Incidence of non-01 Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas spp. in fresh water in Araraquara, Brazil

The occurrence of Aeromonas spp., Vibrio cholerae, and Plesiomonas shigelloides in fresh water from various sources in Araraquara, State of São Paulo, Brazil was determined. Samples from ten distinct irrigation systems used in vegetable cultivation, from five distinct streams, from two reservoirs, from one artificial lake, and from three distinct springs were analyzed. All isolates were serotyped and tested for hemolysin, cytotoxin, heat-stable (ST) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxins production; presence of plasmid; autoagglutination and drug resistance. V. cholerae isolates were also tested for cholera enterotoxin (CT) production, and Aeromonas isolates for suicide phenomenon. No P. shigelloides was found. V. cholerae non 01 was found in five irrigation water samples and in three stream samples. Aeromonas sp. were isolated in two samples of irrigation water, in three streams, and in one reservoir. All the V. cholerae and Aeromonas isolates were positive for P-hemolysin production, and all Aeromonas isolates were positive for suicide phenomenon; cytotoxic activities were observed in two Aeromonas strains. Cholera enterotoxin was not found in eight V. cholerae non-01 isolates tested by the Y-1 mouse adrenal cell. All isolates were also negative for the other virulence markers. Ii cholelerae isolates were found to be sensitive to the majority of drugs tested, while Aeromonas strains presented multiple drug resistance..

Candida bromeliacearum sp nov and Candida ubatubensis sp nov., two yeast species isolated from the water tanks of Canistropsis seidelii (Bromeliaceae)

Strains belonging to two novel yeast species, Candida bromeliacearum and Candida ubatubensis, were isolated from the bromeliad tank of Canistropsis seidelii (Bromeliaceae) in a sandy coastal plain (restinga) ecosystem site in an Atlantic rainforest of south-eastern Brazil. These species were genetically distinct from all other currently accepted ascomycetous yeasts, based on sequence divergence in the D1/D2 domains of the large-subunit rDNA and in the small-subunit rDNA. The species occupy basal positions in the Metschnikowiaceae clacle. The type strains are Candida bromeliacearum UNESP 00-103(T) (=CBS 10002(T) = NRRL Y-27811(T)) and Candida ubatubensis UNESP 01-247R(T) (=CBS 10003(T) = NRRL Y-27812(T)).

A thin layer electrochemical cell for disinfection of water contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

LACK OF VIRULENCE FACTORS IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI STRAINS OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC SEROGROUPS ISOLATED FROM WATER

Thirty-eight Escherichia coli strains belonging to 14 human enteropathogenic serogroups were isolated from 33 of 208 water samples studied. No virulence factor or virulence-related gene sequences were found in any of the 38 strains analyzed. The results point out the importance of detecting specific virulence factors before incriminating water as a source of human diarrhea.

Leuconostoc mesenteroides SJRP55: a potential probiotic strain isolated from Brazilian water buffalo mozzarella cheese

The probiotic potential of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides SJRP55 isolated from water buffalo mozzarella cheese was evaluated. The microorganism presented resistance to stressful conditions that simulated the gastrointestinal tract, and to the best of our knowledge Leuconostoc mesenteroides SJRP55 was the first of this species with the ability to deconjugate bile salts. Tolerance to NaCl was temperature dependent, as well the results obtained by aggregation capacity. The strain presented good adhesion properties, β galactosidase activity, viability in fermented milk during storage, non-active against Streptococcus thermophilus and sensible to most of the tested antibiotics. Some analgesic medications inhibited the growth of the strain. Leuconostoc mesenteroides SJRP55 exhibited in vitro probiotic potential, and it can be better characterized through future in vivo tests. This bacterium presents higher functional properties compared to other studied strains, and therefore it is a potential candidate for the application as a probiotic strain, which could be used by industries in the manufacture of functional milk-based products.