Orientador: Ruben Pablo Schocken-Iturrino / Banca: Alessandra Aparecida Medeiros / Banca: Ricardo de Albuquerque / Banca: Antonio Carlos Paulillo / Banca: Hélio José Montassier / Resumo: A avicultura comercial tem como objetivo obter alta produtividade a baixo custo e oferecer ao consumidor produto de qualidade. Uma bactéria patogênica que tem preocupado o setor avícola nos últimos tempos é a Salmonella. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho objetivou caracterizar seis isolados de Lactobacillus acidophilus em combinação com antimicrobianos na inibição de Salmonella Enteritidis e Salmonella Gallinarum. O experimento foi desenvolvido nas dependências da FCAV/UNESP - Campus de Jaboticabal. Para tanto foram conduzidos quatro estudos, sendo que dois foram dedicados em selecionar uma bactéria probiótica produtora de bacteriocina e avaliar a interação de substâncias antimicrobianas como EDTA, àcido acético e Nisina "in vitro" sobre a capacidade inibitória de Salmonella Enteritidis e Salmonella Gallinarum em diferentes tempos e o terceiro e quarto experimento estudam o potencial de aplicação do probiótico e do antimicrobiano em aves. O isolado de Lactobacillus acidophilus C1, demonstrou ser produtor de bacteriocina e inibir a multiplicação de Salmonella Enteritidis e Salmonella Gallinarum. Dentre os antimicrobianos testados o que apresentou efeito na eliminação de Salmonella Enteritidis foi a combinação de Ácido Acético + nisina e Ácido Acético + Lactobacillus acidophilus C1. O uso do probiótico no estudo em aves reduziu a excreção de Salmonella sp, mas não sua eliminação no trato intestinal das aves, já que é possível constatar sua presença no tratamento controle. A combinação de nisina e ácido acético não levou a redução da multiplicação de Salmonella sp. nas aves. O estudo permitiu verificar que existe um bom potencial de aplicação do probiótico citado, assim como o uso de alguns antimicrobianos na segurança alimentar. / Abstract: The commercial poultry aims at obtaining high productivity at low cost and offering quality products to the consumer. A pathogenic bacterium which has worried the poultry sector in recent times is Salmonella. Therefore, the present study aimed at characterizing six isolates of Lactobacillus acidophilus in combination with antimicrobials in the inhibition of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella gallinarum. The experiment was developed in the dependencies of FCAV/UNESP - Campus of Jaboticabal. In order to do this, four studies were conducted, being two of them dedicated to select a bacteriocin-procucer probiotic bacterium and evaluate the interaction of antimicrobial substances such as EDTA, acetic acid and "in vitro"Nisin on the inhibitory capacity of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella gallinarum in different periods and the third and fourth experiment study the potential of application of the probiotic and antimicrobial in poultry. The isolate of Lactobacillus acidophilus C1, showed to be bacteriocin producer and inhibit the multiplication of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella gallinarum. Among the antimicrobial tested, the one which presented effect in the elimination of Salmonella enteritidis, was the combination of Acetic Acid + nisin and Acetic Acid + Lactobacillus acidophilus C1. The use of the probiotic in the study of birds reduced the counting of Salmonella sp, but not its elimination in the intestinal tract of the birds, as we can see its presence in the control treatment. The combination of nisin and acetic acid did not show the reduction of the multiplication of Salmonella sp. in birds. The study has shown that there is a good potential of application of the mentioned probiotic, as well as the use of some antimicrobial in food safety. / Doutor

