Room temperature sterilization of surfaces and fabrics with a One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma

We report the results of an interdisciplinary collaboration formed to assess the sterilizing capabilities of the One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP). This newly-invented source of glow discharge plasma (the fourth state of matter) is capable of operating at atmospheric pressure in air and other gases, and of providing antimicrobial active species to surfaces and workpieces at room temperature as judged by viable plate counts. OAUGDP exposures have reduced log numbers of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and endospores from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus subtilis on seeded solid surfaces, fabrics, filter paper, and powdered culture media at room temperature. Initial experimental data showed a two-log₁₀ CFU reduction of bacteria when 2 × 10² cells were seeded on filter paper. Results showed ≥3 log₁₀ CFU reduction when polypropylene samples seeded with E. coli (5 × 10⁴) were exposed, while a 30 s exposure time was required for similar killing with S. aureus-seeded polypropylene samples. The exposure times required to effect ≥6 log₁₀ CFU reduction of E. coli and S. aureus on polypropylene samples were no longer than 30 s. Experiments with seeded samples in sealed commercial sterilization bags showed little or no differences in exposure times compared to unwrapped samples. Plasma exposure times of less than 5 min generated ≥5 log₁₀ CFU reduction of commercially prepared Bacillus subtilis spores (1 × 10⁶); 7 min OAUGDP exposures were required to generate a ≥3 log₁₀ CFU reduction for Bacillus stearothermophilus spores. For all microorganisms tested, a biphasic curve was generated when the number of survivors vs time was plotted in dose-response cures. Several proposed mechanisms of killing at room temperature by the OAUGDP are discussed. Received 06 June 1997/ Accepted in revised form 01 November 1997     

乳杆菌DM9811挥发性脂肪酸组分对白色念珠菌、金黄色葡萄球菌的抑制

目的：探讨乳杆菌DM9811发酵液的挥发性脂肪酸对金黄色葡萄球菌、白色念珠菌抑制作用。方法：采用普通细菌计数法。结果：乳杆菌DM9811发酵液中挥发性脂肪酸对金黄色葡萄球菌、白色念珠菌具有抑制作用,以对白色念珠菌抑制作用最强,金黄色葡萄球菌抑制次之,两者都呈现剂量效应关系。结论：乳杆菌DM9811发酵液中挥发性脂肪酸对细菌、真菌都有明显的抑制作用。     

The Effect of the Intra- and Extracellular Metabolites of Microorganisms Isolated from Various Ecotopes on the Catalase Activity of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 P

The cell extracts (i.e., intracellular metabolites) and culture liquids (i.e., extracellular metabolites) of microorganisms isolated from various ecotopes were found to inhibit the catalase activity of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 P, which resulted in a considerable inhibition of the growth of metabolite-treated S. aureus cells by hydrogen peroxide. The inhibitory effect of microbial metabolites on S. aureus catalase can be considered as a mechanism of intercellular interactions responsible for the formation of microbiocenoses.     

贯叶连翘总提取物对金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌作用

以3株金黄色葡萄球菌为代表,分别探讨了经光照和未经光照处理后在培养24h的过程中贯叶连翘总提取物(TEHPL)对3株金黄色葡萄球菌的光密度(OD640mm)、活菌数(CFU)、总菌数(TCC)、最低杀菌浓度(MBC)的影响和对其中2株菌超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的影响。结果表明TEHPL对金黄色葡萄球菌有抑菌和杀菌作用,其抑菌或杀菌作用与其浓度有关,不需光照。并且TEHPL诱导菌体细胞内SOD活力增高。     

