Presence of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria sp. in fresh and cured sausages. Use of different conditions of time and temperature for incubation

Two different temperatures for enrichment of Listeria monocytogenes and related species have been studied (1) cold enrichment at 4 degrees C (2) enrichment at 30 degrees C (FDA method). Also, two selective media for isolation were tested: Acriflavine-Ceftazidime agar (A.C.) and Palcam agar. We have studied 72 samples of dry-cured sausage (called 'longaniza') at different stages of maturation: fresh, semi-cured and cured samples. The most efficient method was cold enrichment at 4 degrees C during 5 days followed by isolation in Palcam agar, but results were only significant for fresh sausages (P < 0.05).     

Hemolytic activity reevaluation of putative nonpathogenic Listeria monocytogenes strains

Identification of 12 strains originally characterized as nonpathogenic Listeria monocytogenes was reassured following the evaluation of their hemolytic capability with a newly developed horse blood agar plate. Seven of the strains were observed consistently to be hemolytic and confirmed as L. monocytogenes with the use of two commercial systems: the Gene-Trak L. monocytogenes-specific colorimetric DNA hybridization assay and the API Listeria system. Except for one strain that formed typical smooth colonies, these hemolytic strains formed rough colonies on a selective medium, lithium chloride-ceftazidime agar. The rest of the strains were nonhemolytic and did not hybridize with the DNA probe; they were identified as Listeria innocua on the basis of their API Listeria system biochemical profile. All but one of these nonhemolytic strains formed smooth colonies on lithium chloride-ceftazidime agar.     

Characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated in Russia and their typing using pulse electrophoresis

On the basis of specially developed scheme for the isolation of Listeria strains comprising 2 enrichment stages and the use of growth inhibitors, 128 L. monocytogenes cultures were isolated from clinical material, foodstuffs and sewage water. Highly virulent L.monocytogenes strains isolated from clinical material belonged to serovar 4b (54%) and 1/2a (38%), while those isolated from foodstuffs and sewage water belonged to 4b (74%). The restriction analysis of the chromosomal DNA of the isolated cultures with the use of restrictase EcoR1 on the basis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) made it possible to distinguish Listeria strains in accordance with 5 types of restrictograms. The restrictograms of highly virulent L. monocytogenes strains, serovar 4b, belonged to types 1 and 2, while those of L. monocytogenes strains, serovar 1/2a, belonged to types 2 and 3. The comparative use of different methods for typing L. monocytogenes (sero-, phago-, bio- and resistotyping, the analysis of plasmid composition and restriction analysis) revealed that the combination of serotyping and restriction analysis on the basis of PFGE proved to be most promising for the characterization of the isolated L. monocytogenes strains and the assessment of their epidemic importance.     

Disinfection of eyelid speculums for retinopathy of prematurity examination

Depending on the growth medium used for enrichment of bacterial cells prior to assay, the monoclonal antibody (MAb) EM-6E11 recognizing Listeria genus-specific epitope on 43 and 94 to 97 kDa cell-surface antigens (A. K. Bhunia and M. G. Johnson, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:1924-1929, 1992) exhibited extensive variability in the detection of Listeria species. MAb EM-6E11 strongly detected live cells of all Listeria species and all serotypes of L. monocytogenes by ELISA when cells were grown in nonselective brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, in selective Listeria enrichment broth (LEB), or in Listeria repair broth (LRB). In contrast, EM-6E11 detected only four of the thirteen serotypes of L. monocytogenes (serotypes 1/2c, 3b, 4ab, and 7) when cells were grown in the UVM1 formulation of Listeria enrichment broth (UVM1) or Fraser broth (FRB). This MAb failed to react with live cells of four other Listeria species, including L. ivanovii, L. welshimeri, L. grayi, and L. murrayi cells grown in UVM1 or FRB. Heating of Listeria cells at 100 degrees C for 20 min, irrespective of the enrichment media used, led to large losses of MAb EM-6E11 reactivity in ELISA, suggesting that the specific cell-surface epitopes involved may not be heat stable. Our results confirm that MAb EM-6E11 is suitable for detection of live cells but not heat-killed cells of Listeria spp. and can be used in conjunction with an enrichment step in BHI, LEB, or LRB but not in UVM1 or FRB.     