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Maringoni / Banca: Renate Krause Sakate / Banca: Julio Rodrigues Neto / Resumo: O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a produção e a sensibilidade de 48 isolados de Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri e de 14 isolados de Xanthomonas spp. à bacteriocinas. Estudos foram realizados para verificar o efeito da temperatura, tempo de incubação e do tipo do meio de cultura sobre a produção de bacteriocina por isolados de X. axonopodis pv. citri. Todos isolados de X. axonopodis pv. citri não foram sensíveis às bacteriocinas produzidas por eles, não sendo essas afetadas pelo meio BDA, nutriente ágar + NaCl e YPDA, nos diferentes tempos e temperaturas de incubação. Porém, isolados de X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae foram sensíveis às bacteriocinas produzidas por 25 isolados de avaliados e o isolado de X. campestri pv. campestris e o de X. axonopodis pv. manihotis apresentaram sensibilidade variável. Dos 25 isolados de X. axonopodis pv. citri apenas cinco não foram inibidos pelas bacteriocinas produzidas por dois isolados de X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae. As bacteriocinas produzidas pelos isolados de X. axonopodis pv. citri (FDC-806) e de X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae (Mar 2850-A) foram termolábeis e resistentes à lisozima e sensíveis a DNAse. A bacteriocina produzida pelo isolado de X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae foi resistente à ação de proteinase K, tripsina e RNAse enquanto que a produzida pelo isolado de X. axonopodis pv. citri foi sensível a essas enzimas. / Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the production and sensitivity of 48 Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri strains and 14 Xanthomonas spp. strains to bacteriocins. A number of studies were carried out to verify the effect of temperature, incubation time, and type of culture medium on bacteriocine yield by X. axonopodis pv. citri strains. None of the X. axonopodis pv. citri strains were sensitive to the bacteriocins produced by themselves, and were not affected by the PDA, nutrient agar + NaCl, and YPDA media, at the different incubation times and temperatures studied. However, X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae and strains were sensitive to the bacteriocins produced by the 25 Xac strains evaluated, while a X. campestri pv. campestris and X. axonopodis pv. manihotis strains showed variable sensitivity. Of the 25 X. axonopodis pv. citri strains, only five were not inhibited by the bacteriocins produced by the two X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae strains. The bacteriocins produced by X. axonopodis pv. citri (FDC-806) and X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae (Mar 2850-A) were thermolabile and resistant to lysozyme and sensitive to DNAse. The bacteriocin produced by the X. axonopodis pv. passiflorae was resistant to the action of proteinase K, trypsin and RNAse, while the bacteriocin produced by the X. axonopodis pv. citri isolate was sensitive to those enzymes. / Mestre

The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of edible coating the corn starch-based embedded with the bacteriocin nisin in the conservation of fresh cut fruit salad. The salads were composed of mango, papaya and pineapple. After processing the minimum salads were submitted to the following treatments: uncoated fruit salad (control); Corn starch coating without Nisin; and corn starch coating with Nisin. All samples were packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages for 12 days at 5 ± 1 ° C and 80% RH. At 0, 3, 6, 9,12 physicochemical analysis of soluble solids content were held, pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, color, loss of weight and Polyphenol oxidase activity of enzymes. The microbiological analysis included aerobic mesophilic count, molds and yeasts, and survival analysis of Listeria monocytogenes inoculated in minimally processed fruit salads plus the added edible coating or not nisin. The fruit salads treated with edible coating nisin and showed significantly less mass loss, and increased vitamin C content when compared with control treatment