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Liu J, Yang L, Kjellerup BV, Xu Z. Viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state, an underestimated and controversial microbial survival strategy. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:1013-1023. [PMID: 37225640 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
As a unique microbial response to adverse circumstances, the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state is characterized by the loss of culturability of microbial cells on/in nutrient media that normally support their growth, while maintaining metabolic activity. These cells can resuscitate to a culturable state under suitable conditions. Given the intrinsic importance of the VBNC state and recent debates surrounding it, there is a need to redefine and standardize the term, and to address essential questions such as 'How to differentiate VBNC from other similar terms?' and 'How can VBNC cells be standardly and accurately determined?'. This opinion piece aims at contributing to an improved understanding of the VBNC state and promoting its proper handling as an underestimated and controversial microbial survival strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Liu
- College of Light Industry and Food Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Lingnan Specialty Food Science and Technology, Academy of Contemporary Agricultural Engineering Innovations, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China; Key Laboratory of Green Processing and Intelligent Manufacturing of Lingnan Specialty Food, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Liang Yang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Birthe Veno Kjellerup
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Zhenbo Xu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, Engineering Research Center of Starch and Vegetable Protein Processing Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
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2
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Guchhait KC, Manna T, Barai M, Karmakar M, Nandi SK, Jana D, Dey A, Panda S, Raul P, Patra A, Bhattacharya R, Chatterjee S, Panda AK, Ghosh C. Antibiofilm and anticancer activities of unripe and ripe Azadirachta indica (neem) seed extracts. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:42. [PMID: 35152903 PMCID: PMC8843028 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03513-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistances of pathogens and breast cancer warrant the search for new alternative strategies. Phytoextracts can eradicate microbe-borne diseases as well as cancer with lower side effects compared to conventional antibiotics. AIM Unripe and ripe Azadirachta indica (neem) seed extracts were explored as potential antibiofilm and anticancer agents in combating multidrug-resistant infectious bacteria as well as anticancer agents against the MDR breast cancer cell lines. METHODS Shed-dried neem seeds (both unripe and ripe) were pulverized and extracted using methanol. The chemical components were identified with FTIR and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. Antibiofilm activity of neem seed extracts were assessed in terms of minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC), and fluorescence microscopic studies on Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae. Bacterial cells were studied by fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange/ethidium bromide as the staining agents. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were evaluated to observe the antibacterial activities. Cytotoxicity of the extracts against human blood lymphocytes and the anticancer activity against drug-resistant breast cancer cell lines were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) studies. RESULTS 4-Ethyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclopentene-1-one, phthalic acid, and 2-hexyl-tetrahydro thiophane were the major compounds in unripe neem seed, whereas 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4-H-pyran-4-one and 4-ethylbenzamide were predominant in ripe neem seed. Triazine derivatives were also common for both the extracts. MBIC values of unripe and ripe neem seed extracts for S. aureus are 75 and 100 µg/mL, respectively, and for V. cholerae, they are 100 and 300 µg/mL, respectively. MBEC values of unripe and ripe seed extracts are 500 and 300 µg/mL, respectively for S. aureus and for V. cholerae the values are 700 and 500 µg/mL, respectively. Fluorescence microscopic studies at 16 and 24 h, after bacterial culture, demonstrate enhanced antibiofilm activity for the ripe seed extract than that of the unripe seeds for both the bacteria. MTT assay reveals lower cytotoxicity of both the extracts towards normal blood lymphocytes, and anticancer activity against breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) with superior activity of ripe seed extract. FACS studies further supported higher anticancer activity for ripe seed extract. CONCLUSIONS Methanolic extract of neem seeds could substantially inhibit and eradicate biofilm along with their potent antibacterial and anticancer activities. Both the extracts showed higher antibiofilm and antibacterial activity against S. aureus (gram-positive) than V. cholerae (gram-negative). Moreover, ripe seed extract showed higher antibiofilm and anticancer activity than unripe extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Chandra Guchhait
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Tuhin Manna
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Manas Barai
- Department of Chemistry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Monalisha Karmakar
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Sourav Kumar Nandi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute, 3081 Nayabad, Kolkata, 700094, West Bengal, India
| | - Debarati Jana
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Aditi Dey
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Suman Panda
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, West Bengal, India
| | - Priyanka Raul
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Anuttam Patra
- Chemistry of Interfaces Group, Luleå University of Technology, SE- 97187, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Rittwika Bhattacharya
- Department of Molecular Biology, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute, 3081 Nayabad, Kolkata, 700094, West Bengal, India
| | - Subhrangsu Chatterjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, West Bengal, India
| | - Amiya Kumar Panda
- Department of Chemistry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India.,Sadhu Ram Chand Murmu University of Jhargram, Jhargram, 721507, West Bengal, India
| | - Chandradipa Ghosh
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, 721102, West Bengal, India.
