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Microorganisms Jan 2022Users of prosthetic devices face the accumulation of potentially drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria on the skin/prosthesis interface. In this study, we took surface...
The Identification of Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms including Acquired from the Skin/Prosthetic Interface of Amputees and Their Susceptibility to Medihoney™ and Garlic Extract (Allicin).
Users of prosthetic devices face the accumulation of potentially drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria on the skin/prosthesis interface. In this study, we took surface swabs of the skin/prosthesis interface of eleven disabled athletes to identify microorganisms present. In addition to determining their antimicrobial resistance profile, we assessed their sensitivity to Manuka honey and Garlic extract (allicin). Eleven volunteers were directed to swab the skin at the skin/prosthesis interface. After initial isolation of microorganisms, we employed the following general microbiological methods: Gram stain, Catalase test, Oxidase test, lactose fermenting capability, haemolytic capability, Staphaurex, mannitol fermenting capability, Streptex; API Staph, 20E, Candida, and BBL crystal identification system tests. Once identified, isolates were analysed for their sensitivity to penicillin, erythromycin, ampicillin, vancomycin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and colistin-sulphate. Isolates were also analysed for their sensitivity to allicin (Garlic Extract (GE)) and Manuka honey (Medihoney™) (MH). Eleven isolates were identified spp., spp., , and . All isolates were resistant to 1 unit of penicillin and 10 μg of ampicillin was observed to have the widest range of resistance with observed resistance against five of the eight antimicrobials employed in this study. This study highlights the prevalence of uncommon drug-resistant microorganisms on the skin within a vulnerable population, highlighting the potential for MH or GE intervention.
PubMed: 35208754
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020299 -
Veterinaria Italiana Jul 2021In recent years, due to the growing phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance, the search for alternative strategies to antibiotic treatments is increasing and a...
In recent years, due to the growing phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance, the search for alternative strategies to antibiotic treatments is increasing and a considerable interest for the use of medical honey in clinical practice has emerged. Honey has been used for the treatment of skin lesions, in both humans and animals. However, knowledge concerning the use of medical honey in non‑traditional companion animals is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial activity of a standardized medical honey (Revamil, BFactory) against bacterial strains isolated from skin lesions of non‑traditional companion animals. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Revamil honey against seventeen clinical isolates and three reference strains was established.The medical honey showed antimicrobial activity against both Gram‑positive and Gram‑negative bacteria. Growth was inhibited for all the strains at concentrations of medical honey ranging from 10 to 40%. Pseudomonas oryzihabitans and Alcaligenes faecalis showed the lowest MBC (10%). The reference strain Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 showed a higher sensitivity to 20% honey compare to the corresponding clinical isolate (P = 0.001). The observed results suggest that Revamil could represent an effective therapeutic aid, useful for the reduction of antibiotic use, in case of pathological skin infections in non‑traditional companion animals.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Honey; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pets
PubMed: 34971500
DOI: 10.12834/VetIt.1964.12937.1 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Phyllosphere-the harsh foliar plant part exposed to vagaries of environmental and climatic variables is a unique habitat for microbial communities. In the present work,...
Phyllosphere-the harsh foliar plant part exposed to vagaries of environmental and climatic variables is a unique habitat for microbial communities. In the present work, we profiled the phyllosphere microbiome of the rice plants using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (hereafter termed metabarcoding) and the conventional microbiological methods (culturomics) to decipher the microbiome assemblage, composition, and their functions such as antibiosis and defense induction against rice blast disease. The blast susceptible rice genotype (PRR78) harbored far more diverse bacterial species (294 species) than the resistant genotype (Pusa1602) that showed 193 species. Our metabarcoding of bacterial communities in phyllomicrobiome revealed the predominance of the phylum, Proteobacteria, and its members , , , and on the phyllosphere of both rice genotypes. The microbiological culturomic validation of metabarcoding-taxonomic annotation further confirmed the prevalence of 31 bacterial isolates representing 11 genera and 16 species with the maximum abundance of The phyllomicrobiome-associated bacterial members displayed antifungal activity on rice blast fungus, , by volatile and non-volatile metabolites. Upon phyllobacterization of rice cultivar PB1, the bacterial species such as , , , , , , sp., and sp. elicited a defense response and contributed to the suppression of blast disease. qRT-PCR-based gene expression analysis indicated over expression of defense-associated genes such as , , and phytohormone-associated genes such as , , , , , and in phyllobacterized rice seedlings. The phyllosphere bacterial species showing blast suppressive activity on rice were found non-plant pathogenic in tobacco infiltration assay. Our comparative microbiome interrogation of the rice phyllosphere culminated in the isolation and identification of agriculturally significant bacterial communities for blast disease management in rice farming through phyllomicrobiome engineering in the future.
