Microcystin-LR is a hepatotoxin produced by cyanobacteria. Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella piscicida infections are leading causes of losses in market-sized channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). These older fish should have natural immunity in place and a predisposing factor is likely a prerequisite for these disease outbreaks. While microcystin-LR rarely causes mortality in warm-water aquaculture, we believe it may be a predisposing factor that leads to bacterial disease outbreaks during the summer months due to its ability to damage the liver. Our study investigated microcystin-LR’s effects on channel catfish susceptibility to these pathogens. We found that a sublethal dose of microcystin-LR induced substantial damage to multiple immune organs. In our challenges with both the toxin and bacteria, we saw a significant increase in mortality of fish. Our findings suggest that microcystin-LR increases channel catfish susceptibility to Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella piscicida infections.

No description available.

No description available.

Plusieurs études ont examiné la sensibilité aux antimicrobiens chez les bactéries d’organismes provenant de produits issus de l’aquaculture ou de leur environnement. Aucune information n’est cependant disponible concernant la résistance aux antimicrobiens dans les bactéries de la flore de poissons ou de fruits de mer vendus au détail au Canada. C’est particulièrement vrai en ce qui a trait aux bactéries des genres Aeromonas et Vibrio, dont certaines espèces sont des agents pathogènes zoonotiques connus. Au cours de cette étude, la sensibilité aux antimicrobiens d’isolats d’Aeromonas spp. et de Vibrio spp. provenant de poissons et de crevettes domestiques et importés a été mesurée à l’aide de techniques de micro dilution en bouillon et/ou de diffusion sur disque. Les classes d’antimicrobiens examinés comprenaient les tétracyclines (TET), les inhibiteurs de la voie des folates (sulfadiméthoxine-triméthoprime, SXT), le florfenicol (FLO), et les quinolones (acide nalidixique / enrofloxacine, NA/ENO). Des valeurs seuils épidémiologiques pour Aeromonas et Vibrio ont été établies en utilisant la méthode d’interprétation normalisée des données de résistance provenant de diffusion sur disque. La recherche de gènes de résistance associés au profil de résistance des isolats a été effectuée en utilisant des PCRs et des puces ADN. Le nombre d’isolats résistants aux divers antimicrobiens parmi les 201 isolats d’Aeromonas et les 185 isolats de Vibrio étaient respectivement les suivants: TET (n=24 et 10), FLO (n=1 et 0), SXT (n=2 et 8), NA (n=7 et 5) et ENO (n= 5 et 0). Diverses associations de gènes tet(A), tet(B), tet(E), floR, sul1, sul2, et intI1 ont été détectées, les gènes tet(E), intI1, sul2 et tet(B) étant les plus communs. Les espèces d’Aeromonas et de Vibrio isolées de poissons au détail et de fruits de mer peuvent héberger une variété de gènes de résistance, bien que peu fréquemment. Le risque que représente ces gènes de résistance reste à évaluer en considérant le potentiel infectieux des bactéries, l’utilisation des ces agents antimicrobiens pour le traitement des maladies en aquaculture et en médecine humaine et leur rôle en tant que réservoir de la résistance antimicrobienne. / Multiple studies have examined antimicrobial susceptibility in bacteria from aquacultured products microorganisms and their environment. However, no information is available concerning antimicrobial resistance in bacterial flora of fish and seafood available at the retail level in Canada. This is particularly true for the common aquatic commensals, Aeromonas and Vibrio, for which some species are known zoonotic pathogens. In the course of this study, the antimicrobial susceptibility among Aeromonas spp. and Vibrio spp. from domestic and imported fish and seafood was characterized. Aeromonas and Vibrio spp. isolates cultured from finfish and shrimp samples were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility by broth microdilution and/or disk diffusion techniques. Antimicrobial classes examined in detail included: tetracyclines (TET), folate pathway inhibitors (sulfadimethoxine-trimethoprim, SXT), florfenicol (FLO), and the quinolones (nalidixic acid / enrofloxacin, NA/ENO). Epidemiological cut-off values (ECV’s) for Aeromonas/Vibrio were established using normalized resistance interpretation (NRI) of disk diffusion data. Isolates were further examined by PCR and microarray for genes associated with their antimicrobial resistance. Of 201 Aeromonas and 185 Vibrio isolates, those classified as resistant were as follows, respectively: TET (n=24 and 10), FLO (n=1 and 0), SXT (n=2 and 8), NA (n=7 and 5) and ENO (n=5 and 0). Various combinations of tet(A), tet(B), tet(E), floR, sul1, sul2 and intI1 genes were detected with tet(E), intI1, sul2 and tet(B) being the most common. Vibrio and Aeromonas species isolated from retail fish and seafood sources can harbor a variety of resistance determinants, although their occurrence is not high. The risk represented by these resistances remains to be evaluated in view of the potential for bacterial infection and their role as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance.

Pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) is a species of fish whose breeding in recirculation systems has a great prospect in the years to come. Due to the unfavorable conditions of intensive rearing of these fish in recirculation systems, they are often exposed to stress resulting in reduced fish defenses. Thus, fish are exposed to attack of a wide range of bacteria. Although there are preventive measures to protect fish against pathogen attack, knowledge of the immune system and the immune response of the fish is crucial for further evolution of vaccination. Even though we know the mechanisms of immune response of many fish species,but the knowledge of the pike-perch's immune response is very limited.

Plusieurs études ont examiné la sensibilité aux antimicrobiens chez les bactéries d’organismes provenant de produits issus de l’aquaculture ou de leur environnement. Aucune information n’est cependant disponible concernant la résistance aux antimicrobiens dans les bactéries de la flore de poissons ou de fruits de mer vendus au détail au Canada. C’est particulièrement vrai en ce qui a trait aux bactéries des genres Aeromonas et Vibrio, dont certaines espèces sont des agents pathogènes zoonotiques connus. Au cours de cette étude, la sensibilité aux antimicrobiens d’isolats d’Aeromonas spp. et de Vibrio spp. provenant de poissons et de crevettes domestiques et importés a été mesurée à l’aide de techniques de micro dilution en bouillon et/ou de diffusion sur disque. Les classes d’antimicrobiens examinés comprenaient les tétracyclines (TET), les inhibiteurs de la voie des folates (sulfadiméthoxine-triméthoprime, SXT), le florfenicol (FLO), et les quinolones (acide nalidixique / enrofloxacine, NA/ENO). Des valeurs seuils épidémiologiques pour Aeromonas et Vibrio ont été établies en utilisant la méthode d’interprétation normalisée des données de résistance provenant de diffusion sur disque. La recherche de gènes de résistance associés au profil de résistance des isolats a été effectuée en utilisant des PCRs et des puces ADN. Le nombre d’isolats résistants aux divers antimicrobiens parmi les 201 isolats d’Aeromonas et les 185 isolats de Vibrio étaient respectivement les suivants: TET (n=24 et 10), FLO (n=1 et 0), SXT (n=2 et 8), NA (n=7 et 5) et ENO (n= 5 et 0). Diverses associations de gènes tet(A), tet(B), tet(E), floR, sul1, sul2, et intI1 ont été détectées, les gènes tet(E), intI1, sul2 et tet(B) étant les plus communs. Les espèces d’Aeromonas et de Vibrio isolées de poissons au détail et de fruits de mer peuvent héberger une variété de gènes de résistance, bien que peu fréquemment. Le risque que représente ces gènes de résistance reste à évaluer en considérant le potentiel infectieux des bactéries, l’utilisation des ces agents antimicrobiens pour le traitement des maladies en aquaculture et en médecine humaine et leur rôle en tant que réservoir de la résistance antimicrobienne. / Multiple studies have examined antimicrobial susceptibility in bacteria from aquacultured products microorganisms and their environment. However, no information is available concerning antimicrobial resistance in bacterial flora of fish and seafood available at the retail level in Canada. This is particularly true for the common aquatic commensals, Aeromonas and Vibrio, for which some species are known zoonotic pathogens. In the course of this study, the antimicrobial susceptibility among Aeromonas spp. and Vibrio spp. from domestic and imported fish and seafood was characterized. Aeromonas and Vibrio spp. isolates cultured from finfish and shrimp samples were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility by broth microdilution and/or disk diffusion techniques. Antimicrobial classes examined in detail included: tetracyclines (TET), folate pathway inhibitors (sulfadimethoxine-trimethoprim, SXT), florfenicol (FLO), and the quinolones (nalidixic acid / enrofloxacin, NA/ENO). Epidemiological cut-off values (ECV’s) for Aeromonas/Vibrio were established using normalized resistance interpretation (NRI) of disk diffusion data. Isolates were further examined by PCR and microarray for genes associated with their antimicrobial resistance. Of 201 Aeromonas and 185 Vibrio isolates, those classified as resistant were as follows, respectively: TET (n=24 and 10), FLO (n=1 and 0), SXT (n=2 and 8), NA (n=7 and 5) and ENO (n=5 and 0). Various combinations of tet(A), tet(B), tet(E), floR, sul1, sul2 and intI1 genes were detected with tet(E), intI1, sul2 and tet(B) being the most common. Vibrio and Aeromonas species isolated from retail fish and seafood sources can harbor a variety of resistance determinants, although their occurrence is not high. The risk represented by these resistances remains to be evaluated in view of the potential for bacterial infection and their role as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第23868号 / 工博第4955号 / 新制||工||1774(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 清水 芳久, 教授 高野 裕久, 准教授 松田 知成 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Submitted by Luciana Sebin (lusebin@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-13T12:06:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMMC.pdf: 4981123 bytes, checksum: d5a8170e8917fcba950766e44afd3868 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-14T20:37:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMMC.pdf: 4981123 bytes, checksum: d5a8170e8917fcba950766e44afd3868 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-14T20:38:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMMC.pdf: 4981123 bytes, checksum: d5a8170e8917fcba950766e44afd3868 