Production of biogenic amines by<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Morganella morganii</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Hafnia alvei</Emphasis> using a rapid HPLC method

The histidine decarboxylating activity and production of biogenic amines by Morganella morganii (NCIMB, 10466), Klebsiella pneumoniae (NCIMB, 673) and Hafnia alvei (NCIMB, 11999) were investigated using a rapid HPLC method. Derivatisation of the bacterial samples was carried out using benzoyl chloride. A gradient elution system was used for analysis with a mixture of acetonitrile and HPLC grade water. Bacterial strains not only produce histamine in histidine-enriched broth but also the other biogenic amines. The chromatographic results show that bacterial strains are also capable of producing spermine and spermidine in histidine-enriched broth. Bacterial ammonia production by all three strains was clearly detected since ammonia is generated during the degradation of histidine. The study demonstrates that the highest histamine production was obtained by Morganella morganii, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the lowest with the Hafnia alvei. Therefore, Morganella morganii and Klebsiella pneumoniae have strong histidine decarboxylase activity since they are prolific histamine-forming bacteria     

Inhibitory activity of Pimenta dioica extracts and constituents on recombinant human histidine decarboxylase

Histamine, a bioactive amine, is formed from histidine through histidine decarboxylase (HDC). The agent that controls histamine synthesis, i.e. activity of HDC, is beneficial for controlling histamine-related physiological actions, such as inflammation. In the present study, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of the berries of Pimenta dioica was investigated for its potency as an HDC inhibitor. Two quercetin glycosides from P. dioica, quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucuronide 6″-methyl ester and quercetin 3-O-(2-O-galloyl)glucoside were identified as potent HDC inhibitors (64% and 55% inhibition at 1 mM, respectively). The inhibitory rates of these quercetin glycosides were nearly comparable to that of epigallocatechin gallate, another HDC inhibitor (75% at 1 mM). The approach to seek active components from natural products is useful for obtaining HDC inhibitors.     

A novel selective nucleoside phosphorylating enzyme from Morganella morganii

A selective nucleoside phosphorylating enzyme was purified to homogeneity from Morganella morganii NCIMB10466 crude extract. The enzyme appeared to consist of six subunits identical in molecular mass (M_r 25,000). It phosphorylated various nucleosides at the 5′-position to produce nucleoside-5′-monophosphates using pyrophosphate as the phosphate source. Energy-rich compounds, such as carbamylphosphate and acetylphosphate, were also very effective phosphate donors. The enzyme also exhibited phosphatase activity, and dephosphorylated various phosphate esters, but had a weak effect on nucleoside-3′-monophosphates. Based on the results of the kinetic study, the enzyme appeared to be an acid phosphatase. Its activity was partly inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents and heavy metal ions, but not by chelating reagents such as EDTA. Using the purified enzyme, 32.6 mM 5′-IMP was synthesized from inosine with a 41% molar yield, but the synthesized 5′-IMP was hydrolyzed back to inosine and phosphate as the reaction time was extended.     

Quantification of total and specific gram-negative histamine-producing bacteria species in fish using an MPN real-time PCR method

Quantification of histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) is necessary in order to elucidate the role that HPB play in scombrotoxin (histamine) fish poisoning. We report here the evaluation of a real-time PCR method for the quantification of total and specific Gram-negative HPB species in fish using a most probable number (MPN) format. The species-specific real-time PCR assay was 100% inclusive for independently detecting Morganella morganii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Raoultella planticola/ornithinolytica and Photobacterium damselae and did not cross react with other histamine- or non- histamine-producing bacteria. The efficiency of the reactions in the absence and presence of Spanish mackerel enrichment containing 1 × 10⁶ CFU/ml of background microflora were 93-104 and 92-99%, respectively. The MPN-real-time PCR assay accurately quantified total and specific HPB in spiked mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) and Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculates) samples. These methods were used to quantify total and specific HPB in naturally contaminated, decomposing mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel and tuna (Thunnus albacares) samples. The results of this study indicate that MPN-real-time PCR assays can be used to accurately enumerate total and specific HPB in fish samples. These assays can be applied to assess the effectiveness of mitigation strategies and understand the relationship between HPB and histamine production in decomposing fish.     

Development of a real-time PCR assay with an internal amplification control for detection of Gram-negative histamine-producing bacteria in fish

Prompt detection of bacteria that contribute to scombrotoxin (histamine) fish poisoning can aid in the detection of potentially toxic fish products and prevent the occurrence of illness. We report development of the first real-time PCR method for rapid detection of Gram-negative histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) in fish. The real-time PCR assay was 100% inclusive for detecting high-histamine producing isolates and did not detect any of the low- or non-histamine producing isolates. The efficiency of the assay with/without internal amplification control ranged from 96-104% and in the presence of background flora and inhibitory matrices was 92/100% and 73-96%, respectively. This assay was used to detect HPB from naturally contaminated yellowfin tuna, bluefish, and false albacore samples. Photobacterium damselae (8), Plesiomonas shigelloides (2), Shewanella sp. (1), and Morganella morganii (1) were subsequently isolated from the real-time PCR positive fish samples. These results indicate that the real-time PCR assay developed in this study is a rapid and sensitive method for detecting high-HPB. The assay may be adapted for quantification of HPB, either directly or with an MPN-PCR method.     

