Background: Food-born bacteria can be present in raw materials or contaminated foods during process and storage. Shrimp paste is a popular food in Viet Nam, but there are no studies on the hygiene and safety of this food. Objectives: To identify the microbial contamination of commercial shrimp paste available in Ha Noi City. Materials and method: A total of 50 shrimp paste samples were collected randomly from markets around Ha Noi City. Enumeration and isolation methods were used to determine the microbial contamination in these samples. Results: 100% of the samples were contaminated with Clostridium perfringens and Candida albicans. 10% of samples were contaminated with Coliform. Other pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae were not found in shrimp paste samples. Conclusion: Evaluation of microbial contamination in popular foods such as shrimp paste should be done regularly to prevent food-born diseases in the community.
Microbial contamination ; Food safety.

No abstract available.
Cholangitis ; Drug Resistance, Microbial

In this study, we investigate the used of IMO produce from cooked rice in rice straw composting. The objective of this study is to identify the effect of composting using IMO and different combination of biowaste on composting of rice straw. Methodology and results: Different types of treatment were used involving rice straw and goat manure with addition or non-addition of IMO. Composting was done for 30 days in a plastic barrel and was manually turned. Temperature was measured daily while samples were analysed for moisture content, pH value and electrical conductivity (EC). Temperatures in rice straw compost contains goat manure have higher values up to 43 °C. Rice straw compost with treatment of IMO contain pro-long thermophilic phase compared to treatment without IMO. pH recorded 7.0-8.7 during the process with slight fluctuation due to the microbial activities present. EC showed higher value in rice straw compost with goat manure due to the present of soluble salt in manure. Throughout the composting time, we observed the reduction of moisture value ranging from 43% to 34%. Microbial succession in compost treated with IMO showed high population with 3.16×109 CFU/g for mesophilic microorganism during the initial phase and 7.9×108 CFU/g for thermophilic microorganism. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Hence, it can be concluded that the IMO introduce during composting provide higher diversity of microorganisms and could pro-long the thermophilic phase, thus accelerating the process of degradation.
Colony Count, Microbial

Aims: Bacteria on chicken egg surfaces can be potential sources of food borne diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of E. coli, Salmonella and enterococci on the surface of conventional broiler eggs, “Kampung” chicken eggs and carrying trays and to determine the antimicrobial resistant profile of these isolates. Methodology and results: Conventional broiler eggs, “Kampung” chicken eggs and carrying trays were sampled randomly from nine wet markets in Selangor, Malaysia. The surface of the eggs and carrying trays were swabbed and E. coli, Salmonella and enterococci were isolated using selective agars. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed on the isolates against different antimicrobials via disk diffusion test. A large proportion of E. coli isolates (>50% of isolates from conventional broiler eggs and “Kampung” chicken eggs) was resistant to chloramphenicol and tetracycline whereas enterococci (>60% of isolates from conventional broiler eggs and “Kampung” chicken eggs) isolates were resistant to tetracycline and erythromycin. Salmonella isolates were found to be susceptible to all of the antimicrobials tested except for tetracycline. There was also presence of isolates showing multiple resistances in this study. E. coli isolates (8.8%) from the surface of “Kampung” chicken eggs were resistant against 10 different antimicrobials whereas 17.8% of the enterococci isolates from the surface of “Kampung” chicken eggs were resistant to 11 different antimicrobials. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The presence of multiple-antimicrobial resistant bacteria especially on the surface of “Kampung” chicken eggs that are ready to be sold to consumers is a serious concern. However, further study has to be conducted to determine the ultimate source of the bacterial contamination before specific food safety measures can be introduced.
Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Salmonella

Aims: Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram positive pathogen distributed worldwide and represents a rising problem for both hospitals and community. The aims of the study were to examine the antibiograms, toxin profiles as well as the genetic diversity of a set of S. aureus isolates from clinical and food samples. Methodology and results: To get some insights on the genetic heterogeneity and test for the presence of certain virulence genes, all isolates were subjected to different PCR amplifications and antibiotic sensitivity analysis. The mecA gene was detected in both clinical and food isolates. Resistance to penicillin and amoxicillin was observed in both clinical and food isolates. About 88% of both food and clinical isolates harbored the toxin gene sea, while 70% and 29% of clinical and food isolates respectively, harbored sec. The seb gene was detected in 59% and 18% of clinical and food isolates, respectively. Dendrograms prepared from the VNTR, antibiograms and toxin profiles, revealed 89, 52 and 12 clusters, respectively. Thus, suggesting a very high heterogeneity among the isolates. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Strains used in this study showed high heterogeneity when examined by VNTR or antibiograms, while appeared less heterogeneous when dendrogram was generated based on toxin profiles. This study highlights the fact that methicillin resistance in S. aureus might be generated within the health institutions or the community. Obtained results also might help health authorities understand the origin of methicillin resistant clones within the study area.
Staphylococcus ; Drug Resistance, Microbial

