Fruit juices are an important part of the modern diet in many countries. However, few data are available concerning the microbiological quality of the fruit juices sold in Greece. Using standard ...microbiological procedures, we conducted a bacteriological survey of commercially sold, pasteurized, shelf-stable fruit juices from retail markets. A total of 120 samples of fruit juices sold in various retail markets were examined for their bacteriological quality. The pH of the tested juices was 2.4–4.8. Bacteria were isolated from 51 samples (42.5%) and fungi from 78 samples (65%).
Escherichia coli O157:H7 was detected in four of the analyzed samples (3.34%), and
Staphylococcus aureus was detected in four different samples (3.34%). In 11 samples (9.1%), the total number of microorganisms detected was as high as 125 colony-forming units (CFU). Acidophilic microorganisms were isolated from 26 samples (21.7%) and
Blastomyces was detected in 46 samples (38.3%). All samples were negative for
Lactobacillus,
Clostridium perfrigens,
Salmonella spp.,
Bacillus cereus, total coliforms,
E. coli, and
Listeria monocytogenes.
Many of the microorganisms detected may cause disease in humans; thus, a number of the tested samples did not meet the Greek guidelines for the microbiological quality of juices. Use of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system should be generally introduced into the juice industry sector to improve the quality of fruit juices, as well as other manufactured foods.
To evaluate the microbiological water quality of bathing sites along the Achaia coastline (south western Greece), a survey was conducted to determine the concentration of faecal bacterial and phage ...indicators as well as the presence of human viruses. Seawater samples (234) were collected from nine bathing sites on the Achaia coastline and were analysed for the presence of: total coliforms, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci, Escherichia coli, somatic coliphages, F-RNA bacteriophages, bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides fragilis, enteroviruses, adenoviruses and hepatitis A viruses. Most of the bacteriological analysis results were in accordance with the European Union standards. In all sites, bacteriophages were detected occasionally. Enteroviruses and adenoviruses were detected in 24 samples (10.26%) and 37 samples (15.81%) respectively. No samples were positive for the presence of hepatitis A virus. The overall data indicates that bathing sites are impacted by human faecal material. Both bacterial indicators and phages have low predictive capability for the presence of human viruses in coastal waters. None of the environmental parameters analysed was strongly related to the presence of the indicator organisms and viruses. Appropriate and effective administrative measures that should be taken into account may be considered in order to improve water quality and reduce public health risk.
The use of mussels (Mytilus sp.) as bioindicators of the aquatic environment is a valuable approach to monitor environmental contamination. Applying batteries of biomarkers is an essential ...prerequisite, since the complexity of environmental contaminants can induce in mussels a variety of structural and functional responses, which are not necessarily correlated. In an attempt to correlate translation responses to contamination stress, the sedimentation profiles of runoff ribosomes isolated from digestive gland cells of control or contaminated Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Lam.) were examined and the efficiency of these ribosomes to accomplish protein synthesis was determined. While the major species of ribosomal material was 80S monomers, native 60S and 40S ribosomal subunits were also detected independently of the contamination level in the surrounding waters. However, concomitant with the increase of contamination stress, the level of 80S ribosomes was reduced in favor of free ribosomal subunits. In addition, ribosomes isolated from contaminated mussels and programmed with poly(U) were less efficient to enzymatically bind AcPhe-tRNA, compared with ribosomes from control samples. These results suggest that the contamination stress causes stoichiometric aberrations in the ribosomal particle pool and reduction of translation machinery capability to initiate protein synthesis. Data support the notion that downregulation of translation is an important component of the cellular stress response and may be exploited as a biomarker of environmental contamination.
The use of mussels (Mytilus sp.) as bioindicators of the aquatic environment is a valuable approach to monitor environmental contamination. Applying batteries of biomarkers is an essential ...prerequisite, since the complexity of environmental contaminants can induce in mussels a variety of structural and functional responses, which are not necessarily correlated. In an attempt to correlate translation responses to contamination stress, the sedimentation profiles of runoff ribosomes isolated from digestive gland cells of control or contaminated Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Lam.) were examined and the efficiency of these ribosomes to accomplish protein synthesis was determined. While the major species of ribosomal material was 80S monomers, native 60S and 40S ribosomal subunits were also detected independently of the contamination level in the surrounding waters. However, concomitant with the increase of contamination stress, the level of 80S ribosomes was reduced in favor of free ribosomal subunits. In addition, ribosomes isolated from contaminated mussels and programmed with poly(U) were less efficient to enzymatically bind AcPhe-tRNA, compared with ribosomes from control samples. These results suggest that the contamination stress causes stoichiometric aberrations in the ribosomal particle pool and reduction of translation machinery capability to initiate protein synthesis. Data support the notion that downregulation of translation is an important component of the cellular stress response and may be exploited as a biomarker of environmental contamination.
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