scholarly journals Snow angels – the microbiology of freshly fallen snow: implications for immunocompromised patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1029-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Moore ◽  
John McCaughan ◽  
Jonathan Stirling ◽  
Jane Bell ◽  
B. Cherie Millar
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Viable Count ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Domestic Gardens ◽  
Identification Of Bacteria ◽  
Human Infections

Abstract The frequency of seasonal snowfall results in the transient covering of gardens/amenity sites/open public spaces, which encourages recreational interaction mainly with children. No data is available demonstrating the microbiological composition of such fallen snow and therefore a study was undertaken to examine the microbiology of snow from 37 sites, estimating (i) total viable count (TVC), (ii) identification of bacteria, and (iii) the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mean TVC count of 8.3 colony-forming units (cfu)/ml snow melt water, 51.7 cfu/ml, 865 cfu/ml and 2,197 cfu/ml, was obtained for public amenity sites, domestic gardens, public open spaces and melting snow from public footpaths, respectively. No bacterial organisms (<10 cfu/ml) were detected in 5/14 (35.7%) open public spaces, 2/5 (40%) amenity sites and in 1/10 (10%) domestic gardens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not detected from any snow sample examined. Bacterial diversity consisted of 15 bacterial species (11 Gram-positive/four Gram-negative). The six Gram-positive genera identified from snow were Actinomyces, Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. The four Gram-negative genera identified were Enterobacter, Pantoea, Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. Bacillus licheniformis was the most commonly isolated organism from snow; it was isolated from every snow type. Snow may contain a diverse range of bacteria, many of which are capable of causing human infections.

scholarly journals The antimicrobial activity of leaves and callus extracts of Thevetia peruviana In vitro

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 74-80
Author(s):  
Salah K. M. Alhashimi ◽  
Khaleel I. Rashid ◽  
Ghoson S. Saleh ◽  
Alea M. Abdulhadi ◽  
Tara A. Taher
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Leaf Extract ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Thevetia Peruviana

The antimicrobial activity for Thevietia peruviana was evaluated by measuring inhibition zone diameter in agar using well diffusion assay. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Thevietia peruviana leaf extract as compared with callus extract against some bacterial strains and fungi. The results showed that the addition of 2,4-D at the concentration of 9 mg/l, and 0.1 mg/l of kinetin led to obtain callus weight reached 800 mg. It was noticed that the reduction of 2,4-D concentration up to 6 mg/l resulted in compact and green pieces of callus. The optimal weight and friable callus was obtained at 9 mg/l. Among the susceptible bacteria are the gram negative pseudomonas aeruginosa seemed to be sensitive against all concentration of Thevietia peruviana leaf and callus extracts, While Escherichia coli showed resistance with all concentrations of extracts. It was noted that the extracts were more active against gram positive staphylococcus aureus, as compared with other bacterial species. Results of this study revealed that callus extract of Thevetia peruviana possess higher activity in comparison with leaf extract against gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus) and gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Finally all the bioextracts were well stable at room temperature during the period of the study and did not show any reduction of activity against the bacterial strains used in this study experiments.

scholarly journals Evaluation of MicroScan Bacterial Identification Panels for Low-Resource Settings

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 349
Author(s):  
Sien Ombelet ◽  
Alessandra Natale ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Ronat ◽  
Olivier Vandenberg ◽  
Liselotte Hardy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Bacterial Identification ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Bacillus Spp ◽  
Gram Negative Organisms ◽  
Instructions For Use

Bacterial identification is challenging in low-resource settings (LRS). We evaluated the MicroScan identification panels (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA) as part of Médecins Sans Frontières’ Mini-lab Project. The MicroScan Dried Overnight Positive ID Type 3 (PID3) panels for Gram-positive organisms and Dried Overnight Negative ID Type 2 (NID2) panels for Gram-negative organisms were assessed with 367 clinical isolates from LRS. Robustness was studied by inoculating Gram-negative species on the Gram-positive panel and vice versa. The ease of use of the panels and readability of the instructions for use (IFU) were evaluated. Of species represented in the MicroScan database, 94.6% (185/195) of Gram-negative and 85.9% (110/128) of Gram-positive isolates were correctly identified up to species level. Of species not represented in the database (e.g., Streptococcus suis and Bacillus spp.), 53.1% out of 49 isolates were incorrectly identified as non-related bacterial species. Testing of Gram-positive isolates on Gram-negative panels and vice versa (n = 144) resulted in incorrect identifications for 38.2% of tested isolates. The readability level of the IFU was considered too high for LRS. Inoculation of the panels was favorably evaluated, whereas the visual reading of the panels was considered error-prone. In conclusion, the accuracy of the MicroScan identification panels was excellent for Gram-negative species and good for Gram-positive species. Improvements in stability, robustness, and ease of use have been identified to assure adaptation to LRS constraints.

