scholarly journals Genetic Characterization of Escherichia coli Populations from Host Sources of Fecal Pollution by Using DNA Fingerprinting

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 2587-2594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra L. McLellan ◽  
Annette D. Daniels ◽  
Alissa K. Salmore

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli isolates were obtained from common host sources of fecal pollution and characterized by using repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP) PCR fingerprinting. The genetic relationship of strains within each host group was assessed as was the relationship of strains among different host groups. Multiple isolates from a single host animal (gull, human, or dog) were found to be identical; however, in some of the animals, additional strains occurred at a lower frequency. REP PCR fingerprint patterns of isolates from sewage (n = 180), gulls (n = 133), and dairy cattle (n = 121) were diverse; within a host group, pairwise comparison similarity indices ranged from 98% to as low as 15%. A composite dendrogram of E. coli fingerprint patterns did not cluster the isolates into distinct host groups but rather produced numerous subclusters (approximately >80% similarity scores calculated with the cosine coefficient) that were nearly exclusive for a host group. Approximately 65% of the isolates analyzed were arranged into host-specific groups. Comparable results were obtained by using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), where PFGE gave a higher differentiation of closely related strains than both PCR techniques. These results demonstrate that environmental studies with genetic comparisons to detect sources of E. coli contamination will require extensive isolation of strains to encompass E. coli strain diversity found in host sources of contamination. These findings will assist in the development of approaches to determine sources of fecal pollution, an effort important for protecting water resources and public health.

1971 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Dale

1. The amino acid composition of the β-lactamase from E. coli (R-1818) was determined. 2. The R-1818 β-lactamase is inhibited by formaldehyde, hydroxylamine, sodium azide, iodoacetamide, iodine and sodium chloride. 3. The Km values for benzylpenicillin, ampicillin and oxacillin have been determined by using the R-factor enzyme from different host species. The same values were obtained, irrespective of the host bacterium. 4. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 44600, and was the same for all host species. 5. The relationship of R-1818 and R-GN238 β-lactamases is discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1087-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Sanchez ◽  
Lucas Guz ◽  
Pilar García ◽  
Silvia Ponce ◽  
Silvia Goyanes ◽  
...  

ZnO nanorods (ZnO NRs) were grown on ZnO seeded fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates at low temperatures (90 °C) from Zn2+ precursors in alkaline aqueous solution. The ZnO seeds were deposited on the FTO substrate heated at 350 °C by spray pyrolysis of a zinc acetate solution in a water ethanol mixture. The structure of seeds was tuned by the ethanol water ratio, Γ, which controls the solvent evaporation rate of drops impinging the substrate. The relationship between the microstructure and optical properties of the ZnO NR films and the photocatalytic antibacterial activity for Escherichia coli abatement, was determined through a detailed characterization of the material. The higher photocatalytic antibacterial activity was performed by ZnO NR films grown on seeds deposited from solutions with Γ in the 0.0–0.03 range. With these films, the population of viable E. coli dropped more than six orders, from 8 × 108 to 4 × 102 CFU. These results show the potential of these materials in water disinfection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 2929-2936
Author(s):  
Pimchanok Nopprapun ◽  
Suwanna Kitpati Boontanon ◽  
Hidenori Harada ◽  
Nawatch Surinkul ◽  
Shigeo Fujii

Abstract High levels of microbial fecal pollution are a major concern in many countries. A human-associated genetic marker for Escherichia coli (H8) has recently been developed for fecal source tracking. The assessment of the H8 marker performance is crucial before it can be applied as a suitable method for fecal source tracking in each country. The performance (specificity and sensitivity) of the H8 marker was evaluated by using non-target host groups (cattle, buffalo, chicken, duck, and pig feces) and target host groups (influent and effluent from a wastewater treatment plant and septages). SYBR based real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was done on 400 E. coli isolates from non-target and target host groups after E. coli isolation. It was found that the specificity from animal feces samples collected in Thailand was 96%. Moreover, influent, effluent, and septage samples showed the values of the sensitivity at 18, 12, and 36%, respectively. All of the non-target host groups were found to be significantly different with positive proportions from the target host group (septage samples) (p ≤ 0.01). Based on the results, this marker is recommended for use as a human-associated E. coli marker for identifying sources of fecal pollution in Thailand.