samples. Coated fruits showed also significantly lower levels of soluble solids and lower activity of polyphenol oxidase. There was no significant variation in relation to the analysis of pH, acidity, carotenoids and color among treatments. It was observed increase in mesophilic aerobic count in all samples but, on samples coated with starch and nisin, it was found that the microbial population was statistically lower than the other treatments. Samples of fruit salad coated with corn starch, had significantly lower counts of yeasts and molds until the 6th day of storage. The presence of nisin resulted in significant reduction in the number of viable cells of the bacterium L. monocytogenes inoculated in output of fruit, unchecked behavior in samples of other treatments during the 12 days of storage at 5 ° C. The results of this study demonstrate that the use of corn starch coating and nisin combined with good processing practices and minimum control of storage conditions (temperature and humidity) was effective in preserving minimally processed fruit salads. Once a positive influence on the physical and chemical parameters evaluated, and obtained the best results in relation to maintaining the microbiological quality of salads for up to 12 days. / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a ação do revestimento comestível a base de amido de milho incorporado com a bacteriocina nisina, na conservação de salada de frutas minimamente processadas. As saladas foram compostas por manga, mamão e abacaxi. Após processamento o mínimo as saladas foram submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos: salada de frutas sem revestimento (controle); revestimento de amido de milho sem Nisina; e revestimento de amido de milho com nisina. Todos os produtos foram acondicionados em embalagens de tereftalato de polietileno (PET) por 12 dias a 5±1°C e 80% UR. Nos tempos 0, 3, 6, 9,12 foram realizadas análises físico-químicas de teor de sólidos solúveis, pH, acidez titulável, teor de ácido ascórbico, compostos fenólicos, carotenoides, cor, perda de massa fresca e atividade da enzima polifenol oxidase. As análises microbiológicas incluíram contagem de aeróbios mesófilos, bolores e leveduras, e a análise da sobrevivência de Listeria monocytogenes, previamente inoculadas nas saladas de frutas minimamente processadas acrescida do revestimento comestível adicionado ou não de nisina. As saladas de frutas tratadas com revestimento comestível e nisina apresentaram perda de massa significativamente menor, e maior teor de vitamina C quando comparadas com as amostras do tratamento controle. Frutos revestidos apresentaram também, teores significativamente menores de sólidos solúveis e menor atividade da enzima polifenol oxidase. Não foi observada variação significativa em relação às análises de de pH, acidez, carotenoides e cor entre os tratamentos estudados. Foi verificado aumento na contagem de microrganismos aeróbios mesófilos em todas as amostras porém, em amostras revestidas com amido e nisina, verificou-se que população microbiana foi estatisticamente menor que nos demais tratamentos. Amostras de salada de fruta revestidas com amido de milho, apresentaram contagens significativamente menores de bolores e leveduras até o 6º dia de armazenamento. A presença da nisina resultou em redução significativa no número de células viáveis da bactéria L. monocytogenes inoculada em salda de frutas, comportamento não verificado nas amostras dos demais tratamentos durante os 12 dias de estocagem a 5±1ºC. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo demonstram que a utilização de revestimento de amido de milho e nisina, associado a boas práticas de processamento mínimo e controle das condições de armazenamento (temperatura e umidade), foi eficiente na conservação de saladas de frutas minimamente processadas. Uma vez que interferiu positivamente nos parâmetros físico-químicos avaliados, e obteve os melhores resultados em relação a manutenção da qualidade microbiológica das saladas por até 12 dias.

