Incidence of Escherichia coli in Black Walnut Meats

Examination of commercially shelled black walnut meats showed inconsistent numbers of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Escherichia coli; variation occurred among different meat sizes and within each meat size. The incidence of E. coli on meats of commercially hulled black walnuts depended on the physical condition of the nuts. Apparently tightly sealed ones contained only a few or none, whereas those with visibly separated sutures and spoiled meats yielded the most. This contamination was in part correlated to a hulling operation. Large numbers of E. coli on the husk of the walnuts contaminated the hulling water, subsequently also contaminating the meats by way of separated sutures. Chlorination of the hulling wash water was ineffective. Attempts were made to decontaminate the walnut meats without subsequent deleterious changes in flavor or texture. A treatment in coconut oil at 100 C followed by removal of excess surface oil by centrifugation was best.     

Vibrios from Fish Pen Slime Which Mimic Escherichia coli on Violet Red Bile Agar

Organisms from fish pen slime which mimicked coliforms and Escherichia coli on Violet Red Bile Agar were identified as members of the genus Vibrio on the basis of metabolic and morphological characteristics.     

感受态细胞制备与保存方法的比较研究

目的 :确立一个能制备高转化率感受态细胞并长期维持其感受性的实验方案。方法 :比较CaCl2 法、TSS法、超高效法制备感受态细胞的效果 ,选用三者中较好的方法进一步探讨不同生长期 (OD值 0 .2～ 1.1)的细菌对制备感受态细胞的影响 ,并分别比较了不同冷冻保护剂 (7%DMSO ,10 %甘油 )于 - 2 0℃、- 80℃冰箱保存感受态细胞的效果。结果 :三种方法获得的感受态细胞转化率差异极显著 (P <0 .0 1)。采用超高效法 ,OD值为 0 .36 (或 0 .5 8)时收集菌体可获得 1.1× 10 8的高转化率的感受态细胞 ,以 7%的DMSO为冷冻保护剂保存感受态细胞可维持 10 7以上的转化率 4 0d以上     

Survival of Escherichia coli Cells on Solid Copper Surfaces Is Increased by Glutathione

Bacteria are rapidly killed on solid copper surfaces, so this material could be useful to limit the spread of multiple-drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals. In Escherichia coli, the DNA-protecting Dps protein and the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase II Ndh were not involved in tolerance to copper ions or survival on solid copper surfaces. Decreased copper tolerance under anaerobic growth conditions in the presence of ascorbate and with melibiose as the carbon source indicated that sodium-dependent symport systems may provide an import route for Cu^I into the cytoplasm. Glutathione-free ΔcopA ΔgshA double mutants of E. coli were more rapidly inactivated on solid copper surfaces than glutathione-containing wild-type cells. Therefore, while DNA protection by Dps was not required, glutathione was needed to protect the cytoplasm and the DNA against damage mediated by solid copper surfaces, which may explain the differences in the molecular mechanisms of killing between glutathione-containing Gram-negative and glutathione-free Gram-positive bacteria.     

Incidence and survival of non-O157 verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli in soil

Aims: This study estimated the incidence of non‐O157 verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in farm pasture soils and investigated the survival of non‐O157 VTEC in clay and sandy loam soils. Methods and Results: Twenty farms were tested over a 12‐month period by sample enrichment in tryptone soya broth plus vancomycin, followed by PCR screening for the presence of vt1 and vt2 genes. Of the 600 soil samples, 162 (27%), across all farms, were found to contain vt1 and/or vt2 genes. The enrichment cultures from the 162 PCR‐positive samples were plated onto Chromocult tryptone bile X‐glucuronide agar (TBX), presumptive VTEC colonies recovered, confirmed as VTEC by PCR and serotyped. Samples of the two predominant soil types in Ireland (clay and sandy) were homogenized, characterized in terms of pH, boron, cobalt, copper, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc and organic matter content, inoculated with washed suspensions of eight non‐O157:H7 soil isolates and six bovine faecal isolates and stored at 10°C for up to 201 days. Inoculum survival rates were determined at regular intervals by recovering and plating soil samples on TBX. All inoculated non‐O157 serotypes had highest D‐values in the sandy loam soil with D‐values ranging from 50·26 to 75·60 days. The corresponding range in clay loam soils was 31·60–48·25 days. Conclusions: This study shows that non‐O157 VTEC occur widely and frequently in pasture soils and can persist in such environments for several months, with considerable opportunity for recycling through farm environments, and cattle, with clear potential for subsequent transmission into the human food chain. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first such study of non‐O157 VTEC in farm soils and found that these VTEC are frequent and persistent contaminants in farm soils. In light of recent epidemiological data, non‐O157 VTEC should be seen as an emerging risk to be controlled within the food chain.     

