Medium-dependent production of extracellular enterotoxins by non-O-1 Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio mimicus, and Vibrio fluvialis.

Fluid accumulation at 4 h in the intestines of suckling mice enabled us to distinguish non-O-1 Vibrio cholerae, V. mimicus, and V. fluvialis clinical isolates from environmental isolates. Enterotoxin production was culture medium dependent. Filtrates of cultures grown in tryptic soy broth without glucose but with added 0.5% NaCl did not exhibit marked enterotoxin activity in the assay. Culture filtrates of all clinical strains grown in brain heart infusion broth supplemented with 0.5% NaCl induced large amounts of fluid accumulation in mouse intestines. However, most environmental strains grown in brain heart infusion broth amended as described above were unable to induce fluid accumulation. The enterotoxin present in culture filtrates lost activity at 56 degrees C and appeared to be distinct from previously described virulence factors, including the well-described cholera toxin. The new enterotoxin could represent an important virulence mechanism common to all three species.     

An improved medium for preparation of filterable Escherichia coli hemolysin

We found that Tween 80 has potent activity in enhancing passage of E. coli hemolysin through a membrane filter and, on the basis of this finding, we devised a medium, heart infusion broth supplemented with 0.5% Tween 80 and 0.1% glucose (HI-TG) for preparation of culture filtrates containing fairly large amounts of hemolysin. When 27 strains of hemolytic E. coli were cultivated to late logarithmic growth phase in the HI-TG broth at 37°C, the culture filtrates of most strains contained 64 to 128 HU₅₀ (50% hemolytic unit) per ml. From these and other results, we established a routine method for partially purifying E. coli hemolysin.     

Screening of bifidobacteria with acquired tolerance to human gastrointestinal tract

Tolerance capabilities of 38 Bifidobacterium strains were achieved by simulating the micro-environment of human gastrointestinal tract using modified MRSC broth (pH 3.0). Fourteen strains of them with high viability were obtained in MRSC with 0.3% bile salts. Sequently, six strains of bifidobacteria with higher survivability were picked in MRSC broth (pH 3.0) supplemented with 1-20mg/ml bile salt. Finally, strain A04 with the optimal ability was chosen for further studies. It had been seen that Bifidobacterium breve A04 had better survival capability to 0.5% pepsin (w/v) or 1% pancreatin (w/v) than other bifidobacteria, and viable bacteria were above 8.00 log cfu/ml after incubation for 24h. Meanwhile, it had higher adhesive capability to HT-29 cells in vitro and average adhesive bacteria numbers reached 12.8+/-0.9 for each HT-29 cell. The results indicated that the ability to tolerate gastroenteric environment and the adhesive capacity to HT-29 cells among Bifidobacterium strains was different. B. breve A04 has several aspects of advantages and may be regarded as potential probiotics.     

Utilization of UF-permeate for production of beta-galactosidase by lactic acid bacteria

Four lactobacilli strains (Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacilus casei and Lactobacillus reuteri) were grown in MRS broth and three lactococci strains (Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. Lactis and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetilactis) were grown in M17 broth. L. reuteri and S. thermophilus were chosen on the basis of the best mean beta-galactosidase activity of 10.44 and 10.01 U/ml respectively, for further studies on permeate-based medium. The maximum production of beta-galactosidase by L. reuteri was achieved at lactose concentration of 6%, initial pH 5.0-7.5, ammonium phosphate as nitrogen source at a concentration of 0.66 g N/L and incubation temperature at 30 degrees C/24 hrs to give 6.31 U/ml. While in case of S. thermophilus, maximum beta-galactosidase production was achieved at 10% lactose concentration of permeate medium, supplemented with phosphate buffer ratio of 0.5:0.5 (KH2PO4:K2HPO4, g/L), at initial pH 6.0-6.5, ammonium phosphate (0.66g N/L) as nitrogen source and incubation temperature 35 degrees C for 24 hrs to give 7.85 U/ml.     