A tecnologia da microencapsulação apresenta várias aplicações na indústria de alimentos. Sabendo-se que diferentes fatores intrínsecos e extrínsecos dos alimentos podem influenciar a produção e atividade antimicrobiana das bacteriocinas produzidas pelas bactérias láticas, este estudo teve como principal objetivo avaliar a funcionalidade da encapsulação de bactérias láticas (BAL) bacteriocinogênicas em alginato de cálcio no controle de Listeria monocytogenes em salame experimentalmente contaminado. Para atingir este objetivo, foram isoladas novas cepas de BAL a partir de salame, que foram identificadas e caracterizadas quanto às propriedades das bacteriocinas produzidas, avaliando-se a influência do processo de encapsulação na produção de bacteriocinas. Foram isoladas quatro cepas produtoras de bacteriocinas, identificadas como Lactobacillus sakei (uma cepa), Lactobacillus curvatus (duas cepas) e Lactobacillus plantarum (uma cepa), nomeadas MBSa1, MBSa2, MBSa3 e MBSa4, respectivamente. As bacteriocinas produzidas pelas quatro cepas foram termoestáveis e com exceção da cepa MBSa2, sensíveis a pH acima de 8. Todas inibiram todas as cepas de Listeria monocytogenes testadas e várias espécies de BAL, mas foram inativas contra bactérias Gram negativas. As bacteriocinas foram purificadas por cromatografia de troca iônica seguida de cromatografia de interação hidrofóbica sequencial e cromatografia de fase reversa, observando-se que L. sakei MBSa1 produz um peptídeo de 4303 Da, com uma sequência parcial de aminoacidos idêntica à sequência presente em sakacina A. As cepas MBSa2 e MBSa3 produzem dois peptídeos ativos cada, idênticos nas duas cepas, um de 4457 Da e outro de 4360 Da, que apresentam sequências parciais idênticas às presentes na sakacina P e na sakacina X, respectivamente. Aparentemente, a cepa L. plantarum MBSa4 produz uma bacteriocina composta por duas sub-unidades. O DNA genômico da cepa L. sakei MBSa1 contém os genes da sakacina A e curvacina A, enquanto o DNA da cepa L. plantarum MBSa4 foi positivo para o gene da plantaricina W. A cepa L. curvatus MBSa2 foi encapsulada em alginato de cálcio e testada quanto à produção de bacteriocinas in vitro, observando-se que o processo de encapsulação não influenciou a produção de bacteriocina. Quando testada in situ, ou seja, no salame experimentalmente contaminado com Listeria monocytogenes, não foi observada ação anti-Listeria por L. curvatus MBSa2 encapsulado e não encapsulado, durante o 30 dias de fabricação do salame. / The microencapsulation technology has several applications in the food industry. Knowing that different intrinsic and extrinsic factors can influence production and antimicrobial activity of bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria in foods, this study aimed at evaluating the functionality of the encapsulation of bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in calcium alginate in the control of Listeria monocytogenes in experimentally contaminated salami. To achieve this goal, new strains of LAB were isolated from salami, identified and characterized for the properties of the produced bacteriocins, evaluating the influence of the encapsulation process in the bacteriocins production. Four bacteriocin producing strains were isolated and identified as Lactobacillus sakei (one strain), Lactobacillus curvatus (two strains) and Lactobacillus plantarum (one strain), named MBSa1, MBSa2, MBSa3 and MBSa4 respectively. The bacteriocins produced by the four strains were thermostable and with the exception of strain MBSa2, sensitive to pH above 8. All inhibited all tested Listeria monocytogenes strains and various species of LAB but were inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. The bacteriocins were purified by cation-exchange followed by sequential hydrophobic-interaction and reversed-phase chromatography, indicating that L. sakei MBSa1 produces a peptide of 4303 Da, with a partial amino acid sequence identical to the sequence present in sakacin A. L. curvatus MBSa2 and MBSa3 produce two active peptides, identical in the two strains, one of 4457 Da and the other of 4360 Da, with partial aminoacid sequences identical to those present in sakacin X and sakacin P, respectively. Apparently, L. plantarum MBSa4 produces a bacteriocin composed of two subunits. Genomic DNA of L. sakei MBSa1indicated that this strain contains genes for sakacin A and curvacin A, while the DNA of L. plantarum MBSa4 was positive for the plantaricin W gene. The strain L. curvatus MBSa2 was encapsulated in calcium alginate and tested for bacteriocin production in vitro, observing that the encapsulation process did not affect the production of bacteriocin. When tested in situ, i.e. in the salami experimentally contaminated with L. monocytogenes was not observed anti-Listeria<i/> action by L. curvatus MBSa2 encapsulated and non-encapsulated during the 30 day manufacture of salami.

