Biodiversity of Bacteriocin-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Mexican Regional Cheeses and their Contribution to Milk Fermentation

The aim of this work was to examine the biodiversity of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria from homemade cheeses produced in Veracruz (México) and assess their contribution as adjunct cultures in dairy products. Ninety-three presumptive bacteriocinogenic strains were detected by direct antagonism assays and 29 of them were active against Enterococcus faecalis NRRL-B537, Listeria innocua 062 AST, or Listeria monocytogenes ATCC19115 by the well diffusion test using cell-free supernatants, adjusted to pH 6.0 to exclude inhibition by organic acids. Positive isolates were identified by partial sequencing of the 16s rDNA as Pediococcus acidilactici (four isolates), Enterococcus faecium (17 isolates), Lactobacillus plantarum (six isolates) and Lactobacillus fermentum (two isolates). RAPD-PCR discriminated seven groups with a 50% similarity and revealed the presence of the same isolates. The coding genes for the synthesis of plantaricin EF, plantaricin JK, plantaricin N, plantaricin NC8 and the inducing peptide plantaricin A were detected by PCR in L. plantarum. Similarly, enterocin P and pediocin PA-1 genes were amplified from Enterococcus and Pediococcus genomic DNA, respectively. Overall, co-culturing of bacteriocin producing Lactobacillus and Pediococcus strains with the dairy starter Lactococcus lactis IPLA947 did not interfere with milk acidification. Lactose consumption, acidification rate and production of lactic acid were unchanged. Nonetheless, higher levels of acetic acid, ethanol and succinic acid were detected depending on the strain. Our results demonstrate the diversity of bacteriocinogenic species in homemade Mexican cheeses which may be used as adjunct cultures to enhancing safety of this well-appreciated cheese while providing a richer range of metabolites.     

Antibiotic Resistance in Lactic Acid Bacteria and Micrococcaceae/Staphylococcaceae Isolates from Artisanal Raw Milk Cheeses, and Potential Implications on Cheese Making

ABSTRACT:  Antibiotic susceptibility against 19 antimicrobial agents was evaluated in isolates of the genera  Lactococcus  (46 isolates),  Leuconostoc  (22),  Lactobacillus  (19),  Staphylococcus  (8),  Enterococcus  (7), and  Microccoccus/Kocuria  (5) obtained from the predominant microflora of nonrecent and recent types of artisanal raw cow's milk cheeses. Beta-lactams showed broad activity against all genera, although leuconostocs and lactobacilli were highly resistant to oxacillin (80% to 95.5%). Resistance to aminoglycosides was frequent for lactococci and enterococci (particularly for streptomycin), whereas lower rates of resistance were detected for lactobacilli and leuconostocs. Technologically interesting traits for the food industry were distributed among isolates that showed different degrees of resistance to common antibiotics. However, isolates showing resistance to less than 2 antibiotics were mainly those with properties of greatest technological interest (acidifying activity, proteolytic/lipolytic activities, or diacetyl production).     

The Use of Multiplex PCR to Determine the Prevalence of Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Raw Milk,Feta Cheese,and Hand Swabs

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can cause mastitis in cattle and, therefore, can be present in milk. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of coagulase positive S. aureus and its enterotoxin genes sea, seb, and sec in isolates recovered from raw milk, feta cheese, and human hand swabs of milk and cheese handlers in Beni‐Suef province, Egypt. A total of 100 samples of raw milk and 50 samples of pasteurized‐milk feta cheese were collected. In addition, 50 hand swabs from milk handlers and 25 hand swabs from cheese handlers were examined for the presence of coagulase positive S. aureus. The isolates were characterized by multiplex PCR for detection of sea, seb, and sec genes, and for resistance to 5 classes of commonly used antibiotics. Twelve (12/100), 12 (6/50), and 17% (13/75) of milk, cheese, and hand swab samples, respectively, were positive for coagulase positive S. aureus. One isolate was obtained from each positive sample (31 isolates), and none contained genes for SEA or SEC production. Twenty‐five percent, 33%, and 31%, respectively, of the isolates contained the genes for SEB, resulting in 3%, 4%, and 5% of samples being positive for toxin producing coagulase positive S. aureus, respectively. At least one isolate was resistant to each of the antibiotics tested. Despite the low potential for SEB production shown, preventative measures, such as maintenance of the cold‐chain and good hygienic practices should be implemented to further reduce the potential risk to public health from SEB, and to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.     

