Inhibitory Activity of Hydroxytyrosol against Streptolysin O-Induced Hemolysis.

　Group A streptococcus is a bacterium that resides in the throat and skin and causes respiratory infection and occasionally glomerulonephritis and rheumatic fever. Streptolysin O (SLO) produced by Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) binds to the cell membrane, particularly to that of white and red blood cells, and is toxic to the cells and tissue.

Isolation, Identification and Antibacterial Susceptibility of Staphylococcus spp. Associated with the Mobile Phones of University Students.

From May 2014 to February 2015, 319 university students (male, n=173; female n=146) of 18 to 24 years of age who carried mobile phones or computer tablets were selected as subjects. Staphylococcus spp. were detected in 101 of 319 samples (31.

Legionella thermalis sp. nov., isolated from hot spring water in Tokyo, Japan.

Strain L-47(T) of a novel bacterial species belonging to the genus Legionella was isolated from a sample of hot spring water from Tokyo, Japan. The 16S rRNA gene sequences (1477 bp) of this strain (accession number AB899895) had less than 95.0% identity with other Legionella species.

Bacterial contamination in cold water samples obtained from water dispensers.

We carried out a basic study in order to evaluate the bacterial contamination in water dispensers. Water samples were obtained from water dispensers from October 2012 to November 2013, and standard plate counts (at 36˚C, 24 h) of the samples, as well as heterotrophic plate counts (at 25˚C, 7 d), were estimated with the standard methods for the examination of drinking water in Japan. Standard plate counts exceeding the water-quality standard (1.

Antibacterial susceptibility of enterobacteriaceae isolated from raw horsemeat isolated for human consumption (basashi).

Drug susceptibility testing was carried out using 14 antibiotics in order to identify trends in the antibiotic tolerance of 142 strains of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from horsemeat commercially available for raw consumption (basashi). A comparison of the sensitivity to the 14 antibiotics using the 90% MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values (MIC90) showed the strongest tolerance to ampicillin (ABPC) at a concentration of > 128 μg/mL, followed by that to fosfomycin (FOM) at a concentration of 128 μg/mL. When the sensitivity to these antibiotics was examined for each individual genus of tested bacteria, Hafnia spp.

Inhibition of verotoxin (VT) 2 absorption into systemic blood from intestine by repeated administration of bovine immune colostral antibody against VT2 in mice.

Background/purpose: Whether absorption of verotoxin (VT) 2 from the intestine in mice is inhibited by administration bovine immune colostral antibody against VT2 was investigated.

Methods: Three-week-old mice were administered VT2 solution at 477.8 ng/mL or 955.

Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern analysis and chlorine-resistance of Legionella pneumophila isolated from hot spring water samples.

For a microbial ecological analysis, 20 strains of Legionella pneumophila isolated from both unchlorinated Noyu (unattended natural hot spring) samples and chlorinated hot spring bath water samples collected throughout Japan were subjected to a clustering analysis on the basis of a Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern analysis. The PFGE patterns obtained from 19 strains of L. pneumophila after digestion with SfiI were used to divide the strains into two groups (Groups A and B), although the similarity level was very low among the groups.

Isolation and identification of Enterobacteriaceae from raw horsemeat intended for human consumption (Basashi).

The status of Enterobacteriaceae contamination was investigated in a total of 131 samples of raw horsemeat (Basashi) intended for human consumption purchased from a general meat shop or by mail-order from October 2012 to December 2013. The bacteria were isolated from 105 of the 112 samples (93.8%).

Roseomonas tokyonensis sp. nov. isolated from a biofilm sample obtained from a cooling tower in Tokyo, Japan.

Strain K-20(T), a Gram-negative, nonmotile, nonspore-forming and strictly aerobic coccobacillus, which produces a pale pink pigment (R2A agar medium, 30℃, seven days) was isolated from a sample of biofilm obtained from a cooling tower in Tokyo, Japan. A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA partial gene sequences (1,439 bp) showed that the strain (accession number: AB297501) was related to Roseomonas frigidaquae CW67(T) and Roseomonas stagni HS-69(T) with 97.4% and 96.

Isolation of Legionella species from Noyu (unattended natural hot springs in mountains and fields) samples in Japan.

In order to understand the habitation conditions of the bacteria of the genus Legionella in Noyu (unattended natural hot springs in mountains and fields) in Japan, isolation of Legionella spp. was attempted in the Noyu samples from 11 prefectures nationwide between May and September 2012, and the following results were obtained. Overall, Legionella spp.

