Isolation and identification of rhizospheric pseudomonads with insecticidal effects from various crops in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Pseudomonas bacteria include a variety of species with distinct characteristics. Some species within this genus are known for their ability to stimulate plant growth. Recently, the potential of these bacteria in controlling insect pests has been documented. In this study, 58 bacterial isolates were purified from rhizospheres of wheat, broad bean and canola that were collected from different fields of Khuzestan province in south-west of Iran. With biochemical tests 19 non plant pathogenic pseudomonads strains were detected and their lethal effects on the eggs and larvae of Ephestia keuhniella as an important pest that infests stored products, were evaluated under laboratory conditions. For the bioassays, two concentrations of each strain were administered, and the 5th instar larvae and eggs of the pest were subjected to treatment. Mortality rates were recorded after 24 h. The results showed that all isolated Pseudomonad strains of this study had insecticidal effects against eggs and larvae of E. keuhniella. The strains AWI1, AWI2, AWI7, ABI12, ABI15 and ABI16 displayed the highest mortality rate (91.1 %, 86.2 %, 82.3 %, 84.2, 90.5 % and 90.5 %, respectively). Molecular identification and phylogeny tree according to 16 s rRNA sequencing clarified that AWI1, AWI2 belong to P. plecoglossicida, AWI5 belongs to P. lini, ABI12, ABI15 and ABI16 belong to P. taiwanensis. Moreover, the bacterial efficacy at a suspension concentration of 0.5 OD (80 %) was significantly greater than that at a concentration of 0.2 OD (63.33 %). No significant difference was detected in the response of the pest larvae or eggs to the different strains. Furthermore, olfactory trials revealed that the female parasitoid wasp Habrabracon hebetor actively avoided the infection of the treated larvae by the strains. These findings have practical implications for the development of microbiological pest control strategies.

MALDI-TOF as a tool for microbiological monitoring in areas considered aseptic

To maintain asepsis in production environments, contamination must be constantly controlled. To this end, microbiological monitoring is constantly used with the objective of evaluating the incidence of microorganisms prevalent in the sampling of air, surface, and people, in the area of an environment considered aseptic, isolated, and identified using the rapid and automated phenotypic microbiological methodology, highlighting the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis technique (MS), being identified at the level of genus and/or species. For that purpose, microbiological control of environmental monitoring of environments considered aseptic in a pharmaceutical industry was conducted for 12 months. The isolated microorganisms were identified using the mass spectrometry identification method (MALDI-TOF). In area classification A, the most prevalent microorganisms were bacteria in the sampling person. The microbial population was composed of bacteria of the genus Micrococcus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. Based on the results, it is possible to observe that in an environment where the process requires human operations, possible microbial contamination is inevitable and requires the identification of microorganisms at least at the level of species and/or genus. The microorganisms identified and found in the sampling of the aseptic environment must be evaluated with frequency to ensure that the productive environment guarantees the quality of the product produced.

Genetic variability of Metarhizium isolates from the Ticino Valley Natural Park (Northern Italy) as a possible microbiological resource for the management of Popillia japonica

The natural occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) was investigated along the Ticino River (Ticino River Natural Park, Novara Province, Piedmont, Italy), at the center of the area of the first settlement of the invasive alien pest Popillia japonica. Using Zimmermann's "Galleria bait method", EPF were successfully isolated from 83 out of 155 soil samples from different habitats (perennial, cultivated, or uncultivated meadows, woodlands, and riverbanks). Sequencing of the 5' end of the Translation Elongation Factor 1 alfa (5'-TEF) region allowed the assignment of 94% of the isolates to Metarhizium spp., while 8% and 7% were assigned to Beauveria spp. and Paecilomyces spp., respectively. Four Metarhizium species were identified: Metarhizium robertsii was the most common one (61.5% of the isolates), followed by M. brunneum (24.4%), M. lepidiotae (9%), and M. guizhouense (5.1%). Microsatellite marker analysis of the Metarhizium isolates revealed the presence of 27 different genotypes, i.e., 10 genotypes among M. robertsii, 8 among M. brunneum, 5 among M. lepidiotae, and 4 among M. guizhouense. Metarhizium brunneum appeared to be associated with woodlands and more acid soils, while the other species showed no clear association with a particular habitat. Laboratory virulence tests against P. japonica 3rd instar larvae allowed the identification of one M. robertsii isolate that showed efficacy as high as 80.3%. The importance of this kind of study in the frame of eco-friendly microbiological control is discussed.

