Phospholipid (PL) composition has a tremendous influence on the cell integrity and physiological competency. At the same time, plankton PL make important metabolic fuels for higher trophic levels. ...The goal of this study was to identify environmental control on PL production and their molecular identity of the suspended particles in two different estuaries. We conducted research in subtropical, eutrophic Wenchang River Estuary in China and temperate pristine, mesotrophic Krka River Estuary in Croatia. In agreement with the more abundant phytoplankton, PL concentrations were much higher in the Wenchang River Estuary (30.3–178.2 μg L
−1
) than in the Krka River Estuary (8.4–18.8 μg L
−1
). Given that six PL classes investigated (phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylserine (PS)) have different roles in the cell, we expected their different fatty acid composition in different environments. We found small differences in the fatty acid composition of PC, PG, and PI between two estuaries. These results suggest that the essential fatty acid compositions of these PL in estuarine plankton are relatively constant in order to preserve membrane functions and/or cell processes in which they are involved regardless of environmental conditions. In contrast, PE, PA and PS fatty acid composition substantially differed between two estuaries as well as throughout the salinity gradient in each estuary. This suggests the adaptability of plankton to remodel these PL depending on the environmental conditions and the plankton community structure. Good environmental conditions (favorable N/P ratio, temperature) are important for increased PL content (% in POC and total lipids) in estuarine plankton and increased essential polyunsaturated fatty acid content in PL, which is beneficial to higher trophic levels.
The aim of the study was to compare bacterial composition and load in waters and fish related to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), particularly waters and wild fish affected by sugarplant ...processing (sugar cane and sugar beet). Aeromonads were the most frequently isolated group from water and fish. A. hydrophila was a prevailing species in isolates from water, followed by A. veronii, Rheinheimera soli and Ochrobactrum anthropi. Of indicator bacteria for aquatic contamination from fish tissues, the most prominent were V. cholerae, Enterobacter cloacae and E. sakazakii. Sugar cane processing contributed to high viable cell counts at 37 °C while sugar beet processing contributed to high bacterial counts at 22 °C. Heterotrophs from gills of effluent fish were highest during sugar cane processing. Counts retrieved from fish skin were more uniform between effluent fish and fish from downstream waters. Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from water was high against amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, flumequine, norfloxacin and oxolinic acid in samples from the inflow of raw municipal wastewaters to WWTP, while resistance found in bacteria from the inflow of sugarplant mostly related to sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin. The PCA analysis associated the occurrence of high heterotroph counts, P. aeruginosa, and intestinal enterococci on skin and gills with sugar cane, and yeasts and molds with sugar beet processing. Fish living in treated wastewaters and related water bodies could pose a microbial hazard if fished for human consumption, possibly causing infection when being handled and processed, as a risk of human pathogens penetrating fish tissues.
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•We evaluated microbiological impact of sugarplant effluent on wild fish.•Ubiquitous and pathogenic bacteria were retrieved from tissues; mostly aeromonads.•63% of fish aeromonads showed resistance against tested antimicrobials.•Gill and kidney histopathology showed an increased number of bacterial cells.•Multivariate tools correlated effectively microbiological data, tissues and seasons.
Relating the treated wastewater quality and its impact on organismic biosensors (Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio and earthworm, Eisenia fetida) was the main objective of the study. The impact on ...health status of fish living downstream, microbiological contamination and antimicrobial resistance, fish tissue structure, blood biochemistry, oxidative stress, genotoxic effects, as well as multixenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXR) was assessed. Treated wastewater discharged from the WWTP modified the environmental parameters and xenobiotic concentrations of the receiving surface waters. Potential bacterial pathogens from fish and respective waters were found in relatively low numbers, although they comprised aeromonads with a zoonotic potential. High resistance profiles were determined towards the tested antimicrobial compounds, mostly sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin. Histopathology primarily revealed gill lamellar fusion and reduction of interlamellar spaces of effluent fish. A significant increase in plasma values of urea, total proteins, albumins and triglycerides and a significant decrease in the activity of plasma superoxide dismutase were noted in carp from the effluent-receiving canal. Micronucleus test did not reveal significant differences between the examined groups, but a higher frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities was found in fish sampled from the effluent-receiving canal. Earthworms indicated to the presence of MXR inhibitors in water and sludge samples, thus proving as a sensitive sentinel organism for environmental pollutants. The integrative approach of this study could serve as a guiding principle in conducting evaluations of the aquatic habitat health in complex bio-monitoring studies.