PubMed: 34917058
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.780458 -
Biotechnology Reports (Amsterdam,... Dec 2021In this study, three wastes based on potato peels and pulps, tomato seeds and wheat bran were used as basis for the preparation of a cheap medium to produce the...
In this study, three wastes based on potato peels and pulps, tomato seeds and wheat bran were used as basis for the preparation of a cheap medium to produce the bacterium PGP01. In flasks experiments, PGP01 growth at 25 °C in a medium based on frozen potato peels and pulp (FPP) with tryptone as a nitrogen source resulted in the maximum production compared to the commercial TSB medium. In the scale-up to 2 L bioreactors, FPP supplemented with tryptone, molasses, NaCl and KHPO allowed to reach similar biomass production than in the TSB medium. A maximum growth of 4.4 × 10 CFU mL after setting the agitation and the air flux conditions at 400 rpm and 0.75 vvm. Finally, PGP01 growing in this optimized medium conserved its biological activity showing the expected effect in root development previously reported for this microorganism.
PubMed: 34603978
DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2021.e00675 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2021We studied the effects of new chemically synthesized selenium (Se) nanocomposites (NCs) based on natural polysaccharide matrices arabinogalactan (AG), starch (ST), and...
We studied the effects of new chemically synthesized selenium (Se) nanocomposites (NCs) based on natural polysaccharide matrices arabinogalactan (AG), starch (ST), and kappa-carrageenan (CAR) on the viability of phytopathogen , rhizospheric bacteria, and potato productivity in the field experiment. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it was shown that the nanocomposites contained nanoparticles varying from 20 to 180 nm in size depending on the type of NC. All three investigated NCs had a fungicidal effect even at the lowest tested concentrations of 50 µg/mL for Se/AG NC (3 µg/mL Se), 35 µg/mL for Se/ST NC (0.5 µg/mL Se), and 39 µg/mL for Se/CAR NC (1.4 µg/mL Se), including concentration of 0.000625% Se (6.25 µg/mL) in the final suspension, which was used to study Se NC effects on bacterial growth of the three common rhizospheric bacteria , and isolated from the rhizosphere of plants growing in the Irkutsk Region, Russia. The AG-based Se NC (Se/AG NC) and CAR-based Se NC (Se/CAR NC) exhibited the greatest inhibition of fungal growth up to 60% (at 300 µg/mL) and 49% (at 234 µg/mL), respectively. The safe use of Se NCs against phytopathogens requires them to be environmentally friendly without negative effects on rhizospheric microorganisms. The same concentration of 0.000625% Se (6.25 µg/mL) in the final suspension of all three Se NCs (which corresponds to 105.57 µg/mL for Se/AG NC, 428.08 µg/mL for Se/ST NC and 170.30 µg/mL for Se/CAR NC) was used to study their effect on bacterial growth (bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and biofilm formation effects) of the three rhizospheric bacteria. Based on our earlier studies this concentration had an antibacterial effect against the phytopathogenic bacterium that causes diseases of potato ring rot, but did not negatively affect the viability of potato plants at this concentration. In this study, using this concentration no bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of all three Se NCs were found against based on the optical density of a bacterial suspension, agar diffusion, and intensity of biofilm formation, but Se/CAR and Se/AG NCs inhibited the growth of . The cell growth was decrease by 15-30% during the entire observation period, but the stimulation of biofilm formation by this bacterium was observed for Se/CAR NC. Se/AG NC also had bacteriostatic and antibiofilm effects on the rhizospheric bacterium . There was a 2.5-fold decrease in bacterial growth and a 30% decrease in biofilm formation, but Se/CAR NC stimulated the growth of . According to the results of the preliminary field test, an increase in potato productivity by an average of 30% was revealed after the pre-planting treatment of tubers by spraying them with Se/AG and Se/CAR NCs with the same concentration of Se of 0.000625% (6.25 µg/mL) in a final suspension. The obtained and previously published results on the positive effect of natural matrix-based Se NCs on plants open up prospects for further investigation of their effects on rhizosphere bacteria and resistance of cultivated plants to stress factors.