Limited access to a dietary fat option affects ingestive behavior but not body composition in male rats

Survival, recoverability and sublethal injury of two strains of Listeria monocytogenes, Scott A and an environmental strain KM, on exposure to sea water at 12.8 or 20.8 degrees C was determined using in situ diffusion chambers. Plate counts were used to assess recoverability and injury while 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) reduction was used to determine respiratory activity. T90 values (times for 10-fold decreases in numbers of recoverable cells) on non-selective medium (trypticase soya agar with 0.6% yeast extract) at 12.8 and 20.8 degrees C were 61.7 and 69.2 h for L. monocytogenes Scott A, and 103.0 and 67.0 h for L. monocytogenes KM, respectively. On selective medium (Oxford agar), T90 values at 12.8 and 20.8 degrees C were 60.6 and 56.9 h for L. monocytogenes Scott A, and 83.0 and 65.9 h for L. monocytogenes KM, respectively. With Scott A, the percentage of sublethally injured cells at 12.8 and 20.8 degrees C was 1.7 and 17.7%, respectively, while for KM the values were 19.0 and 1.6%, respectively. The fraction of cells reducing CTC but which were not recoverable on plating progressively increased on exposure to sea water. Listeria monocytogenes KM challenged at 58 degrees C showed an apparent increase in heat resistance after exposure to sea water at 20.8 degrees C for 7 d (D58 = 2.64 min) compared with before exposure (D58 = 1.24). This increase in thermal resistance was not apparent at temperatures greater than 63 degrees C, and analysis of the best-fit regression lines fitted to the thermal data obtained from the two cell populations indicated that their thermal resistance was not significantly different (P > 0.05) over the temperature range tested (58-62 degrees C).     

Unstable expression and thermal instability of a species-specific cell surface epitope associated with a 66-kilodalton antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody EM-7G1 within serotypes of Listeria monocytogenes grown in nonselective and selective broths

Conditions that resulted in unstable expression and heat instability of a cell surface epitope associated with a 66-kDa antigen in Listeria monocytogenes serotypes were identified with the probe monoclonal antibody (MAb) EM-7G1 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This epitope appeared to be absent in three serotypes (serotypes 3b, 4a, and 4c), which did not react with MAb EM-7G1 irrespective of the enrichment broth tested. The remaining 10 serotypes were detected by MAb EM-7G1 only when cells were grown in nonselective brain heart infusion broth (BHI) or selective Listeria enrichment broth (LEB). When cells were grown in Listeria repair broth (LRB), only 6 of the 13 serotypes were detected by MAb EM-7G1, and recognition of serogroup 4 was completely lost. None of the 13 serotypes was detected by MAb EM-7G1 when cells were grown in two other commonly used Listeria-selective media, UVM1 broth and Fraser broth (FRB), indicating that possible loss of epitope expression occurred under these conditions. MAb EM-7G1 maintained species specificity without cross-reacting with live or heat-killed cells of six other Listeria spp. (Listeria ivanovii, Listeria innocua, Listeria seeligeri, Listeria welshimeri, Listeria grayi, and Listeria murrayi) irrespective of the enrichment conditions tested. Due to heat instability of the cell surface epitope when it was exposed to 80 or 100 degrees C for 20 min, MAb EM-7G1 is suitable for detection of live cells of L. monocytogenes in BHI or LEB but not in LRB, UVM1, or FRB enrichment medium.     

Fluorescence induction in intact spinach chloroplasts

The feces of 318 healthy adults were examined for L. monocytogenes by means of the cold enrichment and of two different selective media (nalidixic acid-trypaflavin-serum agar; Braveny medium). 15 persons (4.7 percent) proved to be carriers. Three of the 15 strains only caused hemolysis on sheep blood agar and belonged to serotypes 1/2b, 1/2c and 3c. The nonhemolytic strains without exception belonged to serotypes 4f and 4g. The Braveny medium proved to be superior to the nalidixic acid-trypaflavin-serum agar for isolating L. monocytogenes from feces.     

The chemical stability of enkephalin-like tetrapeptides in a cannula implanted in the rat neostriatum for multiple microinjections

A method for identification of Listeria in food samples was developed. It consisted of cultivating of suspected specimen on standard agar medium, direct absorption of grown colonies onto nitrocellulose membrane and processing of the latter with rabbit serum raised against purified cell wall protein Lm79/39 of L. monocytogenes. Analysis using anti-rabbit peroxidase conjugate and 4-chloro-1-naphthol and H2O2 solutions allowed direct detection of Listeria colonies which remained readily available for subsequent isolation.     