No presente estudo avaliou-se o potencial de aplicação da bacteriocina 2a produzida pelo Lactobacillus sake 2a em combinação com outras substâncias antimicrobianas na inibição de cepas de Salmonella isoladas de linguiça: S. Derby SD2, S. Enteritidis SE3, S. Hadar SH4, S. Panama SP5 e S. Typhimurium ST6. A partir de cultura de L. sake 2a em caldo MRS, obteve-se por extração ácida e concentração em liofilizador, um extrato protéico de bacteriocina de cerca de 500 UA/ml. Verificou-se que esse extrato protéico de bacteriocina 2a tem atividade contra Listeria monocytogenes Scott A Cmr Emr nos meios de cultura BHI, MRS e TSB com 0,1% de glicose, independente de temperatura e atmosfera de incubação. O extrato protéico de bacteriocina 2a foi utilizado só e em combinação com EDTA, ácido cítrico, ácido lático ou lisozima sobre "pool" de cepas de Salmonella. Todos os antimicrobianos testados apresentaram efeito inibidor contra Salmonella, no entanto, quando combinados à bacteriocina 2a esse efeito foi mais acentuado. Entre os tratamentos realizados, o que apresentou efeito mais potente na eliminação ou inibição de Salmonella foi a combinação bacteriocina 2a mais ácido lático 0,1%. Bacteriocina 2a também se mostrou mais eficiente que a nisina (usada como padrão) em combinações com lisozima e EDTA. O estudo permitiu verificar que existe um bom potencial de uso da bacteriocina 2a ou do L. sake 2a bac+ em alimentos em associação com os antimicrobianos ácido lático, ácido cítrico, EDTA ou lisozima. Entretanto, penas a combinação de antimicrobianos não é suficiente para eliminar ou inibir a multiplicação de Salmonella. As condições de temperatura, concentração e forma de aplicação dos tratamentos combinados podem variar e são pontos importantes quando se visa à ação direta sobre as células do patógeno ou quando este está associado a um substrato. / The objective of this study was to analyse the potential of application of bacteriocin 2a produced by Lactobacillus sake 2a in combination with other antimicrobials substances on inhibition of strains of Salmonella isolated from raw Brazilian sausages (lingüiça): S. Derby SD2, S. Enteritidis SE3, S. Hadar SH4, S. Panama SP5 and S. Typhimurium ST6. Culture of L. sake 2a grown at 30ºC in MRS broth was used to obtain a cell-free supernatant after centrifugation. This cell-free supernatant was submitted to acid extraction method for bacteriocin and water reduction by liofilization process. After this, a final fraction was obtained and denominated proteic extract of bacteriocin 2a and had a final concentration of approximately 500 A.U/mL. Proteic extract of bacteriocin 2a obtained from cultures of L. sake 2a grown in broths: BHI, MRS, and TSB with 0.1% of glucose showed bactericidal effect against Listeria monocytogenes Scott A Cmr Emr, in any condition of temperature and atmosphere. The proteic extract of bacteriocin 2a was used alone and in combination with EDTA, citric acid, lactic acid or lyzozyme on pool of strains of Salmonella. All antimicrobials tested showed inhibitory effect against Salmonella, but in combination to bacteriocin 2a this effect was more efficient on inhibition or elimination of Salmonella. Bacteriocin 2a showed be more efficient than nisin when in association with lyzozyme and EDTA. This study was able to verify that exist a great potential of application of bacteriocin 2a and/or L. sake 2a bac+, in foods in combination with the antimicrobials: lactic acid, citric acid, EDTA or lyzozyme. However, the simple combination of these antimicrobials is not sufficient to eliminate or inhibit the growth of Salmonella. Temperature conditions, concentration of antimicrobials and form of application of treatments can change and they are very important points; mainly when the aim of the study is to evaluate the direct action of antimicrobials on cells of pathogen or action of these substances on pathogen into a specific substrate.