Author(s):  
Keerthana Rajagopal ◽  
Sujith J. Chandy ◽  
Jay P. Graham

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens to undermine nearly a century of progress since the first use of antimicrobial compounds. There is an increasing recognition of the links between antimicrobial use and AMR in humans, animals, and the environment (i.e., One Health) and the spread of AMR between these domains and around the globe. This systematic review applies a One Health approach—including humans, animals, and the environment—to characterize AMR in Escherichia coli in India. E. coli is an ideal species because it is readily shared between humans and animals, its transmission can be tracked more easily than anaerobes, it can survive and grow outside of the host environment, and it can mobilize AMR genes more easily than other intestinal bacteria. This review synthesized evidence from 38 studies examining antimicrobial-resistant E. coli (AR-E) across India. Studies of AR-E came from 18 states, isolated from different sample sources: Humans (n = 7), animals (n = 7), the environment (n = 20), and combinations of these categories, defined as interdisciplinary (n = 4). Several studies measured the prevalence of AMR in relation to last-line antimicrobials, including carbapenems (n = 11), third-generation cephalosporins (n = 18), and colistin (n = 4). Most studies included only one dimension of the One Health framework, highlighting the need for more studies that aim to characterize the relationship of AMR across different reservoirs of E. coli.


1966 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Fisher

The conclusion by Suit, Matney, Doudney & Billen (1964) that Hfr donor cells ofEscherichia coliK12, starved of required amino acids can mate, has been re-examined. It appears that their conclusion is not valid and that apparent fertility of amino-acid starved cells is due to cross-feeding by the F−cells. The relationship of this result to the alternative mechanisms for chromosome transfer inE. coliis discussed.


Author(s):  
D. F. Blake ◽  
L. F. Allard ◽  
D. R. Peacor

Echinodermata is a phylum of marine invertebrates which has been extant since Cambrian time (c.a. 500 m.y. before the present). Modern examples of echinoderms include sea urchins, sea stars, and sea lilies (crinoids). The endoskeletons of echinoderms are composed of plates or ossicles (Fig. 1) which are with few exceptions, porous, single crystals of high-magnesian calcite. Despite their single crystal nature, fracture surfaces do not exhibit the near-perfect {10.4} cleavage characteristic of inorganic calcite. This paradoxical mix of biogenic and inorganic features has prompted much recent work on echinoderm skeletal crystallography. Furthermore, fossil echinoderm hard parts comprise a volumetrically significant portion of some marine limestones sequences. The ultrastructural and microchemical characterization of modern skeletal material should lend insight into: 1). The nature of the biogenic processes involved, for example, the relationship of Mg heterogeneity to morphological and structural features in modern echinoderm material, and 2). The nature of the diagenetic changes undergone by their ancient, fossilized counterparts. In this study, high resolution TEM (HRTEM), high voltage TEM (HVTEM), and STEM microanalysis are used to characterize tha ultrastructural and microchemical composition of skeletal elements of the modern crinoid Neocrinus blakei.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masuzu Kikuchi ◽  
Keiichi Kojima ◽  
Shin Nakao ◽  
Susumu Yoshizawa ◽  
Shiho Kawanishi ◽  
...  

AbstractMicrobial rhodopsins are photoswitchable seven-transmembrane proteins that are widely distributed in three domains of life, archaea, bacteria and eukarya. Rhodopsins allow the transport of protons outwardly across the membrane and are indispensable for light-energy conversion in microorganisms. Archaeal and bacterial proton pump rhodopsins have been characterized using an Escherichia coli expression system because that enables the rapid production of large amounts of recombinant proteins, whereas no success has been reported for eukaryotic rhodopsins. Here, we report a phylogenetically distinct eukaryotic rhodopsin from the dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina (O. marina rhodopsin-2, OmR2) that can be expressed in E. coli cells. E. coli cells harboring the OmR2 gene showed an outward proton-pumping activity, indicating its functional expression. Spectroscopic characterization of the purified OmR2 protein revealed several features as follows: (1) an absorption maximum at 533 nm with all-trans retinal chromophore, (2) the possession of the deprotonated counterion (pKa = 3.0) of the protonated Schiff base and (3) a rapid photocycle through several distinct photointermediates. Those features are similar to those of known eukaryotic proton pump rhodopsins. Our successful characterization of OmR2 expressed in E. coli cells could build a basis for understanding and utilizing eukaryotic rhodopsins.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
María-Eugenia DeCastro ◽  
Michael P. Doane ◽  
Elizabeth Ann Dinsdale ◽  
Esther Rodríguez-Belmonte ◽  
María-Isabel González-Siso

