The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in foods obtained in retail shops and food industries located in Montevideo-Uruguay, and to identify the serogroups of the obtained isolates. Three-thousand one-hundred and seventy-five food samples (frozen, deli meats, ready-to-eat and cheese) were analyzed. The obtained isolates were serogrouped by multiplex PCR and serotyped by conventional procedure. Genetic comparisons were performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis on a sub-set of isolates belonging to the same serotype successively recovered from the same establishment. L. monocytogenes was isolated from 11.2% of samples. The highest prevalence was observed in frozen foods (38%), followed by cheese (10%). 1/2b and 4b were the most frequently identified serotypes. In six of 236 analyzed establishments we successively recovered L. monocytogenes isolates belonging to the same serotype. Most of them corresponded to serotype 1/2b. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles suggest that at least 33% of L. monocytogenes 1/2b isolates are genetically related and that may remain viable for prolonged periods. The observed prevalence of L. monocytogenes was lower than reported in neighboring countries. Our findings highlight the role that frozen foods may play in the spread of this pathogen, and the relevance of serotypes 1/2b and 4b.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Listeria monocytogenes are worldwide recognized zoonotic pathogens. Recent reports have emerged about the circulation of antimicrobial-resistant STEC and L. monocytogenes isolates. To assess the frequency of antimicrobial resistance and related genes in these pathogens, we studied 45 STEC and 50 L. monocytogenes isolates locally recovered from different sources. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk-diffusion method, and the genomic sequences of three selected STEC and from all 50 L. monocytogenes isolates were analyzed for antibiotic resistance genes. Four STEC and three L. monocytogenes isolates were phenotypically resistant to at least one of the antibiotics tested. Resistance genes aph(3 ′′)-Ib, aph(3 ′)-Ia, aph(6)-Id, bla T EM−1B , sul2, mef(A), and tet(A) were found in a human STEC ampicillin-resistant isolate. All L. monocytogenes isolates harbored fosX, lin, mdrL, lde fepA, and norB. Overall resistance in L. monocytogenes and STEC was low or middle. However, the high load of resistance genes found, even in susceptible isolates, suggests that these pathogens could contribute to the burden of antimicrobial resistance.

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Resumen:La utilización de fermentos en la elaboración de productos lácteos es una práctica diaria a nivel industrial. En nuestro país los mismos son comprados a multinacionales extranjeras que se dedican a producir y comercializar fermentos; muchos de los cuales incorporan bacterias probióticas. Los probióticos pueden definirse como microorganismos que luego de ser consumidos en cantidades adecuadas, confieren algún efecto benéfico en el huésped. En el presente trabajo se realizó el aislamiento de una cepa de Lactobacillus de origen humano. Se identificó por tinción gram, prueba catalasa, crecimiento en anaerobiosis y aerobiosis y un test API 50 CH. Con el objetivo de probar propiedades probióticas de la cepa se llevaron a cabo estudios de resistencia al pH, tolerancia a sales biliares y se realizó un Modelo Gástrico in vitro. Los resultados permiten afirmar que estamos en presencia de una cepa nativa de Lactobacillus acidophilus caracterizada fenotípicamente con un 97% de confianza. Presentaría la habilidad de sobrevivir al pasaje a través del tubo digestivo ya que resistió la exposición a un pH similar al estomacal, pudo crecer en un medio con sales biliares y sobrevivió a la acción conjunta de la pepsina y una simulación de jugo gástrico; características que permiten clasificarla como posible cepa probiótica.

Eucalyptus spp. residues of paper industry are a potential lignocellulosic raw material for production of second-generation bioethanol as an alternative to conventional production from cereal crops. Studying the behavior at 40 ºC of a commercial cellulase (Sunson), Eucalyptus sawdust saccharification was carried out under two pH conditions. With the aim to evaluate the bioethanol production from Eucalyptus wood, a strategy combining saccharification and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) was undertaken at 40 ºC with a thermotolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae with different substrate and inoculum concentrations, and different nitrogen sources. At last, the process was carried out in optimal conditions with Saccharomyces cerevisiae M522 and SacSV-10. Saccharification produced more free glucose at pH 5, reaching a maximum of 1.5 g/L. Encouraging results were obtained with 500 mg/L of ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen source and 10 % v/v initial inoculum at 106 cfu/mL concentration. Yeast SacSV-10 was not inhibited by phenols present in the culture media using a wood concentration of 10 g/L, but when the solids concentration was increased, the bioprocess yield was compromised. When the process was carried out in optimal conditions the bioethanol production, expressed as the conversion percentage of cellulose to ethanol, was 71.5 % and 73.6 % for M522 and the mutant strain respectively. The studied properties of the mutant strain provide added value to it, which pose new challenges to national companies dedicated to the production and sale of inputs for bioethanol industry.

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Tecnológico del Uruguay (LATU) -(2) Gerencia de Proyectos Alimentarios. Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay (LATU).