Molecular diversity and characterization of tetracycline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from a poultry processing plant.

DNA fingerprinting and molecular characterization showed that the tetracycline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus population of a South African poultry processing plant comprised one or possibly several tet(K)-containing endemic clones that contaminated chicken and machinery surfaces at all sampled processing stages. The tet(K) gene was transferable by filter mating to S. aureus recipient 80CR5 and was located on a pT181-like plasmid.

Proteomic analysis reveals differential protein expression by Bacillus cereus during biofilm formation.

Bacillus cereus, a dairy-associated toxigenic bacterium, readily forms biofilms on various surfaces and was used to gain a better understanding of biofilm development by gram-positive aerobic rods. B. cereus DL5 was shown to readily adapt to an attached mode of growth, with dense biofilm structures developing within 18 h after inoculation when glass wool was used as a surface.

Sequence and structural relationships of leucocins A-, B- and C-TA33a from Leuconostoc mesenteroides TA33a.

Amino acid sequences of two of the three bacteriocins from Leuconostoc mesenteroides TA33a were determined and their sequence-structure relationships investigated. Leucocin B-TA33a consists of 31 amino acid residues, with a molecular mass of 3466 Da. Leucocin B-TA33a does not belong to the pediocin family of bacteriocins, but shares 62% homology with mesenterocin 52B.

Bacterial Populations of Different Sample Types from Carcasses in the Dirty Area of a South African Poultry Abattoir.

Bacterial populations associated with three different sample types from carcasses in the dirty area of a South African poultry abattoir were compared. The three sample types from carcasses before and after scalding included neck skin only, feathers only, and a neck skin and feather combination. The neck skin of carcasses after defeathering was also sampled.

Bacterial Populations Associated with the Processing of Cape Hake ( Merluccius capensis and Merluccius paradoxus ).

Numbers of bacteria associated with Cape hake from catching through processing to the finished product and final spoilage were determined by pour plating on Sea Water Agar (SWA). Subsequently, a total of 1,020 predominant bacteria from the different stages were isolated and identified to genus level. A significant reduction (p<0.