A role for isothiocyanates in plant resistance against the specialist herbivore Pieris rapae

We experimentally reanalyzed the classic interaction between Pieris rapae, a specialist lepidopteran herbivore, and isothiocyanates (mustard oils) that are characteristic phytochemicals of the Brassicaceae. Previous investigations have suggested that P. rapae is unaffected by isothiocyanates. Using whole plants, root extracts, and a microencapsulated formulation of allyl isothiocyanate, we now show that isothiocyanates reduce herbivore survival and growth, and increase development time, each in a dose-dependent manner. Neither the substrate allyl glucosinolate, nor myrosinase, the enzyme that results in the breakdown of glucosinolates, negatively affected P. rapae. Thus, we present strong evidence for a role for isothiocyanates in plant resistance against the specialist herbivore P. rapae.     

压电基因传感器检测芽孢杆菌靶序列研究

在石英晶体微天平(QCM)上用生物素亲和素法和自组装法2种不同的方法固定寡核苷酸探针,构建压电基因传感器,对芽孢杆菌靶序列进行实时检测。结果表明:生物素亲和素法固定探针效果更好,靶序列浓度为0.05~0.5μmol/L时,有很好的线性关系,线性回归方程为Y=93.88X+10.88(R=0.989 0,N=6,P<0.001),非线性误差为±4.7%。该传感器特异性较好,能够识别错配3个碱基的序列。     

Isolation and identification of caffeine-degrading bacteria from coffee plantation area

Decaffeination of food and beverage products is in high demand. In this study, a caffeine-degrading bacterium Burkholderia spp. was isolated from coffee plantation area of Chiang Mai province of Thailand. The bacterial isolates were first identified by morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests followed by 16S rDNA analysis. The bacterial isolate of Burkholderia spp. showed 45.5% of caffeine degradation in caffeine containing media (2.5 g/L) after 110 h of incubation period. Burkholderia spp. showed only 2.6% caffeine degradation when exposed to high concentrations of caffeine containing medium (20 g/L). The growth rate of Burkholderia spp. declined with the increase in the caffeine concentration, which indicated the inhibiting effect of caffeine at very high concentrations. The maximum growth rate of 0.053 h^?1 was observed at 2.5 g/L of caffeine. Overall due to high caffeine tolerance and biodegradation of caffeine, Burkholderia spp. can be effectively used to degrade caffeine from agro-industrial wastes targeted for value added food applications and environmental remediation.     

Microbiological quality of fresh vegetables and fruits sold in Singapore

The aim of this study was to characterise the microbiological quality of selected common fresh vegetables and fruits commercially sold in Singapore in order to provide insight into any potential health hazards associated with consumption of these commodities. A total of 125 samples, collected from major supermarkets and local markets, were tested for aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacterial counts. One hundred samples were analysed for enumeration of yeasts and moulds, enumeration of coliforms and detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. Aerobic mesophilic counts ranged from 1.6 to 9.1 log cfu/g, with the lowest and the highest counts recorded for orange and bean sprouts, respectively. The highest level of coliforms was found in bean sprouts and fresh-cut salad, with 50% of samples containing more than 5 log cfu/g. Like coliform counts, the highest counts of yeasts and moulds were obtained in bean sprouts and fresh-cut salads. Fresh-cut salads also had the highest mean psychrotrophic plate count of 4.9 log cfu/g. Although no E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella spp. was detected in the fruits and vegetables analysed in this study, high bacterial counts, especially in bean sprouts and fresh-cut salad, imply that effective control measures should be implemented to improve the microbiological quality of fresh produce sold in Singapore.     

Antimicrobial resistance and co-selection phenomenon in Listeria spp. recovered from food and food production environments

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), co-selection phenomenon, and the relationship between reduced susceptibility (RSC) to ciprofloxacin (CIP) and resistance to other antimicrobials in Listeria spp. (n = 103) recovered from food processing environments (FPE) and food were investigated. Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes and other listeriae, respectively, to cefoxitin (FOX; 98% vs. 88%), CIP (7% vs. 4%), clindamycin (CLI; 33% vs. 59%) and tetracycline (6% vs. 8%) was observed, as was RSC to CIP (67% vs. 57%) and CLI (65% vs. 41%). L. monocytogenes also possessed RSC to linezolid (LZD; 6%), rifampicin (2%) and streptomycin (6%), with other listeriae displaying RSC to chloramphenicol (4%). L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a (90%) isolates were more frequently resistant or possessed RSC to CIP compared to serotype 4b (55%) (p = 0.015). When eight strains were experimentally adapted to high concentrations of CIP, co-selection occurred as MICs to benzalkonium chloride (BAC) increased (n = 5), gentamicin MICs remained the same (n = 6) or increased 2-fold (n = 2), and led to RSC to LZD (n = 1) and resistance to CLI (n = 8). Overall, levels of resistance/RSC to CIP in food chain isolates, particularly 1/2a, are concerning. Further, reduced sensitivity to disparate antimicrobials following CIP exposure highlights the need for increased knowledge of co-selection phenomenon linked with antimicrobial agents.     