scholarly journals The Development of an Effective Bacterial Single-Cell Lysis Method Suitable for Whole Genome Amplification in Microfluidic Platforms

Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuguang Liu ◽  
Dirk Schulze-Makuch ◽  
Jean-Pierre de Vera ◽  
Charles Cockell ◽  
Thomas Leya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Cell Manipulation ◽  
Microfluidic Platforms ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Genome Amplification ◽  
Single Cell Sequencing ◽  
Wide Range

Single-cell sequencing is a powerful technology that provides the capability of analyzing a single cell within a population. This technology is mostly coupled with microfluidic systems for controlled cell manipulation and precise fluid handling to shed light on the genomes of a wide range of cells. So far, single-cell sequencing has been focused mostly on human cells due to the ease of lysing the cells for genome amplification. The major challenges that bacterial species pose to genome amplification from single cells include the rigid bacterial cell walls and the need for an effective lysis protocol compatible with microfluidic platforms. In this work, we present a lysis protocol that can be used to extract genomic DNA from both gram-positive and gram-negative species without interfering with the amplification chemistry. Corynebacterium glutamicum was chosen as a typical gram-positive model and Nostoc sp. as a gram-negative model due to major challenges reported in previous studies. Our protocol is based on thermal and chemical lysis. We consider 80% of single-cell replicates that lead to >5 ng DNA after amplification as successful attempts. The protocol was directly applied to Gloeocapsa sp. and the single cells of the eukaryotic Sphaerocystis sp. and achieved a 100% success rate.

scholarly journals Positive Association between the Use of Quinolones in Food Animals and the Prevalence of Fluoroquinolone Resistance in E. coli and K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa: A Global Ecological Analysis

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1193
Author(s):  
Chris Kenyon
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Fluoroquinolone Resistance ◽  
Ecological Analysis ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Food Animals ◽  
Human Infections

(1) Background: It is unclear what underpins the large global variations in the prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. We tested the hypothesis that different intensities in the use of quinolones for food-animals play a role. (2) Methods: We used Spearman’s correlation to assess if the country-level prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance in human infections with Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was correlated with the use of quinolones for food producing animals. Linear regression was used to assess the relative contributions of country-level quinolone consumption for food-animals and humans on fluoroquinolone resistance in these 4 species. (3) Results: The prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance in each species was positively associated with quinolone use for food-producing animals (E. coli [ρ = 0.55; p < 0.001], K. pneumoniae [ρ = 0.58; p < 0.001]; A. baumanii [ρ = 0.54; p = 0.004]; P. aeruginosa [ρ = 0.48; p = 0.008]). Linear regression revealed that both quinolone consumption in humans and food animals were independently associated with fluoroquinolone resistance in E. coli and A. baumanii. (4) Conclusions: Besides the prudent use of quinolones in humans, reducing quinolone use in food-producing animals may help retard the spread of fluoroquinolone resistance in various Gram-negative bacterial species.

scholarly journals Evaluating Flinders Technology Associates card for transporting bacterial isolates and retrieval of bacterial DNA after various storage conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2243-2251
Author(s):  
Azhar G. Shalaby ◽  
Neveen R. Bakry ◽  
Abeer A. E. Mohamed ◽  
Ashraf A. Khalil
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Cell Detection ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Bacterial Dna ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Fta Cards

Background and Aim: Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards simplify sample storage, transport, and extraction by reducing cost and time for diagnosis. This study evaluated the FTA suitability for safe transport and storage of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cells of animal origin on its liquid culture form and from organ impression smears (tissues) under the same routine condition of microbiological laboratory along with detecting their nucleic acid over different storage conditions. Materials and Methods: Increase in bacterial count from 104 to 107 (colony-forming units/mL) of 78 isolates representing seven bacterial species was applied onto cards. FTA cards were grouped and inoculated by these bacteria and then stored at different conditions of 24-27°C, 4°C, and –20°C for 24 h, for 2 weeks, for 1 and 3 month storage, respectively. Bacteriological examination was done, after which bacterial DNA was identified using specific primers for each bacterial type and detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The total percentage of recovered bacteria from FTA cards was 66.7% at 24-27–C for 24 h, the detection limit was 100% in Gram-positive species, while it was 57.4% in Gram-negative ones. Regarding viable cell detection from organ impression smears, it was successful under the previous conditions. No live bacterial cells were observed by bacteriological isolation rather than only at 24-27°C for 24 h storage. All bacterial DNA were sufficiently confirmed by the PCR technique at different conditions. Conclusion: Overall, the FTA card method was observed to be a valid tool for nucleic acid purification for bacteria of animal origin in the form of culture or organ smears regardless of its Gram type and is used for a short time only 24 h for storage and transport of live bacteria specifically Gram-positive type. Moreover, the bacterial nucleic acid was intact after storage in –20°C for 3 months and was PCR amplifiable.

