Yerba Mate (YM) is a food product derived from
Ilex paraguariensis
whose constituents obtained from its extract, mainly the phenolic fraction, have been linked to numerous health benefits, such as ...cardiovascular protection, weight reduction, glucose control, and gene modulation. However, evidences linking phenolic compounds (PC) intake and human health are still limited and often contentious. Several researches have shown that key PC elements are poorly absorbed in humans and exist predominantly as conjugates, which may not be bioactive but may play a crucial role when interacting with the gut microbiota (GM). As the intestine is the largest microorganism-populated organ in the human body, GM has been regarded as a “microbial organ”, acting as a second genome for modulating the host’s health phenotype. For this reason, the study of intestinal microbiota has received considerable attention in recent years. Its impact on the development of nutrition-related diseases must motivate broader researches on the interaction between YM’s PC and GM regarding the production of metabolites that may influence human health. This review aimed to gather and assess the available information about how PC from YM may impact host metabolism and the immune system and GM.
New ecosystems are being actively mined for new bioactive compounds. Because of the large amount of unexplored biodiversity, bacteria from marine environments are especially promising. Further, ...host-associated microbes are of special interest because of their low toxicity and compatibility with host health. Here, we identified and characterized biosynthetic gene clusters encoding antimicrobial compounds in host-associated enterococci recovered from fecal samples of wild marine animals remote from human-affected ecosystems. Putative biosynthetic gene clusters in the genomes of 22
strains of marine origin were predicted using antiSMASH5 and Bagel4 bioinformatic software. At least one gene cluster encoding a putative bioactive compound precursor was identified in each genome. Collectively, 73 putative antimicrobial compounds were identified, including 61 bacteriocins (83.56%), 10 terpenes (13.70%), and 2 (2.74%) related to putative nonribosomal peptides (NRPs). Two of the species studied,
and
, are rare causes of human disease and were found to lack any known pathogenic determinants but yet possessed bacteriocin biosynthetic genes, suggesting possible additional utility as probiotics. Wild marine animal-associated enterococci from human-remote ecosystems provide a potentially rich source for new antimicrobial compounds of therapeutic and industrial value and potential probiotic application.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate species distribution, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and presence of resistance genes in enterococci isolated from fecal samples of wild marine species, ...including seabirds (n=12), sea turtles (n=8), and mammals (n=3) found alive or dead in southern coast of Brazil. Enterococci were classified based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, tested for antibiotic susceptibility, and the presence of tet(S), tet(M), tet(L), mrsC, and erm(B) genes by PCR. Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were the most common species. Single (37.09%), double (25.80%), and multiple (16.12%) antibiotic resistance patterns were observed. Resistance to rifampicin occurred most frequently. The msrC, tet(M), and/or tet(L) genes were detected in 60.15%, 73.07%, and 23.07% of the resistant strains, respectively. In conclusion, the presence of antibiotic resistant strains in these species could be related to food web interactions and aquatic pollutants or linked to environmental resistome.
The paper of Prichula et al. describes the antimicrobial resistance profiles in different species of enterococci isolated from fecal samples of wild marine species, pointing to the importance of these wild species in studies of antibiotic resistance in the marine ecosystem. Display omitted
•Very few studies have examined the antimicrobial resistance in enterococci in fecal samples of wild marine species.•This study report the species distribution and occurrence of resistant-enterococci in feces of wild marine species.•Antibiotic resistance in enterococci isolated from these animals is an important gap that should be addressed.•Antibiotic resistant strains could be related to food web interactions, aquatic pollutants or environmental resistome.
Enterococci have been used as sentinel organisms for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in food, humans, and other animals. In this sense, the present study evaluated the antimicrobial ...susceptibility profile and the presence of genes associated with resistance to erythromycin (msrC and ermB) and tetracycline tet(M) and/or tet(L) in enterococci isolated from raw sheep’s milk and cheeses (colonial, feta-, and pecorino-type) from South region of Brazil. A total of 156 enterococci were isolated from milk (n=80) and cheese (n=76) samples, identified by MALDI-TOF. Enterococcus faecalis (50.6%; n=79) was the most frequent species isolated from both samples. According to in vitro susceptibility tests, enterococci strains were not susceptible to the most commonly antimicrobial agents used in human and veterinary medicine. The frequency of MDR strains in enterococci isolated from milk (53.7%) was higher than those from cheese (24.2%). The tet(M) gene was the most commonly detected among tetracycline not-susceptible strains. The present study provided the first evidence of antimicrobial not-susceptible enterococci in raw sheep’s milk and cheeses in South Brazil. Drug-resistant strains, particularly those that are MDR, constitute a One Health issue.