•Bacteria from fish and water have a zoonotic potential and might pose a health risk•High antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined; particularly to SMX•The sediment total antibiotic concentrations decreased with distance from the WWTP•Histological, haematological parameters of fish differed in effluent and downstream•Eisenia fetida is an optimal sentinel organism for environmental pollutants (MXR)
Research background. Oral microbiota has become an important factor in obesity, but its association with obesity-related diseases and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D 25(OH)D and B complex amounts is still ...uncertain. The main aim of the paper is to determine the variation in oral microbiota composition as a response to the vitamin status and obesity-related diseases in obese females from Croatia. We hypothesized that the prevalence of probiotic or pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity of obese women in Croatia depends on the amounts of vitamin B9 (folic acid), B12 and 25(OH)D in serum and/or hypertension, diabetes and prediabetes diagnosis.
Experimental approach. To test the defined research hypothesis, female individuals with body mass index (BMI)≥30 kg/m2 (N=70) were recruited to participate in this study. Obese women were divided into groups according to BMI value, diagnosis of obesity-related diseases and amount of micronutrient in blood. For the quantitative determination of folic acid, vitamin B12 and 25(OH)D in serum, an electrochemiluminescence protein binding assay (ECLIA) was performed. Microorganisms isolated from the saliva of obese women were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer.
Results and conclusions. The presented results do not support the hypothesis that the prevalence of probiotic or pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity of obese women in Croatia depends on the amount of micronutrients. On the other hand, hypertension and diabetes/prediabetes favour the growth of oral pathogens, specifically increased levels of Candida sp.
Novelty and scientific contribution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing the relationship between obesity, micronutrient amount, oral microbiota composition, and the incidence of obesity-related disease. We included only obese women from Croatia, so it is regionally specific. Also, we have shown that oral microbiota composition is not connected with micronutrient deficiencies but only with obesity-related diseases.
MALDI‐TOF MS was tested for the identification of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida on isolates grown on two media, cultured at three incubation times and applied on the target plate by the ...direct sample spotting (DS), by the on‐target extraction (OTE) and by the full extraction (FE) method, in triplicates. The identification of samples grown on blood agar (BA) outperformed identification on tryptic soya agar (TSA) by 0.64% for DS and OTE. The OTE gave the highest scores in both culture media, all incubation times and replicates. Reliable 24‐hr species identification was 61.54%, 84.61% and 53.85% for samples grown on TSA and identified by DS, OTE and FE, respectively. For isolates grown on BA, they were 76.92%, 96.15% and 30.77%, respectively. When identified by OTE, the 48‐hr identification was 93.58%, but for 72 hr declined to 71.79%. The reliable identification with the highest score from the first measurement was 100% only for OTE from BA (24 hr), whereas OTE from TSA gave 84.61% (24 hr), 76.92% (48 hr) and 84.61% (72 hr). The reliable MALDI‐TOF MS identification of Ph. damselae subsp. piscicida is incubation time, media, target plate preparation and replicate‐dependent.