PubMed: 34578589
DOI: 10.3390/nano11092274 -
Microorganisms Sep 2021Aspens ( and its hybrids), economically and ecologically important fast-growing trees, are often damaged by , a rot-causing fungus. Plant-associated bacteria can be used...
Aspens ( and its hybrids), economically and ecologically important fast-growing trees, are often damaged by , a rot-causing fungus. Plant-associated bacteria can be used to increase plant growth and resistance; however, no systematic studies relating the activity of symbiotic bacteria to aspen resistance against have been conducted so far. The present pioneer study investigated the responses of two and two × genotypes to in vitro inoculations with, first, either sp. or sp. bacteria (isolated originally from hybrid aspen tissue cultures and being most closely related to and , respectively) and, in the subsequent stage, with . Both morphological parameters of in vitro-grown plants and biochemical content of their leaves, including photosynthesis pigments and secondary metabolites, were analyzed. It was found that both × genotypes, whose development in vitro was significantly damaged by , were characterized by certain responses to the studied bacteria: decreased shoot development by both sp. and sp. and increased phenol content by sp. In turn, these responses were lacking in both genotypes that showed in vitro resistance to the fungus. Moreover, these genotypes showed positive long-term growth responses to bacterial inoculation, even synergistic with the subsequent fungal inoculation. Hence, the studied bacteria were demonstrated as a potential tool for the improved in vitro propagation of fungus-resistant aspen genotypes.
PubMed: 34576797
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091901 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2021Plant-associated beneficial strains inhabiting plants grown under harsh ecosystems can help them cope with abiotic stress factors by positively influencing plant...
Plant-associated beneficial strains inhabiting plants grown under harsh ecosystems can help them cope with abiotic stress factors by positively influencing plant physiology, development, and environmental adaptation. Previously, we isolated a potential plant growth promoting strain (AXSa06) identified as , possessing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity, producing indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores, as well as solubilizing inorganic phosphorus. In this study, we aimed to further evaluate the effects of AXSa06 seed inoculation on the growth of tomato seedlings under excess salt (200 mM NaCl) by deciphering their transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles. Differences in transcript levels and metabolites following AXSa06 inoculation seem likely to have contributed to the observed difference in salt adaptation of inoculated plants. In particular, inoculations exerted a positive effect on plant growth and photosynthetic parameters, imposing plants to a primed state, at which they were able to respond more robustly to salt stress probably by efficiently activating antioxidant metabolism, by dampening stress signals, by detoxifying Na, as well as by effectively assimilating carbon and nitrogen. The primed state of AXSa06-inoculated plants is supported by the increased leaf lipid peroxidation, ascorbate content, as well as the enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, prior to stress treatment. The identified signatory molecules of AXSa06-mediated salt tolerance included the amino acids aspartate, threonine, serine, and glutamate, as well as key genes related to ethylene or abscisic acid homeostasis and perception, and ion antiporters. Our findings represent a promising sustainable solution to improve agricultural production under the forthcoming climate change conditions.
PubMed: 34484277
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.713984 -
Revista Chilena de Infectologia :... Jun 2021Indoor air quality in health centers is essential to protect the health of people. In Chile, the Community Family Health Centers (CECOSF) are places with large...
BACKGROUND
Indoor air quality in health centers is essential to protect the health of people. In Chile, the Community Family Health Centers (CECOSF) are places with large attendance of people, favoring the dissemination of microorganisms, and there are no reports of the microbial air loading these health centers.
AIM
To evaluate the microbiological indoor air quality in CECOSF-Centinela in Talcahuano, Biobío Region.
METHODS
Air samples were taken in 6 rooms of the CECOSF, every 15 days between July 2018 and June 2019, with the MAS-100 NT equipment using trypticase and Sabouraud agars. Different morphotypes of bacteria and fungi were identified by PCR.
RESULTS
The bacterial and fungal counts varied between 9.1 × 101 - 2.4 × 103 cfu/m3 and 10 - 1.5 × 102 cfu/m3, respectively. The air in the waiting room presented the highest counts, both for bacteria and fungi (P < 0.05). Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter were identified, highlighting the species Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, the latter described as a nosocomial pathogen. Among the fungi, Aspergillus, Meyerozyma and Rhodotorula were identified.