RESUMO: Os enterococos têm sido usados como organismos sentinela para monitorar o padrão de suscetibilidade a antimicrobianos em alimentos, humanos e outros animais. Neste sentido, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o perfil de susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos e os genes associados com a resistência a eritromicina (msrC and ermB) e à tetraciclina tet(M) and/or tet(L) em enterococos isolados de leite cru de ovelha e queijos (colonial, tipo-feta e tipo-pecorino) do Sul do Brasil. Um total de 156 enterococos foram isolados de leite (n=80) e queijo (n=76), identificados por MALDI-TOF. Enterococcus faecalis (50,6%; n=79) foi a espécie mais frequentemente isolada de ambas as amostras. De acordo com o teste de suscetibilidade in vitro, as cepas de enterococos não foram susceptíveis aos agentes antimicrobianos mais comumente utilizados na clínica humana e veterinária. A frequência de cepas de enterococos MDR isoladas do leite (53,7%) foi superior à do queijo (24,2%). O gene tet(M) foi o mais comumente detectado entre as cepas não susceptíveis à tetraciclina. O presente estudo fornece as primeiras evidências de enterococos não susceptíveis aos antimicrobianos em leite cru de ovelha e queijos no Sul do Brasil. Cepas resistentes a drogas, particularmente as que são MDR, representam uma preocupação de Saúde Única.
The environment, human, and animals play an important role in the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Enterococci are members of the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals and represent ...important reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes. Until today, few studies have examined antibiotic susceptibility in enterococci isolated from primates. Therefore, the present study investigated species distribution, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance genes in enterococci isolated from wild and captive black capuchins monkeys (
) in Rio Grande do Sul, South Brazil. A total of 24 swabs/fecal samples were collected, including 19 from wild monkeys living in two forest fragments São Sebastião do Caí (SSC) and Santa Cruz do Sul (SCS), and five in captive Parque Zoológico da Fundação Zoobotânica (ZOO), between August 2016 and November 2017. Fifteen colonies were randomly selected from each sample. Enterococci were identified by MALDI-TOF, tested for susceptibility to 12 antibiotics; and screened for
(S),
(M),
(L),
, and
(B) genes by PCR. Two-hundred ninety-six enterococci were isolated (SSC
= 137; SCS
= 86; ZOO
= 73) and differences in
species distribution were detected on three monkey groups, with low abundance in SCS (1 - D = 0.2), followed by ZOO (1 - D = 0.68), and SSC (1 - D = 0.73). The enterococci frequently recovered include the following:
(42.6%),
(29.1%), and
(15.9%). Antibiotic-nonsusceptible was observed in 202 (67.9%) strains. The rate of non-susceptibility to rifampicin, tetracycline, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin was 46%, 26%, 22% and 19%, 13%, 0.3%, and 0.3%, respectively. All strains were susceptible to vancomycin, streptomycin, gentamycin, and linezolid. Forty-three (14.52%) isolates were identified as multidrug resistant (MDR), and the highest number of MDR enterococci were
recovered from wild monkeys living close to a hospital and water treatment plant. Elevated rates of antibiotic resistance genes
C and
(L) were isolates from ZOO. In conclusion, differences in the frequency of enterococci species, antibiotic-nonsusceptible and antibiotic resistance genes in all groups of monkeys were identified. These data suggest that anthropogenic activities could have an impact in the resistome of primate gut enterococci communities.
Ethanol production from sugarcane is a key renewable fuel industry in Brazil. Major drivers of this alcoholic fermentation are
strains that originally were contaminants to the system and yet prevail ...in the industrial process. Here we present newly sequenced genomes (using Illumina short-read and PacBio long-read data) of two monosporic isolates (H3 and H4) of the
PE-2, a predominant bioethanol strain in Brazil. The assembled genomes of H3 and H4, together with 42 draft genomes of sugarcane-fermenting (fuel ethanol plus cachaça) strains, were compared against those of the reference S288C and diverse
. All genomes of bioethanol yeasts have amplified
/
gene clusters for vitamin B1/B6 biosynthesis, and display ubiquitous presence of a particular family of
, rare in
. Widespread amplifications of quinone oxidoreductases
/
/
, and the structural or punctual variations among aquaporins and components of the iron homeostasis system, likely represent adaptations to industrial fermentation. Interesting is the pervasive presence among the bioethanol/cachaça strains of a five-gene cluster (Region B) that is a known phylogenetic signature of European wine yeasts. Combining genomes of H3, H4, and 195 yeast strains, we comprehensively assessed whole-genome phylogeny of these taxa using an alignment-free approach. The 197-genome phylogeny substantiates that bioethanol yeasts are monophyletic and closely related to the cachaça and wine strains. Our results support the hypothesis that biofuel-producing yeasts in Brazil may have been co-opted from a pool of yeasts that were pre-adapted to alcoholic fermentation of sugarcane for the distillation of cachaça spirit, which historically is a much older industry than the large-scale fuel ethanol production.
