Antagonistic activity of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Minas artisanal cheeses against Brucella abortus / Atividade antagonista de bactérias lácticas isoladas de queijos Minas artesanais contra Brucella abortus

This study aimed to evaluate methods for studying the in vitro antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against Brucella abortus and to evaluate the antagonistic effect of LAB on the viability of this pathogen. A total of 18 LAB strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, n = 11; Pediococcus acidilactici, n = 1; Lactobacillus rhamnosus, n = 4; and Lactobacillus brevis,n = 2), isolated from Minas artisanal cheeses produced in three regions (Canastra, Campos das Vertentes, and Araxá) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were tested for their antimicrobial activity against B. abortus using three methods: spot-on-lawn, agar well diffusion assay, and antagonistic activity of the culture supernatants. None of the tested LAB strains could inhibit B. abortus in the spot-on-lawn and agar-well diffusion assays. The supernatants produced by LAB had an acidic pH, with intensity depending on bacterial growth and strain, and could inhibit the growth of B. abortus. In contrast, pH-neutralized (pH 7.0) LAB supernatants did not suppress the growth of B. abortus. The results showed that the best technique to study the in vitro antagonism of LAB against B. abortus was the antagonistic activity of culture supernatants. The growth of B. abortus may have been inhibited by acid production.(AU)

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar métodos de estudo in vitro da atividade antimicrobiana de bactérias lácticas contra Brucella abortus e avaliar o efeito antagônico das mesmas sobre a viabilidade deste patógeno. Um total de 18 amostras de bactérias lácteas (Lactobacillus plantarum, n = 11; Pediococcus acidilactici, n = 1; Lactobacillus rhamnosus, n = 4; e Lactobacillus brevis, n = 2), isoladas de exemplares de Queijo Minas Artesanal produzidos em três regiões (Canastra, Campos das Vertentes e Araxá) do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil, foram testados quanto à sua atividade antimicrobiana contra B. abortus usando três métodos: spot-on-lawn, ensaio de difusão em poço e atividade antagonista de sobrenadante de cultura. Nenhuma das cepas testadas foi capaz de inibir B. abortus nos ensaios spot-on-lawm e de difusão em poço. Os sobrenadantes produzidos pelas bactérias lácteas apresentaram pH ácido, com intensidade dependente do crescimento bacteriano e da amostra, podendo inibir o crescimento de B. abortus. Em contraste, os sobrenadantes com pH neutralizado (pH 7,0) não inibiram o crescimento de B. abortus. Os resultados mostraram que a melhor técnica para estudar o antagonismo in vitro de bactérias lácteas contra B. abortus foi a atividade antagonista de sobrenadante de cultura. O crescimento de B. abortus pode ter sido inibido pela produção de ácido.(AU)

Native valve endocarditis and femoral embolism due to Granulicatella adiacens: a rare case report

The fastidious Gram-positive cocci Granulicatella adiacens, previously known as nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) are unusual but significant cause of endocarditis due to increased mortality and morbidity. Difficulties in reaching correct bacteriological identification, increased resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and macrolides and complicated clinical course have contributed to problems in management of cases of infective endocarditis caused by this bacterium. We present the first Indian case of endocarditis with arterial embolus by G. adiacens in an elderly male with no preexisting cardiac abnormality.