酸菜中具有抑菌活性乳酸菌的分离鉴定及其产细菌素特性

目前已有研究陆续从不同的乳酸菌中分离到细菌素,但是这些细菌素存在着抑菌谱窄的问题,寻找广谱抗菌性能的新一代细菌素具有重要的理论价值和应用前景。以市售保质期较长的8种不同品牌的酸菜为材料,将青霉菌作为指示菌,通过抑菌实验筛选出一株能产生抑菌物质的菌株L3,经过生理生化鉴定、16S rDNA测序分析确定该菌株为植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum),故命名为植物乳杆菌L₃,NCBI序列号为MT781360。该菌株在MRS培养基中于37℃培养18～24 h时产细菌素L3的抑菌活性最强。将该培养上清液采用乙酸乙酯萃取,葡聚糖凝胶柱Sephadex G-50过滤分离纯化,再经Trinice-SDS-PAGE电泳结果显示,细菌素L3的分子质量约为4～5 kDa。细菌素L3对蛋白酶敏感,但其活性不受过氧化氢酶的影响,初步结果显示细菌素L3为蛋白质类物质。细菌素L3在60～100℃处理20 min或121℃处理15 min仍具有较高的抑菌活性,pH值2～10范围内有良好的稳定性;对革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌以及部分真菌具有抑菌活性。植物乳杆菌L_3<...     

Short Communication: Elevated Concentrations of Oleic Acid and Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Milk Fat of Multiparous Subclinical Ketotic Cows

The objective of this study was to determine whether concentrations of specific fatty acids in milk fat are a candidate for the early detection of subclinical ketosis. The case study included multiparous cows fed a lipogenic diet or a mixed glucogenic:lipogenic diet during the first 9 wk of lactation. Milk fatty acid profiles of cows classified as healthy (n = 8) or as subclinically ketotic (n = 8) based on a blood plasma β-hydroxybutyrate threshold concentration of 1.2 mmol/L were compared. Subclinically ketotic cows showed an elevated proportion of C18:1 cis-9 in milk fat during the whole registration period.     

Short communication: Investigation of Coxiella burnetii occurrence in dairy sheep flocks by bulk-tank milk analysis and antibody level determination

To estimate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the dairy sheep population from the Basque Country (northern Spain), a study was carried out combining molecular and serological techniques. First, bulk-tank milk samples from 154 flocks belonging to the Latxa Breed Farmers Association were analyzed by PCR, with 22% of flocks testing positive for C. burnetii. Then, a selection of 34 flocks (7 PCR positive and 17 negative) was investigated for the presence of serum antibodies by ELISA test on 1,011 ewes (approximately 30 ewes per flock). A total of 8.9% of the animals were seropositive, 67.6% of the flocks had at least one seropositive animal, but only in 14.7% of them was seroprevalence greater than 25%. Older ewes showed a significantly greater prevalence (17.5%) compared with yearlings (7.5%) or replacement lambs (1.5%). A marginally significant association was found between seroprevalence and PCR detection of C. burnetii in bulk-tank milk. The widespread distribution of C. burnetii in the region advocates for the implementation of Q fever control strategies and highlights the potential risk of sheep as a reservoir and infection source for other domestic and wildlife species and the human population.     

Short communication: Detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction in bovine milk in Brazil

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, a chronic granulomatous enteritis that affects all ruminants worldwide. Since the isolation of MAP from intestinal tissue of human patients bearing Crohn's disease, there has been a debate on the possibility of this agent playing a role in the etiology of Crohn's disease. Milk could be the potential vehicle for transmission to humans. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis has already been detected in milk samples worldwide. In Brazil, detection of MAP is uncommon; however, it has already been detected by bacterial isolation and serological test. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of MAP, by PCR, in raw milk samples in the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Of 222 milk samples evaluated, 8 (3.6%) quarter milk samples amplified fragments of similar size to that expected of 626 bp. These fragments were cloned and sequenced. The genetic analysis revealed a 99% identity match between the sequences obtained in this study and the insertion sequence IS900 deposited in the GenBank. In the analyzed milk samples, MAP DNA was detected, confirming its presence in dairy cattle in the region of Viçosa. This is the first report of MAP presence in raw milk samples in Brazil.     

