甘草提取物对Staphylococcus aureus的抑菌活性及作用机理

食源性病菌为食品安全带来了巨大挑战,甘草提取物作为食品添加剂对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)具有良好的抑菌作用,可作为天然食品防腐剂的候选原料,但目前对其抑菌机理的研究还不深入,影响了其应用。为探究甘草提取物对S.aureus的抑菌机理,该研究通过生长曲线、氧化损伤实验、细胞膜壁分析、蛋白质分析和DNA分析,评价了甘草提取物对S.aureus的抑菌作用机制。结果表明,甘草提取物导致S.aureus核酸渗漏,说明其膜完整性被破坏;同时,甘草提取物降低了几种能量代谢酶:琥珀酸脱氢酶(succinate dehydrogenase,SDH)和总ATP酶的活力;此外,光谱和竞争分析表明,甘草提取物与DNA发生了静电结合和凹槽结合。总之,甘草提取物主要是通过对S.aureus细胞壁膜、蛋白质合成、细菌代谢活力和遗传物质发挥作用,从而抑制其生长。该研究为甘草提取物在食品防腐方面的应用提供了理论基础。

Elimination of methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms on titanium implants via photothermally‑triggered nitric oxide and immunotherapy for enhanced osseointegration

Background:Treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)biofilm infections in implant placement surgery is limited by the lack of antimicrobial activity of titanium(Ti)implants.There is a need to explore more effective approaches for the treatment of MRSA biofilm infections.Methods:Herein,an interfacial functionalization strategy is proposed by the integration of mesoporous polydopamine nanoparticles(PDA),nitric oxide(NO)release donor sodium nitroprusside(SNP)and osteogenic growth peptide(OGP)onto Ti implants,denoted as Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP.The physical and chemical properties of Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP were assessed by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscope,water contact angle,photothermal property and NO release behavior.The synergistic antibacterial effect and elimination of the MRSA biofilms were evaluated by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate probe,1-N-phenylnaphthylamine assay,adenosine triphosphate intensity,O-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside hydrolysis activity,bicinchoninic acid leakage.Fluorescence staining,assays for alkaline phosphatase activity,collagen secretion and extracellular matrix mineralization,quantitative real‑time reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)were used to evaluate the inflammatory response and osteogenic ability in bone marrow stromal cells(MSCs),RAW264.7 cells and their co-culture system.Giemsa staining,ELISA,micro-CT,hematoxylin and eosin,Masson's trichrome and immunohistochemistry staining were used to evaluate the eradication of MRSA biofilms,inhibition of inflammatory response,and promotion of osseointegration of Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP in vivo.Results:Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP displayed a synergistic photothermal and NO-dependent antibacterial effect against MRSA following near-infrared light(NIR)irradiation,and effectively eliminated the formed MRSA biofilms by inducing reactive oxygen species(ROS)-mediated oxidative stress,destroying bacterial membrane integrity and causing leakage of intracellular components(P<0.01).In vitro experiments revealed that Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP not only facilitated osteogenic differentiation of MSCs,but also promoted the polarization of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages to the anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The favorable osteo-immune microenvironment further facilitated osteogenesis of MSCs and the anti-inflammation of RAW264.7 cells via multiple paracrine signaling pathways(P<0.01).In vivo evaluation confirmed the aforementioned results and revealed that Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP induced ameliorative osseointegration in an MRSA-infected femoral defect implantation model(P<0.01).Conclusions:Ti-PDA@SNP-OGP is a promising multi-functional material for the high-efficient treatment of MRSA infections in implant replacement surgeries.