Microbial characterization during composting of municipal solid waste

This study investigates the prevailing physico-chemical conditions and microbial community; mesophilic bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi, bacterial spores, Salmonella and Shigella as well as faecal indicator bacteria: total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal Streptococci, present in a compost of municipal solid waste. Investigations were conducted in a semi-industrial pilot plant using a moderate aeration during the composting process. Our results showed that: (i) auto-sterilization induced by relatively high temperatures (60–55°C) caused a significant change in bacterial communities. For instance, Escherichia coli and faecal Streptococci populations decreased, respectively, from 2×10⁷ to 3.1×10³ and 10⁷ to 1.5×10³ cells/g waste dry weight (WDW); yeasts and filamentous fungi decreased from 4.5×10⁶ to 2.6×10³ cells/g WDW and mesophilic bacteria were reduced from 5.8×10⁹ to 1.8×10⁷ bacteria/g WDW. On the other hand, the number of bacterial spores increased at the beginning of the composting process, but after the third week their number decreased notably; (ii) Salmonella disappeared completely from compost by the 25th day as soon as the temperature reached 60°C; and (iii) the bacterial population increased gradually during the cooling phase. While Staphylococci seemed to be the dominant bacteria during the mesophilic phase and at the beginning of the thermophilic phase, bacilli predominated during the remainder of the composting cycle. The appearance of gram-negative rods (opportunistic pathogens) during the cooling phase may represent a serious risk for the sanitary quality of the finished product intended for agronomic reuse. Compost sonication for about 3 min induced the inactivation of delicate bacteria, in particular gram-negatives. By contrast, gram-positive bacteria, especially micrococcus, spores of bacilli, and fungal propagules survived, and reached high concentrations in the compost.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of cysteine to threonine in Proteus vulgaris urease active site increases enzyme activity and stability

Cysteine-319 belongs to the flexible flap at the active site of Proteus vulgaris urease. Replacing this cysteine by threonine resulted in a 20-fold increase of specific activity. Temperature stability increased, susceptibility to inhibition by dipyridyl disulfide decreased, and pH optimum shifted from 8 to 6.9. K _m (35 to 12 mM) and V_max (47.4 to 1.8 mol min^–1) were substancially altered. Both variants of the enzyme were irreversibly inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride.     

Inhibition ofCandida albicans andStaphylococcus aureus by phenolic compounds from the terrestrial cyanobacteriumNostoc muscorum

Phenolic compounds were determined in methanolic extract from the algal mass of aNostoc muscorum culture. Bioassays with two human pathogens,Candida albicans andStaphylococcus aureus indicated that algal phenolic compounds evoked significant growth inhibition for both species (89.1% and 88.2%, respectively). It is suggested that this strong inhibitory effect is of potential medicinal value.     

桑叶水提浸膏的抑菌作用研究

研究桑叶水提浸膏对五种食品常见污染菌的抑菌作用。通过滤纸片扩散法测定其相对抑菌活性。结果表明,桑叶水提浸膏对金黄色葡萄球菌有较强的抑制作用,对大肠杆菌作用次之,对枯草芽孢杆菌、荧光假单孢杆菌、巨大芽孢杆菌抑菌效果较差。桑叶水提浸膏对金黄色葡萄球菌的最小抑菌浓度是5%,抑菌作用受pH和温度的影响较大,在酸性条件下抑菌效果较好,低于60℃处理样品对抑菌效果影响不大,但高于80℃处理,样品抑菌活性明显降低。     

232株金黄色葡萄球菌的临床分布特征及耐药性分析

目的了解金黄色葡萄球菌(金葡菌)临床分离株的感染分布特点及耐药现状,以便为临床感染治疗及预防提供帮助。方法收集南昌大学第二附属医院2007年1月至2009年12月临床分离的非重复金葡菌232株。常规方法进行菌株分离,血浆凝固酶、金葡菌单克隆抗体及Vitek-32型仪进行菌株鉴定,纸片扩散法测定菌株对抗菌药物的敏感性,头孢西丁法检测耐甲氧西林金葡菌(MRSA),WHONET5.5软件分析数据。结果下呼吸道标本中分离的金葡菌最多,占44.0%,其次是脓液(20.3%)和血液(18.1%)。232株金葡菌中共检测到MRSA 131株(56.6%),金葡菌对青霉素的耐药率最高(90.0%),对庆大霉素、左氧氟沙星、克林霉素、红霉素和四环素的耐药率均50.0%;耐药率在10.0%~50.0%的有阿米卡星、复方磺胺甲噁唑和夫西地酸;对替考拉宁耐药率非常低(1.3%);未出现耐万古霉素的菌株。结论下呼吸道及皮肤软组织是金葡菌的主要感染部位;金葡菌对临床常用抗菌药物的耐药率近3年来趋于稳定,糖肽类抗菌药物对其仍有非常强的抗菌活性。