Development of Binding Ability Assay of Lactococcus lactis Isolated from Cucumber to Mycotoxins by Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Assay.

Some microorganisms, including lactic acid bacteria (LAB), can bind to mycotoxins. Its binding ability is useful for mycotoxin mitigation. Conventionally, the binding assay for this ability of microorganisms to mycotoxins has been performed by the so-called in vitro assay.

Prevalence of cpe-positive Clostridium perfringens in surface-attached soil of commercially available potatoes and its significance as a potential source of food poisoning.

Objective: We aimed to examine the surface-attached soil of commercially available potatoes in Japan to determine the association between foodborne infection and the circulation of Clostridium perfringens through vegetables, soil, and environments.

Methods: C. perfringens spores were isolated from 30 surface-attached soil samples of potatoes obtained from six regions in Japan.

In vivo and In vitro Mitigation Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria Derived from Fresh Vegetables on Aflatoxins.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are known to be oncogenic mycotoxins. This study investigated the mitigation effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from four types of vegetable, cucumber, Chinese cabbage, Japanese radish and eggplant, which are used to make Japanese traditional fermented pickles, on AFs. Using aflatoxin M (AFM) binding assay for screening, four representative strains were selected (one from each vegetable) from total 94 LAB strains, based on the highest binding ratio.

In vitro Anti-Influenza Virus Activity of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21.

　Agaricus is known to have immunostimulatory and anti-tumor effects. However, the antiviral effects of Agaricus have not yet been examined. In the present study, the antiviral effects of an extract of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (AE) on the H1N1 influenza virus (PR8 strain) were investigated.

Biology of fowl adenovirus type 1 infection of heterologous cells.

The JM1/1 strain of fowl adenovirus (FAV) serotype 1 isolated from gizzard erosion was used to investigate the biology of FAV in homologous (susceptible) and heterologous cells. The FAV JM1/1 strain is capable of efficient multiplication in primary chicken kidney (CK) cells, but not in Crandell-Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cells or Vero cells. FAV adsorption in heterologous cells was slightly higher than in CK cells.

Identification of Legionella londiniensis isolated from hot spring water samples in Shizuoka, Japan, and cytotoxicity of isolates.

As part of an epidemiological study on legionellosis, we attempted to isolate Legionella spp. from hot spring water and were able to isolate L. londiniensis HYKF-90505 (=JCM 16338), confirming that L.

Powder infant formula milk contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii.

To clarify the route and source of Enterobacter sakazakii infection in a basic study, we analyzed powder infant formula milk (PIF), which may be an important source of infantile infection, regarding contamination with Enterobacteriaceae including this type of bacteria, and conducted drug sensitivity tests with various antimicrobial agents. Enterobacteriaceae was isolated 36 (24.2%) of 149 PIF samples.

Growth in Acanthamoeba sp. and antibiotic susceptibility of Legionella micdadei isolated from hot spring water samples.

As part of an epidemiological study on legionellosis, we attempted to isolate Legionella spp. from hot spring water samples, and were able to isolate Legionella micdadei from 3 (5.5%) of 55 samples.

[Drug sensitivity test of Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from human diarrheal stools, chicken meat, and chicken feces, and gene mutation of quinolone-resistant strains].

In basic studies on campylobacteriosis, we tested 53 strains from human diarrhea stools and 102 strains from chicken meat and feces obtained between 2002 and 2006 for drug sensitivity to different drugs and gene mutation in quinolone-resistant strains. 1) Of 15 drugs tested, all were resistant to one or more of the following 10 drugs: CEX, 99.4%: ABPC, 59.

[Studies on Vibrio vulnificus infection: molecular epidemiology of environment-derived strains and clinical isolates].

To clarify the route and source of Vibrio vulnificus infection, we conducted molecular epidemiological investigation by DNA analysis of 355 environmental isolates (seawater-derived strain: 86, sea mud-derived strain:36, and oyster-derived strain: 233) and 65 human clinical isolates, for a total of 420 isolates, using pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), with the following results. 1. When DNA was cleaved with 2 enzymes, Not I and Sfi I, and subjected to PFGE, Not I DNA interpretation was 76.

[Drug sensitivity of vero toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (VTEC O157:H7) isolated from human diarrhea and healthy cows].

As a part of studies on the source of infection of Vero toxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC), O157:H7 strains isolated from human infectious enteritis between 1986 and 1995 and O157:H7 strains isolated from feces of milk cows between 2001 and 2003 were subjected to drug sensitivity test with drugs widely used as therapeutic drugs for various infectious diseases in humans and animals, and the following results were obtained. 1) Drug sensitivity tests with 20 drugs were performed in 52 strains derived human from diarrhea and 100 strains derived from milk cows, and resistance was noted in 115 strains (75.7%): 36 of the 52 human diarrhea-derived strains (69.

[Drug susceptibility and analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Streptococcus pyogenes strains isolated from the patients with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) in Japan].

Previously, we have performed T typing of Streptococcus pyogenes strains isolated from patients with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) in Japan, and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (SPE) typing for epidemiological examination. In this study, we conducted a drug sensitivity test using these strains, and investigated the results of gene analysis by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of S. pyogenes strains derived from patients with STSS, the patient's family, and patients other than those with STSS.

[A basic study of Vibrio vulnificus infection: serotyping and drug sensitivity test of environment-derived strains and human clinical isolates].

In attempt to elucidate the route and source of Vibrio vulnificus infection. serotyping and drug sensitivity tests of environment-derived strains and human clinical isolates were performed. 1) Serotyping of isolates from the two types of source were determined.

[Isolation and serotyping of Vero toxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) from pig].

As a part of basic studies to elucidate the source of infection of Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) infectious disease, fresh feces were collected from pigs raised in Kanto District (A and B Prefectures) and Kyushu District (C and D Prefectures) between April and October in 2000, and isolation, serotyping, toxin typing, and drug sensitivity test of VTEC were performed. 1) Of 411 fecal samples tested, VTEC was isolated from 44 samples (10.7%), consisting of 12 of 112 samples (10.

[Isolation and serotypes of Vero toxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) from pigeons and crows].

To clarify the source and route of infection with Vero toxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in humans, we sampled gastrointestinal contents and isolated VTEC from wild birds captured to exterminate harmful birds between August 1997 and January 1998. Pigeons were caught in Sagamihara-shi and crows were caught in Sagamihara-shi, Kawasaki-shi, Yokohama-shi, and the Tokyo metropolitan area. The following results were obtained.

[Basic studies on Vibrio vulnificus infection: isolation of V. vulnificus from sea water, sea mud, and oysters].

To clarify the environmental distribution of Vibrio vulnificus, sea water, sea mud, and oysters were examined at 13 sites, i.e. 4 sites in the Tokyo Bay (eastern Japan) and 9 sites (5 sites for oysters) in Tokushima Prefecture (western Japan).