scholarly journals Effects of oxygen on aerosol survival of radiation sensitive and resistant strains ofEscherichia coliB

1971 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Cox ◽  
M. C. Bondurant ◽  
M. T. Hatch

SUMMARYThe aerosol survivals in air and nitrogen of radiation sensitive and resistant mutants ofEscherichia coliB have been determined with logarithmic and resting phase bacteria. No consistent correlation was found between radiation sensitivity and aerosol sensitivity in the strains tested. Hence, the phenotypes Fil Her Exr, which determine sensitivity to radiation, do not influence aerosol survival, i.e. these known mechanisms which repair radiation-induced damage do not operate in aerosol stressedE. coli. In all cases the survival in air was less than that in nitrogen particularly so forE. coliBs-1. The effect is explained in terms of a toxic action of oxygen. Comparison of survival of log and resting phase bacteria show that log phase cells are less aerosol stable than are resting phase cells. The ability to synthesize DNA in bacteria collected from the aerosol was less than in control unstressed bacteria, and this effect was independent of the presence of oxygen. Reduced ability to synthesize DNA could have been caused by reduced metabolic activity. It is shown that two different death mechanisms occur simultaneously in aerosols at low relative humidity. One mechanism is oxygen dependent and the other oxygen independent. The former was not through a decrease in metabolic activity, whereas the latter could be.

Author(s):  
О.В. Шамова ◽  
М.С. Жаркова ◽  
П.М. Копейкин ◽  
Д.С. Орлов ◽  
Е.А. Корнева

Антимикробные пептиды (АМП) системы врожденного иммунитета - соединения, играющие важную роль в патогенезе инфекционных заболеваний, так как обладают свойством инактивировать широкий спектр патогенных бактерий, обеспечивая противомикробную защиту живых организмов. В настоящее время АМП рассматриваются как потенциальные соединения-корректоры инфекционной патологии, вызываемой антибиотикорезистентными бактериями (АБР). Цель данной работы состояла в изученим механизмов антибактериального действия трех пептидов, принадлежащих к семейству бактенецинов - ChBac3.4, ChBac5 и mini-ChBac7.5Nb. Эти химически синтезированные пептиды являются аналогами природных пролин-богатых АМП, обнаруженных в лейкоцитах домашней козы Capra hircus и проявляющих высокую антимикробную активность, в том числе и в отношении грамотрицательных АБР. Методы. Минимальные ингибирующие и минимальные бактерицидные концентрации пептидов (МИК и МБК) определяли методом серийных разведений в жидкой питательной среде с последующим высевом на плотную питательную среду. Эффекты пептидов на проницаемость цитоплазматической мембраны бактерий для хромогенного маркера исследовали с использованием генетически модифицированного штамма Escherichia coli ML35p. Действие бактенецинов на метаболическую активность бактерий изучали с применением маркера резазурина. Результаты. Показано, что все исследованные пептиды проявляют высокую антимикробную активность в отношении Escherichia coli ML35p и антибиотикоустойчивых штаммов Escherichia coli ESBL и Acinetobacter baumannii in vitro, но их действие на бактериальные клетки разное. Использован комплекс методик, позволяющих наблюдать в режиме реального времени динамику действия бактенецинов в различных концентрациях (включая их МИК и МБК) на барьерную функцию цитоплазматической мембраны и на интенсивность метаболизма бактериальных клеток, что дало возможность выявить различия в характере воздействия бактенецинов, отличающихся по структуре молекулы, на исследуемые микроорганизмы. Установлено, что действие каждого из трех исследованных бактенецинов в бактерицидных концентрациях отличается по эффективности нарушения целостности бактериальных мембран и в скорости подавления метаболизма клеток. Заключение. Полученная информация дополнит существующие фундаментальные представления о механизмах действия пролин-богатых пептидов врожденного иммунитета, а также послужит основой для биотехнологических исследований, направленных на разработку на базе этих соединений новых антибиотических препаратов для коррекции инфекционных заболеваний, вызываемых АБР и являющимися причинами тяжелых внутрибольничных инфекций. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of the innate immunity are compounds that play an important role in pathogenesis of infectious diseases due to their ability to inactivate a broad array of pathogenic bacteria, thereby providing anti-microbial host defense. AMPs are currently considered promising compounds for treatment of infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate molecular mechanisms of the antibacterial action of three peptides from the bactenecin family, ChBac3.4, ChBac5, and mini-ChBac7.5Nb. These chemically synthesized peptides are analogues of natural proline-rich AMPs previously discovered by the authors of the present study in leukocytes of the domestic goat, Capra hircus. These peptides exhibit a high antimicrobial activity, in particular, against antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Methods. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of the peptides (MIC and MBC) were determined using the broth microdilution assay followed by subculturing on agar plates. Effects of the AMPs on bacterial cytoplasmic membrane permeability for a chromogenic marker were explored using a genetically modified strain, Escherichia coli ML35p. The effect of bactenecins on bacterial metabolic activity was studied using a resazurin marker. Results. All the studied peptides showed a high in vitro antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli ML35p and antibiotic-resistant strains, Escherichia coli ESBL and Acinetobacter baumannii, but differed in features of their action on bacterial cells. The used combination of techniques allowed the real-time monitoring of effects of bactenecin at different concentrations (including their MIC and MBC) on the cell membrane barrier function and metabolic activity of bacteria. The differences in effects of these three structurally different bactenecins on the studied microorganisms implied that these peptides at bactericidal concentrations differed in their capability for disintegrating bacterial cell membranes and rate of inhibiting bacterial metabolism. Conclusion. The obtained information will supplement the existing basic concepts on mechanisms involved in effects of proline-rich peptides of the innate immunity. This information will also stimulate biotechnological research aimed at development of new antibiotics for treatment of infectious diseases, such as severe in-hospital infections, caused by antibiotic-resistant strains.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Sampaio Cutrim ◽  
Raphael Ferreira de Barros ◽  
Robson Maia Franco ◽  
Marco Antonio Sloboda Cortez