CONCLUSION
The indoor air of the CECOSF-Centinela presents microorganisms of importance in human health. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate more regular monitoring programs for the control of air quality inside these health centers.
Topics: Air Microbiology; Air Pollution, Indoor; Chile; Colony Count, Microbial; Environmental Monitoring; Family Health; Fungi; Humans; Pseudomonas
PubMed: 34479287
DOI: 10.4067/S0716-10182021000300324 -
Plant Disease Jan 2021Muskmelon ( L.) is an important economic crop in China, which is planted on more than 376, 000 hectares with over 13 million tons of annual fruit production. In February...
Muskmelon ( L.) is an important economic crop in China, which is planted on more than 376, 000 hectares with over 13 million tons of annual fruit production. In February 2020, a serious bacterial stem and leaf rot disease on muskmelon plants was observed in greenhouses in Liguo Town, Ledong County, Hainan Province, China (18.54° N, 108.87° E), with disease incidences being approximately 10 to 12%. Initially, soft rot symptoms appeared on petioles and stems, showing yellow bacterial ooze signs, which was different from the milky white ooze produced by infection. The infected tissues of petioles, stems, and leaves eventually developed into browning and withering symptoms. To isolate and identify the causal agent, the lesion tissues were sterilized by immersion in 75% ethanol for 30 s, washed three times with sterile water, and then cut and soaked in 1 ml of distilled water for 10 min. The suspension was serially diluted and spread on Luria-Bertani agar (LB) medium. After incubation at 28°C for 24 to 36 h, the resulted bacterial colonies were tiny and were streaked on LB plate for further culture. After purification, the colonies were yellow, circular, smooth-margined, and two independent representative isolates CM-11 and CM-12 were used for further validation experiments. The electron microscope analysis showed that the pathogen was rod-shaped, with a length of 1.34 ± 0.22 μm and a width of 0.54 ± 0.06 μm (N=50), and had a single terminal flagellum. The gram staining of the two isolates was negative. Moreover, the tested strains were positive for catalase but negative for oxidase and were able to utilize D-glucose, L-arabinose, and D-mannitol. Morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of both isolates were consistent with those of spp. To verify the species identity of the bacterial pathogens, genomic DNA of isolates CM-11 and CM-12 was extracted and several conserved genes were amplified and sequenced, including the 16S rRNA gene with primers 27F/1492R (GenBank MW187499 and MW187500), rpoB gene with primers V4/LAPS27 (MW201910 and MW446819), and gyrB gene with primers gyrBBAUP2/APrU (MW187501 and MW187502) (Mulet et al. 2010). In the BLAST analysis, the 16S rRNA sequences showed a 99% similarity to that of strains TH19 (LC026009), AA21 (MG571765). The rpoB and gyrB sequences showed high similarity (> 98%) to strains FDAARGOS_657. The phylogenetic tree analysis of rpoB and gyrB genes further verified that the two isolates CM-11 and CM-12 were most closely related to species. Consequently, the two pathogenic isolates CM-11 and CM-12 were identified as . Both strains of CM-11 and CM-12 were tested to accomplish Koch's postulates. Young branches of muskmelons (cultivar Yugu, 10 days after pollination) were chosen as the material for inoculation. Ten healthy detached branches were placed in 15 ml tubes by submerging the cutting wound in 5 ml of the bacterial suspension (10 CFU/ml). Ten additional branches were implemented with sterilized distilled water as a negative control. The inoculated branches were placed in a plastic box containing moistened paper at 28°C. Rotting symptoms appeared within 5 days after infection, while the control samples remained healthy. Bacteria were re-isolated from diseased tissues, and the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates showed the same as those from the original pathogen. Panicle blight and grain discoloration disease caused by on rice has been described in China (Hou et al. 2020). It's also recently found that caused center blackening disease on muskmelon fruit in Korea (Choi et al. 2019). This study indicated that it was a causative agent of stem and leaf rot disease during the field growth period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of causing muskmelon stem rot in China.
PubMed: 33507101
DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-01-21-0100-PDN -
JAAD Case Reports Sep 2020
PubMed: 32923568
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.07.040