Methods for eradication of the biofilms formed by opportunistic pathogens using novel techniques – A review

The inconvenient environmental conditions force microorganisms to colonize either abiotic surfaces or animal and plant tissues and, therefore, form more resistant structures – biofilms. The phenomenon of microbial adherence, opportunistic pathogens in particular, is of a great concern. Colonization of medical devices and biofilm formation on their surface, may lead to severe infections mainly in humans with impaired immune system. Although, current research consider various methods for prevention of microbial biofilms formation, still, once a biofilm is formed, its elimination is almost impossible. This study focuses on the overview of novel methods applied for eradication of mature opportunistic pathogens' biofilms. Among various techniques the following: cold plasma, electric field, ultrasounds, ozonated water treatment, phagotherapy, matrix targeting enzymes, bacteriocins, synthetic chemicals and natural origin compounds used for biofilm matrix disruption were briefly described

Community Philanthropy Watch: Europe 2004

The Community Philanthropy Watch: Europe 2004 features the results of the annual mapping exercise on community philanthropy conducted by the Community Philanthropy Initiative (CPI) of the European Foundation Centre (EFC). Community Philanthropy Watch focuses on community foundations and other community philanthropy organizations. It provides statistics and other information on endowment and other funds, sources of funding, grantmaking and projects, staff and volunteers, governance, the legal and fiscal environment, and their achievements, obstacles and challenges

Cooperation Between Community Foundations and the Public Sector in Europe: Working Together For the Public Good

This discussion paper highlights different types of institutional and working collaborations between European community foundations with public authorities. It addresses the different advantages and disadvantages of such partnerships. In addition, it intends to stimulate the debate on public-private partnerships and to highlight how the effectiveness and the impact of such partnerships can be maximised

La lucha contra la violencia que se produce en las manifestaciones deportivas

[ES] Los documentos del Consejo de Europa relacionados con el problema de la violencia en los espectáculos deportivos son numerosos y forman parte de los documentos sobre el deporte en general. Así, se detallan las actuaciones del Consejo de Europa en el ámbito del deporte, enumerando las disposiciones en esta materia, comentando su contenido. Asimismo, se explican los aspectos más importantes de la legislación polaca encaminada a garantizar la seguridad de los eventos deportivos en Polonia.[EU] Kirol arloan ematen den gazteri biolentziarekin erlazionatutako Europar Kontseiluko dokumentuak asko dira eta Kirolari buruzko dokumentazio orokorreko parte dira. Horrela, Europar Kontseiluak, kirol arloan egiten dituen ekintzak aztertzen dira, arlo honetako xedapenak zenbatuz, eta beren edukina aztertuz. Hau hala izanik, Poloniak kirol ekintzak babesteko duen legeriari buruzko ezaugarri garrantzitsuenak aztertzen dira.[FR] Les documents du Conseil de l’Europe en rapport avec le problème de la violence dans les spectacles sportifs sont nombreux et ils font partie des documents sur le sport en général. Ainsi, on détaille les activités du Conseil de l’Europe dans le cadre du sport, en énumérant les dispositions dans cette matière, et en commentant son contenu. De même, on explique les aspects plus importants de la législation polonaise visant à garantir la sécurité des événements sportifs en Pologne.[EN] There are numerous documents of the Council of Europe related to the violence in the sport spectacles problem, and these one are part of the sport in general documents. Thus, the Council of Europe actions in this field are detailed, enumerating the dispositions in this matter and commenting their content. Likewise, the most important aspects of the Polish legislation aimed to guarantee the security of the sport events in Poland are explained

Microbiological contaminants in cosmetics – isolation and characterization

Cosmetic industries are not obliged to produce sterile cosmetics. Nevertheless, they are liable to assure safety of the product to the potential consumer. The purpose of the study was isolation and identification of microorganisms with the ability to survive and develop in cosmetics. Five cosmetics applied for facial skin and one cosmetic for body care were tested for the presence of contaminating microbiota. Eight microbial strains were isolated from three cosmetics, from which seven were derived from cosmetic applied on the facial skin. One strain was isolated from body care cosmetic. The recovered microbial strains were characterized and identified to the species level as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia liquefaciens and Candida parapsilosis. The isolates were opportunistic pathogens and may cause skin irritation and infections, especially via wounded epithelium in immunocompromised consumers. Moreover, due to application area, they pose a health risk to the consumer due to easy access to the eye area as well as nasal and oral cavities through usage of cosmetic preparation.http://www.bfs.p.lodz.pl/index.php?pid=29&year=2014&journal=1