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavior of E. coli O157:H7 during lactose hydrolysis and fermentation of traditional and low lactose yogurt. It also aimed to verify E. coli O157:H7 survival after 12 h of storage at 4 ºC ±1 ºC. Two different types of yogurts were prepared, two with whole milk and two with pre-hydrolyzed whole milk; in both groups one yogurt was inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and the other one was not inoculated. The survival of E. coli and pH of yogurt were determined during fermentation and after 12-h refrigeration. The results showed that E. coli O157:H7 was able to grow during the fermentation period (from 4.34 log CFU.mL-1 to 6.13 log CFU.mL-1 in traditional yogurt and 4.34 log CFU.mL-1 to 6.16 log CFU.mL-1 in low lactose yogurt). The samples with E. coli O157:H7 showed gas formation and syneresis. Thus, E. coli O157:H7 was able to survive and grow during fermentation of traditional and low lactose yogurts affecting the manufacture technology. Moreover, milk contamination by E. coli before LAB addition reduces the growth of L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus especially when associated with reduction of lactose content.


2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1143-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN C. FRELKA ◽  
GORDON R. DAVIDSON ◽  
LINDA J. HARRIS

ABSTRACT After harvest, inshell walnuts are dried using low-temperature forced air and are then stored in bins or silos for up to 1 year. To better understand the survival of bacteria on inshell walnuts, aerobic plate counts (APCs) and Escherichia coli–coliform counts (ECCs) were evaluated during commercial storage (10 to 12°C and 63 to 65% relative humidity) over 9 months. APCs decreased by 1.4 to 2.0 log CFU per nut during the first 5 months of storage, and ECCs decreased by 1.3 to 2.2 log CFU per nut in the first month of storage. Through the remaining 4 to 8 months of storage, APCs and ECCs remained unchanged (P > 0.05) or decreased by <0.15 log CFU per nut per month. Similar trends were observed on kernels extracted from the inshell walnuts. APCs and ECCs were consistently and often significantly higher on kernels extracted from visibly broken inshell walnuts than on kernels extracted from visibly intact inshell walnuts. Parameters measured in this study were used to determine the survival of five-strain cocktails of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella inoculated onto freshly hulled inshell walnuts (~8 log CFU/g) after simulated commercial drying (10 to 12 h; 40°C) and simulated commercial storage (12 months at 10°C and 65% relative humidity). Populations declined by 2.86, 5.01, and 4.40 log CFU per nut for E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella, respectively, after drying and during the first 8 days of storage. Salmonella populations changed at a rate of −0.33 log CFU per nut per month between days 8 and 360, to final levels of 2.83 ± 0.79 log CFU per nut. E. coli and L. monocytogenes populations changed by −0.17 log CFU per nut per month and −0.26 log CFU per nut per month between days 8 and 360, respectively. For some samples, E. coli or L. monocytogenes populations were below the limit of detection by plating (0.60 log CFU per nut) by day 183 or 148, respectively; at least one of the six samples was positive at each subsequent sampling time by either plating or by enrichment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1253-1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Pissetti ◽  
Gabriela Orosco Werlang ◽  
Jalusa Deon Kich ◽  
Marisa Cardoso