Structural insights on anti-biofilm mechanism of heated slightly acidic electrolyzed water technology against multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm on food contact surface

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water(SAEW)has proven to be an efficient and novel sanitizer in food and agriculture field.This study assessed the efficacy of SAEW(30 mg/L)at 40℃on the inactivation of foodbome pathogens and detachment of multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)biofilm.Furthermore.the underlying mechanism of MRS A biofilm under heated SAEW at 40℃treatment on metabolic profiles was investigated.The results showed that the heated SAEW at 40℃significantly effectively against foodbome pathogens of 1.96-7.56(lg(CFU/g))reduction in pork,chicken,spinach,and lettuce.The heated SAEW at 40℃treatment significantly reduced MRS A biofilm cells by 2.41(lg(CFU/cm^(2))).The synergistic effect of SAEW treatment showed intense anti-biofilm activity in decreasing cell density and impairing biofilm cell membranes.Global metabolic response of MRSA biofilms,treated by SAEW at 40℃,revealed the alterations of intracellular metabolites,including amino acids,organic acid,fatty acid,and lipid.Moreover,signaling pathways involved in amino acid metabolism,energy metabolism,nucleotide synthesis,carbohydrate metabolites,and lipid biosynthesis were functionally disrupted by the SAEW at 40℃treatment.As per our knowledge,this is the first research to uncover the potential mechanism of heated SAEW treatment against MRSA biofilm on food contact surface.

Eugenol targeting CrtM inhibits the biosynthesis of staphyloxanthin in Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a serious foodborne pathogen threatening food safety and public health.Especially the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)increased the difficulty of S.aureus treatment.Staphyloxanthin is a crucial virulence factor of S.aureus.Blocking staphyloxanthin production could help the host immune system counteract the invading S.aureus cells.In this study,we first screened for staphyloxanthin inhibitors using a virtual screening method.The outcome of the virtual screening method resulted in the identification of eugenol(300μg/mL),which significantly inhibits the staphyloxanthin production in S.aureus ATCC 29213,S.aureus Newman,MRSA ATCC 43300 and MRSA ATCC BAA1717by 84.2%,63.5%,68.1%,and 79.5%,respectively.The outcome of the growth curve assay,field-emission scanning electron,and confocal laser scanning microscopy analyses confirmed that eugenol at the test concentration did not affect the morphology and growth of S.aureus.Moreover,the survival rate of S.aureus ATCC 29213 and MRSA ATCC 43300 under H_(2)O_(2) pressure decreased to 51.9%and 45.5%in the presence of eugenol,respectively.The quantitative RT-PCR and molecular simulation studies revealed that eugenol targets staphyloxanthin biosynthesis by downregulating the transcription of the crtM gene and inhibiting the activity of the CrtM enzyme.Taken together,we first determined that eugenol was a prominent compound for staphyloxanthin inhibitor to combat S.aureus especially MRSA infections.

Electrochemical and colorimetric dual-signal detection of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B based on AuPt bimetallic nanoparticles loaded Fe-N-C single atom nanocomposite

Sensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B(SEB)is of importance for preventing food poisoning from threatening human health.In this work,an electrochemical and colorimetric dual-signal detection assay of SEB was developed.The probe(Ab2/AuPt@Fe-N-C)was bound to SEB captured by Ab1,where the Ab2/AuPt@Fe-N-C triggered methylene blue degradation and resulted in the decrease of electrochemical signal.Furthermore,the probe catalyzed the oxidation of 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethyl biphenyl to generate a colorimetric absorbance at 652 nm.Once the target was captured and formed a sandwich-like complex,the color changed from colorless to blue.SEB detection by colorimetric and electrochemical methods showed a linear relationship in the concentration ranges of 0.0002-10.0000 and 0.0005-10.0000 ng/mL,with limits of detection of 0.0667 and 0.1670 pg/mL,respectively.The dual-signal biosensor was successfully used to detect SEB in milk and water samples,which has great potential in toxin detection in food and the environment.