scholarly journals Isolation and identification of bacteria and parasites in glass eel (Anguilla spp.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 322 ◽  
pp. 02012
Author(s):  
Septyan Andriyanto ◽  
Hessy Novita ◽  
Tuti Sumiati ◽  
Taukhid
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Prevalence Rate ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Bacterial Identification ◽  
Biochemical Method ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Glass Eel ◽  
Pathogenic Agent ◽  
Identification Of Bacteria ◽  
Glass Eels

The disease is the main agent that causes mortality of fish, especially during seed stages. The research aimed to find out bacteria and parasitic speciesin glass eel, Anguilla spp. Bacterial identification was carried out by a biochemical method. The prevalence of bacterial species was calculated using the El-Gohary et al. (2020) formula, while the results of bacterial identification from glass eel were Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Planococcus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Listeria spp., Citrbacterfreundii, Neisseria spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Kurthia spp., Streptococcus spp., and Corynebacterium spp. It was found that the five highest prevalence rate was for Listeria spp. (39.64%), followed by Aeromonas spp. (26.13%), Staphylococcus spp. (16.22%), Corynebacterium spp. (5.41%), Lactobacillus spp. (2.70%), and the lowest prevalence rate was Streptococcus spp. (0.90%). The type of parasitic pathogen obtained was Trichodina spp. (2,70%), Dactylogyrus spp. (2,70%) and Gyrodactylus spp. (2,70%). Bacterial and parasites identified in glass eels need further verification on the epizootiology characteristic of each pathogenic agent.

Diversity profiling of xenic cultures of Dientamoeba fragilis following systematic antibiotic treatment and prospects for genome sequencing

Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38
Author(s):  
Rory Gough ◽  
Joel Barratt ◽  
Damien Stark ◽  
John Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Ribosomal Dna ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Nutritional Requirement ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Dientamoeba Fragilis ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe presence of bacterial DNA in Dientamoeba fragilis DNA extracts from culture poses a substantial challenge to sequencing the D. fragilis genome. However, elimination of bacteria from D. fragilis cultures has proven difficult in the past, presumably due to its dependence on some unknown prokaryote/s. This study explored options for removal of bacteria from D. fragilis cultures and for the generation of genome sequence data from D. fragilis. DNA was extracted from human faecal samples and xenic D. fragilis cultures. Extracts were subjected to 16S ribosomal DNA bacterial diversity profiling. Xenic D. fragilis cultures were then subject to antibiotic treatment regimens that systematically removed bacterial species depending on their membrane structure (Gram-positive or Gram-negative) and aerobic requirements. The impact of these treatments on cultures was assessed by 16S amplicon sequencing. Prior to antibiotic treatment, the cultures were dominated by Gram-negative bacteria. Addition of meropenem to cultures eliminated anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, but it also led to protozoan death after 5 days incubation. The seeding of meropenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain KPC-2 into cultures before treatment by meropenem prevented death of D. fragilis cells beyond this 5 day period, suggesting that one or more species of Gram-negative bacteria may be an essential nutritional requirement for D. fragilis. Gram-positive cells were completely eliminated using vancomycin without affecting trophozoite growth. Finally, this study shows that genome sequencing of D. fragilis is feasible following bacterial elimination from cultures as the result of the major advances occurring in bioinformatics. We provide evidence on this fact by successfully sequencing the D. fragilis 28S large ribosomal DNA subunit gene using culture-derived DNA.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial effect of essential oils of some Fijian medicinal plant leaves on pathogenic bacteria

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Prayna P. P. Maharaj ◽  
Riteshma Devi ◽  
Surendra Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Antimicrobial Agent ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative

Fiji is highly populated with plants containing essential oils (EO). The essential oils extracted from the leaves of the selected Fijian leafy plants were screened against two Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and three Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis). The agar diffusion method was used to examine the antimicrobial activities of the extracted EO. All the EO tested showed antibacterial properties against one or more strains while none of the EO was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring tree), Annona muricata (Soursop), Coleus amboinicus (Spanish thyme) and Cinnamomum zeylancium (Cinnamon) showed good inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and proved as worthy source of antimicrobial agent. These findings will help the Pacific population to use the studied plants leaves as antimicrobial agent.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document