蒺藜内生真菌发酵液抗菌及抗肿瘤活性初步研究

【目的】筛选出具有抗菌和抗肿瘤活性的蒺藜内生真菌。【方法】采用牛津杯法、稻瘟菌模型及肿瘤细胞模型评价蒺藜内生真菌PDB和察氏培养基发酵产物的抗菌活性和肿瘤细胞毒性。【结果】PDB培养基发酵液和察氏培养基发酵液抑菌圈直径大于10 mm的菌株分别占总菌株数的19.05%和23.81%。PDB培养基发酵液和察氏培养基发酵液对稻瘟菌的最小抑制浓度(MIC)低于10%的菌株分别占总菌株数的19.05%和47.61%。对肿瘤细胞抑制率高于50%的PDB发酵产物占PDB发酵产物总数的52.38%, 而对肿瘤细胞抑制率高于50%的察氏发酵产物占察氏发酵产物总数的28.57%。【结论】部分蒺藜内生真菌的发酵产物具有抗菌和抗肿瘤活性。     

Culturing enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in the presence and absence of glucose as a simple means of evaluating the acid tolerance of stationary-phase cells.

Prior growth of seven enterohemorrhagic and one nonenterohemorrhagic strains of Escherichia coli in tryptic soy broth with (TSB+G) and without (TSB-G) 1% glucose was evaluated for its effect on acid tolerance. The final pHs of 18-h TSB+G and TSB-G cultures were 4.6 to 5.2 and 6.9 to 7.0, respectively. Cells were then transferred to brain heart infusion broth adjusted to pH 2.5 or 3.0 with HCl, incubated at 37 degrees C for up to 7 h, and assayed periodically for viable populations with brain heart infusion and MacConkey agars. All enterohemorrhagic strains were acid resistant (< 0.5 log decline after 7 h) when initially cultured in TSB+G, but substantial differences in acid tolerance were observed among strains cultured in TSB-G (log declines ranged from < 0.3 to > 3.8). The results indicated that prior growth in a medium with and without a fermentable carbohydrate is a convenient way to studying the induction of acid tolerance, that acid inactivation is preceded by a period of acid injury, and that pH-independent and pH-dependent stationary-phase acid tolerance phenotypes may exist among strains of enterohemorrhagic E. coli.     

Enhancing the antimicrobial effects of bovine lactoferrin against Escherichia coli O157:H7 by cation chelation, NaCl and temperature

AIM: To evaluate the effect of NaCl, growth medium and temperature on the antimicrobial activity of bovine lactoferrin (LF) against Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the presence of different chelating agents. METHODS AND RESULTS: LF (32 mg ml(-1)) was tested against E. coli O157:H7 strain 3081 in Luria broth (LB) and All Purpose Tween (APT) broth with metal ion chelators sodium bicarbonate (SB), sodium lactate (SL), sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) or quercetin at 0.5 and 2.5% NaCl at 10 and 37 degrees C. LF and the chelators were tested against four other E. coli O157:H7 strains in LB at 2.5% NaCl and 10 degrees C. LF alone was bacteriostatic against strains 3081 and LCDC 7283 but other strains grew. Antimicrobial effectiveness of LF was reduced in APT broth but enhanced by SB at 2.5% NaCl and 10 degrees C where 4.0 log(10) CFU ml(-1) inoculated cells were killed. EDTA enhanced antimicrobial action of the LF-SB combination. SL alone was effective against E. coli O157:H7 but a reduction in its activity at 2.5% NaCl and 10 degrees C was reversed by LF. The combinations LF-SHMP and LF-quercetin were more effective at 37 degrees C and NaCl effects varied. CONCLUSIONS: LF plus SB or SL were bactericidal toward the same 3/5 E. coli O157:H7 strains and inhibited growth of the others at 2.5% NaCl and 10 degrees C. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The combination of LF with either SL or SB shows potential for reducing viability of E. coli O157:H7 in food systems containing NaCl at reduced, but growth permissive temperature.     

Enhanced bactericidal activity of platelet β-lysin forE. coli in the presence of membrane perturbation

Inhibition by sodium chloride of the growth of 19 strains ofLegionella pneumophila and of 10 strains of otherLegionella spp. was studied. Results from growth in buffered -ketoglutarate cysteine yeast extract (BAYE) broth containing 0 to 2.0% sodium chloride indicated that 15/19 laboratory strains ofL. pneumophila were capable of growing in 1.0% to 1.5% sodium chloride, whereas 4 strains ofL. pneumophila and 10 strains of 6 other species were not.L. micdadei andL. longebeachae were the most inhibited in BAYE broth, growing only in concentrations of 0.5% sodium chloride. These in vitro studies indicate thatL. micdadei andL. longbeachae might be differentiated from other species by their low tolerance to salt in BAYE broth, and thatL. pneumophila may be more tolerant to salt concentrations found in brackish water environments.     

