scholarly journals Domestic shower hose biofilms contain fungal species capable of causing opportunistic infection

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 727-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Moat ◽  
Athanasios Rizoulis ◽  
Graeme Fox ◽  
Mathew Upton
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Internal Surface ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Fusarium Fujikuroi ◽  
Amplicon Pyrosequencing ◽  
Fungal Populations ◽  
Environmental Bacteria ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Immunocompromised Hosts ◽  
Malassezia Restricta

The domestic environment can be a source of pathogenic bacteria. We show here that domestic shower hoses may harbour potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Well-developed biofilms were physically removed from the internal surface of shower hoses collected in four locations in England and Scotland. Amplicon pyrosequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA targets revealed the presence of common aquatic and environmental bacteria, including members of the Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and non-tuberculous Mycobacteria. These bacteria are associated with infections in immunocompromised hosts and are widely reported in shower systems and as causes of water-acquired infection. More importantly, this study represents the first detailed analysis of fungal populations in shower systems and revealed the presence of sequences related to Exophiala mesophila, Fusarium fujikuroi and Malassezia restricta. These organisms can be associated with the environment and healthy skin, but also with infection in compromised and immuno-competent hosts and occurrence of dandruff. Domestic showering may result in exposure to aerosols of bacteria and fungi that are potentially pathogenic and toxigenic. It may be prudent to limit development of these biofilms by the use of disinfectants, or regular replacement of hoses, where immuno-compromised persons are present.

scholarly journals Metagenomic analysis of medicinal Cannabis samples; pathogenic bacteria, toxigenic fungi, and beneficial microbes grow in culture-based yeast and mold tests

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin McKernan ◽  
Jessica Spangler ◽  
Yvonne Helbert ◽  
Ryan C. Lynch ◽  
Adrian Devitt-Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Safety Testing ◽  
Toxigenic Fungi ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting ◽  
Medicinal Cannabis ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Background: The presence of bacteria and fungi in medicinal or recreationalCannabisposes a potential threat to consumers if those microbes include pathogenic or toxigenic species. This study evaluated two widely used culture-based platforms for total yeast and mold (TYM) testing marketed by 3M Corporation and Biomérieux, in comparison with a quantitative PCR (qPCR) approach marketed by Medicinal Genomics Corporation.Methods: A set of 15 medicinalCannabissamples were analyzed using 3M and Biomérieux culture-based platforms and by qPCR to quantify microbial DNA. All samples were then subjected to next-generation sequencing and metagenomics analysis to enumerate the bacteria and fungi present before and after growth on culture-based media.Results: Several pathogenic or toxigenic bacterial and fungal species were identified in proportions of >5% of classified reads on the samples, includingAcinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ralstonia pickettii, Salmonella enterica, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Aspergillus ostianus, Aspergillus sydowii, Penicillium citrinumandPenicillium steckii.Samples subjected to culture showed substantial shifts in the number and diversity of species present, including the failure ofAspergillusspecies to grow well on either platform. Substantial growth ofClostridium botulinumand other bacteria were frequently observed on one or both of the culture-based TYM platforms. The presence of plant growth promoting (beneficial) fungal species further influenced the differential growth of species in the microbiome of each sample.Conclusions: These findings have important implications for theCannabisand food safety testing industries.

scholarly journals The Role of Copper Homeostasis at the Host-Pathogen Axis: From Bacteria to Fungi

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Li ◽  
Yanjian Li ◽  
Chen Ding
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Copper Toxicity ◽  
Copper Homeostasis ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Toxic Agent ◽  
Host Interaction ◽  
Copper Balance ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Copper is an essential trace element participating in many vital biological processes, however it becomes a toxic agent when in excess. Thus, precise and tight regulation of copper homeostasis processes, including transport, delivery, storage, detoxification, and efflux machineries, is important, ensuring that only the amount needed to sustain basic biological functions and simultaneously prevent copper toxicity in the cell is maintained. Numerous exciting studies have revealed that copper plays an indispensable role at the microbial pathogen-host axis for entities ranging from pathogenic bacteria to deadly fungal species. Analyses of copper homeostases in bacteria and fungi extensively demonstrate that copper is utilized by the host immune system as an anti-microbial agent. The expression of copper efflux and detoxification from microbial pathogens is induced to counteract the host’s copper bombardment, which in turn disrupts these machineries, resulting in the attenuation of microbial survival in host tissue. We hereby review the latest work in copper homeostases in pathogenic bacteria and fungi and focus on the maintenance of a copper balance at the pathogen-host interaction axis.

scholarly journals Seasonal Variation Characteristics of Bacteria and Fungi in PM2.5 in Typical Basin Cities of Xi’an and Linfen, China