Mediterranean Sea is the sixth largest area of marine litter accumulation in the world, and plastic pollution is a growing problem in its Adriatic sub-basin. The aim of the present study was to ...evaluate the cultivable microbiota associated with plastic litter collected by commercial fishing trawlers in the south-eastern Adriatic Sea in comparison with microbiota in seawater and sediment. Plastic litter in the sea contains an autochthonous microbiota that is different from that of the surrounding seawater and sediment. Vibrio abundance was higher on plastic litter than in surrounding seawater and sediment. All isolated Vibrio showing resistance to ampicillin and vancomycin, while resistance to other antibiotics depended on the isolated species. Overall, this study provides for the first time information on the cultivable microbiota associated with plastic litter collected by commercial fishing trawlers and provides a data base for further studies.
•Plastic litter collected by commercial fishing trawlers was analyzed.•The microbiota on plastic litter, in seawater, and in sediment was determined.•Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus were detected on plastic litter.•Multiple resistance among Vibrio isolates was detected.
Due to the development of resistance to antimicrobial agents, bacterium
is nowadays a leading cause of nosocomial outbreaks. Clinically relevant
outside hospital settings including natural soils ...affected by human waste represents a public-health risk for humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of metal-loaded zeolites to eliminate viable
from artificially contaminated natural soils.
isolate was subjected to the activity of natural zeolitised tuff (NZ) and Cu-modified (CuNZ) or Ag-modified zeolite (AgNZ) in wet, slightly acidic
and slightly alkaline red palaeosol.
survived in
and red palaeosol supplemented with 1 wt% of NZ for seven days and four months, respectively. The addition of 1 wt% of CuNZ to
and red palaeosol shortened the survival of
to three and 14 days, respectively. The addition of 0.1 wt% of AgNZ to both soils resulted in complete removal of viable
within 1 h of contact, while the total native heterotrophic bacterial counts remained high. Since AgNZ is prepared with a simple modification of cost-effective and environmentally friendly natural zeolite, it is a promising material for the remediation of soils contaminated with pandrug-resistant
The study focuses on developing novel cottage cheese containing spices with acceptable sensory properties, increased biological value and extended shelf life. Thirty types of cheese with added fresh ...or dried parsley, dill, pepper, garlic and rosemary were produced. Characterisation of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity of spices and cheese samples were evaluated. The cheese containing fresh pepper and fresh and dried herbs showed excellent sensory properties, with the best results obtained with fresh sweet red pepper. Dry rosemary had the highest antioxidant and antibacterial activity due to high mass fractions of caffeic and rosmarinic acids as well as high mass fractions of flavones and phenolic diterpenes. The plant extracts examined
and
effectively reduce numbers of foodborne pathogens like
,
,
, and therefore have potential as natural preservatives and antioxidants.
S-layers represent the simplest biological membranes developed during the evolution and are one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth. Current fundamental and applied research aim to reveal the ...chemical structure, morphogenesis and function of S-layer proteins (Slps). This is the first paper that describes the Slps of certain Lactobacillus brevis strain isolated from sauerkraut. The whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis of the L. brevis SF9B strain uncovered three genes encoding the putative Slps, but merely one, identified as similar to the SlpB of L. brevis ATCC 14869, was expressed. Slp-expressing SF9B cells exhibited increased survival in simulated gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and during freeze-drying. Their survival in stress conditions was additionally enhanced by microencapsulation, especially when using alginate with gelatine as a matrix. Thus prepared cells were subjected to simulated GI conditions and their mortality was only 0.28 ± 0.45 log CFU/mL. Furthermore, a correlation between the high surface hydrophobicity and the remarkable aggregative capacity of SF9B strain was established. The results indicate a prominent role of Slps in adhesion to mucin, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and particularly to Caco-2 cells, where the removal of Slps utterly abolished the adhesiveness of SF9B cells for 7.78 ± 0.25 log CFU/mL.
•S-layer protein of L. brevis SF9B is 65% similar to SlpB of L. brevis ATCC 14869.•S-layer protein of L. brevis SF9B has theoretical MW of 50.9 kDa and pI of 9.54•S-layer positively affects probiotic properties of L. brevis SF9B.•L. brevis SF9B is a potential probiotic starter culture for sauerkraut production.
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