For many years, researchers have studied the social lives of bacteria to understand intra- and inter-species interactions. Cell-cell communication, also known as quorum sensing (QS), is used by bacteria to coordinate their behaviour in response to environmental conditions. The QS system in Streptococcus species is well known to regulate competence. Studies show that Streptococcus pneumoniae has two homologous QS systems: 1) the competence (Com) system that regulates competence; and 2) a bacteriocin-like peptide (Blp) system that regulates the production of bacteriocins. Both functions are widespread in the genus. In S. pneumoniae, the Blp QS system shares a common ancestor and has similar features to the Com QS system. However, the evolutionary relationship between these QS systems remains obscure. SUCRE methodology was developed to identify the QS homologous genes in the streptococcal species. SUCRE uses four complementary approaches: homology search, putative gene finding, regulon construction, and evolutionary analysis. The performance of SUCRE was assessed in comparison with other orthology detection methods. SUCRE is precise in identifying the QS homologous genes and has similar performance to OrthoMCL. The QS system structures are found to be conserved across the streptococcal species. A streptococcal species phylogeny was constructed from the ribosomal and tRNA synthetase gene families. Using the QS genes identified from SUCRE and the streptococcal species phylogeny, the study infers the evolution of the QS systems in Streptococcus species. The study shows that the QS systems evolved as a regulon unit. The paralogous relationship between each of the QS systems suggests that duplication has a huge influence on functional divergence of the QS systems in the genus. Although, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is commonly found in bacteria, little evidence is found to support that the effect of HGT on the functional divergence of the QS systems in this genus. However, the QS regulon genes of the same QS system are found to be non- vertically transferred across species that signifies that the HGT event promotes the sequence variation between these genes.

Durch die wachsende Anzahl von multiresistenten Bakterien, die auch durch den Mißbrauch von Antibiotika als Masthilfsmittel in der Tierzucht entstanden sind, erlangen alternative Methoden zur Bekämpfung bakterieller Infektionen ihre Bedeutung zurück. Diese Arbeit befaßt sich mit zwei Substanzen, um Infektionen mit Yersinia (Y.) enterocolitica einzudämmen. Es wurde in dieser Arbeit ein Bacteriocin aus Y. enterocolitica isoliert und charakterisiert. Das Reinigungschema folgte den Strategien der Phagenaufreinigung, angeschlossen wurde zur Überprüfung der Reinheit ein Gelfiltrationsschritt. Die Eigenschaften des gereinigten Enterocoliticins wurden in vitro und in vivo getestet. Im Zellkulturversuch zeigte sich das Enterocoliticin in der Abtötung von an eukaryonte Zellen adhärierten Bakterien als sehr wirksam, in eukaryonte Zellen eingewanderte Bakterien wurden hingegen nicht abgetötet. Aufgrund dieser vielversprechenden Ergebnisse wurde der Therapieansatz im Mausmodell angewendet. Das Mausmodell ist für Y. enterocolitica ein bereits erprobtes Modell. Die Tiere wurden oral infiziert, um den natürlichen Infektionsweg nachzustellen, das Enterocoliticin wurde ebenfalls oral verabreicht. Die Infektion wurde durch die Enterocoliticingabe nur unwesentlich beeinflußt, auch gelang der Nachweis des Enterocoliticins weder im Gastrointestinaltrakt noch in den Faeces. Die Therapie der infizierten Mäuse gelang auf diese Weise nicht. Weiterhin wurde ein Yersinia-Phage aus Schweinegülle isoliert, gereinigt und charakterisiert. Es handelt sich um einen T4-ähnlichen, virulenten Phagen mit einer Genomgröße von ca. 50 kbp und einem weiten Wirtsspektrum in Yersinia, das sogar speziesübergreifend ist. Da der Phage bei 