Altered efficacy and selectivity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the activated states of protein tyrosine kinases

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium which has been implicated in several foodborne illnesses. This microorganism grows into biofilms attached to the surfaces in food-processing plants, increasing its resistance to antimicrobial agents. The present work was realized to investigate the attachment of L. monocytogenes isolates to glass surfaces and to find a decontamination procedure to remove these bacteria in biofilms. Three-day biofilms were prepared by growing L. monocytogenes isolates from food plant environments on glass surfaces. Sixteen decontamination treatments at different pHs, temperatures, and times of exposure were tested against L. monocytogenes biofilms. The most efficient treatments were those applied at 63 degrees C. Combinations of decontamination treatments applied at 55 degrees C for 30 min provided different results according to the other factors used. In general, L. monocytogenes biofilms were found to be not very susceptible to high osmolarity (10.5% NaCl), and the interaction of sodium chloride and acid did not seem to have important effects in inactivating these bacteria (from a 1.3-to a 1.9-log-CFU/cm2 reduction). The combination of NaOH (pH 10.5; 100 mM) and acetic acid (pH 5.4; 76.7 mM) applied sequentially at 55 degrees C for even 5 min was shown to be the most effective treatment to remove L. monocytogenes from biofilms (at least a 4.5-to 5.0-log-CFU/cm2 decline).     

Effects of above-optimum growth temperature and cell morphology on thermotolerance of Listeria monocytogenes cells suspended in bovine milk

The thermotolerances of two different cell forms of Listeria monocytogenes (serotype 4b) grown at 37 and 42.8 degrees C in commercially pasteurized and laboratory-tyndallized whole milk (WM) were investigated. Test strains, after growth at 37 or 42.8 degreesC, were suspended in WM at concentrations of approximately 1.5 x 10(8) to 3.0 x 10(8) cells/ml and were then heated at 56, 60, and 63 degrees C for various exposure times. Survival was determined by enumeration on tryptone-soya-yeast extract agar and Listeria selective agar, and D values (decimal reduction times) and Z values (numbers of degrees Celsius required to cause a 10-fold change in the D value) were calculated. Higher average recovery and higher D values (i.e., seen as a 2.5- to 3-fold increase in thermotolerance) were obtained when cells were grown at 42.8 degrees C prior to heat treatment. A relationship was observed between thermotolerance and cell morphology of L. monocytogenes. Atypical Listeria cell types (consisting predominantly of long cell chains measuring up to 60 micron in length) associated with rough (R) culture variants were shown to be 1.2-fold more thermotolerant than the typical dispersed cell form associated with normal smooth (S) cultures (P 相似文献   

Evaluation of universal preenrichment broth for the recovery of foodborne pathogens from milk and cheese

The use of universal preenrichment broth for the recovery of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes from milk and cheese was examined. Universal preenrichment broth supported the growth of low inoculum levels (10 cfu/ml) of these organisms in pure cultures and in mixed cultures containing higher levels of other pathogens or bacterial flora from raw milk. This medium also supported the recovery and growth of heat-injured Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes, and verotoxigenic E. coli at inoculum levels of 10(2) cfu/ml to yield cell levels of 10(8) cfu/ml in pure cultures and at least 10(5) cfu/ml in the presence of high levels of known competitive pathogens or microflora of cheese samples after 24 h of incubation. Universal preenrichment broth performed better than Listeria enrichment broth in supporting the recovery and growth of heat-injured L. monocytogenes and equally as well as buffered peptone water or trypticase soy broth in supporting the growth of uninjured L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and verotoxigenic E. coli. Coenrichment of these pathogens in universal preenrichment broth reduced the quantity of milk or cheese samples that were required for analysis and also reduced the cost and labor involved in preparing and processing separate preenrichment media.     

Ascorbic acid and reducing agents regulate the fates and functions of S-nitrosothiols

The antibody-direct epifluorescent filter (Ab-DEFT) technique was evaluated as a rapid alternative to the most probable number (MPN) method for enumeration of artificially inoculated Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat packaged salads and other fresh vegetables. Ab-DEFT was performed by homogenization of food in mesh-lined Stomacher bags, followed by prefiltration of homogenate through a 5 microns pore nylon filter, and passage of filtrate through a 0.4 micron pore black polycarbonate filter to collect and concentrate Listeria cells. After cells were stained with a fluorochrome-labeled polyclonal antibody to Listeria, the filter surface was examined by epifluorescence microscopy, and fluorescent cells were counted. A 3-tube MPN procedure was performed by successive enrichments of homogenized foods in Listeria enrichment and Fraser broths, followed by selective plating. Ab-DEFT provided quantitative determinations of Listeria cells that correlated with plate counts and MPN estimates in a linear response over a range of cell concentrations from 10 to 10(7) colony forming units (CFU)/mL. Microbial backgrounds as high as 10(8) CFU/mL did not affect performance of Ab-DEFT. In contrast to the MPN method, which required 5 days to perform, quantitation by Ab-DEFT could be completed in less than 1 h. Despite cross-reactivities demonstrated by the polyclonal fluorescent antibody, the potential of Ab-DEFT as a rapid alternative to MPN for microbial cell enumeration was evident.     

