Determination of antimicrobial activity of Achatina reticulata slime.

BACKGROUNDS: Snails (Gastropoda) have a mechanism for the production of a significant amount of slime and substances contained therein they use to protect themselves against bacterial or fungal pathogens. These active substances are involved in both humoral and cellular immune responses of the gastropods. The antibacterial or antifungal effect of the humoral immune component of slime lies in cytotoxic and haemagglutination activity against potential microbial pathogens. The activity of antibacterial agents present in Achatina reticulata slime against bacterial strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of five samples of slime from laboratory reared Achatina reticulata were tested. To eliminate potential microbial contamination, slime samples were sterilized by UV radiation. To screen slime samples for antibacterial activity, the simple diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar was used. Samples diluted in guaiacol glycerol ether were used in the testing. RESULTS: The results show that the biologically active substances present in Achatina reticulata slime have an antimicrobial activity which is almost commensurate with that of the conventional antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections. The results of the determination of the antimicrobial effects of Achatina reticulata slime also highlighted viridation (partial hemolysis of erythrocytes after 24 hours of slime cultivation exposed to UV light for 60 minutes on Columbia blood agar. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the antimicrobial activity testing of selected Achatina reticulata slime samples show that the gastropod slime contains biologically active substances with a relatively significant antimicrobial activity.

Molecular typing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing to six antimicrobials of Clostridium difficile isolates from three Czech hospitals in Eastern Bohemia in 2011-2012.

In 2011-2012, a survey was performed in three regional hospitals in the Czech Republic to determine the incidence of Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) and to characterize bacterial isolates. C. difficile isolates were characterized by PCR ribotyping, toxin genes detection, multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing to fidaxomicin, vancomycin, metronidazole, clindamycin, LFF571, and moxifloxacin using agar dilution method. The incidence of CDI in three studied hospitals was 145, 146, and 24 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2011 and 177, 258, and 67 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012. A total of 64 isolates of C. difficile was available for molecular typing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. 60.9% of the isolates were classified as ribotype 176. All 41 isolates of ribotypes 176 and 078 were positive for the presence of binary toxin genes. Ribotype 176 also carried 18-bp deletion in the regulatory gene tcdC. Tested isolates of C. difficile were fully susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, whereas 65.1% of the isolates were resistant to moxifloxacin. MLVA results indicated that isolates from three different hospitals were genetically related, suggesting transmission between healthcare facilities.

[Flow cytometry in microbiology]. / Prutoková cytometrie v mikrobiologii.

Flow cytometry is a method that allows simultaneous measurement and analysis of physical and chemical characteristics of cells or other biological particles during their passage through the laser beam. Although this method is mainly used in the study of cell differentiation and functional analysis of eukaryotic cells, the basic principles of flow cytometry can be applied to microorganisms. Methods based on the analysis of a single cell, such as flow cytometry, in combination with measurement of cell viability using special fluorescent probes allow a deeper insight into the diversity of populations and functioning of microbial communities and also facilitate understanding the phy-siological diversity of seemingly similar acting populations. When using specific fluorescent dyes for the selective labeling of selected species of microorganisms, the method is potentially very specific. The aim of this paper is a brief overview of applications of flow cytometry, which can be used in microbiology.

[The effect of oxygen on endotoxin production in bacteria of the Bacteroides fragilis group isolated from patients with colorectal carcinoma]. / Vliv kyslíku na produkci endotoxinu u bakterií ze skupiny Bacteroides fragilis group izolovaných od pacientu s kolorektálním karcinomem.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to draw attention to the risk posed by anaerobic bacteria of the Bacteroides fragilis (BAFR) group, isolated particularly from abdominal lesions, and to assess the possible role of these species in colorectal cancer. A correlation has previously been suggested between the detection of the bacteria of the genus Bacteroides in patients on a meat-based diet and intestinal and, in particular, colorectal cancer. Given that the species of the BAFR group are major producers of endotoxins, measurements and statistical analysis of endotoxin production were used to compare the Bacteroides strains isolated from clinical specimens of patients with colon cancer, rectal cancer, and other abdominal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endotoxin production was detected in bacterial strains of the BAFR group (B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. distasonis, and B. vulgatus) isolated from clinical specimens of patients with rectal cancer, colon cancer, and intestinal cancer and was compared with that in strains from samples of patients with inflammatory conditions (anal abscess, appendicitis, skin abscess, etc.) under anaerobic and microaerophilic (with 5% of oxygen) culture conditions. The production of endotoxins was detected quantitatively using the Pyrosate LAL assay kit (Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate Test, BIOGENIX, CR) in four species of the BAFR group after anaerobic and microaerophilic culture. Five strains of each isolated Bacteroides species from each type of specimens were tested (in total 140 BAFR strains). The amount of endotoxin was given in endotoxin units per ml (EU/ml). RESULTS: Endotoxin production by bacteria under microaerophilic culture conditions was several times higher in comparison with strictly anaerobic culture.The difference was statistically significant (F1.269 = 160, p <0.0001). As regards the effect of oxygen on endotoxin production, the amount of endotoxins produced under microaerophilic culture conditions (average 889.1 EU/ml) was 2.5 times as high as that observed under anaerobic culture conditions (358.2 EU/ml), regardless of the bacteroides species and diagnosis. These results suggest that the amount of free oxygen in the environment affects the amount of endotoxin generated by the Bacteroides strains. CONCLUSION: The results show that endotoxin production by the Bacteroides strains under microaerophilic culture conditions is several times as high as that under strictly anaerobic culture conditions.

Isolation of Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) from nostrils of healthy stable horse--short communication.

Cronobacter spp. belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a motile (peritricha) Gram-negative non-spore forming bacterium. At present, Enterobacter sakazakii is reported as a Cronobacter spp. species with 16 biogroups. It is a ubiquitous organism whose isolation used to be associated with a contaminated powdered infant formula and feed for neonates and infants. Information about the Cronobacter spp. species incidence in the environment, its potential dissemination and its vectors, is very limited. The authors have documented incidence of Cronobacter spp. in the nostril mucous membrane of a healthy stabled horse. The above points out at the absolutely insufficient and unsystematic information about the dissemination of the Cronobacter spp. strain in the environment of animals and the people who are in contact with them.

In vitro susceptibility to selected antibiotics in bacteria of the Bacteroides fragilis group.

Susceptibility of strains of Bacteroides fragilis group (1284 isolates from cancerous and noncancerous patients in 1994-2004) showed an increase in resistance toward some antibiotics (by 9 % toward penicillin and 8 % toward clindamycin) compared with the resistance level of 10 years ago. The increase in resistance was not detected in the case of ampicillin + sulbactam and metronidazole.

European surveillance study on antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-positive anaerobic cocci.

Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) are a heterogeneous group of microorganisms frequently isolated from local and systemic infections. In this study, the antimicrobial susceptibilities of clinical strains isolated in 10 European countries were investigated. After identification of 299 GPAC to species level, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of penicillin, imipenem, clindamycin, metronidazole, vancomycin and linezolid were determined by the agar dilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The majority of isolates were identified as Finegoldia magna and Parvimonas micra (formerly Peptostreptococcus micros), isolated from skin and soft tissue infections. All isolates were susceptible to imipenem, metronidazole, vancomycin and linezolid. Twenty-one isolates (7%) were resistant to penicillin (n=13) and/or to clindamycin (n=12). Four isolates were resistant to both agents. The majority of resistant isolates were identified as F. magna and originated from blood, abscesses and soft tissue infections.

Isolation of Carnobacterium piscicola from human pus--case report.

Carnobacterium piscicola was first described in 1984. These bacteria are often isolated from fish afflicted with bacterial infections. To date, there has been no reported isolation of this bacterium from human specimens. We report here the isolation of C. piscicola from the pus following traumatic amputation of the right hand in the wrist of a 35-year-old man. The traumatic amputation occurred with an industrial water sawmill. The identity of the human strain was determined biochemically, by 16S rDNA sequence similarity and by fatty-acid methyl-ester profile from bacterial cell.

Intestinal colonization leading to fecal urobilinoid excretion may play a role in the pathogenesis of neonatal jaundice.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia remains of concern because of the potential danger for the central nervous system. Because urobilinogen is a nontoxic derivative of bilirubin, the current study was conducted to examine the fecal excretion of urobilinoids and bilirubin in healthy newborns and infants, as well as their intestinal bacteria capable of reducing bilirubin, to assess a possible relation to serum bilirubin levels during the first weeks of life. METHODS: Bilirubin pigments, urobilinoids, and porphyrins were measured in stools of infants during the first week (group A, n = 60) and between the second week and the first 6 months of life (group B, n = 64). Microbiologic analysis of stools was performed in selected cases and bilirubin-converting activity of isolated bacteria was determined in vitro. RESULTS: Urobilinoids were detectable in stools of 57% of the neonates at day 5, but not before. However, fecal urobilinoid production on that day was only a fraction of that observed in adults (0.07 vs. 0.7-3.6 mg/kg per day), whereas at week 6 it increased significantly to an average of 0.9 mg/kg per day. Microbiologic analysis of neonatal stools revealed two novel bacterial strains of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile capable of reducing bilirubin to urobilinoids. CONCLUSIONS: Urobilinoids can be detected in stools of 57% of newborns at day 5 after delivery. However, the urobilinoid production during the first week of life is quantitatively insufficient to contribute significantly to the removal of bilirubin. Enhancement of the microbial conversion of bilirubin could decrease the intestinal concentration of bilirubin and may decrease the degree or enhance the removal of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

[Hyperbaric oxygenation in the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis]. / Prínos hyperbaroxie v lécbe nekrotizující fasciitidy.

The authors present the results of treatment provided to 11 patients with necrotizing fasciitis who were after a surgical operation and after administration of antibiotics treated in a hyperbaric chamber. A total of 8 patients (82%) recovered completely. The authors discuss the theory of action of hyperbaric oxygen on microorganisms and draw attention to the possible reduction of mortality of this serious disease when using hyperbaric oxygenation. The latter is considered an important auxiliary method which supplements surgical treatment, rational antibiotic therapy and in particular careful intensive care.