AbstractIn the present study we investigate the microbial community inhabiting As Burgas geothermal spring, located in Ourense (Galicia, Spain). The approximately 23 Gbp of Illumina sequences generated for each replicate revealed a complex microbial community dominated by Bacteria in which Proteobacteria and Aquificae were the two prevalent phyla. An association between the two most prevalent genera, Thermus and Hydrogenobacter, was suggested by the relationship of their metabolism. The high relative abundance of sequences involved in the Calvin–Benson cycle and the reductive TCA cycle unveils the dominance of an autotrophic population. Important pathways from the nitrogen and sulfur cycle are potentially taking place in As Burgas hot spring. In the assembled reads, two complete ORFs matching GH2 beta-galactosidases were found. To assess their functional characterization, the two ORFs were cloned and overexpressed in E. coli. The pTsbg enzyme had activity towards o-Nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (ONPG) and p-Nitrophenyl-β-d-fucopyranoside, with high thermal stability and showing maximal activity at 85 °C and pH 6, nevertheless the enzyme failed to hydrolyze lactose. The other enzyme, Tsbg, was unable to hydrolyze even ONPG or lactose. This finding highlights the challenge of finding novel active enzymes based only on their sequence.


1970 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Biswas ◽  
MAK Parvez ◽  
M Shafiquzzaman ◽  
S Nahar ◽  
MN Rahman

Context: Escherichia coli is shed in the feces of warm blooded animals and humans and thus potential for public health. Detection and characterization of E. coli in the ready-to-eat (RTE) foods concerns due to their presence indicates fecal contamination of the food.   Objective: To identify, characterize and RFLP pattern analysis of E. coli isolated from RTE foods vended in Islamic University campus, Kushtia.   Materials and Methods: Fifty samples from four types of consumed foods in six student halls of residence, some temporary restaurants of Islamic University, Kushtia were assessed for bacterial contamination by standard methods. Identification and characterization of E. coli isolates were performed using IMViC tests. Genomic DNA was used to perform RFLP pattern analysis.   Results: Thirty seven out of 50 (74%) examined samples of RTE foods had E. coli contamination. The highest number of E. coli was isolated from vegetable oriented RTE foods (90.90%) and fish, meat and cereals samples were also significantly E. coli positive. RFLP profiling of two E. coli isolates were observed.   Conclusion: The results of this study provide evidence that some RTE foods had unsatisfactory levels of contamination with E. coli. Thus street vended RTE food could be important potential vehicles for food-borne diseases. Molecular characterization may be exploited to identify food borne pathogen among different species.  Keywords: Ready-to-eat foods; Escherichia coli; RFLP pattern DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v18i0.8783 JBS 2010; 18(0): 99-103


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 205873921879295
Author(s):  
Saeed Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Syed Muhammad Ali Shah ◽  
Sabira Sultana

This study was conducted to investigate the antipyretic effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Corchorus depressus Linn. against Escherichia coli ( E. coli)-induced pyrexia in rabbits. Hydroalcohalic extracts of C. depressus were given orally at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg for antipyretic affect in E. coli-induced fever in rabbits. The animals were divided into five groups of five each. Among these five groups, three received various doses of experimental treatments, whereas the fourth one served as positive control and received paracetamol. The fifth group of animals served as negative control and received no treatment. The body temperature of the rabbits was measured rectally over a period of 5 h. C. depressus exhibited better effects at dose rate of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. The hydroalcoholic extract of C. depressus has significant antipyretic effect. These results lend support to the popular use of C. depressus in traditional medicine as a remedy for pyrexia and suggest that the characterization of the principles for such activity deserves further investigation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document