Predictive models of the effect of temperature, pH and acetic and lactic acids on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes

The combined effect of temperature (1-20 degrees C), pH (4.5-7.2) and acetic acid (0-10,000 mg/l; model 1) or lactic acid (0-20,000 mg/l; model 2) on growth of Listeria monocytogenes in laboratory media was studied. Growth curves at various combinations of temperature, pH and acid concentration were fitted by the model of Baranyi and Roberts (1994), and specific growth rates derived from the curve fit were modelled. Predictions of growth from the models were compared with data in the literature, and this showed the models to be suitable for use in predicting growth of L. monocytogenes in a range of foods including meat, poultry, fish, egg and milk and dairy products. The two models are compatible, i.e. they give similar predictions for cases when no acid is present.     

Rapid determination of Listeria monocytogenes in foods using a resuscitation/selection/kit system detection

A resuscitation medium consisting of a trypticase soy broth base supplemented with 0.5% yeast extract, 0.25% sodium pyruvate, 0.01% sodium thioglycollate, and 0.1% chicken fat was used in the resuscitation of heat-injured and freeze-injured cells of Listeria monocytogenes. After a resuscitation period of 4-h, the medium was made selective through the addition of nalidixic acid, acriflavin, and cycloheximide. The organisms were incubated in the selectivized medium at 35 degrees C for an additional 16 h. The numbers of resuscitated Listeria monocytogenes cells rose from 10(1) to 10(7) cells/mL in 20 h. Similar numbers of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella bonn were grown together with Listeria monocytogenes; these organisms did not inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes nor interfere with its detection by the Listeria-Tek kit system. The resuscitation/selection/kit system (RSK) was compared with the methodology in the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in 22 naturally contaminated cheese samples: 8 of these were positive by the BAM system and 12 were positive by the RSK system. The 8 Listeria positives found by the BAM system were positive by the RSK system. All 12 Listeria-presumptive positive samples by the RSK system were confirmed to be Listeria monocytogenes. The use of the RSK system enhanced the recovery of the pathogen, and detection was accomplished within 24 h.     

Use of the protective antigen of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and latex agglutination

To establish a safe and convenient serodiagnostic method for swine erysipelas, a purified protective protein antigen of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, which included a large amount of protective protein (64 kDa protein), was used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the latex agglutination (LA) test. In the ELISA, the antisera to four different serovars (1a, 2, 5 and 20) of E. rhusiopathiae exhibit a positive reaction, while antisera to other species of bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus suis, Rhodococcus equi and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis) exhibit a negative reaction. In the LA test, the antisera to three different serovars (1a, 2 and 5) of E. rhusiopathiae reacted with P64-sensitized latex beads, while the antiserum to serovar 20 (2553 strain) did not. Moreover, the antisera to other species of bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus suis, Rhodococcus equi and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis) did not in this test. Comparing the results of the growth agglutination (GA), ELISA and LA tests of 284 swine sera, there was a high degree of correlation among the results. The detection of anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibodies in the GA, ELISA and LA tests were compared using sera from pigs immunized with P64, alkaline extract (AE) and live-cell vaccine (LV). In all three tests, anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibodies could be detected 1 week after immunization. The serum antibody titre as determined by the LA test increased moderately, as did that by the GA test, while that determined by ELISA increased rapidly. These results suggested that ELISA could be used to monitor changes in anti-E. rhusiopathiae antibody titre and the LA test could be used in the screening test for swine erysipelas.     

Incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in cheese produced in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The present study evaluated the incidence of Listeria spp. in some Brazilian cheeses obtained from retail stores in Rio de Janeiro, Of 103 samples of various types of cheese examined as recommended in the Listeria isolation protocol of the Health Protection Branch of Canada, 11 (10.68%) were contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes, 13 (12.62%) by Listeria innocua, 6 (5.83%) by Listeria grayi, and 1 (0.97%) by Listeria welshimeri. A higher incidence of L. monocytogenes as observed mainly in the homemade Minas Frescal cheeses (a Brazilian soft white cheese, eaten fresh), 7 of 17 (41.17%), followed by ripened cheeses, 3 of 53 (5.67%), and industrially manufactured Frescal (Minas and Ricotta) cheeses, 1 of 33 (3.03%). Three serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b and 4b) were observed among the strains of L. monocytogenes isolated, all of them being frequently involved in outbreaks of foodborne listeriosis and sporadic cases of the disease all over the world.     