This research aimed to identify the diversity of bacterial species of the genus
Staphylococcus
spp. in subclinical mastitis in dairy herds in the state of Piauí, Northeastern Brazil, and to evaluate ...the phenotypic and genotypic resistance profile. Samples were obtained from a total of 17 dairy farms, amounting to 321 positive samples in the
California Mastitis Test. Staphylococcus
spp. were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Subsequently, an antibiogram was performed, and a polymerase chain reaction was carried out to screen for resistance genes in the isolates. Among all the isolates, 59.45% (110/185) belonged to the
Staphylococcus
genus. Moreover, the following
Staphylococcus
spp. were identified
Staphylococcus aureus
, 68.1% (75/110);
Staphylococcus chromogenes
, 12.7% (14/110);
Staphylococcus epidermidis
, 5.4% (6/110);
Staphylococcus sciuri
, 4.5% (5/110);
Staphylococcus warneri
, 2.7% (3/110);
Staphylococcus haemolyticus
, 1.8% (2/110);
Staphylococcus hominis
, 1.8% (2/110);
Staphylococcus arlettae
, 0.9% (1/110);
Staphylococcus capitis
, 0.9% (1/110); and
Staphylococcus gallinarum
, 0.9% (1/110). The antibiogram showed a high frequency of resistance to penicillin and ampicillin, 70.0% (77/110) and 61.8% (68/110), respectively, and a low frequency of resistance to gentamicin and vancomycin, 10.9% (12/110) and 11.8% (13/110), respectively. In the genotypic tests for the different species of
Staphylococcus
spp., the occurrence of the
blaZ
gene was observed in 60.9% (67/110) of the isolates, followed by
tet
L and
tet
M, both with 20.0% (22/110) each, and the
mec
A and
van
B genes were detected in 0.9% (1/110) of the samples. The identification of all
Staphylococcus
species isolated from subclinical mastitis cases and the phenotypic and genotypic resistance characterization in these isolates is of great importance for dairy farming in the state of Piauí, as well as for public health.
Antimicrobial resistance has been attributed to the overuse of antibiotics. To control the use of antibiotics, Brazil adopted the RDC 20/2011. A comparison the antibiotic-resistance profile of ...bacterial has provided important insights into resistance evolution. Enterococci are ubiquitous bacteria recommended to be used as a sentinel organism, in national surveillance systems, for tracking antimicrobial resistance through the food chain. The present study aimed to evaluate the diversity and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci collected from food in South Brazil in 2017 (pos-RDC 20/11) for comparison with isolated in 2007 (pre-RDC 20/11). A total of 310 enterococci were isolated from vegetables and products of animal origin, identified by PCR and MALDI-TOF, tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and screened for resistance genes. Enterococcus casseliflavus was dominant in vegetables and E. faecalis in products of animal origin. Enterococcal isolates in 2017 were mostly sensitive to ampicillin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and vancomycin when compared to isolated collected in 2007. While resistance levels to most compounds remained relatively stable, multidrug resistance decreased by 24% during this period. Our results suggest that RDC 20/11 had a positive outcome in controlling the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study provides baseline data to measure future changes in the prevalence of resistant enterococci.
The purpose of this study was to compare the composition and stability of bacteria and fungi communities during the propagation of sourdoughs prepared with organic or conventional whole wheat ...(Triticum aestivum) flours from South Brazil. Sourdoughs were prepared and samples were collected during different fermentation times (0 to 216 h). Total DNA of sourdough samples were extracted and the 16S rRNA gene and Internal Transcribed Spacer region were sequenced by MiSeq-Illumina. A total of 43 and 56 OTUs were identified and defined as core taxa in the bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. The analysis revealed increases in the relative abundances of the lactic acid (Pediococcus pentosaceus, Weissella hellenica and Limosilactobacillus pontis) and acetic acid bacteria (Gluconobacter frateurii and Acetobacter tropicalis) during the sourdough propagation. The filaments fungi, Alternaria tenuissima, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium petersiae and Microdochium seminicola remained more stable in organic than conventional during propagation cycles. After 216 h of fermentation, both sourdoughs were dominated by acid- and salt-tolerant yeast Issatchenkia orientalis (syn Pichia kudriavzevii, and Candida glycerinogenes). In conclusion, there were no significant differences in microbial communities among the sourdough samples. This study revealed that both flours contain autochthonous LAB, AAB, and yeasts with biotechnological applications in sourdough bread-making.
Enterococci are ubiquitous microorganisms present in various environments and within the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other animals. Notably, fecal enterococci are suitable indicators for ...monitoring antimicrobial resistance dissemination. Resistant bacterial strains recovered from the fecal samples of wild animals can highlight important aspects of environmental disturbances. In this report, we investigated antimicrobial susceptibility as well as resistance and virulence genes in fecal enterococci isolated from wild Pampas foxes (
) (
= 5) and Geoffroy's cats (
) (
= 4) in the Brazilian Pampa biome. Enterococci were isolated from eight out of nine fecal samples and
was identified in both animals. However,
and
were only detected in Pampas foxes, while
was only detected in Geoffroy's cats. Antimicrobial susceptibility analysis showed resistance to rifampicin (94%), erythromycin (72.6%), ciprofloxacin/norfloxacin (40%), streptomycin (38%), and tetracycline (26%). The high frequency of multidrug-resistant enterococci (66%) isolated in this study is a matter of concern since these are wild animals with no history of therapeutic antibiotic exposure. The
M/
L and
C/
B genes were detected in most tetracycline- and erythromycin-resistant enterococci, respectively. The
, and
virulence genes were also detected in enterococci. In conclusion, our data suggest that habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic activities in the Pampa biome may contribute to high frequencies of multidrug-resistant enterococci in the gut communities of wild Pampas foxes and Geoffroy's cats. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci in the Pampa biome.
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