Antimicrobial Peptide Mastoparan-AF Kills Multi-Antibiotic Resistant O157:H7 via Multiple Membrane Disruption Patterns and Likely by Adopting 3-11 Amphipathic Helices to Favor Membrane Interaction.

We investigated the antimicrobial activity and membrane disruption modes of the antimicrobial peptide mastoparan-AF against hemolytic O157:H7. Based on the physicochemical properties, mastoparan-AF may potentially adopt a 3-11 amphipathic helix-type structure, with five to seven nonpolar or hydrophobic amino acid residues forming the hydrophobic face. O157:H7 and two diarrheagenic veterinary clinical isolates, which are highly resistant to multiple antibiotics, are sensitive to mastoparan-AF, with minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) ranging from 16 to 32 μg mL for O157:H7 and four to eight μg mL for the latter two isolates.

Genomic investigation of emerging zoonotic pathogen .

Objective: is an emerging zoonotic pathogen commonly found in aquatic ecosystem. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and (CRISPR)-associated gene systems act as adaptive immune system of prokaryotes. Recently, growing evidence suggested their role in bacterial virulence and resistance.

The Pathogenicity of and Ability to Tolerate a Wide Range of Temperatures and Salinities.

is a rod-shaped Gram-negative marine bacterium frequently found in nonhuman sources such as aquatic ecosystems and has been shown to be the pathogenic agent in various clinical cases due to the ingestion of raw seafood. The results of this study showed that was present in approximately one in four samples, including water and shellfish samples. Positive reactions (API systems) in strains were seen for gelatinase (gelatin); however, negative reactions were found for indole production (tryptophan).

Genome characterization of bile-isolated ACCC.

Background: has been recognized as an emerging human pathogen. However, not much is known about the mechanism of its pathogenesis and its adaptation to a special niche such as the hepatobiliary tract.

Results: In this study, we isolated the ACCC strain from human bile and performed whole genome sequencing.

Characteristics and Phylogeny of Isolated from Cultivated Shellfish in Taiwan.

is an emerging human pathogen. Many infectious cases were linked to shellfish ingestion or aquatic exposure. Therefore, it is important to study the phylogeny and distribution of in shellfish aquaculture.

Volatile Oils of (Jing Jie) as an Alternative Medicine against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogenic Microbes.

Essential oils from the dried spikes of (Benth) are obtained by steam distillation. Pulegone was identified as the main component in the spikes of through analysis, with greater than 85% purity obtained in this study. The essential oils are extremely active against all Gram-positive and some Gram-negative reference bacteria, particularly , , and .

Most commensally bacterial strains in human milk of healthy mothers display multiple antibiotic resistance.

Recent reports have shown that food-borne or commensal bacteria can function as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance. However, the antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates of most milk samples or the total bacterial counts (TBC) in human milk from healthy donors, are not fully understood in Taiwan. Thus, five healthy mothers were randomly recruited each month, and totally 30 mothers without any symptoms of infection were recruited over 6 months.

Colistin Resistance of Isolated from Snakes in Taiwan.

This study included fifty-eight isolates of from the oral cavity of snakes that were recruited from clinical cases, captive and wild snakes. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the determination of susceptibility were identified by the broth microdilution method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect -lactamases genes.

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Commensal Bacteria from Human Milk.

Recent studies have focused on foodborne or commensal bacteria as vehicles of antibiotic resistance. However, the antibiotic resistance of milk bacteria from healthy donors is still vague in Taiwan. For this purpose, human milk samples were obtained from randomly recruited 19 healthy women between 3 and 360 days post-partum.