Quality control and immunomodulatory potential for clinical-grade equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells and conditioned medium

This study aimed to assess the safety and reproducibility of cell therapy for its use in clinical practice. We performed immunophenotypic characterization of equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs) by flow cytometry using CD90, CD19, CD14, CD105, CD45, and HLA-DR markers (n = 4); GTG banding cytogenetic analysis (n = 3); and microbiological quality control (n = 4). The immunomodulatory potentials of BMMSCs (n = 4) and its conditioned medium (CM, n = 3) were investigated by in vitro lymphocyte inhibition assay using phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). BMMSCs populations isolated from all animals showed high expression of CD90 and CD105, and low expression of CD19, CD4, CD45, and HLA-DR. Of the 60 metaphases analyzed, 5% presented aneuploidy on random chromosomes and no contamination was found based on microbiological analyses. Both treatments significantly inhibited lymphocyte proliferation (> 50%), compared with PHA-stimulated PBMCs (p < 0.0001). These promising results for BMMSCs and CM justify their potential as a therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases. The techniques used in this study were effective in assessing the quality and determining the minimum criteria for the clinical use of BMMSCs in veterinary medicine.

Intrinsic Parameters and Bacterial Growth Prediction in a Brazilian Minimally Ripened Cheese (Coalho) during Refrigerated Storage

This study evaluated the microbiological and physicochemical characteristics in different commercial brands of a Brazilian minimally ripened (coalho) cheese during 60 days of storage under refrigeration. Combinations of maximum and minimum values of water activity and pH determined in cheese samples at refrigeration temperature (7°C) were used in a bacterial growth prediction analysis. Maximum growth rate (Grmax) was estimated for different pathogenic and/or spoilage bacteria using the ComBase Predictor. Results of microbiological characterization analyses showed persistent high counts for all monitored microbial groups ( Lactobacillus spp., Lactococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacteriaceae, proteolytic and lipolytic microorganisms, and fungi) in cheese samples; no dominant microbial group was observed over time. Values of pH (6.03 ± 0.16 to 7.28 ± 0.55), acidity (0.15% ± 0.09% to 0.66% ± 0.26%), sodium chloride (1.05% ± 0.19% to 1.97% ± 0.75%), and water activity (0.948 ± 0.020 to 0.974 ± 0.012) did not vary in cheese samples during storage. Estimated Grmax values for the tested bacteria were in the range of 0.004 to 0.044 log CFU/h. Highest Grmax values (0.005 to 0.044 log CFU/h) were predicted for the psychrotrophic Aeromonas hydrophila, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas spp., and Yersinia enterocolitica. Grmax values predicted for Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus were in the range of 0.004 to 0.016 log CFU/h. These results indicate unsatisfactory microbiological characteristics of commercially available coalho cheese. Physicochemical characteristics of commercial coalho cheese stored under refrigeration allow bacterial growth to occur, indicating higher risk for fast growth of contaminant bacteria in this product.

Jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) juice obtained by steam-extraction: phenolic compound profile, antioxidant capacity, microbiological stability, and sensory acceptability

Jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) is a dark-colored fruit native to Brazil that has a desirable flavor and high anthocyanin content. In the present study, jabuticaba juice was produced by steam-extraction and the phenolic compound profile, antioxidant capacity, instrumental color, and microbiological quality were evaluated during 90 days of storage at 25 °C. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside represented 45% of the total phenolic content of the juice, which reduced with extent of 80% during storage. Total phenolic content of the juice increased by 59% during 90 days of storage, which entailed, average 4.4-fold increase in the content of gallic and ellagic acids. FRAP assay was most sensitive for measuring gallic and ellagic acids, while the TEAC assay was the most sensitive for measuring anthocyanins. Although [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values of jabuticaba juice decreased and [Formula: see text] increased during storage. Jabuticaba juice remained microbiologically stable during storage, and did not support the growth of inoculated Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis, suggesting antimicrobial activity.