37°C die Wirtszelle lysiert und durch seine hohe Wirksamkeit in vitro erschien der Phage von seinen Eigenschaften her zur Phagentherapie als geeignet. Es wurden analog zum Enterocoliticin-Tierexperiment Mäuse mit Y. enterocolitica oral infiziert, diesen Tieren wurde der Phage auf unterschiedlichen Wegen und zu unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten appliziert. Die Tiere zeigten bei der parenteralen Gabe keinerlei Unverträglichkeitserscheinungen, bei der oralen Gabe wurde der Magensaft zuvor abgepuffert. Der Therapieerfolg im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe war wenig vielversprechend, es zeigten sich sehr ähnliche Infektionsverläufe in Kontroll-und Therapiegruppe. Diese beiden untersuchten Alternativwege zur Behandlung von Yersiniosen erwiesen sich bei den angewendeten Methoden bislang als nicht erfolgreich, dennoch muß auf diesem Gebiet weitergeforscht werden, wie erfolgreiche Therapieansätze aus anderen Tiermodellen zeigen. Es wirken nur wenige Phagen im Organismus als Therapeutikum, dennoch müssen diese Untersuchungen unternommen werden, um im Organismus wirksame, antibakterielle Substanzen zu finden und um einen Alternativweg zur Antibiotikumtherapie zu entwickeln. / The increasing number of multi-resistant bacteria, which resulted also from the abuse of antibiotics as mast additives in animal breeding, alternative methods regain importance for the combat at bacterial infections back. In this work two substances were investigated to restrict infections with Yersinia (Y.) enterocolitica. In this study a bacteriocin from Y. enterocolitica, designated enterocoliticin, was isolated and characterized. The purification strategy followed protocols of phage isolation. The purified preparations were examined by final gel filtration step. The properties of the purifed enterocoliticin were tested in vitro and in vivo. In a cell culture assay enterocoliticin was able to kill bacteria adherent to eukaryontic cells very effectively, however, bacteria invaded into eukaryotic cells were not affected. Due to these results enterocoliticin was applied in a mouse-infection-model in a therapeutic attempt. The mouse infection model is a well established system for infections with Y. enterocolitica. The animals were orally infected with Yersinia, and the enterocoliticin was orally applied, too. The infection was only insignificantly influenced by enterocoliticin. In addition of enterocoliticin was not detected succeeded in the gastro-intestinal-tract or in the faeces. The therapy of the infected mice did not succeed in this way. Furthermore, a Yersinia phage from pig manure was isolated and characterized. It is a T4 phage like virulent phage, containing a genom of approx. 50 kbp and posessing a wide host-range in Yersinia. Because of lytic properties of the phage at 37°C and his high effectiveness in vitro the phage appeared to be for phage therapy experiments. Similarly to the enterocoliticin experiment mice were infected with Y. enterocolitica orally, these animals were treated with the phage on different application routes and different time points. The animals did not show any incompatibilities upon parenteral gift. Before oral administration of the phage the gastric juice was buffered. Therapy outcome in comparison to the control group was little promising, it revealed a very similar infection process in control group and therapy group. These two investigated alternative ways for the control of Yersinia infections did not prove successful with the applied methods, however, further research must be carried out as successful therapeutical experiments from other animal models showed. It has to be considered that not all phages are appropriate as therapeutical agent however, more studies must be conducted to find more appropriate substances, which may work as effective antibacterial substances to develop alternative ways to antibiotic therapy.

