Horizontal plasmid transfer promotes antibiotic resistance in selected bacteria in Chinese frog farms.

The emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the ecosystem are global public health concerns. One Health emphasizes the interconnectivity between different habitats and seeks to optimize animal, human, and environmental health. However, information on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within complex microbiomes in natural habitats is scarce.

Versatile lifestyles of : Free-living, pathogen, and core bacterium of the aquatic resistome.

species in aquatic environments exist either as individual planktonic cells or in communal biofilms. These organisms encounter multiple stresses, include changes in salinity, pH, temperature, and nutrients. Pathogenic species such as , can multiply within the fish hosts.

and Multidrug Resistance Genes Are Key Players in Resistome Development in a Germfree Soil Model.

Assembly of a resistome in parallel with the establishment of a microbial community is not well understood. Germfree models can reveal microbiota interactions and shed light on bacterial colonization and resistance development under antibiotic pressure. In this study, we exposed germfree soil (GS), GS with diluted nontreated soil (DS), and nontreated soil (NS) to various concentrations of tetracycline (TET) in a nongermfree environment for 10 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of exposure to water.

Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment.

The prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the microbiome is a major public health concern globally. Many habitats in the environment are under threat due to excessive use of antibiotics and evolutionary changes occurring in the resistome. ARB and ARGs from farms, cities and hospitals, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) or as water runoffs, may accumulate in water, soil, and air.

: A versatile emerging pathogen of fish.

is an Enterobacteriaceae that is abundant in water and causes food and waterborne infections in fish, animals, and humans. The bacterium causes Edwardsiellosis in farmed fish and can lead to severe economic losses in aquaculture worldwide. is an intracellular pathogen that can also cause systemic infection.

Computational approach to predict species-specific type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors using single and multiple genomes.

Background: Many gram-negative bacteria use type III secretion systems (T3SSs) to translocate effector proteins into host cells. T3SS effectors can give some bacteria a competitive edge over others within the same environment and can help bacteria to invade the host cells and allow them to multiply rapidly within the host. Therefore, developing efficient methods to identify effectors scattered in bacterial genomes can lead to a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions and ultimately to important medical and biotechnological applications.

Edwardsiella tarda - virulence mechanisms of an emerging gastroenteritis pathogen.

Human Edwardsiella tarda infections often manifest as gastroenteritis, but can become systemic and potentially lethal. E. tarda uses virulence factors that include type III and type VI secretion systems, quorum sensing, two-component systems, and exoenzymes to gain entry into and survive within the host.

Type VI secretion regulation: crosstalk and intracellular communication.

Pathogens use type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) to transport proteins into the environment or host cells in response to external stimuli. T6SSs are tightly regulated together with other virulence determinants such as type III secretion systems, quorum sensing (QS), and flagella synthesis. Five pathogens (Salmonella enterica, Edwardsiella tarda, Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio cholerae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are examined for crosstalk proteins (global regulators) that connect T6SSs to other virulence determinants.

Evaluation of methods for the isolation, detection and quantification of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins.

Cyanobacterial hepatotoxins such as microcystins and nodularins have been responsible for the poisoning of both animals and humans who ingest or come into contact with toxic blooms. They are extremely stable in water due to their stable chemical structure and can tolerate radical changes in water chemistry, including pH and salinity. Different methods for the extraction and detection of these compounds have been reported.

Fungi, aflatoxins, fumonisin Bl and zearalenone contaminating sorghum-based traditional malt, wort and beer in Botswana.

Brewing and consumption of traditional beer have social-economic significance in most African countries including Botswana. Traditional sorghum malt, wort, and beer samples were collected from three villages around Gaborone, Botswana. Forty-six malt samples were analyzed for fungi on three different media and developing colonies were subcultured for identification.

Fungi, aflatoxins, and cyclopiazonic acid associated with peanut retailing in Botswana.

Peanuts are important food commodities, but they are susceptible to fungal infestation and mycotoxin contamination. Raw peanuts were purchased from retail outlets in Botswana and examined for fungi and mycotoxin (aflatoxins and cyclopiazonic acid) contamination. Zygomycetes were the most common fungi isolated; they accounted for 41% of all the isolates and were found on 98% of the peanut samples.

The Microbiology of Phane, an Edible Caterpillar of the Emperor Moth, Imbrasia belina.

The larvae of Imbrasia belina (Westwood) are cooked and sun dried to make a product known as phane, which is consumed as a delicacy. A study was conducted to determine the sanitary quality of phane and the kinds of microorganisms associated with it. It also looked into the potential for the existence of health risk associated with its consumption.