In Slovakia, dairy products made from ewes' milk have a long tradition. These products include the lactic acid product called "žinčica" which is a by-product occurring during the preparation of ewes' lump cheese. There is no information in the literature regarding the special properties of the microbiota, especially lactic acid Firmicutes, which can survive in "žinčica." From the safety aspect, enterococci are a controversial group of bacteria, and those from "žinčica" have never been tested for their properties. The "žinčica" used in our study was supplied by several different agrofarms producing ewes' lump cheese in central Slovakia. The species Enterococcus faecium (strains EF30E1, EF32E1, EF34E1, EF34E5) and Enterococcus faecalis (strains EE30E4, EE35E1, E31E2, altogether 7) were detected in samples from "žinčica" identified using MALDI-TOF spectrometry with secure genus identification/probable species identification and then confirmed by means of PCR. Enterococci were hemolysis-negative and the genes of the typical enterococcal virulence factors were mostly absent; the gelE gene was found in two E. faecium strains (EF30E1 and EF32E1), the agg gene was detected in E. faecalis EE35E1, and the esp gene was found in two E. faecalis strains (EE30E4 and EE31E2). No strains harbored the cytolysin A gene. Biofilm formation was detected in four strains (EF30E1, EF32E1, EF34E1, and EF34E5), indicating highly positive and low-grade positive biofilm formation. Enterococci were mostly susceptible to antibiotics tested for their phenotype. This is the first study to analyze enterococci in "žinčica."

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Bacterial Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Food Safety * MeSH
• Biofilms growth & development   MeSH
• Enterococcus faecalis drug effects   genetics   MeSH
• Enterococcus faecium drug effects   genetics   MeSH
• Enterococcus classification   drug effects   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Virulence Factors genetics   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Microbiota MeSH
• Sheep MeSH
• Food Microbiology * MeSH
• Cheese microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Slovakia MeSH

Some strains of the genus Enterococcus are effective probiotic bacteria if they meet safety and probiotic criteria. In our study, 17 canine enterococci previously selected from a group of 160 isolates based on safety criteria were screened for some functional properties relevant to their use as probiotics. The results of antimicrobial resistance testing showed sensitivity of eleven strains to EFSA recommended antimicrobials. In contrast, the most frequent resistance was observed for cefotaxim (15/17) and oxacillin (13/17). PCR detection of resistance genes (vanA, vanB, vanC, tetM, tetL, ermB, and mefA) revealed the presence of mefA gene in five Enterococcus faecium strains and vanA gene in one strain. The production of enzymes commonly associated with intestinal diseases was in general rare (β-glucosidase 2/17, α-chymotrypsin 1/17, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase 0/17, and β-glucuronidase 0/17). The measurement of strain survival rate (%) under the conditions simulating gastric (pH 2.5) and bile juices (0.3% bile) showed considerable differences between strains (< 0.01 to 4.7% after 90 min for gastric juices, 48.0 to 254.0% after 180 min for bile). The concentration of produced L-lactic acid ranged between 83.1 to 119.3 mmol/L after 48 h cultivation depending on the strain. All strains fermented 16 out of 49 different carbohydrates (range from 17 to 23/49). Antimicrobial activity was recorded for two strains against some species of Listeria sp. and Enterococcus sp. Finally, two E. faecium candidates (IK25 and D7) were selected for testing in dogs, and hereafter they could possibly extend the currently limited range of beneficial bacteria of canine origin used as a dietary supplement for dogs.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   standards   MeSH
• Bacteria drug effects   MeSH
• Genes, Bacterial MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial genetics   MeSH
• Bacteriocins genetics   MeSH
• Enterococcus drug effects   genetics   metabolism   physiology   MeSH
• Lactic Acid biosynthesis   MeSH
• Carbohydrate Metabolism MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Probiotics pharmacology   MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Gastric Acid MeSH
• Bile MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Dogs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