微生物絮凝剂产生菌固定化条件的优化

采用多种固定化方法及载体,进行了微生物絮凝剂产生菌M09固定化方法及条件的研究,并对其所产絮凝剂在不同存储条件下絮凝活性的稳定性进行探讨。结果表明,选用粒径为0.5 cm×0.5 cm×0.5 cm的多孔聚氨酯泡沫为固定化载体,4 g/L的固液比,使用初始蔗糖浓度为2%,NaNO3为0.4%的培养基,28℃振荡培养60 h可获得较高活性的固定化细胞,发酵上清液能够保持较高的絮凝率。研究还发现,在室温条件下,利用此工艺所产高絮凝活性发酵液在含有菌体的反应器内自然静置,发酵液絮凝率仍可缓慢持续上升,维持较高水平达数日,具有较高的稳定性。     

Comparison of microdilution method and E-test procedure in susceptibility testing of caspofungin against Candida non-albicans species

It is widely known that systemic and mucosal candidiasis caused by Candida non-albicans strains endangers the lives of hospitalised patients since these pathogens are extremely difficult to defeat by commonly used antifungal agents. The present study determined the in vitro activities of a novel antimicotic drug - caspofungin - against 76 Candida non-albicans isolates by means of the CLSI reference method for broth dilution antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts and the E-test procedure for comparison. Caspofungin was efficacious against the majority of strains tested, with the average MICs90 evaluated by the microdilution method and E-tests amounting to 1 mg/l and 0.5 mg/l, respectively. Since the agreement between MICs within +/-2 dilutions obtained by these two techniques was 92% (Kappa coefficient of 0.92), the E-test procedure seems to be a reliable alternative to the broth microdilution method and may provide another choice for clinical laboratories.     

D-ribose utilisation differentiates porcine Brachyspira pilosicoli from other porcine Brachyspira species

D-ribose utilisation was studied in 60 Brachyspira pilosicoli strains and 35 strains of other Brachyspira species, the majority of which were of porcine origin. Utilisation of D-ribose was demonstrated indirectly by measuring the reduction in pH of densely inoculated tryptone-peptone broth supplemented with 7% foetal calf serum and 1% D-ribose. Among B. pilosicoli strains, the mean reduction in pH units was 1.72 (range 0.95-2.28) in broth with D-ribose and 0.27 (range 0.10-0.40) in sugar-free control broth. For Brachyspira strains other than B. pilosicoli, the corresponding reductions in pH units were 0.37 (range 0.12-0.49) and 0.37 (range 0.15-0.58). In conclusion, porcine B. pilosicoli can be differentiated from other porcine Brachyspira species by a test for D-ribose utilisation.     

Growth and extracellular enzyme production by strains of Bacillus species isolated from fermenting African locust bean, iru

A deiubigbe , E.Y. & O dunfa , S.A. 1990. Growth and extracellular enzyme production by strains of Bacillus species isolated from fermenting African locust bean, iru. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 69 , 662–671.
Seven strains of Bacillus subtilis group, isolated from fermented African locust bean (iru), were screened for proteolytic activity. Three strains (BS2, BL2 and BP2), which were found to be highly proteolytic, were compared on the basis of growth and extracellular enzyme production in media with and without locust bean. AH had their optimum pH for growth between 7.0 and 9.0.
The three strains produced varied amounts of amylase, polygalacturonase, galac-lanase and sucrase. The amounts of amylase and polygalacturonases produced by strain BS2 were significantly higher (at α= 0.5) than those of strains BL2 and BP2. None of the strains produced pectinmethylesterase in nutrient broth with or without African locust bean. Although the three strains were lipolytic on tributyrin agar plates, only trace amounts of lipase were detected titrimetrically in broth medium containing African locust bean. The three strains produced varying levels of sucrase and galactanases. Phytase activity was not detected in the broth culture of strain BS2. The presence of African locust bean in culture medium generally enhanced the production of extracellular enzymes significantly (at α= 0.05) in the three strains.     

