Effect of heat exposure on invasiveness of Listeria monocytogenes strains.

The effect of a 54°C heat exposure lasting 20 and 60 minutes on the invasiveness of 10 Listeria monocytogenes strains in the exponential and stationary phases was investigated. It was shown that heat exposure significantly reduced the L. monocytogenes count.

Effect of osmotic stress and culture density on invasiveness of Listeria monocytogenes strains.

The effect of osmotic stress on its capacity to invade the human enterocytic cell line HT-29 was studied in the early log through the stationary phase in 10 L. monocytogenes strains representing three genetically independent lineages. The results demonstrate that the transition of the bacteria from the log to the stationary phase results in a stepwise reduction of invasiveness.

Characterization of borderline oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from food of animal origin.

In this study, the molecular characteristics of food-derived oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were determined. Eight borderline oxacillin-resistant strains with MICs of 2 to 4 microg/ml were identified from 132 S. aureus isolates of food origin.

Genotypes and enterotoxin gene content of S. aureus isolates from poultry.

Little is still known about the genotypes and prevalence of enterotoxin genes in animal-derived Staphylococcus aureus strains. In this study, spa type, the presence of known enterotoxin genes, and mecA gene was determined in 42 S. aureus isolates from poultry.

Enterotoxin gene content in Staphylococcus aureus from the human intestinal tract.

Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus has been associated with staphylococcal food poisoning, which in a number of patients is accompanied by gastroenteritis. It has also been found to persist asymptomatically in the human intestinal tract, being considered one of the sources of pathogen transmission to manually handled food. However, very little is known about the incidence and enterotoxigenicity of intestinal S.

Distribution of newly described enterotoxin-like genes in Staphylococcus aureus from food.

Extensive analysis of the Staphylococcus aureus genome has allowed the identification of new genes encoding enterotoxin-like superantigens (SEls). Some of these are thought to be involved in staphylococcal food poisoning, while others do not elicit any emetic effect. The potential impact of these members of the enterotoxin-like family on the human organism seems to rely mainly on their superantigenic activity.