Antibiotic resistance and molecular typing of clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Malaysian military hospital

Objective:To determine the antibiotic resistance profile(ARP)of Staphylococcus(S.)aureus isolates and molecular typing of the methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)isolates from Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital(TMAFH),Kuala Lumpur.Methods:The ARP and presence of the pvl gene were determined for 209 S.aureus isolates from clinical specimens.Of these,123 were methicillin-susceptible S.aureus(MSSA)isolates and 86 were MRSA isolates.All MRSA isolates were characterized using SCCmec typing and spa typing.Descriptive analysis was performed to compare the demographic data with the phenotypic and genotypic variables of the S.aureus isolates.Results:No vancomycin-intermediate and-resistant S.aureus(VISA and VRSA,respectively)were detected among the study isolates.The MSSA isolates showed low resistance rates to all tested antibiotics,were commonly invasive(28/42,66.7%),and mostly harboured pvl(35/42,83.3%).Meanwhile,MRSA isolates showed high resistance to penicillin(86/86,100%),ampicillin(86/86,100%),sulbactam/ampicillin(86/86,100%),cefuroxime(81/86,94.19%),cefoperazone(76/86,88.37%),azithromycin(56/86,65.12%),and erythromycin(54/86,62.79%).The majority of MRSA isolates were of SCCmec type IVh(65/86,75.58%),spa type t032(55/85,63.95%),and grouped into spaCC-t022(66/85,77.65%).The t032 type was found to be associated with resistance traits to azithromycin and erythromycin(P<0.05).We also found several spa types that are typically associated with hospital-,community-,and livestock-associated MRSA co-existing in our MRSA population.Conclusions:This study reflected the consistent absence of VISA and VRSA and corroborated the clonal shifting of MRSA isolates in the Malaysian MRSA isolates.

Healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections in children in Turkey:A six-year retrospective,single-center study

Objective:To describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics,antimicrobial susceptibility and mortality-associated factors of healthcare-associated infections(HCAIs)caused by Staphylococcus(S.)aureus in children.Methods:We conducted a retrospective,single-centre study of pediatric HCAIs caused by S.aureus from a tertiary care hospital in Turkey between February 2014 and December 2019.The clinical and epidemiological characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of the methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MSSA and MRSA)isolates was evaluated.Results:A total of 310 pediatric patients were examined.Overall,225(72.6%)isolates were MSSA and 85(27.4%)were MRSA.All S.aureus isolates were susceptible to teicoplanin,vancomycin,linezolid,tigecycline,mupirocin,and daptomycin.Penicillin resistance rates were high(89.0%),while fosfomycin,gentamicin,and clindamycin resistance rates were low(1.3%,1.0%,and 2.3%,respectively).Except susceptibility to fosfomycin,which was significantly lower in 2014 compared to 2018 and 2019,no significant difference was found in the antimicrobial susceptibility of S.aureus isolates between the years.Baseline characteristics and mortality rate were similar comparing MRSA and MSSA causing HCAIs.The mortality rate of HCAIs caused by S.aureus was 6.5%(20 patients).Malignancy was an independent risk factor associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis(OR 5.446,95%CI 1.573-18.849).Conclusions:Our findings demonstrate that MSSA remained the most causative agent of HCAIs caused by S.aureus.The mortality rate was 6.5%,the antibiotic resistance rate was quite high for penicillin and diagnosis of malignancy was the main risk factor for increasing mortality in children.These findings could help improve the management of HCAIs caused by S.aureus in children.

Discovery of Kaempferol,a Novel ADAM10 Inhibitor,as a Potential Treatment for Staphylococcus aureus Infection

Host-directed therapy(HDT)is an emerging novel approach for treating multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)infection.Functioning as the indispensable specific cellular receptor for a-toxin(Hla),a-disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10(ADAM10)is exploited to accelerate S.aureus infection through diverse mechanisms.The extraordinary contribution of ADAM10 to S.aureus pathogenesis renders it an attractive HDT target for combating S.aureus infection.Our study is the first to demonstrate the indispensable role of ADAM10 in S.aureus-induced necroptosis,and it enhances our knowledge of the role of ADAM10 in S.aureus infection.Using a fluorogenic substrate assay,we further identified kaempferol as a potent ADAM10 inhibitor that effectively protected mice from S.aureus infection by suppressing Hla-mediated barrier disruption and necroptosis.Collectively,our work presents a novel hostdirected therapeutic strategy for using the promising candidate kaempferol to treat S.aureus infection and other diseases relevant to the disordered upregulation of ADAM10.