具有乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制活性的蛇足石杉内生真菌分子鉴定

在马铃薯葡萄糖液体培养基(PDB)、沙氏液体培养基(SDB)和查氏液体培养基(CDB)中发酵培养蛇足石杉内生真菌菌株SF88和LF52,乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)抑制活性检测结果表明,菌株SF88和LF52在PDB、SDB和CDB发酵后菌体总生物碱对AChE活性的抑制率分别为45.6%和56.7%、56.3%和68.5%、40.8%和48.3%。对这两株不产孢内生真菌的DNA ITS、18S rDNA、28S rDNA、TUB和RPB进行了测序,系统发育分析表明,SF88和LF52为Phaeosphaeriaceae科中一未知种,为开发生物碱类乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制剂(AChEI)药物提供了新的潜在菌种资源。     

Influence of strain and trisodium phosphate concentration on growth parameters of Listeria monocytogenes in vitro

AIMS: The present study was conducted to determine the influence of strain and trisodium phosphate (TSP) concentration in the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vitro. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three strains (ATCC 11916, 64d, isolated from chicken meat, and M2-5b, a clinical animal isolate) were inoculated in broth with 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% (w/v) of TSP. The shortest lag phase and highest maximum rate of growth (mu) were obtained in the presence of 0.5% TSP. In contrast, the highest lag phase and lowest mu were obtained with 1.5% TSP. For each TSP concentration, significant differences (P < 0.05) in lag phase and mu of the three L. monocytogenes strains were observed. CONCLUSION: The behaviour of L. monocytogenes is significantly influenced by both the origin of the strain and the salt concentration. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our results indicate the importance of choosing an adequate TSP concentration for the decontamination of foods, because low concentrations could favour the growth of L. monocytogenes.     

Characterization of several bovine rumen bacteria isolated with a xylan medium

Dehority, B. A. (Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster). Characterization of several bovine rumen bacteria isolated with a xylan medium. J. Bacteriol. 91:1724-1729. 1966.-Studies were conducted to characterize eight strains of bacteria isolated from bovine rumen contents, by use of a medium containing xylan as the only added carbohydrate source. Based on morphology, biochemical reactions, nutritional requirements, and fermentation products, five of the eight strains were identified as Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens. Many properties of the remaining three strains resembled Bacteroides ruminicola; however, propionic acid was consistently found as a fermentation product. When the type strains for B. ruminicola subsp. ruminicola and B. ruminicola subsp. brevis were compared with the present isolates, it was found that propionic acid was a normal fermentation product for the type strain B. ruminicola subsp. ruminicola when grown in a 40% rumen fluid-0.5% glucose broth. Production of propionic acid was markedly reduced for all strains when grown in a 20% rumen fluid-1% glucose broth. The three remaining strains were thus placed in the species B. ruminicola, and further classified into the subspecies ruminicola (one strain) and brevis (two strains) on the basis of their requirement for hemin. Although the type strain of B. ruminicola subsp. brevis did not produce propionic acid, both of the present isolates classified as this subspecies produced substantial amounts. One strain of B. ruminicola subsp. brevis had an absolute requirement for volatile fatty acids. Either isobutyric or dl-2-methylbutyric acid would satisfy this requirement, whereas isovaleric acid was ineffective. It is of interest that xylan-fermenting bacteria isolated from 10(-7) and 10(-8) dilutions of rumen contents by use of a xylan medium are similar to the xylan fermenters isolated at the same dilutions with a nonselective medium.     

Yersinia spp. in surface water in San Luis,Argentina

Yersinia spp. was examined in three rivers and two lakes located in the Province of San Luis, Argentina, over a 1-year period. Water samples were concentrated either by Moore's gauze technique or by filtering through diatomaceous earth. Five enrichment media: yeast extract-Bengal rose broth (YER) with bile-oxalate-sorbose broth (BOS); 67 mmol/L phosphatebuffered saline (pH 7.6; PBS); PBS enriched with 1% mannitol and 1% peptone (PBSMP); PBS with lyzed 0.5% sheep blood (PBSB); Wauters broth (W); and five plating media: Mac Conkey agar (MC);Salmonella—Shigella agar (SS); 5% sheep blood agar (BA); lactose-sucrose-urea agar (LSU) and irgasan-novobiocin agar (IN) were used. The following strains were isolated:Y. intermedia B1 O:4,32–4,33 Lis Xz (four strains),Y. intermedia B1 O:57 Lis Xo (one strain),Y. intermedia B2 0:57 Lis Xo (one strain),Y. enterocolitica B1 O:10–34 Lis Xz (one strain), andY. frederiksenii undetermined biovar, O:16–16,29 Lis Xz (two strains). The incidence of isolation ofYersinia spp. was 7.14%. YER-BOS proved to be the best enrichment method since it allowed the highest recovering ofYersinia spp. strains. Among plating media, the best results were obtained with MC. Apparently, the isolation ofYersinia spp. can be related to environmental variables such as temperature differences between cold and warm seasons. Negative results obtained during virulence assays suggest that isolated strains lack the pathogenic potential against man.     