Aims: The present study investigated the biodegradation and removal of dye mixture (Remazol Brilliant Violet 5R and Reactive Red 120) using a new bacterial consortium isolated from dye-contaminated soil. Methodology and results: Among the total 15 isolates screened, the two most efficient bacterial species (SS07 and SS09) were selected and identified as Enterobacter cloacae (MT573884) and Achromobacter pulmonis (MT573885). The removal efficiency of dye mixture by E. cloacae and A. pulmonis at an initial concentration of 100 mg/L was 82.78 and 84.96%, discretely. The bacterial consortium was developed using selected isolates and the optimum conditions for removing dyes were investigated. The maximum decolorization efficiency was achieved at pH 7; 35 °C; dye concentration, 100 mg/L; and initial inoculum concentration, 0.5 mL with mannitol and ammonium sulfate as carbon and nitrogen sources. The maximum removal efficiency of 91.3 ± 3.35% was achieved at the optimal conditions after 72 h of incubation. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Decolorization of azo dyestuff by the developed microbial consortia conforms to the zero-order reaction kinetics model. Consortia of E. cloacae and A. pulmonis was established as an effective decolorizer for the Remazol Brilliant violet 5R and Reactive Red 120 dye mixture with >90% color removal.
Azo Compounds ; Microbial Consortia

Aims: The cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is categorized under the genus Cucumovirus and family Bromoviridae. This virus is known to infect over 1200 plant species from 100 families, including ornamental and horticultural plants. In this study, we pioneered a global genome comparison to decipher the unknown orchestrators behind the virulence and pathogenicity of CMV via the discovery of important single nucleotide polymorphic markers. Methodology and results: As a result, the genome size was found to be a potential preliminary country-specific marker for South Korea and the GC content can be utilized to preliminarily differentiate Turkey isolates from the others. The motif analysis as well as whole genome and coat protein phylogenetic trees were unable to form country-specific clusters. However, the coat protein haplotype analysis had successfully unconcealed country-specific single nucleotide polymorphic markers for Iran, Turkey and Japan isolates. Moreover, coat protein modelling and gene ontology prediction depicted high conservation across CMV isolates from different countries. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The country-specific single nucleotide polymorphic markers unearthed in this study may provide significant data towards the profiling of varying virulence and pathogenicity of CMV across the globe in time to combat the yield loss driven by this virus thru the most efficacious biological control measures in the future.
Cucumovirus--genetics ; Genome, Microbial

Background: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), which allow bacteria to become resistant to commonly used antibiotics against common pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, are a significant public health concern as their presence severely limits treatment options. Discovery and development of new drug entities are critical to effectively combat infections with these increasingly common antibiotic-resistant variants. Objective: Computational approaches can accelerate and reduce the cost of the discovery phase by screening for inhibitors of “druggable” pathogen enzyme targets in silico. In this study, protein structures of the ESBL enzymes SHV-1 and CTX-M-15 were used as targets in molecular docking experiments to identify potential inhibitors for K. pneumoniae. Methodology: 5000 compounds from the Enamine Real HTS compound database were screened in silico for binding to SHV-1 and CTX-M-15. Twenty-six (26) compounds that were identified to have more favorable interactions compared to Avibactam, a known inhibitor of the target proteins, were tested for cytotoxic activities in vivo using Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA) against a K. pneumoniae clinical isolate containing both SHV-1 and CTX-M-15 resistance genes. Results and Conclusion Despite favorable binding energies in in silico screening, most of the compounds exhibited negligible inhibition on the growth of the K. pneumoniae clinical isolate in in vitro assays. This may be attributed to the fact that a phenotypic whole-cell assay, instead of an enzyme-targeted assay, was used for validation. Cell permeability requires a different set of molecular parameters which were not part of the study. Doxorubicin exhibited the highest in vitro bactericidal activity against this strain, which agrees with its known activity against many other bacterial pathogens and may be a promising compound for further lead optimization.
Drug Resistance, Microbial

Aims: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the possibility of reversing the resistance of pathogens to antibiotics using phytochemicals from plant extracts as antibiotic-adjuvant. Methodology and results: Twenty-one plants were collected from Podhigai Hills, Tamil Nadu, India and tested in this study. The susceptibility of burn wound isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) to antibiotics and the adjuvant activity of the aqueous plant extracts were tested using well diffusion assay. The impact of the plant extracts on quorum sensing was assessed using Chromobacterium violaceum as the model organism. The antibiofilm activity of the adjuvant and antibiotics was determined by crystal violet assay. The isolates which were resistant to more than one class of antibiotics (aminoglycoside, cephalosporin, fluoroquinolone and penicillin) were designated as multidrug resistant bacteria. Combination of cefdinir-Citrullus colocynthis showed 17 mm inhibition zone which is greater than cefdinir (0 mm) against P. aeruginosa. The combination reduced quorum sensing with an inhibition zone of 30 mm. The same combination reduced 96% and 95% of the biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively at 16 h. Besides, cefdinir with Leucas aspera reduced quorum sensing with an inhibition zone of 28 mm. The combination reduced 94% and 95% of biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively at 16 h. The aqueous extract of C. colocynthis and L. aspera revealed the presence of flavonoids that possess adjuvant activity. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Cefdinir-C. colocynthis and cefdinir-L. aspera reversed the resistance of multi drug resistant bacteria to cefdinir. The flavonoids of C. colocynthis and L. aspera served as an adjuvant that potentiates the activity of cefdinir.
Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Phytochemicals

Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Immunity ; Infection