Seventy-eight isolates of lactic acid bacteria from Ukraine and Thailand were screened for bacteriocinogenic activity against indicator strain Lactobacillus sakei subsp. sakei JCM 1157. One isolate showed an antagonistic activity of cell-free supernatant eliminated after the treatment with Proteinase K. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, this isolate was identified as Enterococcus italicus. Bacteriocin produced by this strain showed antimicrobial activity against L. sakei subsp. sakei JCM 1157, Brochothrix thermosphacta DSMZ 20171, and Listeria ivanovii subsp. ivanovii DSMZ 20750 in agar well diffusion assay. This bacteriocin was cationic and hydrophobic. The partially purified bacteriocin was thermostable, while heating of cell-free supernatant increased its activity more than twofold. Molecular mass of the partially purified bacteriocin as determined by SDS-PAGE differed from enterocin A and B previously known for E. italicus. Concentrated bacteriocin decreased the level of biofilm formation in L. sakei subsp. sakei JCM 1157 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in 52.5 and 48.0%, respectively (p < 0.05). We suggest that the studied bacteriocin could be a perspective antibiofilm agent in food conservation and medicine.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents chemistry   metabolism   pharmacology   MeSH
• Bacteriocins chemistry   metabolism   pharmacology   MeSH
• Biofilms drug effects   MeSH
• Brassica microbiology   MeSH
• Enterococcus chemistry   genetics   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Fermentation MeSH
• Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug effects   MeSH
• Drug Stability MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Thailand 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 baumannii isolation & purification   drug effects   MeSH
• Burkholderia cepacia complex isolation & purification   MeSH
• Enterococcus isolation & purification   MeSH
• Blood microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Urine microbiology   MeSH
• Salmonella enterica cytology   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Sputum microbiology   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus isolation & purification   drug effects   MeSH
• Laboratory Proficiency Testing * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH

Enterococci are widespread bacteria forming the third largest genus among lactic acid bacteria. Some possess probiotic properties or they can produce beneficial proteinaceous antimicrobial substances called enterocins. On the other hand, some enterococci produce biogenic amines (BAs), so this study is focused on the sensitivity to enterocins of biogenic amine-producing faecal enterococci from ostriches and pheasants. Altogether, 60 enterococci isolated from faeces of ostriches and pheasants were tested for production of BAs. This target of the identified enterococci involved 46 strains selected from 140 ostriches and 17 from 60 pheasants involving the species Enterococcus hirae, E. faecium, E. faecalis, and E. mundtii. Although BAs histamine, cadaverine, putrescine, and tryptamine were not detected in the enterococci tested, in general high BA production by the tested enterococci was noted. The species E. hirae formed the majority of the enterococcal strains from ostrichs faeces (34 strains). High production of tyramine (TYM) was measured with an average amount of 958.16 ± 28.18 mg/ml. Among the enterococci from pheasants, the highest was production of TYM compared to phenylethylamine, spermidine, and spermine. Enterococci featured high BA production; however, they were sensitive to seven enterocins with inhibition activity ranging from 100 up to 25,600 AU/ml.

• MeSH
• Biogenic Amines biosynthesis   MeSH
• Enterococcus classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Feces chemistry   microbiology   MeSH
• Phenethylamines metabolism   MeSH
• Galliformes microbiology   MeSH
• Bridged-Ring Compounds metabolism   MeSH
• Spermidine biosynthesis   MeSH
• Spermine biosynthesis   MeSH
• Struthioniformes microbiology   MeSH
• Tyramine biosynthesis   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 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
• Arcanobacterium isolation & purification   MeSH
• Bacteriological Techniques * MeSH
• Enterococcus isolation & purification   MeSH
• Escherichia coli enzymology   isolation & purification   drug effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Staphylococcus epidermidis isolation & purification   drug effects   MeSH
• Laboratory Proficiency Testing * methods   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Tables 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

Only limited information exists concerning the microbiota in beaver (Castor fiber). This study has been focused on the virulence factors genes detection in enterococci from beavers. In general, animals are not affected by enterococcal infections, but they can be a reservoir of, e.g. pathogenic strains. Moreover, detection of virulence factors genes in enterococci from beavers was never tested before. Free-living beavers (12), male and female (age 4-5 years) were caught in the north-east part of Poland. Sampling of lower gut and faeces was provided according to all ethical rules for animal handling. Samples were treated using a standard microbiological method. Pure bacterial colonies were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) identification system. Virulence factors genes-gelE (gelatinase), agg (aggregation), cylA (cytolysin A), efaAfs (adhesin Enterococcus faecalis), efaAfm (adhesin Enterococcus faecium) and esp (surface protein) were tested by PCR. Moreover, gelatinase and antibiotic phenotypes were tested. Species detected were Enterococcus thailandicus, E. faecium, E. faecalis and Enterococcus durans. In literature, enterococcal species distribution was never reported yet up to now. Strains were mostly sensitive to antibiotics. Vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis EE9Tr1 possess cylA, efaAfs, esp and gelE genes. Strains were aggregation substance genes absent. Adhesin E. faecium (efaAfm) gene was detected in two of three E. faecium strains, but it was present also in E. thailandicus. Esp gene was present in EE9Tr1 and E. durans EDTr92. The most detected were gelE, efaAfm genes; in EF 4Hc1 also gelatinase phenotype was found. Strains with virulence factors genes will be tested for their sensitivity to antimicrobial enterocins.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Bacteriological Techniques MeSH
• Enterococcus classification   drug effects   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Virulence Factors analysis   genetics   MeSH
• Feces microbiology   MeSH
• Genotype MeSH
• Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections microbiology   veterinary   MeSH
• Rodentia microbiology   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Rectum microbiology   MeSH
• Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization MeSH
• Gelatinases analysis   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Poland MeSH

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use   MeSH
• Antifungal Agents therapeutic use   MeSH
• Candida glabrata isolation & purification   MeSH
• Debridement veterinary   MeSH
• Drainage veterinary   MeSH
• Enterococcus isolation & purification   MeSH
• Laparotomy veterinary   MeSH
• Peritonitis * etiology   surgery   complications   veterinary   MeSH
• Dogs MeSH
• Stomach Rupture * surgery   veterinary   MeSH
• Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy * veterinary   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Dogs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Case Reports MeSH