Characterization of genetic humanized mice with transgenic HLA DP401 or DRA but deficient in endogenous murine MHC classⅡgenes upon Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia

Background:Staphylococcus aureus can cause serious infections by secreting many superantigen exotoxins in“carrier”or“pathogenic”states.HLA DQ and HLA DR humanized mice have been used as a small animal model to study the role of two molecules during S.aureus infection.However,the contribution of HLA DP to S.aureus infection is unknown yet.Methods:In this study,we have produced HLA DP401 and HLA DRA0101 humanized mice by microinjection of C57BL/6J zygotes.Neo-floxed IAβ+/-mice were crossbred with Ella-Cre and further crossbred with HLA DP401 or HLA-DRA0101 humanized mice.After several rounds of traditional crossbreeding,we finally obtained HLA DP401-IAβ-/-and HLA DRA-IAβ-/-humanized mice,in which human DP401 or DRA0101 molecule was introduced into IAβ-/-mice deficient in endogenous murine MHC classⅡmolecules.A transnasal infection murine model of S.aureus pneumonia was induced in the humanized mice by administering 2×108CFU of S.aureus Newman dropwise into the nasal cavity.The immune responses and histopathology changes were further assessed in lungs in these infected mice.Results:We evaluated the local and systemic effects of S.aureus delivered intranasally in HLA DP401-IAβ-/-and HLA DRA-IAβ-/-transgenic mice.S.aureus Newman infection significantly increased the m RNA level of IL 12p40 in lungs in humanized mice.An increase in IFN-γand IL-6 protein was observed in HLA DRA-IAβ-/-mice.We observed a declining trend in the percentage of F4/80+macrophages in lungs in HLA DP401-IAβ-/-mice and a decreasing ratio of CD4+to CD8+T cells in lungs in IAβ-/-mice and HLA DP401-IAβ-/-mice.A decreasing ratio of Vβ3+to Vβ8+T cells was also found in the lymph node of IAβ-/-mice and HLA DP401-IAβ-/-mice.S.aureus Newman infection resulted in a weaker pathological injury in lungs in IAβ-/-genetic background mice.Conclusion:These humanized mice will be an invaluable mouse model to resolve the pathological mechanism of S.aureus pneumonia and study what role DP molecule plays in S.aureus infection.

Neonatal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia-related recurrent fatal pyopneumothorax: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Although neonatal Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia is common and usually curable,it can also be refractory and life-threatening.Herein,we report a case of severe neonatal community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(CA-MRSA)necrotizing pneumonia with bilateral recurrent pyopneumothorax,respiratory failure,heart failure,and cardiac arrest.We hope our report will add to the understanding of this disease.CASE SUMMARY An 18-d-old boy presented with cough for five days,fever for three days,and dyspnea for two days.Preadmission chest radiograph revealed high-density shadows in both lungs.On admission,his oxygen saturation fluctuated around 90%under synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation.He was unconscious,with dyspnea,weak heart sounds and hepatomegaly.Moist crackles were present throughout his left lung,while the breath sounds in the right lung were decreased.After high-frequency oscillatory ventilation,empiric antimicrobials(meropenem and vancomycin),improved circulation,and right pleural cavity drainage for right pneumothorax(approximately 90%compression),his oxygen saturation level stayed above 95%,and recruitment of the right lung was observed.His condition did not deteriorate until the 5th day of hospitalization(DOH 5).On the morning of DOH 5,his oxygen saturation decreased.Subsequent chest radiograph showed bilateral pneumothorax with nearly 100%compression of the left lung.Desaturation was not relieved after urgent left pleural cavity drainage,and cardiac arrest occurred soon thereafter.Although his spontaneous heartbeat returned through emergency resuscitation and salvage antibacterial therapy(linezolid and levofloxacin)was administered given the detection and antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA,he showed no improvement,with recurrent pyopneumothorax and continued drainage of purulent fluid and necrotic lung tissue fragments from the pleural cavity.Eventually,his parents refused extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)and gave up all the treatments,and the newborn passed away soon after withdrawal on DOH 13.CONCLUSION Neonatal MRSA pneumonia can be refractory and lethal,especially in cases where necrotizing pneumonia leads to extensive lung necrosis and recurrent pneumothorax.Despite treatment with linezolid and other medical measures,it may still be ineffective.Currently,ECMO has been a remedial therapy,but if the lung tissue is too severely eroded to be repaired,it may be useless unless the infection can be controlled and lung transplantation can be performed.Regardless of whether ECMO is initiated,the key to successful treatment is to achieve control over the pneumonia caused by MRSA as soon as possible and to reverse lung injury as much as possible.

