Biofilms are comprised of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced matrix that normally adhere to a surface. In the food processing environment they are suggested to be a source of contamination leading to food spoilage or the transmission of food-borne pathogens. To date, research has mainly focused on the presence of (biofilm-forming) bacteria within food processing environments, without measuring the associated biofilm matrix components. Here, we assessed the presence of biofilms within a meat processing environment, processing pork, poultry and beef, by the detection of microorganisms and at least two biofilm matrix components. Sampling included 47 food contact surfaces and 61 non-food contact surfaces from eleven rooms within an Austrian meat processing plant, either during operation or after cleaning and disinfection. The 108 samples were analysed for the presence of microorganisms by cultivation and targeted quantitative real-time PCR based on 16S rRNA. Furthermore, the presence of the major matrix components carbohydrates, extracellular DNA and proteins was evaluated. Overall, we identified ten biofilm hotspots, among them seven of which were sampled during operation and three after cleaning and disinfection. Five biofilms were detected on food contact surfaces (cutters and associated equipment and a screw conveyor) and five on non-food contact surfaces (drains and water hoses) resulting in 9.3 % of the sites being classified as biofilm positive. From these biofilm positive samples, we cultivated bacteria of 29 different genera. The most prevalent bacteria belonged to the genera Brochothrix (present in 80 % of biofilms), Pseudomonas and Psychrobacter (isolated from 70 % biofilms). From each biofilm we isolated bacteria from four to twelve different genera, indicating the presence of multi-species biofilms. This work ultimately determined the presence of multi-species biofilms within the meat processing environment, thereby identifying various sources of potential contamination. Especially the identification of biofilms in water hoses and associated parts highlights the need of a frequent monitoring at these sites. The knowledge gained about the presence and composition of biofilms (i.e. chemical and microbiological) will help to prevent and reduce biofilm formation within food processing environments.

• Klíčová slova
• Brochothrix, Matrix analysis, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter,
• MeSH
• biofilmy klasifikace   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• Brochothrix izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• dezinfekce metody   MeSH
• drůbež mikrobiologie   MeSH
• manipulace s potravinami * MeSH
• maso mikrobiologie   MeSH
• nemoci přenášené potravou mikrobiologie   MeSH
• potravinářská mikrobiologie MeSH
• Pseudomonas izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Psychrobacter izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S analýza   MeSH
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Rakousko MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA ribozomální 16S MeSH

Haloalkane dehalogenases (HLDs) convert halogenated aliphatic pollutants to less toxic compounds by a hydrolytic mechanism. Owing to their broad substrate specificity and high enantioselectivity, haloalkane dehalogenases can function as biosensors to detect toxic compounds in the environment or can be used for the production of optically pure compounds. Here, the structural analysis of the haloalkane dehalogenase DpcA isolated from the psychrophilic bacterium Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5 is presented at the atomic resolution of 1.05 Å. This enzyme exhibits a low temperature optimum, making it attractive for environmental applications such as biosensing at the subsurface environment, where the temperature typically does not exceed 25°C. The structure revealed that DpcA possesses the shortest access tunnel and one of the most widely open main tunnels among structural homologs of the HLD-I subfamily. Comparative analysis revealed major differences in the region of the α4 helix of the cap domain, which is one of the key determinants of the anatomy of the tunnels. The crystal structure of DpcA will contribute to better understanding of the structure-function relationships of cold-adapted enzymes.

• Klíčová slova
• Psychrobacter cryohalolentis, X-ray diffraction, haloalkane dehalogenase, psychrophiles, structural analysis, α/β-hydrolase,
• MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Escherichia coli genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• genetické vektory chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• halogenované uhlovodíky chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• hydrolasy chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• interakční proteinové domény a motivy MeSH
• klonování DNA MeSH
• konformace proteinů, alfa-helix MeSH
• konformace proteinů, beta-řetězec MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• nízká teplota MeSH
• Psychrobacter chemie   enzymologie   MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
• strukturní homologie proteinů MeSH
• substrátová specifita MeSH
• termodynamika MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vazebná místa MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 1-bromohexane MeSH Prohlížeč
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• haloalkane dehalogenase MeSH Prohlížeč
• halogenované uhlovodíky MeSH
• hydrolasy MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny MeSH

Haloalkane dehalogenases are hydrolytic enzymes with a broad range of potential practical applications such as biodegradation, biosensing, biocatalysis and cellular imaging. Two newly isolated psychrophilic haloalkane dehalogenases exhibiting interesting catalytic properties, DpcA from Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5 and DmxA from Marinobacter sp. ELB17, were purified and used for crystallization experiments. After the optimization of crystallization conditions, crystals of diffraction quality were obtained. Diffraction data sets were collected for native enzymes and complexes with selected ligands such as 1-bromohexane and 1,2-dichloroethane to resolutions ranging from 1.05 to 2.49 Å.

• Klíčová slova
• DmxA, DpcA, Marinobacter sp. ELB17, Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5, haloalkane dehalogenases,
• MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny analýza   chemie   MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• hydrolasy analýza   chemie   MeSH
• katalytická doména MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• Marinobacter enzymologie   MeSH
• Psychrobacter enzymologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• haloalkane dehalogenase MeSH Prohlížeč
• hydrolasy MeSH

A haloalkane dehalogenase, DpcA, from Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5, representing a novel psychrophilic member of the haloalkane dehalogenase family, was identified and biochemically characterized. DpcA exhibited a unique temperature profile with exceptionally high activities at low temperatures. The psychrophilic properties of DpcA make this enzyme promising for various environmental applications.

• MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• fyziologická adaptace * MeSH
• hydrolasy chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• nízká teplota * MeSH
• Psychrobacter enzymologie   genetika   růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• substrátová specifita MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• haloalkane dehalogenase MeSH Prohlížeč
• hydrolasy MeSH