoelectrophoretic precipitin bands. Because of these results, the high-virulence strains are considered to be a subspecies of N. australiensis. The low-virulence strains showed minor differences from the type strain. Thus, N. australiensis does not appear to be as homogenous a species as N. fowleri. Pathogenic N. australiensis also seems to be more widespread than previously thought.     

Isolation of a unique membrane protein from Naegleria fowleri

Naegleria fowleri, an amoeboflagellate, is the causative agent of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, a fulminating disease of the central nervous system. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of pathogenicity of this amoeba, a cDNA expression library was prepared from N. fowleri RNA. A specific protein was found to be expressed from a cDNA clone designated Mp2CL5. Northern blot analysis showed that the Mp2CL5 mRNA was expressed in pathogenic N. fowleri but was not expressed in non-pathogenic Naegleria species nor in Acanthamoeba. Western blot analysis using anti-N. fowleri antiserum demonstrated that IPTG-induced Escherichia coli Mp2CL5 expressed a 23-kDa recombinant protein. The Mp2CL5 recombinant protein was histidine-tagged and purified to homogeneity from E. coli. A polyclonal rabbit antiserum was prepared against the purified Mp2CL5 recombinant protein. This antibody was used to further characterize the Mp2CL5 native protein expressed by N. fowleri. Western blot analysis in conjunction with immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated the presence of a native protein of 17 kDa on the plasma membrane of N. fowleri trophozoites. The native N. fowleri protein was expressed in the logarithmic phase of trophozoite growth and the production of this protein increased through the stationary phase of growth. Studies are in progress to examine further its role as a virulence factor.     

Two new Tetramitus species (Heterolobosea, Vahlkampfiidae) from cold aquatic environments

Characterisation of the protists of cold environments provides important background for assessing the effects of climate change on microbial communities. Tetramitus angularis n. sp., from aquatic environments in Iceland and Switzerland, is the first vahlkampfiid recognised to have a characteristic Tetramitus flagellate stage combined with pre-formed excystment pores, which are not typical of this genus. T. angularis amoebae have a typical vahlkampfiid locomotive form and contain prominent lipid inclusions. Flagellates have a collar and cytostome, and can be mono- to multi-nucleate with corresponding change in cell shape from cylindrical to ellipsoidal and variable number of flagella. Cysts are round to semi-angular and have 2-5 pores closed by protruding, translucent plugs. A second organism, T. parangularis n. sp. from Alaska, has similar cysts but a flagellate stage has not been recognised; ITS sequence divergence is consistent with species criteria in the Vahlkampfiidae. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data for the 5.8S rDNA region clusters the new spp. with T. rostratus, T. entericus and T. waccamawensis.     

Computational identification of putative miRNAs and their target genes in pathogenic amoeba Naegleria fowleri

Naegleria fowleri is a parasitic unicellular free living eukaryotic amoeba. The parasite spreads through contaminated water andcauses primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Therefore, it is of interest to understand its molecular pathogenesis. Hence,we analyzed the parasite genome for miRNAs (microRNAs) that are non-coding, single stranded RNA molecules. We identified245 miRNAs using computational methods in N. fowleri, of which five miRNAs are conserved. The predicted miRNA targets wereanalyzed by using miRanda (software) and further studied the functions by subsequently annotating using AmiGo (a geneontology web tool).