Drug resistance is unfortunately becoming a prevalent issue in the course of patient treatment, ranging from chemotherapy resistance to antimicrobial resistance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2016 that at least 23,000 people die every year in the United States from an infection with an antibiotic-resistant organism (Munita, et al, 2016). Carl Friedlander was the first scientist to describe Klebsiella pneumoniae in 1882 as an encapsulated bacillus after isolating the bacterium from the lungs of patients who had died from pneumonia (Ashurst and Dawson, 2022). Klebsiella pneumoniae is the type species for the Klebsiella genus and is the bacterium of interest for this project. It is one of the very few Gram-negative bacilli that can cause primary pneumonia, commonly affecting patients with compromised immune systems, alcohol use disorder, or diabetes mellitus (Ristuccia and Burke, 1984). However, microbes are able to produce a wide range of microbial defense systems including classic antibiotics, metabolic byproducts, and lytic agents. Bacteriocins are some of the most common defense mechanisms produced, which are different from antibiotics in that they have a narrow killing spectrum and are toxic only to bacteria that is closely related to the strain that is producing it. It has been estimated that 99% of all bacteria possibly make a minimum of one bacteriocin (Riley and Wertz, 2002). Because of the rapidly growing number of infections that are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria along with the harm that broad-spectrum antibiotics can cause to the human microbiome, these bacteriocins are being studied as potential alternatives to tradition antibiotics. In this study, we will assess and characterize a Klebsiella bacteriocin that may work synergistically with antibiotics so that antibiotic dosage might be reduced. In this study, we have isolated the plasmids from a possible Klebsiella bacteriocin and transformed them into E. coli to characterize the plasmid. This potential bacteriocin demonstrates efficacy towards Citrobacter, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella species and could offer an alternative treatment option for the highly drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae family.

No description available.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a common autosomal genetic disorder in Caucasian populations. CF is caused by mutations in the cftr gene, which encodes the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR regulates chloride and sodium ion transport across the epithelial cells lining the exocrine organs. Mutations in the cftr result in a failure to mediate chloride transport, which leads to dehydration of the mucus layer surrounding the epithelial cells. The mucus coating in the lung epithelia provides a favorable environment for invasion and growth of several opportunistic bacterial pathogens resulting in life threatening respiratory infections in CF patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa(Pa) and Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) are associated with chronic lung infections and are responsible for much of the mortality in CF. Little is known about interactions between these two, often co-infecting, species. When in competition, it is not known whether Bcc replaces the resident Pa or if the two species co-exist in the CF lung. Bacteriocins are potent toxins produced by bacteria. They have a quite narrow killing range in comparison to antibiotics and have been implicated in intra-specific and inter-specific bacterial competition brought on by limited nutrients or niche space. Both Pa and Bcc produce bacteriocins known as pyocins and cepaciacins, respectively. More than 90% of Pa strains examined to date produce one or more of three pyocin types: R, F, and S. A limited number of phenotypic surveys suggest that approximately 30% of Bcc also produce bacteriocins. The goals of my thesis study were to determine if clinical strains of Pa and Bcc produce bacteriocins and to determine whether these toxins play a role in mediating intra- and inter-specific bacterial interactions in the CF lung. The final goal was to identify novel bacteriocins from clinical Pa and Bcc strains. First, I designed a phenotypic bacteriocin survey to evaluate bacteriocin production in 66 clinical Pa (38) and Bcc (28) strains procured from CF patients. This study revealed that 97% of Pa strains and 68% of Bcc strains produce bacteriocin-like inhibitory activity. Further phenotypic and molecular based assays showed that the source of inhibition is different for Pa and Bcc. In Pa, much of the inhibitory activity is due to the well known S- and RF-type pyocins. S-and RF pyocins were the source of within species inhibitory activity while RF pyocins were primarily implicated in the between species inhibitory activity of Pa strains. In contrast, Bcc inhibition appeared to be due to novel inhibitory agents. Finally, I constructed genome libraries of B. multivorans, B. dolosa, and B. cenocepacia to screen for genes responsible for the inhibitory activity previously described in Bcc. ~10,000 clones/genome were screened, resulting in fifteen clones with the anticipated inhibition phenotype. Of these fifteen, only five clones had stable inhibitory activity. These clones encoded proteins involved in various metabolic pathways including bacterial apoptosis, amino acid biosynthesis, sugar metabolism, and degradation of aromatic compounds. Surprisingly, none of Bcc clones possessed typical bacteriocin-like genes. These data suggest that, in contrast to all bacterial species examined in a similar fashion to date, Bcc may not produce bacteriocins. Instead, Bcc may be using novel molecular strategies to mediate intra- and inter-specific bacterial interactions.