STUDIES OF THE DETERMINATION OF THE BACTERIUM COLI TYPE I CONTENT OF FARM WATER SUPPLIES

SUMMARY: A – comparison of the suitability of brilliant green bile broth and MacConkey's broth at 44° for the detection of Bacterium coli type I in farm water supplies, showed that 83.1% of the samples had no difference in the number of positive tubes at 44°, and only 5 samples (1.7%) had a significantly higher number of positive tubes in MacConkey's broth.
Of 707 strains of coli-aerogenes bacteria isolated from 44° positive tubes of both media, 94.5% were Bact. coli type I. Strains of Bact. coli type II and Bact. aerogenes type I which were 44° positive constituted 3.7% and 0.4% respectively, all of which were indole negative at 44°. In addition there were 10 strains (1.4%) of 44° positive Intermediate type II, 9 of which were indole positive at 44°.
An appreciable number (6.6%) of Bact. coli type I strains failed to give a positive indole reaction in 24 hr at 44°.     

Isolation of Salmonella strains from reptile faeces and comparison of different culture media

AIMS: To provide information on epidemiology and isolation of Salmonella strains from reptiles. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-one samples collected from reptiles of the zoo of Rome or belonging to private owners were analysed using a standard protocol for isolation of Salmonella from food. Salmonella strains were tested for susceptibility to 15 antimicrobics by a disc-agar diffusion method. Forty-six samples (50.5%) were positive for Salmonella. Of the 22 strains serotyped, 17 belonged to Salmonella enterica subsp. I, four to the subsp. IIIa and one strain resulted untypeable. Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth (RVB) allowed to recover more Salmonella strains when bacterial growth in buffered peptone water (BPW) was scarce, while selenite cystine broth (SCB) was more efficient, whereas growth in BPW was abundant. The maximum isolation score was obtained by plating onto xylose lysine desoxycholate agar (XLD). The strains exhibited resistance at high percentages to colistin sulphate (58.7%), sulphamethoxazole (55.5%), streptomycin (32.6%), tetracycline (19.6%), ampicillin (17.4%) and nalidixic acid (13.1%). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of Salmonella in reptiles was observed. For isolation, the choice of the enrichment broth depending on the degree of growth in BPW followed by plating onto XLD may be suggested. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This paper provides epidemiological data on the prevalence of Salmonella and laboratory protocols useful for isolation of Salmonella from faeces of reptiles.     

Drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the broth microdilution method with 7H9 broth

In this study, we have evaluated the broth microdilution method (BMM) for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A total of 43 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis and H37Rv as a control strain were studied. All isolates were tested by the proportion method and the BMM for isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), streptomycin (STR), and ethambutol (ETM). The proportion method was carried out according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) on L?wenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium. The BMM was carried out using 7H9 broth with 96 well-plates. All strains were tested at 3.2-0.05 micro g/ml, 16-0.25 micro g/ml, 32-0.5 micro g/ml, and 32-0.5 micro g/ml concentrations for INH, RIF, STR, and ETM, respectively. When the BMM was compared with the proportion method, sensitivity was 100, 100, 96.9, and 90.2%, while specificity was 100, 85.7, 90.9, and 100% for INH, RIF, STR, and ETM, respectively. The plates were examined 7, 10, 14, and 21 days after incubation. The majority of the result were obtained at 14th days after incubation, while the proportion method result were ended in 21-28 days. According to our results, it may be suggested that the BMM is suitable for early determining of multidrug-resistance-M. tuberculosis strains in developed or developing countries.     

Mutants of Pachysolen tannophilus showing enhanced rates of growth and ethanol formation from d-xylose

Mutants of Pachysolen tannophilus NRRL Y-2460 have been sought that show enhanced rates of d-xylose fermentation. Mutagenesis followed by enrichment in urea-xylitol broth generally resulted in a lower frequency of good ethanol producers than enrichment in nitrate-xylitol broth. Under aerobic conditions, the best xylose-fermenting strains (which were obtained from nitrate-xylitol broth) produced ethanol from xylose twice as fast and in 32% better yield than the parent strain. Under anaerobic conditions, these strains produced ethanol from xylose 50% faster than (but in the same yield as) the parent strain. These findings show that enrichment in nitrate-xylitol broth is a promising method for obtaining mutants of Pachysolen having enhanced fermentation rates.