Short communication: Naturally sensitive Bacillus thuringiensis EG10368 produces thurincin H and acquires immunity after heterologous expression of the one-step-amplified thurincin H gene cluster

Heterologous expression of bacteriocin genetic determinants (or operons) has long been a research interest for the functional analysis of genes involved in bacteriocin biosynthesis, regulation, modification, and immunity. Previously, construction of genomic libraries of the bacteriocin producer strains was usually required to identify new bacteriocin operons, a method that is tedious and time consuming. For the first time, we directly amplified an 8.14-kb bioinformatically identified thurincin H gene cluster using a one-step PCR method with 100% accuracy. This amplified gene cluster was cloned into plasmid pHT315, resulting in plasmid pGW139, and subsequently transformed to Bacillus thuringiensis EG10368, a strain naturally sensitive to thurincin H. Heterologous expression of the gene cluster makes the sensitive B. thuringiensis EG10368 produce thurincin H at a higher level compared with the wild-type producer, B. thuringiensis SF361. Moreover, B. thuringiensis EG10368pGW139 acquired complete immunity to thurincin H. The results indicated that one-step PCR is a promising tool to accurately amplify long bacteriocin gene clusters used in bacteriocin functional analysis studies and it is an effective way to produce bacteriocins at a higher level, without the need to clone large chromosomal fragments.     

生猪肉加工厂食品接触面四环素耐药菌及其耐药基因的分布

耐药菌的传播会对食品安全与人类健康造成严重威胁。本研究通过对某大型生猪肉加工厂食品接触面污染微生物四环素耐药情况进行分析,探讨其对生猪肉制品质量与安全的潜在危害。从生猪加工厂食品接触面共采集样品100份,共分离到168株细菌。通过药敏试验,发现60.7%的污染细菌对四环素具有耐药性,包括85.7%的假单胞菌属、85.7%的葡萄球菌属、86.7%的沙雷氏菌属、80%的乳球菌属、80%的大肠杆菌、60.0%的不动杆菌属和55.0%的气单胞菌属。通过对分离株进行15种四环素耐药基因的筛查,发现生猪肉加工厂设备食品接触面存在9种四环素耐药基因,包括tet L、tet A、tet B、tet C、tet E、tet M、tet S、tet K和tet X,其检出率分别为7.7%、6.0%、4.8%、4.8%、3.6%、3.6%、3.6%、1.2%和0.6%。本研究结果表明,生猪肉加工厂食品接触面四环素耐药菌污染严重,可能交叉污染生猪肉制品,其携带的四环素耐药基因可能向不同细菌种属间转移,进而由食物链向人类传播,对人类健康造成潜在的威胁。     

Short communication: Recovery of viable Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis from retail pasteurized whole milk in Brazil

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiological agent of paratuberculosis, a chronic granulomatous enteritis that affects all ruminants worldwide. Some researchers have indicated a possible role of MAP in Crohn's disease. Despite extensive research and large and important advances in the past few decades, the etiology of Crohn's disease remains indefinite. The most probable transmission route of MAP from animals to humans is milk and dairy products. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis has already been detected in milk samples worldwide, and some studies have reported that MAP is resistant to pasteurization. In Brazil, MAP has been reported in raw milk samples; however, Brazilian retail pasteurized milk has not yet been tested for viable MAP. The aim of this study was to investigate MAP in pasteurized milk in the region of Viçosa (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Thirty-seven samples were collected and processed for culture of MAP. One colony similar to MAP was observed and confirmed by IS900-nested PCR and sequencing. Analysis revealed 97 to 99% identity with the MAP K-10 strain. This study is the first report of the presence of MAP in retail pasteurized whole milk in Brazil.     

新疆地区驴乳源优良乳酸菌发酵剂的筛选及菌株益生特性

从新疆哈密地区的15个驴乳样品中分离筛选出38株疑似乳酸菌,其中7株菌具有明显凝乳特性.经16S rRNA基因测序鉴定为乳酸片球菌(Pediococcus acidilactici)HL12-21、戊糖片球菌(Pediococcus pentosaceus)HL29-5、蒙氏肠球菌(Enterococcus mundt...     