Candida Biofilms: Environmental and Clinical Aspects

Candida spp. strains are characterized by their ability to form a biofilm structure on biotic and abiotic surfaces, causing significant problems in many industrial branches and threatening human health. Candida biofilm is a heterogeneous, spatially well-organized structure consisting of planktonic and mycelial yeast forms which are interdependent in the quorum sensing system and surrounded by an extracellular polysaccharide substance. Biofilm-forming microorganisms are characterized by high invasiveness, the ability to cause dangerous and difficult to treat infections. Furthermore, the cells in the biofilm, compared to planktonic forms, show reduced sensitivity to chemical compounds with antifungal activity and increased survival under unfavorable environmental conditions. The chapter focuses on the emergence of antifungal resistance with the development of biofilms. The work presents the examples of antibiotic resistance of a variety of Candida, showing that a group of strains expressing intermediate sensitivity or resistance to the tested antibiotics include both clinical and food-borne isolates. Similarities in enzymatic and biochemical profiles of different origin isolates are discussed. A substantial heterogeneity within Candida albicans group is also underlined. Simultaneously, the incidents of biochemical profiles conformity of some clinical and food-borne isolates are presented, which may be a result of Candida transmission via food

Activity of compounds of natural origin against Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, a common fruit juices contaminant

Fruit product industry struggles with emerging problem of microbial contamination with Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris. This acidothermophilic, soil-borne and sporeforming bacterium posses ability to survive commercial pasteurization and thus may cause fruit juices spoilage. Even modern technologies are not effective enough to eliminate A. acidoterrestris from the industrial environments. The green consumer attitude and safety standards suggest adaptation of natural and safe solutions. This paper summarizes the bioactivity of compounds of natural origin which could serve as anti-alicyclobacilli preservation agents maintaining stability of fruit juices

Adhesive and hydrophobic properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas cedrina associated with cosmetics

The presence of bacteria in the cosmetic production environment is often connected with non-sterile raw materials, inappropriate production lines disinfection or cross contamination. Among bacteria isolated from the environment, opportunistic pathogens can be also found, posing a risk to patients with lowered immunity. Moreover, their susceptibility to antibiotics and disinfectants is frequently decreased as they develop more complex forms - biofilms. As hydrophobicity and adhesive properties play a vital role in the colonization process the aim of this research was to determine hydrophobic, aggregative and adhesive properties of bacteria isolated from the cosmetics.Bacteria used in the research were isolated from the body balm and the cosmetic preservative (three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and four strains of Pseudomonas cedrina) and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. For those strains and also two reference strains (P. aeruginosa ATCC15442 and P. cedrina DSM17516) an aggregation test, hydrophobicity by two different methods (SAT and MATH) and adhesion to polystyrene by crystal violet binding assay were performed.According to the SAT method more than half of the tested strains were strongly hydrophobic. Using MATH test, it was proved that four strains (P. cedrina DSM17516 and three isolates of P. aeruginosa) were strong hydrophobes, however, the rest of the strains expressed moderate hydrophobicity. Moreover, self-aggregation was also observed and for P. aeruginosa CFII was more than 20%. All of the strains were able to adhere to polystyrene after 30 minutes contact, almost all of them (excluding P. cedrina DSM17516) indicated a moderate adhesion already after four hours of incubation. These results indicate that environmental Pseudomonas strains possess strong hydrophobic and adhesive properties, that may results in a colonization of abiotic surfaces

Śląskie Targi Książki

Ponad 30-tysięczna publiczność odwiedziła na początku listopada Śląskie Targi Książki, które stały się kolejnym ważnym miejscem na mapie imprez związanych z czytelnictwem i książką. Bogaty i ciekawy program był efektem ogromnej pracy wykonanej przez organizatorów (tegoroczna edycja zorganizowana została przez Murator EXPO i Spółkę Targi Książki) oraz ich partnerów, którymi są: Miasto Katowice, Biblioteka Śląska w Katowicach, Telewizja Katowice, Polskie Radio Katowice, Dziennik Zachodni i portal granice.pl. Odwiedzający mieli możliwość zapoznania się z ofertą 140 wydawców1 i wziąć udział w imprezach towarzyszących. Poza liczną reprezentacją wydawców, na odwiedzających czekał bardzo bogaty program skierowany zarówno do czytelników jak i specjalistów rynku książki. Targi dały możliwość spotkania się rzeszy specjalistów: wydawców i profesjonalistów związanych z rynkiem książki, stały się okazją do promocji aktualnej oferty wydawniczej i udziału w imprezach towarzyszących. Oferta tak wielu wydawców pozwoliła miłośnikom książki odnaleźć dla siebie każdy rodzaj literatury, od beletrystyki, poprzez reportaż, poezję, poradniki, komiksy aż po literaturę dla dzieci[..

Konferencja „Dawne i współczesne oblicze książki”

24 kwietnia 2009 roku – w czasie obchodów Festiwalu Nauki - Sekcja Bibliograficzna Koła Naukowego Bibliotekoznawców, działająca przy Instytucie Bibliotekoznawstwa i Informacji Naukowej Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach, zorganizowała konferencję naukową „Dawne i współczesne oblicze książki”(Fragment tekstu)