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-17T12:54:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseMMC.pdf: 4981123 bytes, checksum: d5a8170e8917fcba950766e44afd3868 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / The main goal of the present work was to perform an expression analysis of the Arg1, Arg2 and iNOS genes in the liver, anterior kidney and spleen of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) in 4 different times post-infection, in response to the experimental infection with the bacterium Aeromonas dhakensis. The strain used in the present study was isolated from a specimen of P. mesopotamicus from the CEPTA/ICMBio in Pirassununga – SP, characterized by biochemical tests using the VITEK 2 automated identification system, and identified as belonging to the genus Aeromonas. Further molecular analyses of the 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD genes showed that the isolated strain belonged to the species A. dhakensis, a species that had never been reported in South America. This strain was resistant to the antibiotics ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefoxitin and meroponem, with a high virulence level against experimentally infected pacus, causing clinical signs of acute hemorrhagic septicemia. The fifty per cent lethal dose (LD50) was 1.1 × 105 CFU/fish. Once characterized, this A. dhakensis strain was used in the infection experiments in P. mesopotamicus in order to analyze the expression of the Arg1, Arg2 and iNOS genes. These genes were sequenced and, from the partial sequences, P. mesopotamicus specific primers were designed for the quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) expression analyses. Following the infection with A. dhakensis, the Arg1 gene expression levels decreased in the kidney 24 h post-infection; the Arg2 gene expression of reduced in the liver at 12 h and 24 h post-infection and increased in the spleen at 24 h and 48 h post-infection; the gene expression of iNOS was significantly increased in she spleen at 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-infection. The results of the present study showed that the Arg2 and iNOS genes were the most variable in response to the A. dhakensis infection, indicating that these are involved in the initial immune response to bacterial infections in P. mesopotamicus. The organ that was most involved in this response was the spleen, which showed the highest levels of variation in these genes after the challenge. This is the first study assessing the expression levels of the Arg1, Arg2 and iNOS genes in P. mesopotamicus following the infection with A. dhakensis, providing a valuable contribution for the understanding of the immune response mechanisms against bacterial pathogens in this important South American fish species. / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar uma análise da expressão dos genes das enzimas Arg1, Arg2 e iNOS no fígado, rim anterior e baço de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) em 4 períodos diferentes pós-infecção, em resposta à infecção experimental pela bactéria Aeromonas dhakensis. A cepa bacteriana utilizada no presente estudo foi isolada de um exemplar de P. mesopotamicus obtido do CEPTA/ICMbio em Pirassununga – SP, caracterizada por testes bioquímicos pelo sistema de identificação automatizado VITEK 2 e identificada como sendo do gênero Aeromonas. Posteriores análises moleculares dos genes 16S rRNA, gyrB e rpoD demonstraram que a bactéria isolada era da espécie A. dhakensis, cuja ocorrência na América do Sul nunca havia sido relatada. Essa cepa se mostrou resistente aos antibióticos ampicilina, ampicilina/sulbactam, cefoxitina e meropenem, com elevado nível de virulência para pacus experimentalmente infectados, causando sinais clínicos de septicemia hemorrágica aguda. A dose letal para 50% dos animais infectados (DL50) foi de 1,1 × 105 UFC/peixe. Uma vez caracterizada, essa cepa de A. dhakensis foi utilizada no experimento de infecção em P. mesopotamicus para análise de expressão dos genes Arg1, Arg2 e iNOS. Esses genes foram sequenciados e, a partir das sequências parciais, primers específicos para P. mesopotamicus foram desenhados para as análises de expressão por PCR em tempo real quantitativo (qPCR). O gene Arg1 apresentou os maiores níveis de expressão basal no fígado, já o gene Arg2 foi mais expresso no rim e o gene iNOS apresentou os maiores níveis de expressão basal no rim e no fígado. Após a infecção por A. dhakensis, o gene Arg1 apresentou uma leve diminuição na expressão no rim no período de 24 h pósinfecção; o gene Arg2 apresentou uma redução na sua expressão no fígado nos períodos de 12 h e 24 h pós-infecção e um aumento na expressão no baço nos períodos de 24h e 48 h pósinfecção; e o gene iNOS apresentou aumento significativo nos níveis de expressão no baço nos períodos de 12 h, 24 h e 48 h pós-infecção. Os resultados do presente trabalho mostram que os genes Arg2 e iNOS foram os que apresentaram maior variação em resposta à infecção por A. dhakensis, indicando que estes genes estão envolvidos na resposta inicial à infecções por essa bactéria em P. mesopotamicus. O baço foi o órgão mais envolvido nessa resposta, apresentando os maiores variações nos níveis de expressão desses genes após o desafio. Este é o primeiro estudo avaliando os níveis de expressão dos genes Arg1, Arg2 e iNOS em P. mesopotamicus após infecção por A. dhakensis, fornecendo uma valiosa contribuição para o entendimento dos mecanismos de resposta imunológica contra patógenos desse importante peixe sul-americano.