Therapeutic Effect of Daphnetin on Mastitis Induced by Staphylococcus aureus in Mice

[Objectives]To observe the effects of daphnetin on mastitis induced by Staphylococcus aureus in mice.[Methods]18 postpartum ICR female mice were used to establish mastitis animal model,and were randomly divided into three groups(A,B,and C)with 6 mice in each group.Group A:blank control group;group B:S.Aureus model group;group C:S.Aureus model+daphnetin group.The experimental groups were injected 1 mL of 1.0×104 CFU/100μL of S.aureus of along the nipple catheter.The suspension was placed in the 3 rd and 4 th pairs of mammary glands,and the control group was injected with the same dose of normal saline.On the second day after infection,the rats in group A,B and C were given drugs by gavage,while the rats in group A and B were given normal saline and the rats in group C were given daphnetin once a day for 6 consecutive days.Blood samples were collected from living eyeballs,and blood cells were analyzed by automatic flow cytometer after anticoagulation.[Results]The NLR and Systemie Immune Inflammati-on Index(SII)in the blood of mastitis mice induced by S.aureus were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.01),suggesting that neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and SII can be used as diagnostic indicators of mastitis,and the levels of NLR and SII decreased significantly after daphnetin intervention.[Conclusions]NLR and SII showed high levels in mastitis mice,which are valuable for the diagnosis of mastitis and the evaluation of its prognosis.After the intervention of daphnetin,both of them decreased significantly,indicating that daphnetin has a good prognosis trend in mastitis mice induced by S.aureus.

叶绿素镁钠盐对液态食品中Staphylococcus aureus的光动力杀菌研究

以叶绿素镁钠盐为光敏剂,研究了其对几种液体食品中金黄色葡萄球菌的光动力杀菌效果。结果表明,叶绿素镁钠盐对几种液态食品中的金黄色葡萄球菌具有很强的杀菌效果,其中以10-5mol/L的叶绿素镁钠盐杀菌效果最佳,10 min金黄色葡萄球菌减少了4.5个对数;随着光照时间的延长,液态食品中的金黄色葡萄球菌的致死率明显增加,特别是在起始10 min内;一般透光性好的食品包装材料对液态食品中金黄色葡萄球菌光动力杀菌效率没有影响,但液态食品的pH对其杀菌效率有一定的影响。对于不同的液态食品,在澄清或酸性的食品中叶绿色镁钠盐的光动力杀菌效果较好,但当食品中含固体颗粒或较浑浊时,其杀菌效率显著降低。

水飞蓟素对S.aureus ATCC25923生物膜及其毒力因子的影响

目的:探究水飞蓟素对S.aureus ATCC25923生物膜及其毒力因子的影响。方法:采用结晶紫染色法检测水飞蓟素对S.aureus ATCC25923生物膜形成的抑制及清除作用,MTT染色法探究水飞蓟素对其生物膜代谢的影响,冻干血浆和无菌脱纤维羊血探究水飞蓟素对其凝固酶表达和溶血活性的影响,同时用光学显微镜观察不同浓度水飞蓟素对其生物膜影响及傅里叶红外分析细菌成分变化。结果:水飞蓟素对S.aureus ATCC25923的最小抑菌质量浓度(MIC)为0.5 mg/mL,MIC浓度下的水飞蓟素对S.aureus ATCC25923生物膜的抑制率达到90%,清除率达到89.2%,且低剂量的水飞蓟素能够显著抑制其溶血活性和凝固酶的表达。结论:水飞蓟素对金黄色葡萄球菌的生物膜形成具有很好的抑制以及清除作用,同时能够显著抑制其毒力因子的表达。

