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In the current study, a total of 135 enterococci strains from different sources were screened for the presence of the enterocin-encoding genes entA, entP, entB, entL50A, and entL50B. The enterocin genes were present at different frequencies, with entA occurring the most frequently, followed by entP and entB; entL50A and L50B were not detected. The occurrence of single enterocin genes was higher than the occurrence of multiple enterocin gene combinations. The 80 isolates that harbor at least one enterocin-encoding gene (denoted "Gene(+) strains") were screened for antimicrobial activity. A total of 82.5% of the Gene(+) strains inhibited at least one of the indicator strains, and the isolates harboring multiple enterocin-encoding genes inhibited a larger number of indicator strains than isolates harboring a single gene. The indicator strains that exhibited growth inhibition included Listeria innocua strain CLIP 12612 (ATCC BAA-680), Listeria monocytogenes strain CDC 4555, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, S. aureus ATCC 29213, S. aureus ATCC 6538, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076, Salmonella typhimurium strain UK-1 (ATCC 68169), and Escherichia coli BAC 49LT ETEC. Inhibition due to either bacteriophage lysis or cytolysin activity was excluded. The growth inhibition of antilisterial Gene+ strains was further tested under different culture conditions. Among the culture media formulations, the MRS agar medium supplemented with 2% (w/v) yeast extract was the best solidified medium for enterocin production. Our findings extend the current knowledge of enterocin-producing enterococci, which may have potential applications as biopreservatives in the food industry due to their capability of controlling food spoilage pathogens.

The aim of this research was to study the incidence of antibiotic resistance in 56 Enterococcus strains isolated from dairy products. The identification of enterococci was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers to E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus, and antibiotic resistance was tested by the disk diffusion method. The most prevalent species was E. faecium with a rate of 58.33%, followed by 27.77% E. faecalis, 11.11% E. casseliflavus and 2.7% E. gallinarum. Distribution of resistance was found in different species. All isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, imipenem and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. In addition, isolates resistant to tetracyclin, nalidixic acid, amikacin, erythromycin, vancomycin and cephalothin were detected. A total of 66.6% of E. faecium and 58.3% of E. faecalis strain were resistant to multiple drugs. The van(A) gene was detected in 100% of vancomycin resistant enterococci. Considering the results of our study, dairy enterococci can be considered a potential source for dissemination of antibiotic resistances.

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Enterococci are increasingly responsible for nosocomial infections worldwide. This study was undertaken to compare the identification and susceptibility profile using an automated MicrosScan system, PCR-based assay and disk diffusion assay of Enterococcus spp. We evaluated 30 clinical isolates of Enterococcus spp. Isolates were identified by MicrosScan system and PCR-based assay. The detection of antibiotic resistance genes (vancomycin, gentamicin, tetracycline and erythromycin) was also determined by PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibilities to vancomycin (30 µg), gentamicin (120 µg), tetracycline (30 µg) and erythromycin (15 µg) were tested by the automated system and disk diffusion method, and were interpreted according to the criteria recommended in CLSI guidelines. Concerning Enterococcus identification the general agreement between data obtained by the PCR method and by the automatic system was 90.0% (27/30). For all isolates of E. faecium and E. faecalis we observed 100% agreement. Resistance frequencies were higher in E. faecium than E. faecalis. The resistance rates obtained were higher for erythromycin (86.7%), vancomycin (80.0%), tetracycline (43.35) and gentamicin (33.3%). The correlation between disk diffusion and automation revealed an agreement for the majority of the antibiotics with category agreement rates of > 80%. The PCR-based assay, the van(A) gene was detected in 100% of vancomycin resistant enterococci. This assay is simple to conduct and reliable in the identification of clinically relevant enterococci. The data obtained reinforced the need for an improvement of the automated system to identify some enterococci.

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Maize white spot lesions caused by Pantoea ananatis has contributed substantially to yield reduction of maize crops in many countries, including Brazil. The initial symptoms of the disease include watersoaked lesions on the leaves, which later become necrotic and straw-colored. Basic knowledge regarding the biology and the infection mechanisms of this pathogen is lacking. In this study, 15 P. ananatis isolates obtained from maize white spot lesions were examined for their ice nucleation activity (INA). The INAs of individual bacterial isolates was determined by tube nucleation tests. Bacterial isolates were grown on tryptic soy broth medium and an aliquot of 0.1 mL of culture was added to test tubes containing 1 mL of sterile distilled water. The tubes were packed in an ice bath, which had a temperature below -10°C, for approximately 2 min. Instantaneous formation of ice in the tube revealed a positive INA phenotype of the isolate. Only 9 of the 15 studied isolates showed the INA + phenotype. Pathogenicity tests were performed using whole plants and detached leaves. Symptoms were reproduced in both tests, but only for the inoculations using INA + isolates. Electron microscopy allowed visualization of protein vesicles under outer cell wall of isolates characterized as INA + . Key words: INA, vesicle protein, transmission electron microscopy ResumoLesões de mancha branca do milho causadas por Pantoea ananatis contribuiram substancialmente para a redução da produtividade nos cultivos de milho, em muitos países, incluindo o Brasil. Os sintomas iniciais da doença incluem lesões anasarcas nas folhas, que mais tarde tornam-se necróticas e de cor palha. O conhecimento básico sobre a biologia e os mecanismos de infecção deste patógeno são escassos. Neste estudo, 15 isolados de P. ananatis obtidos a partir de lesões da mancha branca do milho foram examinados quanto à sua atividade de nucleação de gelo (INA). A INA de isolados bacterianos individuais foi determinada por testes de nucleação em tubos. Isolados bacterianos foram cultivados em meio de caldo de soja tríptico e uma alíquota de 0,1 mL de cultura foi adicionada à tubos de ensaio contendo 1 mL de água destilada esterelizada. Os tubos foram colados em banho de gelo, o qual continha temperatura inferior a -10 ºC, por aproximadamente 2 min. A formação de gelo instantânea no tubo revelou um fenótipo INA positivo do isolado. Apenas 9 dos 15 isolados estudados apresentaram o fenótipo INA+. Testes de patogenicidade foram realizados com plantas inteiras e folhas destacadas.

. 2015 Isolation and characterization of twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci for Hypochaeris catharinensis (Asteraceae) and cross-amplification in related species. J. Genet. 94, e39-e42.