Internalin A can mediate phagocytosis of Listeria monocytogenes by mouse macrophage cell lines

Listeria monocytogenes internalin A (InlA) is a surface protein that mediates the attachment of Listeria to, and invasion of, hepatocytes, epithelial, and endothelial cells. In this study, we tested whether InlA could also mediate phagocytosis of L. monocytogenes by the non-listericidal mouse macrophage cell lines J774A.1 and H36.12j. Recombinant InlA (rInlA) was used to derive mouse monoclonal anti-InlA antibodies (mAb) and rabbit anti-InlA antibodies. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that these anti-InlA antibodies reacted with wild-type L. monocytogenes, L. ivanovii, and L. innocua+, a mutant transformed with the inlAB operon that expresses surface InlA but failed to react with Bug 8, an InlA/InlB-negative transposon mutant of L. monocytogenes or with noninvasive Listeria sp. Fluorescence microscopy, radiolabeling, and flow cytometry showed that rInlA bound specifically to both macrophage cell lines. Incubation of macrophages and wild-type L. monocytogenes in the presence of rInlA or pretreatment of Listeria with anti-InlA antibodies specifically inhibited, by at least 50%, the phagocytosis of Listeria by both of these cells. By comparison, treatment with these reagents failed to affect the phagocytosis of Streptococcus pyogenes by either macrophage cell line nor did these reagents alter the ability of macrophages to internalize wild-type L. monocytogenes. We found that Bug 8, but not wild-type L. monocytogenes, failed to grow within both of these non-listericidal macrophage cell lines. In contrast to infection by wild-type L. monocytogenes, Bug 8 was rapidly eliminated from the spleens of both C57Bl/6 and DBA/2 mice. Data presented here show that only invasive Listeria sp. have surface InlA and that L. monocytogenes can enter non-listericidal macrophage cell lines by binding of bacterial InlA to the macrophage cell surface.     

bagpipe-Dependent expression of vimar, a novel Armadillo-repeats gene, in Drosophila visceral mesoderm

The combined effect of the bacteriocins nisin (1-2100 IU/ml) and leucocin F10 (1-2100 AU/ml), pH (4.7-6.5), NaCl (0.7-4.5% w/l), ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA, 0.08-4.72 mmol/l) and inoculum level (10(3)-10(8) cfu/ml) on the survival of a pool of three strains of Listeria monocytogenes in broth was evaluated in three factorial experiments. Several factor combinations were found to prevent growth. Logistic regression analysis of the categorical data (survival/no survival) was used to generate predictive models for the probability of survival in 0.01 ml (P0.01) or 1 ml (P1). Predicted and observed probabilities of survival were not significantly different in 72% and 68.9% of treatments for P0.01 and P1, respectively. Unsafe predictions were obtained in 9.4% and 14.8% of treatments for P0.01 and P1, respectively. Nisin had a major effect on the probability of survival but the addition of leucocin F10 was necessary to prevent the survival of L. monocytogenes. Lower pH values significantly decreased the probability of survival, while NaCl and EDTA had only a minor effect. Doses of bacteriocins > 250 AU/ml, pH < 5.6 and EDTA > 0.2 mmol/l (0.074 g/l) were needed to reliably prevent survival of Listeria monocytogenes.     

Heat resistance of Listeria monocytogenes by two recovery media used with and without cold preincubation

Three strains of Listeria monocytogenes were heat-treated at three temperatures in physiological saline by a capillary tube method. Recovery of heat-treated bacteria was performed on blood agar and on tryptose phosphate agar with ferric citrate and aesculin (TPA-FE). Both media were used in two ways: (1) incubation at 37 degrees C for 7 d, and (2) preincubation at 4 degrees C for 5 d in order to obtain repair of heat-injured bacteria, followed by incubation at 37 degrees C for 7 d. D and z values were determined. In both incubation procedures, better average recovery was obtained on blood agar than on TPA-FE. Thus, higher D values were recorded when blood agar was used. In most cases the differences were statistically significant. Repair at 4 degrees C of heat-injured bacteria occurred on both media but the proportions of repaired bacteria were higher on blood agar. The repair on this medium was generally reflected in higher D values for preincubated samples. Some significant differences in heat resistance were noted between the strains.