Spoilage of refrigerated (4 °C) Litopenaeus vannamei: cooperation between Shewanella species and contribution of cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu)‐dependent quorum sensing

The spoilage potential of Shewanella putrefaciens and S. baltica isolated from spoiled refrigerated Litopenaeus vannamei was evaluated by in vitro assays for trimethylamine oxide reduction, extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation, and in vivo inoculation into surface‐sterilised shrimp followed by microbial, biochemical and sensory analyses during storage for 5 days at 4 °C. S. baltica displayed higher spoilage potential than S. putrefaciens both in vitro and in vivo. Shrimp co‐inoculated with them had one‐day shorter shelf life than those mono‐inoculated, based on the results of bacterial density, volatile base nitrogen, trimethylamine, volatile organic compounds and sensory analysis, which strongly suggests cooperation of Shewanella species in shrimp spoilage. Exogenous cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu) boosted bacterial growth, extracellular protease and collagenase activities, and biofilm formation of S. putrefaciens and S. baltica at least before they entered the stationary phase, indicating that cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu)‐dependent quorum sensing, a recently suggested communication mechanism between them, contributes to the cooperation.     

贵州辣椒中腐霉利和高效氯氟氰菊酯的残留及膳食风险评估

[目的]明确贵州鲜食辣椒中腐霉利和高效氯氟氰菊酯的残留水平及其可能存在的膳食摄人风险.[方法]通过建立一种快速、简便的气相色谱检测鲜食辣椒中腐霉利和高效氯氟氰菊酯残留量的方法,采集贵州各地鲜食辣椒进行残留检测,并对不同人群的膳食暴露及风险进行了评估.[结果]贵州辣椒中腐霉利检出率为8.25％,残留量在0.01～0.62...     

Native and Engineered Probiotics: Promising Agents against Related Systemic and Intestinal Diseases

Intestinal homeostasis is a dynamic balance involving the interaction between the host intestinal mucosa, immune barrier, intestinal microecology, nutrients, and metabolites. Once homeostasis is out of balance, it will increase the risk of intestinal diseases and is also closely associated with some systemic diseases. Probiotics (Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium butyricum, lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium spp.), maintaining the gut homeostasis through direct interaction with the intestine, can also exist as a specific agent to prevent, alleviate, or cure intestinal-related diseases. With genetic engineering technology advancing, probiotics can also show targeted therapeutic properties. The aims of this review are to summarize the roles of potential native and engineered probiotics in oncology, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity, discussing the therapeutic applications of these probiotics.     

阪崎克罗诺杆菌标准物质研制

目的采用冷冻干燥技术制备均匀性和稳定性符合要求的阪崎克罗诺杆菌标准物质,用于实验室内部质量控制。方法对使用菌株阪崎克罗诺杆菌(45403)的生化特征、16SrRNA序列、质谱特征进行确认。采用冷冻干燥技术制备含量为103 CFU/样品的菌球。参照CNAS-GL29《标准物质/标准样品定值的一般原则和统计方法》,对20件样品进行均匀性检验,采用单因素方差分析对结果进行统计分析。将样品分别于-20、2、37℃条件下保藏,对其储藏稳定性和运输稳定性进行评价。组织5家实验室进行协同标定。使用20件婴儿配方乳粉作为基质对阪崎克罗诺杆菌标准物质的使用效果进行确认。结果阪崎克罗诺杆菌(45403)生化鉴定结果、16SrRNA序列的NCBIGenebank比对结果、质谱鉴定结果均为阪崎克罗诺杆菌(Cronobacter sakazakii)。采用单因素方差分析进行均匀性检验, F=1.067, P=0.442,符合标准物质的要求。于-20℃保藏170 d,于25、37℃保藏14d后,样品仍然稳定。经5家实验室协同标定,样品含量均为103 CFU/样品。20件婴儿配方乳粉作为基质加入阪崎克罗诺杆菌标准物质进行检验,均可以检出。结论阪崎克罗诺杆菌(CMCC45403)的生化特征、16SrRNA序列分析、蛋白飞行质谱特征均符合克罗诺杆菌属的典型特征。均匀性、储藏稳定性、运输稳定性及适用性的验证实验结果均符合标准物质的要求。