Characteristics of an orange-pigmented bacterium isolated from a hot spring in Kagoshima, Japan.

In May 2012, strain HNN-6 (=JCM 18566) , a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, motile and strictly aerobic rod, which produces a pale orange pigment, was isolated from a hot spring water sample obtained in Kagoshima, Japan, by a plating method using R2A medium at 30°C for 7 d. The 16S rRNA gene sequences (1,437bp) of this strain (accession number: AB731137) had a close similarity (99.1%) to Hydrotalea sandarakina AF-51T (JF739858) .

[Isolation of Legionella species from hot springs used for foot-soaking].

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the presence of Legionella species in hot-spring baths for feet, which have been rapidly increasing in number in Japan in recent years.

Methods: The investigations were conducted between March 2009 and November 2011, and hot springs throughout the country were sampled. Legionella isolates were confirmed on the basis of the method described in the "Manual for the countermeasure to legionellosis, 3rd Edition.

Identification of Legionella rubrilucens isolated from a hot spring for foot-soaking in Niigata, Japan.

In May 2011, strain HYNE-20 (=JCM 17837) was isolated from a sample of hot spring water from a foot spa in Niigata, Japan, by a plating method using glycine vancomycin polymyxin B cycloheximide α-ketoglutarate (GVPCα) medium at 36°C for 7 d. The 16S rDNA sequences (1,469bp) of this strain (accession number: AB638719) had high (99.7%) similarity to Legionella rubrilucens, and we identified that this strain was indeed Legionella rubrilucens.

The first case of Legionella nagasakiensis isolation from hot spring water.

In August, 2010, strain HYMO-6 was isolated from a sample of hot spring water in Aomori, Japan. The 16S rDNA sequences (1,496bp) of this strain (accession number: AB597175) had a similarity of less than 96.6% to other Legionella species, prompting us to hypothesize that this strain might be a novel species belonging to the genus Legionella.

Genotyping and chlorine-resistance of Methylobacterium aquaticum isolated from water samples in Japan.

For microbial ecological analysis, 14 strains of Methylobacterium aquaticum isolated from water samples were subjected to clustering analysis on the basis of ribotyping and RAPD-PCR tests. The ribopatterns after digestion with EcoRI obtained from 14 strains of M. aquaticum were used to divide the strains into two groups (Groups I and II) with a similarity of 55%.

Properties of metabolic substances produced by group A streptococcus from a food-borne epidemic.

Here we report a large food poisoning outbreak by Streptococcus pyogenes that occurred in Kanagawa, Japan, in July 2005. To compare cases of type T-B3264 (Chiba) and type T-28 (Tokyo) reported to date, we studied the properties and activity of the major virulence factors produced by Streptococcus pyogenes type T-25 (Kanagawa): hemolysin, cysteine protease streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SpeB), and NAD glycohydrolase (NADase). These virulence factors were also analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).

Bacterial contamination of stock solutions in storage cases for contact lens, and the disinfectant-resistance of isolates.

To investigate the bacterial contamination of preservative solutions for contact lenses, contact lens cases were swabbed and the swabs were cultured. Various bacteria were isolated from 26 of 100 samples (26.0%).

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.

Characterization of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the biofilm of a kitchen sink.

Heterotrophic bacteria constituting the biofilm produced in a kitchen sink drain were analyzed, and the biofilm formation abilities and the hydrophobicity of the cell surface layer were measured for the isolates. When the biofilm sample was cultured at 36 degrees C and 25 degrees C for 7 days, there were about 10 times more colonies on oligotrophic R2A agar medium than on eutrophic BHI agar medium. From isolates from the biofilm sample, 13 bacterial species were detected.

Genotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cockroaches and human urine.

Molecular-epidemiological analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from cockroaches captured in hospitals and from patient urine was performed, employing randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis to investigate the usefulness of RAPD analysis. Four specific bands at positions of 993, 875, 521, and 402 bp were commonly detected using primer 272 in 16 of 45 cockroach-derived strains (35.6%), but not in 21 urine-derived strains.

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.

Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cockroaches Captured in hospitals in Japan, and their antibiotic susceptibility.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were isolated from 45 of 370 (12.2%) cockroaches captured in hospitals. By cockroach species, the bacterial strains were isolated from 39 of 181 (21.