Comparison of the antibiotic resistance between genetically diverse and toxigenic Bacillus cereus sensu lato from milk, pepper and natural habitats.

AIMS: Bacillus cereus sensu lato is a complex group of closely related bacteria, which are commonly present in the natural environment and food products. These organisms may cause food poisoning and spoilage as well as opportunistic infections. Thus far, their resistance to selected antibiotics has been explored only in part, especially in the context of strain source. Therefore, our goal was to compare the resistance of B. cereus sl from milk (environment with the potential impact of antibiotics) with strains from soil and pepper (environment without contact with antibiotics) in relation to their origin, toxicity and phylogenetic relationships. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antibiotic resistance of B. cereus sl was assessed by determining their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) followed by statistical analyses. The phylogeny of the bacteria was investigated by multilocus sequence typing, and toxicity was determined with quantitative reverse-transcription real-time PCR. We found that the isolates from milk were more often multiresistant and exhibited a common resistance pattern to ß-lactams but a varied sensitivity to the tested macrolides, clindamycin, tetracycline and vancomycin. Moreover they displayed often significantly higher average MICs; however, their resistance did not correlate with phylogeny, toxicity, or in most cases, with taxonomic affiliation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that mainly food matrices may serve as an important reservoir of resistant isolates of B. cereus sl and that the use of antibiotics for the treatment of animal diseases must be carefully monitored as it strongly promotes natural selection for multiresistant strains, even among opportunist pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The fact that compared to the isolates from natural habitats, nonpathogenic B. cereus sl isolated from food acquire antibiotic resistance faster, should increase producers and consumers awareness and result in protection of public health.

Enzyme Changes in the Offspring of Female Rats due to Long-Term Administration of Cyclic AMP and Insulin before Pregnancy.

We studied the effects of insulin and cAMP on the offspring of female rats after daily treatment with these substances over 4 weeks. In adult offspring from cAMP-treated females, activities of pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased in the liver and brain and activities of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase decreased in the liver. In the offspring of insulin-treated females, we observed only activation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase in the liver and only in females. Enzyme activity probably correlates with their content, as no changes in their kinetic properties were observed under these conditions. Long-term hormone treatment before pregnancy can affect the expression of genes for some enzymes in the offspring due to transmission of epigenetic signals by the ovum. However, further studies are required to confirm this mechanism.

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric characterization of the organic acids extracted from some preparations containing lyophilized royal jelly.

Thirty-five aliphatic acids were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry from the ether extract of commercial preparations containing lyophilized royal jelly. The article presents linear-programmed retention indices on capillary columns with non-polar and low-polar stationary phases and mass spectra for identified compounds which were not characterized earlier by these parameters. Nine compounds are reported for the first time as royal jelly constituents.

Gas chromatographic investigation of phenylpropenoid glycerides from aspen (Populus tremula L.) buds.

20 phenylpropenoid glycerides were synthesized by esterification of glycerol by p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acids. Main diagnostic ions in mass spectra and linear temperature programmed retention indices (LTPRI) of trimethylsilyl derivatives of these compounds were determined by GC/MS analysis. On the basis of these analytical parameters 39 in various degree substituted phenylpropenoid glycerides were for the first time identified in diethyl ether and ethyl acetate extracts from aspen buds.