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 809
Author(s):  
Sen Wang ◽  
Wanyu Liu ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Haotian Sun ◽  
Yali Qian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Variation Characteristics ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Microorganisms existing in airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have key implications in biogeochemical cycling and human health. In this study, PM2.5 samples, collected in the typical basin cities of Xi’an and Linfen, China, were analyzed through high-throughput sequencing to understand microbial seasonal variation characteristics and ecological functions. For bacteria, the highest richness and diversity were identified in autumn. The bacterial phyla were dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Metabolism was the most abundant pathway, with the highest relative abundance found in autumn. Pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Serratia, and Delftia) were positively correlated with most disease-related pathways. Besides, C cycling dominated in spring and summer, while N cycling dominated in autumn and winter. The relative abundance of S cycling was highest during winter in Linfen. For fungi, the highest richness was found in summer. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota mainly constituted the fungal phyla. Moreover, temperature (T) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in Xi’an, and T, SO2, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Linfen were the key factors affecting microbial community structures, which were associated with different pollution characteristics in Xi’an and Linfen. Overall, these results provide an important reference for the research into airborne microbial seasonal variations, along with their ecological functions and health impacts.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activities of Marine Sponge-Associated Bacteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Yitayal S. Anteneh ◽  
Qi Yang ◽  
Melissa H. Brown ◽  
Christopher M. M. Franco
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Marine Sponges ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Sponge Associated Bacteria ◽  
Microbial Symbionts ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, which decreases the chance of treating those infected with existing antibiotics. This resistance calls for the search of new antimicrobials from prolific producers of novel natural products including marine sponges. Many of the novel active compounds reported from sponges have originated from their microbial symbionts. Therefore, this study aims to screen for bioactive metabolites from bacteria isolated from sponges. Twelve sponge samples were collected from South Australian marine environments and grown on seven isolation media under four incubation conditions; a total of 1234 bacterial isolates were obtained. Of these, 169 bacteria were tested in media optimized for production of antimicrobial metabolites and screened against eleven human pathogens. Seventy bacteria were found to be active against at least one test bacterial or fungal pathogen, while 37% of the tested bacteria showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant strains and antifungal activity was produced by 21% the isolates. A potential novel active compound was purified possessing inhibitory activity against S. aureus. Using 16S rRNA, the strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. Our study highlights that the marine sponges of South Australia are a rich source of abundant and diverse bacteria producing metabolites with antimicrobial activities against human pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Effects of potassium azide on soil microbial populations and soil enzymatic activities

1975 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Kelley ◽  
R. Rodriguez-Kabana
Keyword(s):  
Soil Enzyme ◽  
Soil Microflora ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Fungal Populations ◽  
Potassium Azide ◽  
Time Changes ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Microbial Numbers

Preplant applications of potassium azide (KN3) to pine nursery beds were evaluated for effect on the soil microflora and on soil enzyme activity where either plastic-sealing or water-sealing techniques were used. Two weeks after incorporation of azide (0–224 kg/ha), soil samplings revealed reduced populations of bacteria and fungi and a corresponding decline in invertase and amylase activities. These effects were proportionate to the amount of azide used and were more pronounced in plastic-sealed plots. Phosphatase activity was little affected. Five weeks after azide application, bacterial populations were higher in treated plots than in controls. Greater numbers of bacteria were recorded from plastic-sealed plots and highest populations coincided with plots receiving the highest rates of azide, regardless of the sealing technique. Fungal populations at this sampling were generally less in treated plots than in the controls, but were higher under plastic seal. At this time, changes in invertase and amylase activities did not correspond to increased microbial numbers. Sixteen weeks after applications of KN3, bacterial populations in treated plots did not differ significantly from controls, but remained higher in plastic-sealed than water-sealed plots. Fungal populations under plastic seal had changed little and remained significantly lower in treated water-sealed plots than in controls. The earlier recorded reduction in invertase and amylase activities was still evident at the final sampling.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Constitution of the Crude, Phenolic-Rich Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa, Brassica oleracea and Beta vulgaris

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (23) ◽  
pp. 4280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seham Abdel-Shafi ◽  
Abdul-Raouf Al-Mohammadi ◽  
Mahmoud Sitohy ◽  
Basma Mosa ◽  
Ahmed Ismaiel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brassica Oleracea ◽  
Beta Vulgaris ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Aspergillus Ochraceus ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Klebsiella Pneumonia ◽  
Hibiscus Sabdariffa ◽  
Cell Organelles ◽  
Cell Shapes ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Crude, phenolic-rich extracts (CPREs) were isolated from different sources, such as Hibiscus sabdariffa (H. sabdariffa), Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra (B. oleracea) and Beta vulgaris (B. vulgaris) and characterized. These CPREs showed potential antibacterial and antifungal activities. H. sabdariffa CPRE (HCPRE) is the most potent, as it inhibited all tested bacteria and fungi. Total anthocyanins content (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were estimated in all three CPREs. H. sabdariffa contained 4.2 mg/100 g TAC, 2000 mg/100 g of TPC and 430 mg/100 g of TFC in a dry weight sample. GC–MS analysis of HCPRE showed 10 different active compounds that have antimicrobial effects against pathogenic bacteria and fungi, especially alcoholic compounds, triazine derivatives and esters. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images of Staphylococcus aureus DSM 1104 and Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC 43816 treated with HCPRE (50 μg/mL) exhibited signs of asymmetric, wrinkled exterior surfaces, cell deformations and loss of cell shapes; and adherence of lysed cell content led to cell clumping, malformations, blisters, cell depressions and diminished cell numbers. This indicates death of bacterial cells and loss of cell contents. Aspergillus ochraceus EMCC516 (A. ochraceus, when treated with 100 μg/mL of HCPRE showed irregular cell organelles and cell vacuolation.

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