Detection of Iss and Bor on the surface of Escherichia coli

AIMS: To confirm the presence of Iss and Bor on the outer membrane of Escherichia coli using Western blots of outer membrane protein (OMP) preparations and fluorescence microscopy, and explore the use of fluorescence microscopy for the detection of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and diagnosis of avian colibacillosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Knockout mutants of iss and bor were created using a one-step recombination of target genes with PCR-generated antibiotic resistance cassettes. Anti-Iss monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) that cross-react with Bor protein were used to study the mutants relative to the wild-type organism. These Mabs were used as reagents to study OMP preparations of the mutants with Western blotting and intact E. coli cells with fluorescence microscopy. Iss and Bor were detected in Western blots of OMP preparations of the wild type. Also, Iss was detected on Deltabor mutants, and Bor was detected on Deltaiss mutants. Iss and Bor were also detected on the surface of the intact, wild-type cells and mutants using fluorescence microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that Bor and Iss are exposed on E. coli's outer membrane where they may be recognized by the host's immune system. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming Iss' location in the outer membrane of an E. coli isolate. Such surface exposure has implications for the use of these Mabs for APEC detection and colibacillosis control.     

Contribution of Copper Ion Resistance to Survival of Escherichia coli on Metallic Copper Surfaces

Bacterial contamination of touch surfaces poses a serious threat for public health. The use of bactericidal surface materials, such as copper and its alloys, might constitute a way to aid the use of antibiotics and disinfectants, thus minimizing the risk of emergence and spread of multiresistant germs. The survival of Escherichia coli on metallic copper surfaces has been studied previously; however, the mechanisms underlying bacterial inactivation on copper surfaces have not been elucidated. Data presented in this study suggest that bacteria are killed rapidly on dry copper surfaces. Several factors, such as copper ion toxicity, copper chelators, cold, osmotic stress, and reactive oxygen species, but not anaerobiosis, influenced killing rates. Strains deleted in copper detoxification systems were slightly more sensitive than was the wild type. Preadaptation to copper enhanced survival rates upon copper surface exposure. This study constitutes a first step toward understanding the reasons for metallic copper surface-mediated killing of bacteria.     

Incidence of multiple antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli in the Bhavani River

Of 107 Escherichia coli strains isolated from the water, sediment and fish of the Bhavani River, all of which are considered potential causes of human enteric disease, 62% were resistant to more than four antibiotics. Levels of resistance to bacitracin, penicillin, and novobiocin were generally high whereas those to polymyxin-B and chloramphenicol were much lower. A high incidence of multiple antibiotic resistant E. coli was noted in all samples and the multiple antibiotic resistance index of the strains showed that 95% of the strains originated either from man or cattle.     

Detection of growth of Escherichia coli on two-dimensional diffusion gradient plates

One drawback of using two-dimensional diffusion gradient plates, the subjective visual assessment of microbial growth, has been overcome. Growth of Escherichia coli was detected with pH indicators in the medium or by staining growth with a biochemical stain, L-alanine- p -nitroanilide, or a respiratory dye, 2-( p -iodophenyl)-3-( p -nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride. Stained growth was scanned with a laser densitometer and traces combined in a computer to give a three-dimensional semi-quantitative representation of growth over the gradient plate.     

Incidence and enterotoxigenicity of enterotoxigenic (Escherichia coli) from uncooked meat sausages

Summary The incidence of enteropathogenicEscherichia coli was higher (33 to 50%) in uncooked chicken sausages than in pork sausages (10 to 43%). The toxigenic isolates in general were of O5 and O89 sero types ofE. coli. The amount of toxin produced varied in raw and boiled sausages as tested by ileal loop and rabbit skin permeability tests. The toxin production was invariably higher at 28°C or 37°C in raw and boiled sausages than at 45°C.

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Resumen La incidencia de cepas enteropatógenas deEscherichia coli fue mayor (33 a 50%) en salsichas de pollo crudas que salsichas de cerdo. Los aislados toxinogénicos pertenecían en su mayoría a los serotipos O5 y O89 deE. coli. La variación en la cantidad de toxina producida entre salsichas crudas y hervidas se midió mediante pruebas de permeabilidad en asa ileal y piel de conejo. La producción de toxinas, tanto en salsichas crudas como hervidas, era mayor a 28°C o a 37°C que a 45°C.