ABSTRACT: The increasing antimicrobial resistance observed worldwide in bacteria isolated from human and animals is a matter of extreme concern and has led to the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic and commensal bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profile of Escherichia coli isolated from pig carcasses and to assess the occurrence of relevant resistance genes. A total of 319 E. coli isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility against different antimicrobial agents. Moreover, the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and inducible ampC-β-lactamase producers was investigated. Eighteen multi-resistant strains were chosen for resistance gene detection and PFGE characterization. The study showed that resistance to antimicrobials is widespread in E. coli isolated from pig carcasses, since 86.2% of the strains were resistant to at least one antimicrobial and 71.5% displayed multi-resistance profiles. No ampC-producing isolates were detected and only one ESBL-producing E. coli was identified. Genes strA (n=15), floR (n=14), aac(3)IVa (n=13), tetB (n=13), sul2 (n=12), tetA (n=11), aph(3)Ia (n=8) and sul3 (n=5) were detected by PCR. PFGE analysis of these multi-resistant E. coli strains showed less than 80% similarity among them. We conclude that antimicrobial multi-resistant E. coli strains are common on pig carcasses and present highly diverse genotypes and resistance phenotypes and genotypes.


1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 710-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Kumagai ◽  
J I Kato ◽  
K Hoshino ◽  
T Akasaka ◽  
K Sato ◽  
...  

Escherichia coli quinolone-resistant strains with mutations of the parC gene, which codes for a subunit of topoisomerase IV, were isolated from a quinolone-resistant gyrA mutant of DNA gyrase. Quinolone-resistant parC mutants were also identified among the quinolone-resistant clinical strains. The parC mutants became susceptible to quinolones by introduction of a parC+ plasmid. Introduction of the multicopy plasmids carrying the quinolone-resistant parC mutant gene resulted in an increase in MICs of quinolones for the parC+ and quinolone-resistant gyrA strain. Nucleotide sequences of the quinolone-resistant parC mutant genes were determined, and missense mutations at position Gly-78, Ser-80, or Glu-84, corresponding to those in the quinolone-resistance-determining region of DNA gyrase, were identified. These results indicate that topoisomerase IV is a target of quinolones in E. coli and suggest that the susceptibility of E. coli cells to quinolones is determined by sensitivity of the targets, DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 811
Author(s):  
Md. Akil Hossain ◽  
Hae-Chul Park ◽  
Sung-Won Park ◽  
Seung-Chun Park ◽  
Min-Goo Seo ◽  
...  

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli)-associated infections are becoming difficult to treat because of the rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Novel approaches are required to prevent the progression of resistance and to extend the lifespan of existing antibiotics. This study was designed to improve the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics against E. coli using a combination of the gallic acid (GA), hamamelitannin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, and epicatechin. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of each of the phenolic compound-antibiotic combinations against E. coli was ascertained. Considering the clinical significance and FICI, two combinations (hamamelitannin-erythromycin and GA-ampicillin) were evaluated for their impact on certain virulence factors of E. coli. Finally, the effects of hamamelitannin and GA on Rattus norvegicus (IEC-6) cell viability were investigated. The FICIs of the antibacterial combinations against E. coli were 0.281–1.008. The GA-ampicillin and hamamelitannin-erythromycin combinations more effectively prohibited the growth, biofilm viability, and swim and swarm motilities of E. coli than individual antibiotics. The concentration of hamamelitannin and GA required to reduce viability by 50% (IC50) in IEC-6 cells was 988.54 μM and 564.55 μM, correspondingly. GA-ampicillin and hamamelitannin-erythromycin may be potent combinations and promising candidates for eradicating pathogenic E. coli in humans and animals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 366 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Van Hamelsveld ◽  
Muyiwa E Adewale ◽  
Brigitta Kurenbach ◽  
William Godsoe ◽  
Jon S Harding ◽  
...  

Abstract Baseline studies are needed to identify environmental reservoirs of non-pathogenic but associating microbiota or pathogenic bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and to inform safe use of freshwater ecosystems in urban and agricultural settings. Mesophilic bacteria and Escherichia coli were quantified and isolated from water and sediments of two rivers, one in an urban and one in an agricultural area near Christchurch, New Zealand. Resistance of E. coli to one or more of nine different antibiotics was determined. Additionally, selected strains were tested for conjugative transfer of resistances. Despite having similar concentrations of mesophilic bacteria and E. coli, the rivers differed in numbers of antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates. Fully antibiotic-susceptible and -resistant strains coexist in the two freshwater ecosystems. This study was the first phase of antibiotic resistance profiling in an urban setting and an intensifying dairy agroecosystem. Antibiotic-resistant E. coli may pose different ingestion and contact risks than do susceptible E. coli. This difference cannot be seen in population counts alone. This is an important finding for human health assessments of freshwater systems, particularly where recreational uses occur downstream.


Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Phuong Nguyen ◽  
Naina Adren Pinto ◽  
Thao Nguyen Vu ◽  
Hyunsook Lee ◽  
Young Lag Cho ◽  
...  

This study investigates GT-1 (also known as LCB10-0200), a novel-siderophore cephalosporin, inhibited multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogen, via a Trojan horse strategy exploiting iron-uptake systems. We investigated GT-1 activity and the role of siderophore uptake systems, and the combination of GT-1 and a non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor (BLI) of diazabicyclooctane, GT-055, (also referred to as LCB18-055) against molecularly characterised resistant Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp. isolates. GT-1 and GT-1/GT-055 were tested in vitro against comparators among three different characterised panel strain sets. Bacterial resistome and siderophore uptake systems were characterised to elucidate the genetic basis for GT-1 minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). GT-1 exhibited in vitro activity (≤2 μg/mL MICs) against many MDR isolates, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae and oxacillinase (OXA)-producing Acinetobacter spp. GT-1 also inhibited strains with mutated siderophore transporters and porins. Although BLI GT-055 exhibited intrinsic activity (MIC 2–8 μg/mL) against most E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, GT-055 enhanced the activity of GT-1 against many GT-1–resistant strains. Compared with CAZ-AVI, GT-1/GT-055 exhibited lower MICs against E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. GT-1 demonstrated potent in vitro activity against clinical panel strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp. GT-055 enhanced the in vitro activity of GT-1 against many GT-1–resistant strains.


2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 815-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAHTA MOUSSAVI ◽  
VANESSA LIEBERMAN ◽  
CHRIS THEOFEL ◽  
JAVAD BAROUEI ◽  
LINDA J. HARRIS

ABSTRACT During harvest, pistachios are hulled, separated in water into floater and sinker streams (in large part on the basis of nut density), and then dried before storage. Higher prevalence and levels of Salmonella were previously observed in floater pistachios, but contributing factors are unclear. To examine the behavior of pathogens on hulled pistachios during simulated drying delays, floater and sinker pistachios collected from commercial processors were inoculated at 1 or 3 log CFU/g with cocktails of Salmonella and in some cases Escherichia coli O157:H7 or Listeria monocytogenes and incubated for up to 30 h at 37°C and 90% relative humidity. Populations were measured by plating onto tryptic soy agar and appropriate selective agars. In most cases, no significant growth (P > 0.05) of Salmonella was observed in the first 3 h after inoculation in hulled floaters and sinkers. Growth of Salmonella was greater on floater pistachios than on corresponding sinkers and on floater pistachios with ≥25% hull adhering to the shell surface than on corresponding floaters with <25% adhering hull. Maximum Salmonella populations (2 to 7 log CFU/g) were ∼2-log higher on floaters than on corresponding sinkers. The growth of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on hulled pistachios was similar, but a longer lag time (approximately 11 h) and significantly lower maximum populations (4 versus 5 to 6 log CFU/g; P < 0.05) were predicted for L. monocytogenes. Significant growth of pathogens on hulled pistachios is possible when delays between hulling and drying are longer than 3 h, and pathogen growth is enhanced in the presence of adhering hull material.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Alexa ◽  
L. Konstantinova ◽  
Z. Sramkova-Zajacova

A survey to estimate the prevalence of verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) or enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in rectal swabs from healthy dairy cattle aged three weeks, three months and one year was conducted in three herds from the Czech Republic. Screening for the presence of the stx1, stx2 and eaeA genes in faecal swab cultures was performed by PCR, and in positive samples, isolated colonies were examined. Immunomagnetic separation was used for the isolation of the VTEC serogroup O157 from samples. VTEC were detected in animals from all three herds under study. In the group of 3-week-old calves, VTEC were only detected in samples collected in the summer months. However, in the other age-groups, VTEC were detected in both the summer and winter months. EHEC shedding was observed in 30 to 100% of the total samples collected from cattle aged three months and one year in the summer months, and in 30 to 60% of samples taken in the winter months. EHEC strains of serogroup O157 were detected in two herds. The range of verotoxins shed by VTEC isolates of serogroup O157 differed between herds. Besides serogroup O157, additional EHEC belonging to the antigen groups O26, O103, O128 and O153 have been identified, and in some of them, no somatic antigen was detected.


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