Long-term cryopreservation of non-spore-forming fungi in Microbank™ beads for plant pathological investigations

Storage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture isolates in MicrobankTM beads at a South African laboratory

Background

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates are typically stored at -70 °C in cryovials containing 1 mL aliquots of a liquid medium, with or without 50% glycerol. Multiple uses of the culture stock may decrease the strain viability while increasing the risk of culture contamination. Small culture aliquots may be more practical; however, storage capacity remains challenging. MicrobankTM beads (25 beads/vial) for the long-term storage of fungal cultures is well documented, but their use for storing MTBC isolates is uninvestigated.

Objective

The study aimed to determine the feasibility of using MicrobankTM beads for long-term storage of MTBC isolates at a laboratory in South Africa.

Methods

In February 2020, 20 isolates in liquid culture were stored in MicrobankTM beads, following an in-house developed protocol, at -70 °C. At defined time points (16 months [15 June 2021] and 21 months [18 November 2021]), two beads were retrieved from each storage vial and assessed for viability and level of contamination.

Results

Stored liquid isolates demonstrated MTBC growth within an average time-to-detection of 18 days following retrieval, even at 21 months post storage. Contaminating organisms were detected in 2 of 80 (2.5%) culture isolates.

Conclusion

MicrobankTM beads will allow for the reculture of up to 25 culture isolates using a reduced culture volume compared to current storage methods. MicrobankTM beads represent a storage solution for the medium-term storage of MTBC isolates.

What this study adds

This study evaluated the use of MicrobankTM beads as an alternate method for storing MTBC culture isolates at -70 °C and provided a suitable option for medium-term storage of MTBC.

Antibiotic and Metal Resistance in Escherichia coli Isolated from Pig Slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom

Antimicrobial resistance is currently an important concern, but there are few data on the co-presence of metal and antibiotic resistance in potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli entering the food chain from pork, which may threaten human health. We have examined the phenotypic and genotypic resistances to 18 antibiotics and 3 metals (mercury, silver, and copper) of E. coli from pig slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom. The results showed resistances to oxytetracycline, streptomycin, sulphonamide, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, ceftiofur, amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, aztreonam, and nitrofurantoin. The top three resistances were oxytetracycline (64%), streptomycin (28%), and sulphonamide (16%). Two strains were resistant to six kinds of antibiotics. Three carried the bla_TEM gene. Fifteen strains (18.75%) were resistant to 25 µg/mL mercury and five (6.25%) of these to 50 µg/mL; merA and merC genes were detected in 14 strains. Thirty-five strains (43.75%) showed resistance to silver, with 19 possessing silA, silB, and silE genes. Fifty-five strains (68.75%) were resistant to 8 mM copper or above. Seven contained the pcoE gene. Some strains were multi-resistant to antibiotics, silver, and copper. The results in this study, based on strains isolated between 2007 and 2010, will aid understanding about the effects of strategies to reduce resistance and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).