Technical note: Use of transfer RNA-intergenic spacer PCR combined with capillary electrophoresis to identify coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species originating from bovine milk and teat apices

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are the most frequently isolated bacteria in milk samples from cows with and without mastitis. Elucidating their relevance in bovine udder health is hampered because identification at the species level, if done at all, used to be performed based on phenotypic features. To provide a rapid, cheap, and easy-to-use genotypic technique that can be used to identify CNS species from milk and teat apices from cows, the performance of transfer RNA-intergenic spacer PCR (tDNA-PCR) in combination with capillary electrophoresis was evaluated. After updating the tDNA library with CNS reference strains, 288 field isolates were identified with tDNA-PCR and gene sequencing, and the latter was used as the reference method. The field isolates were divided in 2 groups of 144. Isolates of the first group were identified with tDNA-PCR with a typeability of 81.9% and an accuracy of 94.1%. Peak patterns of these isolates were then added to the tDNA library with species identity as determined by DNA sequencing. The second group was identified with the updated tDNA library, resulting in 91.0% typeability and 99.2% accuracy. This study showed that the updated tDNA-PCR in combination with capillary electrophoresis was almost as accurate as gene sequencing but faster and cheaper (only $3 per isolate), and is a useful tool in observational studies concerning the epidemiology of bovine CNS species.     

羊羔美酒大曲中乳酸菌多样性及分子鉴定

目的：分离和鉴定羊羔美酒大曲中的乳酸菌,探寻其菌群多样性,为酿酒工艺条件改进提供参考。方法：将酒曲进行梯度稀释、富集培养、平板画线等分离纯化,获取乳酸菌单菌落。采用菌落特征和个体形态特征结合的方法进行乳酸菌形态鉴定。乳酸菌的分子鉴定采用重复序列聚合酶链式反应（repetitive sequence-basedpolymerase chain reaction,Rep-PCR）技术和16S rDNA序列分析法。结果：从羊羔美酒大曲中共得到65 株乳酸菌,形态学分为9 类。用Rep-PCR技术在75%的相似性上将其区分为5 类,经基因序列分析,鉴定为分属于4 个属的乳酸菌,分别为：片球菌属（Pediococcus）、明串珠菌属（Leuconostoc）、乳杆菌属（Lactobacillus）、肠球菌属（Enterococcus）。结论：传统微生物分离技术与现代分子鉴定技术相结合,可快速准确鉴定出羊羔美酒大曲中乳酸菌的菌群组成和多样性。     

Short communication: Milk protein genetic variation and casein haplotype structure in the Original Pinzgauer cattle

Milk protein genetic polymorphisms are often used for characterizing domesticated mammalian species and breeds, and for studying associations with economic traits. The aim of this work was to analyze milk protein genetic variation in the Original Pinzgauer, a dual-purpose (dairy and beef) cattle breed of European origin that was influenced in the past by human movements from different regions as well as by crossbreeding with Red Holstein. A total of 485 milk samples from Original Pinzgauer from Austria (n = 275) and Germany (n = 210) were typed at milk proteins α_S1-casein, β-casein, κ-casein, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin by isoelectrofocusing to analyze the genetic variation affecting the protein amino acid charge. The Original Pinzgauer breed is characterized by a rather high genetic variation affecting the amino acid charge of milk proteins, with a total of 15 alleles, 12 of which were found at a frequency >0.05. The most polymorphic protein was β-casein with 4 alleles detected. The prevalent alleles were CSN1S1*B, CSN2*A², CSN1S2*A, CSN3*A, LGB*A, and LAA*B. A relatively high frequency of CSN1S2*B (0.202 in the whole data set) was found, mainly occurring within the C-A²-B-A haplotype (in the order CSN1S1-CSN2-CSN1S2-CSN3), which seems to be peculiar to the Original Pinzgauer, possibly because the survival of an ancestral haplotype or the introgression of Bos indicus.     

西部传统发酵乳品中乳酸菌筛分及其亚硝酸盐降解能力

为探究西部牧区传统发酵乳品中乳酸菌多样性及其优势菌种的亚硝酸盐降解能力,为工业化利用提供参考,应用16S rDNA技术鉴定分离菌株,并对分离菌株亚硝酸盐降解能力采用比色法进行分析,比较不同地区、不同发酵乳品中不同种类乳酸菌亚硝酸盐降解能力的差异。结果表明：1）104?份样品中共分离得到275?株乳酸菌,鉴定出6?个属23?个种,其中瑞士乳杆菌（Lactobacillus helveticus）为青海、甘肃、新疆、内蒙古、西藏传统发酵乳品中共有菌株,L. helveticus和植物乳杆菌（L. plantarum）为酸牦牛奶、酸马奶、酸驼奶、奶渣发酵乳品中共有菌株。2）275?株乳酸菌亚硝酸盐降解率在4.8%～99.9%之间波动,其中50%的菌株表现出较好的亚硝酸盐降解能力,平均在91.3%以上。3）降解能力因菌株来源和乳酸菌种类不同存在差异性,来源于西藏的菌株显著高于青海、甘肃、新疆的菌株（P＜0.05）;来源于奶渣中的菌株显著高于酸牦牛奶和酸马奶中的菌株（P＜0.05）;在分离出的8?种优势菌株中L. plantarum、副干酪乳杆菌（L. paracasei）、短乳杆菌（L. breris）显示了稳定高效的亚硝酸盐降解能力,其中L. plantarum降解能力最强,且部分菌种间降解能力存在显著性差异（P＜0.05）。     

Short communication: Analysis of association between the prion protein (PRNP) locus and milk traits in Latxa dairy sheep

The purpose of this study was to analyze associations between polymorphisms in the PRNP gene and ewe milk traits. A total of 242,565 lactations of the Latxa breed were used. Milk, fat and protein yields, and fat and protein content from black-faced Latxa from Spanish Basque Country, black-faced Latxa from Navarra, and blond-faced Latxa were collected. To evaluate evidence of association, the different traits were analyzed using an animal model, where the PRNP genotype effect was included or not as a random effect. Adding the PRNP effect to the model improved the fitting for milk yield in black-faced Latxa from Spanish Basque Country and in blond-faced Latxa, for fat yield in black-faced Latxa from Navarra, and for protein yield in blond-faced Latxa. However, the proportion of the phenotypic variance explained by the PRNP effect for milk yield (1.0 × 10⁻³), fat yield (3.6 × 10⁻³) and protein yield (9.4 × 10⁻⁴) were near zero. The PRNP locus accounts for about 0.5, 1.5, and 0.4% of total genetic (PRNP and polygenic) variance in milk, fat, and protein yield. These values indicated that the PRNP effect is not relevant regarding genetic additive contribution. For breeding purposes, it is unlikely that selection for scrapie resistance will have an effect on the milk traits studied in the Latxa breed.     

Short communication: Genetic characterization of antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter isolates recovered from bulk tank milk

A total of 176 Acinetobacter isolates, including 57 Acinetobacter baumannii originally obtained from 2,287 bulk tank milk (BTM) samples in Korea was investigated for the genetic basis of antimicrobial resistance using molecular methods. In addition, the occurrence and cassette content of integrons were examined and the genetic diversity of A. baumannii strains identified was evaluated. Aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme genes were detected in 15 (88.2%) of the 17 aminoglycoside-resistant Acinetobacter isolates tested. The most common aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme gene identified was adenylyltransferase gene aadB (n = 9), followed by phosphotransferase genes aphA6 (n = 7) and aphA1 (n = 5). Of the 31 isolates resistant to tetracycline, tet(39) was detected in 20 of them. The genetic basis of resistance to sulfonamide was identified in 15 (53.6%) of 28 trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant isolates and 9 (32.1%) of them carried both sul1 and sul2 genes. A bla_ADC-7-like gene was detected in 1 β-lactam-resistant A. baumannii. Furthermore, class 1 integron was identified in 11 Acinetobacter isolates. Two gene cassettes dfrA15, conferring resistance to trimethoprim, and aadA2, conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, were identified in 8 Acinetobacter isolates. None of the isolates was positive for class 2 or class 3 integrons. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that most of the A. baumannii strains from BTM samples were genetically diverse, indicating that the occurrence of A. baumannii strains in BTM was not the result of dissemination of a single clone. Elucidation of resistance mechanisms associated with the resistance phenotype and a better understanding of resistance genes may help in the development of strategies to control infections, such as mastitis, and to prevent further dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of molecular characterization of antimicrobial-resistant Acinetobacter spp. from milk.     

Short communication: Incorporation of inulin and transglutaminase in fermented goat milk containing probiotic bacteria

Goat milk is a good carrier for probiotic bacteria; however, it is difficult to produce fermented goat milk with a consistency comparable to that of fermented cow milks. It can be improved by the addition of functional stabilizers, such as inulin, or treatment with transglutaminase. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cold storage of inulin and microbial transglutaminase on the viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bb-12 in fermented goat milk. Microbiological analysis included the determination of the probiotic bacteria cell count in fermented milk samples, whereas physico-chemical analysis included the analysis of fat content, titratable acidity, and pH of raw, pasteurized, and fermented goat milk samples. No positive influence of inulin or microbial transglutaminase on the viability of probiotics in fermented goat's milk samples was observed. Nevertheless, the population of probiotics remained above 6 log cfu/g after 8 wk of storage at 5°C.