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Résumé L'incidence de souches entéropathogènes d'Escherichia coli était plus élevée (33 à 50%) dans les saucisses de poulet cru que dans les saucisses de porc cru (10 à 43%). Les souches toxigènes d'E. coli isolées étaient en général de type sérologique O5 ou O89. Les tests du loop iléal et de la perméabilité de la peau de lapin ont démontré que la quantité de toxine produite variait dans les saucisses crues et bouillies. La production de toxine était invariablement plus élevée à 28 ou à 37°C qu'à 45°C tant dans les saucisses crues que dans les saucisses bouillies.

     

Detection of Escherichia coli cytotoxins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays

Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed to detect Escherichia coli cytotoxins. Wells were coated with monoclonal antibodies from hybridomas 13C4 and (or) 11E10, and biotin conjugates of these antibodies were used for detecting verotoxin 1 and Shiga-like toxin II, respectively. Sensitivities were about 100 and 200 cytotoxic doses, respectively. Verotoxin 2 was detected by ELISA with monoclonal antibody 11E10, but at a sensitivity of only about 4000 cytotoxic doses. ELISA results of polymyxin-treated cell extracts from cultures of 67 E. coli strains were in agreement with Vero cell assay as regards the presence and type of toxin.     

Detection of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli by Magnetic Capture-Hybridization PCR

Magnetic capture-hybridization PCR (MCH-PCR) was used for the detection of 36 verotoxigenic (verotoxin [VT]-producing) Escherichia coli (VTEC), 5 VTEC reference, and 13 non-VTEC control cultures. The detection system employs biotin-labeled probes to capture the DNA segments that contain specific regions of the genes for VT1 and VT2 by DNA-DNA hybridization. The hybrids formed were isolated by streptavidin-coated magnetic beads which were collected by a magnetic particle separator and, subsequently, amplified directly by conventional PCR. The detection system was found to be specific for VTEC: no amplification was obtained from non-VTEC controls, whereas VTEC isolates tested positive for one or two specific PCR products. With 5, 7, or 10 h of enrichment, the limits of detection were 10³, 10², and 10⁰ CFU/ml, respectively, by agarose gel electrophoresis. Southern hybridization did not seem to improve the limit of the detection. When applied to food, MCH-PCR was capable of detecting 10⁰ CFU of VTEC per g of ground beef with 15 h of nonselective enrichment. The results of MCH-PCR for pure cultures of VT1- and/or VT2-producing E. coli cells were in total agreement with toxin production as measured by a VT enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.     

Detection of a Lactobacillus substance that inhibits Escherichia coli

Recent studies have shown that certain lactobacilli strains have the ability to interfere with the adherence and growth of uropathogenic bacteria. This interaction is believed to be important in the maintenance of a normal urogenital flora and in the prevention of infection in females. In the present study, Lactobacillus casei ssp. rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus acidophilus 76 were found to exert an inhibitory effect on pyelonephritogenic mutant Escherichia coli Hu 734 and E. coli ATCC 25922. The bioactivity of the inhibitor produced by strain GR-1 was retained under pH buffered conditions and was bactericidal. The bioactive substance was heat labile, not precipitated by up to 80% ammonium sulphate, and extractable in chloroform. The data indicated that the inhibitor is not lactic acid or hydrogen peroxide and has a molecular weight greater than 12,000-14,000. Human urine supported production of the inhibitor and reduced and delayed outgrowth of the E. coli. The ability of L. casei GR-1 and possibly other lactobacilli strains to produce inhibitors of uropathogenic bacteria may have clinical importance and significance in the microbial ecology of the urogenital tract.     

Storage of Escherichia coli Strains Containing Plasmid DNA in Liquid Nitrogen

The stability of plasmids and lysogenic bacteriophage in 16 strains of Escherichia coli was studied following storage in liquid nitrogen for periods up to 2 years. A comparison was made with cultures which had undergone lyophilization. Plasmid loss was detected by plating on selective media containing antibiotics to which resistance was conferred by plasmid DNA. Loss of plasmid DNA was not evident following storage in liquid nitrogen or lyophilization.     

Detection of Escherichia coli in blood using flow cytometry

A rapid method for the detection of Escherichia coli in blood has been developed. The method employs blood cell lysis, staining of bacteria with ethidium bromide, and detection of stained bacteria using flow cytometry. The detection protocol requires less than 2 h sample handling time and is not dependent on bacterial growth. This method has been applied to human donor blood specimens seeded with various E. coli concentrations and to two rabbit model systems. Bacterial detection is evident from the in vitro human blood studies at levels of 10 E. coli/ml and from in vivo rabbit model studies at less than 100 E. coli/ml.