Abstract Medicinal plants have been for long remedies for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. The growing problem of antibiotic resistance by organisms demands the search for novel compounds from plant based sources. The present study was aimed at evaluating the bioactivity and phytochemical analysis of Hydnora africana on clinical and standard strains of Helicobacter pylori (PE 252C and ATCC 43526), Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 35654, and Staphylococcus aureus NCT 6571 in an effort to identify potential sources of cheap starting materials for the synthesis of new drugs against these strains. Ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and water crude extracts of H. africana were screened for activity against the test organisms using the agar well diffusion assay. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC50) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the most potent extracts were determined by the microdilution method, followed by qualitative phytochemical analysis. Results were analyzed statistically by ANOVA one - way test. Different concentrations (200,100, 50mg/mL) of the methanol, acetone, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed activity against S. aureus and A. hydrophila while for H. pylori, only methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were active; water showed no activity for all studied bacterial pathogens. Mean zone diameter of inhibition which ranged from 0-22mm were observed for all test bacterial pathogens and 14-17mm for ciprofloxacin. The activity of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts were statistically significant (P< 0.05) compared to all the other extracts. MIC50 and MBC ranged from 0.078 – 2.5mg/mL, 0.78-25mg/mL respectively for all tested bacterial pathogens. For ciprofloxacin, the MIC50 and MBC ranged from 0.00976 – 0.078mg/mL and 0.098– 0.78mg/mL respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between extracts (methanol, acetone, ethanol, ethyl acetate) and the control antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) (P> 0.05). Qualitative phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, steroids, tannins and flavonoids in the methanol, acetone,ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts. The results demonstrate that H. africana may contain compounds with therapeutic potentials which can be lead molecules for semi-synthesis of new drugs.

No description available.