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Duarte N, Salazar V, Casanova G, Suárez P, Fernández-Delgado M. Occurrence of Helicobacter spp. and Fecal Bacterial Contamination in High-altitude Aquatic Environments from the Andes. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2021; 107:433-440. [PMID: 34347116 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03347-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of Helicobacter spp. and fecal bacterial contamination was investigated in high-altitude environments from the Northeastern Andes of Venezuela. Helicobacter DNA was detected by PCR in streams, drinking and irrigation waters, and one culture from drinking water by the HP enrichment medium for selection of Helicobacter pylori, which displayed 98.98% homology to this pathogen based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. FISH demonstrated predominant coccoid cells of the target bacteria indicative of the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state in all water samples and HP cultures. Our work reveals for the first time Helicobacter spp. in waters from one of the highest places in the world. These results, together with the presence of fecal coliforms (2-160 MPN/100 mL) from the headwaters of rivers to drinking and irrigation waters, alert fecal contamination and epidemiological implications in this area of ecological and economic importance for the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nereida Duarte
- Instituto Autónomo Hospital, Universitario de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Víctor Salazar
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Altos de Pipe, Miranda, Venezuela
| | - Gerardo Casanova
- Instituto Autónomo Hospital, Universitario de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Paula Suárez
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Milagro Fernández-Delgado
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Altos de Pipe, Miranda, Venezuela.
- Centro de Ingeniería de Materiales y Nanotecnología, IVIC, Altos de Pipe, Miranda, Venezuela.
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Hortelano I, Moreno MY, García-Hernández J, Ferrús MA. Optimization of pre- treatments with Propidium Monoazide and PEMAX™ before real-time quantitative PCR for detection and quantification of viable Helicobacter pylori cells. J Microbiol Methods 2021; 185:106223. [PMID: 33872638 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Accurate detection of H. pylori in different environmental and clinical samples is essential for public health strtdudies. Now, a big effort is being made to design PCR methodologies that allow for the detection of viable and viable but non-culturable (VBNC) H. pylori cells, by achieving complete exclusion of dead cells amplification signals. The use of DNA intercalating dyes has been proposed. However, its efficacy is still not well determined. In this study, we aimed to test the suitability of PMA and PEMAX™ dyes used prior to qPCR for only detecting viable cells of H. pylori. Their efficiency was evaluated with cells submitted to different disinfection treatments and confirmed by the absence of growth on culture media and by LIVE/DEAD counts. Our results indicated that an incubation period of 5 min for both, PMA and PEMAX™, did not affect viable cells. Our study also demonstrated that results obtained by using intercalating dyes may vary depending on the cell stress conditions. In all dead cell's samples, both PMA and PEMAX™ pre-qPCR treatments decreased the amplification signal (>103 Genomic Units (GU)), although none of them allowed for its disappearance confirming that intercalating dyes, although useful for screening purposes, cannot be considered as universal viability markers. To investigate the applicability of the method specifically to detect H. pylori cells in environmental samples, PMA-qPCR was performed on samples containing the different morphological and viability states that H. pylori can acquire in environment. The optimized PMA-qPCR methodology showed to be useful to detect mostly (but not only) viable forms, regardless the morphological state of the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Hortelano
- Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
| | - María Yolanda Moreno
- Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - María Antonia Ferrús
- Biotechnology Department, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
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5
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Hortelano I, Moreno Y, Moreno-Mesonero L, Ferrús MA. Deep-amplicon sequencing (DAS) analysis to determine the presence of pathogenic Helicobacter species in wastewater reused for irrigation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114768. [PMID: 32434114 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater has become one of the most important and least expensive water for the agriculture sector, as well as an alternative to the overexploitation of water resources. However, inappropriate treatment before its reuse can result in a negative impact on the environment, such as the presence of pathogens. This poses an increased risk for environmental safety, which can subsequently lead to an increased risk for human health. Among all the emerging wastewater pathogens, bacteria of the genus Helicobacter are some of the most disturbing ones, since they are directly related to gastric illness and hepatobiliary and gastric cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of potentially pathogenic Helicobacter spp. in treated wastewater intended for irrigation. We used a next generation sequencing approach, based on Illumina sequencing