• MeSH
• Acinetobacter pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial * MeSH
• Enterococcus pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Escherichia coli pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Streptococcus pneumoniae pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Population Surveillance * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Urban wastewater contains various micropollutants and a high number of different micro-organisms. Some bacteria in wastewater can attach to surfaces and form biofilm, which gives bacteria an advantage in the fight against environmental stresses. This work focused on analysis of bacterial communities in biofilms isolated from influent and effluent sewerage of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Bratislava, Slovakia. METHODS: Detection of biofilm microbiota was performed by culture-independent and -dependent approaches. The composition of bacterial strains was detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting coupled with construction of 16S rRNA clone libraries. Analysis of the concentration of antibiotics and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant coliforms, Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. in sewerage was also studied. RESULTS: Biofilm collected at the inlet point was characterised primarily by the presence of Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp. and Janthinobacterium spp. clones, whilst members of the genus Pseudomonas were largely detected in biofilm isolated in outflow of the WWTP. Predominant antibiotics such as azithromycin, clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin were found in influent wastewater. The removal efficiency of these antibiotics, notably azithromycin and clarithromycin, was 30% in most cases. CONCLUSION: The highest number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with a predominance of coliforms, was detected in samples of effluent biofilm. Multidrug-resistant strains in effluent biofilm showed very good biofilm-forming ability.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Azithromycin pharmacology   MeSH
• Biofilms drug effects   growth & development   MeSH
• Enterobacteriaceae drug effects   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Enterococcus drug effects   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Clarithromycin pharmacology   MeSH
• Wastewater microbiology   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics   MeSH
• Staphylococcus drug effects   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Slovakia MeSH

• MeSH
• Acinetobacter drug effects   MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Microbial * MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial * MeSH
• Enterococcus drug effects   MeSH
• Epidemiologic Studies MeSH
• Escherichia coli drug effects   MeSH
• Klebsiella pneumoniae drug effects   MeSH
• Communicable Disease Control organization & administration   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial * MeSH
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug effects   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus drug effects   MeSH
• Streptococcus pneumoniae drug effects   MeSH
• Population Surveillance MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Europe MeSH

Enterococci form a complex, diverse, and very important group of bacteria from the technological and food safety aspect, or from the health-improving aspect as probiotics. Generally, enterococci are considered to be of low pathogenic potential, which is associated mostly with clinical strains. In these strains, production of virulence factors as well as resistance to many antimicrobial drugs could complicate treatment of nosocomial infections. Because there is a lack of information on incidence of these attributes in animal commensal enterococci, we screened 160 strains originating from feces of clinically healthy dogs in Eastern Slovakia (n = 105). The predominant species were Enterococcus faecium (57.5%) followed by Enterococcus faecalis (21.9%), and Enterococcus hirae (17.5%), while Enterococcus casseliflavus (1.9%) and Enterococcus mundtii (1.2%) rarely occurred. Among the tested antibiotics, gentamicin (high level) was the most effective drug against canine enterococci (95% of isolates were sensitive). In contrast, the highest resistance recorded (71.9%) was to teicoplanin. PCR screening showed the highest incidence of virulence genes in E. faecalis species. The most frequently detected were genes encoding adhesins efa Afm and efa Afs and sex pheromone cpd. IS16 gene, a marker specific for hospital strains, appeared in nine E. faecium strains. No strain was positive for DNase activity, 8.8% of the isolated strains showed gelatinase activity, and almost 100% strains produced tyramine. It seems commensal-derived enterococci from dogs could also to some extent be potential reservoir of risk factors for other microbiota or organisms.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial MeSH
• Bacterial Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Enterococcus drug effects   genetics   isolation & purification   physiology   MeSH
• Virulence Factors genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Dogs microbiology   MeSH
• Symbiosis MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Dogs microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The present study focuses on the detection of enterococci in ostrich faeces. Forty-six bacterial colonies from 140 ostriches were identified at the species level using the MALDI-TOF MS identification system. According to the score value evaluation, they were allotted to the species Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus mundtii confirmed also by phenotypic testing. Dominated species E. hirae (34 strains) were submitted to more detailed testing. Those strains E. hirae produced either no or only slight amount of the enzymes related to disorders (N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, β-glucuronidase, α-chymotrypsin, trypsin). Most of the strains were not hemolytic. They did not harbour the hiracin-producing gene. Five E. hirae strains harboured virulence factor gene gelE; however, they were phenotypically gelatinase negative. They also harboured other virulence factor genes such as esp, efaAfm and ccf. E. hirae strains were mostly sensitive to antibiotics and those resistant at least to one antibiotic were sensitive to enterocins (200-25,600 AU/mL). This study represents original and novel results concerning the enterococcal microflora in ostriches; enterococci in ostriches have not been described in detail up to now; sensitivity to enterocins of E. hirae strains harbouring virulence factor genes to enterocins is also new.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Enterococcus classification   drug effects   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Virulence Factors analysis   genetics   MeSH
• Feces microbiology   MeSH
• Animals, Domestic MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Bridged-Ring Compounds metabolism   MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization MeSH
• Struthioniformes microbiology   MeSH
• Bacterial Typing Techniques MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