来自Staphylococcus aureus N315的2-脱氧-D-核糖5-磷酸醛缩酶的工程菌构建、表达纯化与性质鉴定

利用基因挖掘在数据库中发现一种来自Staphylococcus aureus N315的潜在DERA(SaDERA),将其基因密码子优化后实现了在大肠杆菌中的表达,重组酶经纯化后研究了其催化性质。结果表明:构建的工程菌具有较高的可溶表达量(占总蛋白的70%),通过简单的一步纯化即可得到电泳纯的酶;SaDERA是一种同源二聚体的酶(5.7×104),其最适反应条件是pH 7.7和45℃;SaDERA具有良好的碱耐受性,在pH 11.0、25℃的条件下温浴24 h后仍有93%的残余活力;SaDERA具有良好的乙醛耐受性,在0.3 mol/L乙醛浓度、25℃下,30 min内保持了70%以上的残余活力;乙醛连续自缩合产物被纯化并鉴定,所得产品为两次缩合产物。

Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Clinical Specimens by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

Objective To develop a matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） approach to identify Staphylococcus aureus （5. aureus） and differentiate methicillin-resistant 5. aureus （MRSA） from methicillin-sensitive S. aureus （MSSA）. Methods A total of 100 5. aureus strains isolated from clinical specimens and farm workers were collected and analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS. And data obtained were interpreted with biotyper software. Results Ninety-two strains were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS as 5. aureus at a level of secure genus and probable species, and 4 strains were identified at probable genus after their cultivation, spectral collection and data preprocessing. One strain was identified as 5. aureus with lower score. It was revealed that identification of 5. aureus by MALDI-TOF-MS was highly correlated with typing by biochemical and serological methods with an accuracy as high as 97%. The biotyper cluster analysis showed that 100 isolates were divided into 2 types at the distance level of 400. Higher peak intensity in the mass of both 3784 Da and 5700 Da was observed in MRSA, whereas that was absent from MSSA. Conclusion MALDI-TOF-MS is considered as a simple, high-throughput and accuracy for the identification of S from MSSA. rapid and highly reproducible technique with aureus and it can reliably differentiate MRSA

Antimicrobial drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in dairy products

Objective:To evaluate the prevalence of multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) in dairy products.Methods:Isolation and identification of S.aureus were performed in 3 dairybased food products.The isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 5 different common antimicrobial drugs.Results:Of 50 samples examined,5(10%) were contaminated with 5. aureus.Subsequently,the 5 isolates were subjected to antimicrobial resistance pattern using five antibiotic discs(methicillin,vancomycin,kanamycin,chloramphenicol and tetracycline).Sample 29 showed resistance to methicillin and vancomycin.Sample 18 showed intermediate response to tetracycline.The other samples were susceptible to all the antibiotics tested.Conclusions:The results provide preliminary data on sources of food contamination which may act as vehicles for the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus.Therefore,it enables us to develop preventive strategies to avoid the emergence of new strains of resistant S.aureus.

Genotypic Characterization of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Pigs and Retail Foods in China