in combination with culture and other molecular techniques (qPCR, FISH and DVC-FISH), to analyze 16 wastewater samples, with and without an enrichment step. By culture, one of the direct samples was positive for H. pylori. FISH and DVC-FISH techniques allowed for detecting viable Helicobacter spp., including H. pylori, in seven out of eight samples of wastewater from the tertiary effluents, while qPCR analysis yielded only three positive results. When wastewater microbiome was analyzed, Helicobacter genus was detected in 7 samples. The different molecular techniques used in the present study provided evidence, for the first time, of the presence of species belonging to the genus Helicobacter such as H. pylori, H. hepaticus, H. pullorum and H. suis in wastewater samples, even after disinfection treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Hortelano
- Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Yolanda Moreno
- Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Laura Moreno-Mesonero
- Research Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Antonia Ferrús
- Biotechnology Department, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022, Valencia, Spain
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Suárez P, Gutiérrez A, Salazar V, Puche M, Serrano Y, Martínez S, González G, Fernández‐Delgado M. Virulence properties and antimicrobial resistance of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolated from cave waters at Roraima Tepui, Guayana Highlands. Lett Appl Microbiol 2020; 70:372-379. [DOI: 10.1111/lam.13283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Suárez
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB) Caracas Venezuela
| | - A.V. Gutiérrez
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) Caracas Venezuela
| | - V. Salazar
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) Caracas Venezuela
| | - M.L. Puche
- Centro de Ingeniería de Materiales y Nanotecnología (CIMN) IVIC Caracas Venezuela
| | - Y. Serrano
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB) Caracas Venezuela
| | - S. Martínez
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB) Caracas Venezuela
| | - G. González
- Centro de Ingeniería de Materiales y Nanotecnología (CIMN) IVIC Caracas Venezuela
- Escuela de Ciencias Físicas y Nanotecnología Yachay Tech Urcuquí Ecuador
| | - M. Fernández‐Delgado
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) Caracas Venezuela
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Rull V, Vegas-Vilarrúbia T. The Pantepui “Lost World”: Towards a Biogeographical, Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis of a Pristine Neotropical Sky-Island Archipelago. NEOTROPICAL DIVERSIFICATION: PATTERNS AND PROCESSES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-31167-4_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Vesga FJ, Moreno Y, Ferrús MA, Campos C, Trespalacios AA. Detection of Helicobacter pylori in drinking water treatment plants in Bogotá, Colombia, using cultural and molecular techniques. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2018; 221:595-601. [PMID: 29709385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Rull V, Vegas-Vilarrúbia T. Potential Responses of Vascular Plants from the Pristine "Lost World" of the Neotropical Guayana Highlands to Global Warming: Review and New Perspectives. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:81. [PMID: 28179913 PMCID: PMC5263137 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The neotropical Guayana Highlands (GH) are one of the few remaining pristine environments on Earth, and they host amazing biodiversity with a high degree endemism, especially among vascular plants. Despite the lack of direct human disturbance, GH plants and their communities are threatened with extinction from habitat loss due to global warming (GW). Geographic information systems simulations involving the entire known vascular GH flora (>2430 species) predict potential GW-driven extinctions on the order of 80% by the end of this century, including nearly half of the endemic species. These estimates and the assessment of an environmental impact value for each species led to the hierarchization of plants by their risk of habitat loss and the definition of priority conservation categories. However, the predictions assume that all species will respond to GW by migrating upward and at equal rates, which is unlikely, so current estimates should be considered preliminary and incomplete (although they represent the best that can be done with the existing information). Other potential environmental forcings (i.e., precipitation shifts, an increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration) and idiosyncratic plant responses (i.e., resistance, phenotypic acclimation, rapid evolution) should also be considered, so detailed eco-physiological studies of the more threatened species are urgently needed. The main obstacles to developing such studies are the remoteness and inaccessibility of the GH and, especially, the difficulty in obtaining official permits for fieldwork.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentí Rull
- Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera (ICTJA-CSIC)Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Vegas-Vilarrúbia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentí Rull
- Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera (ICTJA-CSIC); 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Teresa Vegas-Vilarrúbia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Elisabet Safont
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; University of Barcelona; 08028 Barcelona Spain
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