• MeSH
• Acinetobacter drug effects   MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Microbial * MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Bacterial * MeSH
• Enterococcus drug effects   MeSH
• Epidemiologic Studies MeSH
• Escherichia coli drug effects   MeSH
• Klebsiella pneumoniae drug effects   MeSH
• Communicable Disease Control organization & administration   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial * MeSH
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug effects   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus drug effects   MeSH
• Streptococcus pneumoniae drug effects   MeSH
• Population Surveillance MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Europe MeSH

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents administration & dosage   adverse effects   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Bacterial Infections and Mycoses diagnosis   prevention & control   therapy   MeSH
• Early Diagnosis MeSH
• Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular * trends   utilization   MeSH
• Echocardiography methods   utilization   MeSH
• Endocarditis * diagnosis   etiology   therapy   MeSH
• Enterococcus isolation & purification   pathogenicity   drug effects   MeSH
• Cardiac Care Facilities methods   trends   utilization   MeSH
• Cardiac Surgical Procedures * methods   trends   utilization   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Interdisciplinary Communication MeSH
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods   utilization   MeSH
• Postoperative Complications MeSH
• Practice Guidelines as Topic MeSH
• Staphylococcal Infections diagnosis   drug therapy   prevention & control   MeSH
• Statistics as Topic MeSH
• Streptococcal Infections diagnosis   drug therapy   prevention & control   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH

Inspired by the high antituberculous activity of novel nitro-substituted derivatives and based on promising predicted ADMET properties we have synthesized a series of 33 salicylanilides containing nitro-group in their salicylic part and evaluated them for their in vitro antimycobacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal activities. The presence of nitro-group in position 4 of the salicylic acid was found to be beneficial and the resulting molecules exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 2 to 32 μM against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The best activity was found for 2-hydroxy-4-nitro-N-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzamide (MIC=2 μM). 4-Nitrosalicylanilides were also found to be active against all Staphylococcus species tested while for MRSA strain 2-hydroxy-4-nitro-N-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzamide's MIC was 0.98 μM. None of the nitrosalicylanilides was active against Enterococcus sp. J 14365/08 and no considerable activity was found against Gram-negative bacteria or fungi. The hepatotoxicity of all nitrosalicylanilides was found to be in the range of their MICs for HepG2 cells.

• MeSH
• Anti-Infective Agents chemical synthesis   pharmacology   toxicity   MeSH
• Hep G2 Cells MeSH
• Enterococcus drug effects   MeSH
• Fungi drug effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug effects   MeSH
• Salicylanilides chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Salicylates chemical synthesis   chemistry   pharmacology   toxicity   MeSH
• Staphylococcus drug effects   MeSH
• Cell Survival drug effects   MeSH
• Structure-Activity Relationship MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH