An Insight into Goat Cheese: The Tales of Artisanal and Industrial Gidotyri Microbiota

The purpose of this study was to determine for the first time the microbiota in artisanal-type and industrial-type Gidotyri cheeses and investigate the influence of the cheese-making practices on their composition using culture-independent techniques. The microbiota present in artisanal with commercial starters (Artisanal_CS, n = 15), artisanal with in-house starters (Artisanal_IHS, n = 10) and industrial (Ind., n = 9) Gidotyri cheese samples were analyzed using a targeted metagenomic approach (16S rRNA gene). The Ind. Gidotyri cheese microbiota were less complex, dominated by the Streptococcaceae family (91%) that was more abundant compared to the artisanal Gidotyri cheeses (p Loigolactobacillus coryniformis (OTU 175), Secundilactobacillus malefermentans (OTU 48), and Streptococcus parauberis (OTU 50) were more prevalent in Artisanal_IHS cheeses compared to Artisanal_CS (p ≤ 0.001) and Ind. (p Carnobacterium maltaromaticum (OTU 23) and Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii (OTU 268) were more prevalent in Artisanal_CS cheeses compared to Artisanal_IHS cheeses (p p Hafnia alvei (OTU 13) and Acinetobacter colistiniresistens (OTU 111) tended to be more prevalent in Artisanal_CS compared to the other two cheese groups (p < 0.10). In conclusion, higher microbial diversity was observed in the artisanal-type Gidotyri cheeses, with possible bacterial markers specific to each subtype identified with potential application to traceability of the manufacturing processes’ authenticity and cheese quality

Persistent Dysbiosis, Parasite Rise and Growth Impairment in Aquacultured European Seabass after Oxytetracycline Treatment

The use of antibiotics in open-water aquaculture is often unavoidable when faced with pathogens with high mortality rates. In addition, seasonal pathogen surges have become more common and more intense over the years. Apart from the apparent cost of antibiotic treatment, it has been observed that, in aquaculture practice, the surviving fish often display measurable growth impairment. To understand the role of gut microbiota on the observed growth impairment, in this study, we follow the incidence of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida in a seabass commercial open-water aquaculture setting in Galaxidi (Greece). Fish around 10 months of age were fed with feed containing oxytetracycline (120 mg/kg/day) for twelve days, followed by a twelve-day withdrawal period, and another eighteen days of treatment. The fish were sampled 19 days before the start of the first treatment and one month after the end of the second treatment cycle. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to measure changes in the gut microbiome. Overall, the gut microbiota community, even a month after treatment, was highly dysbiotic and characterized by very low alpha diversity. High abundances of alkalophilic bacteria in the post-antibiotic-treated fish indicated a rise in pH that was coupled with a significant increase in gut parasites. This study’s results indicate that oxytetracycline (OTC) treatment causes persistent dysbiosis even one month after withdrawal and provides a more suitable environment for an increase in parasites. These findings highlight the need for interventions to restore a healthy and protective gut microbiome

Microbiota “Fingerprint” of Greek Feta Cheese through Ripening

Feta is a Greek protected designation of origin (PDO) brined curd white cheese made from small ruminants’ milk. In the present research, Greek Feta cheese bacterial diversity was evaluated via matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Analysis of 23 cheese samples, produced in different regions of the country, was performed in two ripening times (three or six months post-production). The identified microbiota were primarily constituted of lactic acid bacteria. A total of 13 different genera were obtained. The dominant species in both ripening times were Lactobacillus plantarum (100.0% and 87.0%, at three or six months post-production, respectively), Lactobacillus brevis (56.5% and 73.9%), Lactobacillus paracasei (56.5% and 39.1%), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (13.0% and 17.4%), Lactobacillus paraplantarum (4.3% and 26.1%), Lactobacillus curvatus (8.7% and 8.7%). Other species included Enterococcus faecalis (47.8% and 43.5%), Enterococcus faecium (34.8% and 17.4%), Enterococcus durans (13.0% and 17.4%), Enterococcus malodoratus (4.3% and 4.3%), and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus (21.7% and 30.4%). The increased ripening time was found to be correlated to decreased total solids (r = 0.616; p = 0.002), protein (r = 0.683; p &lt; 0.001), and PH (r = 0.780; p &lt; 0.001). The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the core microbiota of Feta cheese

Identification by MALDI-TOF MS and Antibiotic Resistance of <i>Riemerella anatipestifer</i>, Isolated from a Clinical Case in Commercial Broiler Chickens

The Gram-negative bacterium Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is known to cause clinical disease with severe economic impacts primarily in ducks and less frequently in geese and turkeys. RA was isolated and identified in broiler chickens, from a clinical case in a commercial broiler farm located in the southwest mainland of Greece. The morbidity and the mortality in the broiler house were estimated at 10% and 5% respectively. The observed clinical signs appeared at the age of 30 to 42 days with respiratory distress (dyspnea), white fluid feces and stunting. Post-mortem examinations displayed serositis, pericarditis, perihepatitis and airsacculitis. Edematous swelling around the tibio-tarsal joints was observed in some birds. Tissue samples from lesions were streaked on selective media. Three bacterial isolates were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Moreover, an antibiogram analysis was performed for the three RA strains, using a pattern of 16 common antibiotics to advocate the most effective drugs for a proper treatment. All the RA isolates were sensitive to ceftiofur, sulphamethoxazole–trimethoprim and amoxicillin, whereas all were resistant to gentamicin, tylosin, tetracyclin, colistin sulphate, spectinomycin, lincomycin and oxytetracycline

Antimicrobial and Methicillin Resistance Pattern of Potential Mastitis-Inducing <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolates from the Mammary Secretion of Dairy Goats

Staphylococcus spp. is an important mastitis-inducing zoonotic pathogen in goats and is associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and composition of staphylococci in individual mammary secretion (MS) samples of clinically healthy goats and to evaluate the phenotypic AMR pattern and the presence of methicillin resistance in the Staphylococcus spp. strains. Staphylococcus spp. isolates (n = 101) from the MS samples (n = 220) were identified to species level using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing included a disk diffusion assay and the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of resistant strains (n = 46). Presumptive methicillin-resistant strains (n = 9) were assessed for the presence of mecA, mecC and SCCmec/orfx genes. Staphylococcus spp. isolates were recovered from 45.9% of the MS samples, of which, 72.3% was identified as coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), with the remaining being Staphylococcus aureus. CoNS and S. aureus were most commonly resistant to ampicillin (56.2% and 57.1%, respectively), penicillin (26.0% and 39.3%, respectively), amoxicillin (26 % and 25 %, respectively) and cephalexin (12.3% and 25%, respectively) in the disk diffusion method. CoNS exhibited a broader AMR pattern and a higher percentage of resistant strains than S. aureus in the disk diffusion and MIC methods. Of the nine oxacillin- and cefoxitin-resistant strains, three S. aureus and five CoNS strains carried the mecA gene and, thus, were identified as methicillin-resistant. The mecC gene was not found in any of the studied strains. The presence of AMR and methicillin resistance in caprine S. aureus and CoNS poses a concern for animal and public health

Effects of Dietary Omega-3 Enrichment on the Chemical Composition and the Pathogenic Microbiota of Ovine Milk

The demand for ovine milk and ovine dairy products is constantly increasing due to their exceptional sensorial characteristics and their health benefits for consumers. However, dairy fat content and composition are of particular concern for consumers as well as the medical community, as there are risk factors for coronary disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and other serious diseases. For this reason, attempts have been made to control/regulate the fat composition of ovine milk by modifying sheep dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In this experimental trial, a group of sheep were fed for 30 days a diet enriched in flaxseeds and lupines, feed ingredients rich in omega-3 fatty acids, aiming to investigate the effects on fat composition and the microbiota of ovine milk. Chemical analysis of the collected milk showed that the omega-3 and omega-6 content was increased. On the opposite, the atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes decreased. Of importance was the semi-protective effect on the udder by the increased omega-3 dietary intake, as depicted by its impact on the biodiversity of the pathogenic microbiota. These findings suggest that ovine milk could be modified under specific conditions to be more appropriate for the consumption by people belonging to high-risk groups for various diseases

CoCoNet: Towards coast to coast networks of marine protected areas (From the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential

This volume contains the main results of the EC FP7 "The Ocean of Tomorrow" Project CoCoNet, divided in two sections: 1) a set of guidelines to design networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas; 2) a smart wind chart that will allow evaluating the possibility of installing Offshore Wind Farms in both seas. The concept of Cells of Ecosystem Functioning, based on connectivity, is introduced to define natural units of management and conservation. The definition of Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is fully embraced to set the objectives of the project, by adopting a holistic approach that integrates a full set of disciplines, ranging from physics to bio-ecology, economics, engineering and many sub-disciplines. The CoCoNet Consortium involved scientist sfrom 22 states, based in Africa, Asia, and Europe, contributing to build a coherent scientific community

Editorial. A supplement of Scires-it on the COCONET european project

The Supplement to vol. 6, 2016 of SCIRES-IT contains the result of CoCoNet (Towards COast to COast NETworks of marine protected areas, coupled with sea-based wind energy potential), a project of the EU Oceans of Tomorrow programme (http://www.coconet-fp7.eu). The European Union requires Open Access to the results of the projects resulting from its support to scientific advancement. This is in full accordance with the policy of SCIRES-IT, an eco-sustainable open–access journal, which joins the main principles of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access with the aims of the International Convention on Biological Diversity. CoCoNet tackled two problems that are closely linked with each other: the protection of the marine environment and clean energy production. Hence, the Supplement is divided into two parts that, together, form a unicum

CoCoNet: towards coast to coast networks of marine protected areas (from the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential

This volume contains the main results of the EC FP7 “The Ocean of Tomorrow” Project CoCoNet, divided in two sections: 1) a set of guidelines to design networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas; 2) a smart wind chart that will allow evaluating the possibility of installing Offshore Wind Farms in both seas. The concept of Cells of Ecosystem Functioning, based on connectivity, is introduced to define natural units of management and conservation. The definition of Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is fully embraced to set the objectives of the project, by adopting a holistic approach that integrates a full set of disciplines, ranging from physics to bio-ecology, economics, engineering and many sub-disciplines. The CoCoNet Consortium involved scientist sfrom 22 states, based in Africa, Asia, and Europe, contributing to build a coherent scientific community

CoCoNet: Towards coast to coast networks of marine protected areas (From the shore to the high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential

This volume contains the main results of the EC FP7 "The Ocean of Tomorrow" Project CoCoNet, divided in two sections: 1) a set of guidelines to design networks of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas; 2) a smart wind chart that will allow evaluating the possibility of installing Offshore Wind Farms in both seas. The concept of Cells of Ecosystem Functioning, based on connectivity, is introduced to define natural units of management and conservation. The definition of Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, is fully embraced to set the objectives of the project, by adopting a holistic approach that integrates a full set of disciplines, ranging from physics to bio-ecology, economics, engineering and many sub-disciplines. The CoCoNet Consortium involved scientist sfrom 22 states, based in Africa, Asia, and Europe, contributing to build a coherent scientific community