Objective To investigate the genotypic diversity of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA） isolated from pigs and retail foods from different geographical areas in China and further to study the routes and rates of transmission of this pathogen from animals to food. Methods Seventy-one MRSA isolates were obtained from pigs and retail foods and then characterized by multi-locus sequencing typing （MLST）, spa typing, multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis （MLVA）, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis （PFGE）, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results All isolated MRSA exhibited multi-drug resistance （MDR）. Greater diversity was found in food-associated MRSA （7 STs, 8 spa types, and 10 MLVA patterns） compared to pig-associated MRSA （3 STs, 1 spa type, and 6 MLVA patterns）. PFGE patterns were more diverse for pig-associated MRSA than those of food-associated isolates （40 vs. 11 pulse types）. Among the pig-associated isolates, CC9-ST9-t899-MC2236 was the most prevalent clone （96.4%）, and CC9-ST9-t437-MC621 （20.0%） was the predominant clone among the food-associated isolates. The CC9-ST9 isolates showed significantly higher antimicrobial resistance than other clones. Interestingly, CC398-ST398-t034 clone was identified from both pig- and food-associated isolates. Of note, some community- and hospital-associated MRSA strains （t030, t172, t1244, and t4549） were also identified as food-associated isolates. Conclusion CC9-ST9-t899-MC2236-MDR was the most predominant clone in pigs, but significant genetic diversity was observed in food-associated MRSA. Our results demonstrate the great need for improved surveillance of MRSA in livestock and food and effective prevention strategies to limit MDR-MRSA infections in China.

Prevalence and antibiogram study of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus in poultry meat

Objective:To evaluate the presence and antibiogram pattern of Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)in retail poultry meat products.Methods:Foodborne pathogens(Salmonella and S.aureus)were isolated from poultry meat and confirmed with the help of biochemical and immunological test.Antibiogram of the isolates were examined by following CLS1 methods.Results:A total number of 209 poultry meat samples were collected and studied in this study.Out of which,5.26%were found contaminated with Salmonella while 18.18%were found contaminated with S.aureus.All the Salmonella and S.aureus isolates were found resistant to at least one antibiotic.About 72.72%of the Salmonella isolates showed resistance to tetracycline,while S.aureus isolates were also found highly resistant to tetracycline equal to 44.73%.One of the Salmonella isolates showed multi-drug resistance to almost six antibiotics out of nine antibiotics used in the study.Multidrug resistant S.aureus isolates were also found in the study.Conclusions:The study confirmed the presence of Salmonella and S.aureus in retail poultry meat.It is a potential threat to consumer health.To reduce the risk of contamination,good hygiene practices are necessary from processing to storage.

Antibacterial activity of the essential oils from the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Objective:To examine the in vitro antimicrobial activities of essential oil of the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus(E.globulus).Methods:The essential oils of this plant were obtained by the hydrodistillation method.The inhibitory effects of this essential oil were tested against Escherichia coli(E.coli)and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)by using agar disc diffusion and dilution broth methods.Results:The results obtained showed that essential oil of the leaves of E.globulus has antimicrobial activity against gram negative bacteria(E.coli)as well as gram positive bacteria(S.aureus).Conclusion:The encouraging results indicate the essential oil of E.globulus leaves might be exploited as natural antibiotic for the treatment of several infectious diseases caused by these two germs,and could be useful in understanding the relations between traditional cures and current medicines.

Genetic characterization of antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis cases in Northwest China

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common etiological pathogen of bovine mastitis. The resistant strains make the disease difficult to cure. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic nature of the antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus cultured from bovine mastitis in Northwest China in 2014. A total of 44 S. aureus were isolated for antimicrobial resistance and resistance-related genes. Antimicrobial resistance was determined by disc diffusion and the corresponding resistance genes were detected by PCR. Phenotype indicated that S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin （84.09%）, erythromycin （20.45%）, tetracycline （15.91%）, gentamicin （9.09%）, tobramycin （6.82%）, kanamycin （6.82%） and methicillin （2.27%）. 9.09% of the S. aureus isolates were classified as multidrug resistant. In addition, genotypes showed that the isolates were resistant to rifampicin （100%, rpoB）, penicillin （95.45%, blaZ）, tetracycline （22.73%, tetK, tetM, alone or in combination）, erythromycin （22.73%, ermB or ermC）, gentamicin/tobramycin/kanamycin （2.27%, aacA-aphD）, methicillin （2.27%, mecA） and vancomycin （2.27%, vanA）. Resistance to tetracycline was attributed to the genes tetK and tetM （r=0.558, P〈0.001）. This study noted high-level geno- and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus isolates from bovine mastitis cases in Northwest China.