Diversity of plasmids encoding histidine decarboxylase gene in Tetragenococcus spp. isolated from Japanese fish sauce

Nineteen isolates of histamine producing halophilic bacteria were isolated from four fish sauce mashes, each mash accumulating over 1000 ppm of histamine. The complete sequences of the plasmids encoding the pyruvoyl dependent histidine decarboxylase gene (hdcA), which is harbored in histamine producing bacteria, were determined. In conjunction, the sequence regions adjacent to hdcA were analyzed to provide information regarding its genetic origin. As reference strains, Tetragenococcus halophilus H and T. muriaticus JCM10006^T were also studied. Phenotypic and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses identified all isolates as T. halophilus, a predominant histamine producing bacteria present during fish sauce fermentation. Genetic analyses (PCR, Southern blot, and complete plasmid sequencing) of the histamine producing isolates confirmed that all the isolates harbored approximately 21-37 kbp plasmids encoding a single copy of the hdc cluster consisting of four genes related to histamine production. Analysis of hdc clusters, including spacer regions, indicated > 99% sequence similarity among the isolates. All of the plasmids sequenced encoded traA, however genes related to plasmid conjugation, namely mob genes and oriT, were not identified. Two putative mobile genetic elements, ISLP1-like and IS200-like, respectively, were identified in the up- and downstream region of the hdc cluster of all plasmids. Most of the sequences, except hdc cluster and two adjacent IS elements, were diverse among plasmids, suggesting that each histamine producers harbored a different histamine-related plasmid. These results suggested that the hdc cluster was not spread by clonal dissemination depending on the specific plasmid and that the hdc cluster in tetragenococcal plasmid was likely encoded on transformable elements.     

Histamine stability in Rihaakuru at -80, 4 and 30°C

Rihaakuru is a shelf stable fish paste product formed from a fish soup prepared from tuna. Histamine contamination is a food safety issue with this product that is manufactured from tuna fish that has been temperature abused. Histamine concentrations decreased between 31% and 73% in Rihaakuru stored for 10months at either -80, 4 or 30°C. This appears to be a property of the product as histamine solutions are reported to be stable, at least under frozen storage. The risk of histamine food poisoning due to Rihaakuru may reduce during the storage of the product.     

Elucidation of a major IgE epitope of Pacific mackerel parvalbumin

Ten overlapping peptides (20 amino acids in length with an offset of 10 amino acids) spanning the amino acid sequence of Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus parvalbumin (Sco j 1), were synthesized and evaluated for IgE-binding ability by fluorescence ELISA using fish-allergic patient sera. As a result, the region 21–40 was judged to contain a major IgE epitope of Sco j 1. However, this region was not necessarily assumed to be a major IgE epitope for the parvalbumins from seven other species of fish (sardine, Japanese eel, cod, horse mackerel, crimson sea bream, skipjack and flounder). Ala-scanning experiments revealed that eight amino acid residues (Ser-23, His-26, Lys-27, Lys-28, Lys-31, Cys-33, Leu-35 and Lys-38) are important for the IgE-binding of Sco j 1. Some of these residues are replaced by different residues in the parvalbumins of the other seven species of fish.     

Production of -aminobutyric acid (GABA) by Lactobacillus paracasei isolated from traditional fermented foods

Lactobacillus strains that accumulated γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in culture medium were screened to determine strains with high GABA-producing ability. One strain, NFRI 7415, which was isolated from a Japanese traditional fermented fish (funa-sushi), showed the highest GABA-producing ability among the screened strains. Identification tests (i.e., 16S rDNA sequencing and sugar assimilation ability) indicated that NFRI 7415 belongs to Lb. paracasei. The GABA production was further improved by the addition of pyridoxal phosphate to the culture medium and pH regulation of culture medium at pH 5.0. Under optimal cultivation conditions, strain NFRI 7415 produced GABA at a concentration of 302 mm when the glutamate concentration in the culture medium was 500 mm.     

Antitumor activities of liposome-incorporated aqueous extracts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anodonta </Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">woodiana</Emphasis> (Lea, 1834)

To acquire the effectiveness of oral treatments, aqueous extracts of Anodonta woodiana (HB) were incorporated into liposome and its antitumor activities evaluated in vivo. The HB-loaded liposomes (HBL) were prepared at a mean size of 14.85 μm by reverse-phase evaporation method. Referring to the maximum tolerated doses test, mice with orally administrated HBL, at a 3 g/kg body weight dosage, showed no obvious acute toxic sign. Furthermore, the tumoricidal activities of HBL against C26 murine colon carcinoma, Lewis lung tumor, human QGY hepatic carcinoma and MKN-45 gastric tumor were examined, respectively. In contrast to free HB, HBL possessed remarkable antitumor activity. Simultaneously, the effect of HBL was observed in a dose-dependent manner. For C26 murine colon carcinoma and Lewis lung tumor, the inhibitory ratios of HBL were 54.36 and 51.97% at a dose of 400 mg/kg, respectively. The suppression of tumor growth and the reduction in body weight were more pronounced in human QGY hepatic carcinoma and MKN-45 gastric tumors inoculated mice by treatment of HBL during 30 days. All these promising results implied that liposome-incorporated aqueous extracts of Anodonta woodiana had a more potential application as a natural antitumor and immunomodulator formulation.