Bacteriocinogenic activity of Enterococcus faecalis strains from chourico, traditional sausage produced in Southern Portugal

Enterococcus faecalis isolates from chourico (traditional Portugal fermented sausage) were studied here with the main impact on bacteriocin production. In bacteriocin-producing strains phenotypic antibiotic profile was tested to check if they are sensitive or resistant. Lactic acid production ranged from 0.581 mmol/L up to 0.783 mmo/L. Enterococci grew sufficiently in the medium with 1% concentration of oxgall/bile. From 14 E. faecalis, bacteriocin substances (Bs) by 8 strains were found to inhibit the growth at least 1 indicator of 27 (inhibitory zones-10 to 18 mm) by the qualitative method. The effect of Bs of 8 active E. faecalis strains was tested also by the quantitative method; Bs of 6 E. faecalis inhibited the growth at least of 1 indicator; E. faecalis P06/7, P06/13, P06/16 inhibited the growth of Enterococcus avium EA5, Listeria innocua LMG13568, Staphylococcus aureus SA5 (activity: 100 to 1600 AU/ml). The highest activity (1600 AU/ml) showed Bs produced by P06/16 against LMG13568. Taking into account the antibiotic sensitivity and activity in the strain itself, the most promising strains for detailed bacteriocin studies are E. faecalis P06/16, P06/7, P06/13 which are mostly antibiotic sensitive and bacteriocin active

Microbiome Associated with Slovak Traditional Ewe's Milk Lump Cheese

Worldwide consumers increasingly demand traditional/local products, to which those made from ewe's milk belong. In Slovakia, dairy products made from ewe's milk have a long tradition. A total of seventeen farmhouse fresh ewe's milk lump cheeses from various local farm producers in central Slovakia were sampled at farms and then analyzed. Based on the sequencing data analysis, the phylum Firmicutes dominated (60.92%) in ewe's lump cheeses, followed with the phylum Proteobacteria (38.23%), Actinobacteria (0.38%) and Bacteroidetes (0.35%). The phylum Firmicutes was represented by six genera, among which the highest amount possessed the genus Streptococcus (41.13%) followed with the genus Lactococcus (8.54%), Fructobacillus (3.91%), Enterococcus (3.18%), Staphylococcus (1.80%) and the genus Brochotrix (0.08%). The phylum Proteobacteria in ewe's lump cheeses involved eight Gram-negative genera: Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Ewingella, Escherichia-Shigella, Pantoea and Moraxella. The phylum Bacteroidetes involved three genera: Bacteroides, Sphingobacterium and Chrysobacterium. Results presented are original; the microbiome of Slovak ewe's milk lump cheese has been not analyzed at those taxonomic levels up to now

Detection of structural genes for enterocins production among enterococci isolated from french traditional fermented sausages

National audienceIn European countries, the demand for traditional food products has increased. Dry fermented sausages, mainly manufactured with pork and/or lean beef and pork fat, account for a significant part of traditional meat products. Many studies have dealt with the microbiology of traditional fermented sausages but there are few detail studies of properties of individual genera. The genus Enterococcus involved about 55 validated species. Its representants are mostly lactic acid producing; they can possess probiotic properties or produce bacteriocins (antimicrobial substances); on the other side, some strains can posess virulence factors genes. Our study has been focused on positive property-on detection of structural genes for enterocins production among enterococci isolated from French traditional fermented sausages. Enterocins are proteinaceous antimicrobial substances produced mostly by enterococci with inhibition spectrum against Gram-positive but also against Gram-negative bacteria. This study was performed in the framework of the EU project TRADISAUSAGE-QLK1-CT2002-02240; that is why also French traditional fermented meat products were analysed. Samples of products from 10 low-capacity processing units (placed in Massif-central-France) were collected. Sampling was performed from the initial meat (Z), during processing (M) and from the final product (F). Sampling and analytical methods for the microbiota analysis were based on the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). Enterococci were counted on M-Enterococcus agar (Merck, Germany). Fifty–three pure colonies were identified by PCR (primers) confirmed by Maldi-Tof identification system. Enterocins genes were tested by primers and PCR. Most of strains belonged to the species Enterococcus faecium, followed by E. faecalis and other not specified species. Strains survived in Oxgall bile evironment in high %. The most detected was Ent P gene (34%) followed by Ent A gene (27%) and Ent L50B (20%). The least was detected Ent B gene (19%)

Effect of Sustained Administration of Thymol on Its Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability in Rabbits

The objective of this study was the detection of thymol in rabbit plasma, tissues, large intestinal content, and faeces. Forty-eight rabbits were divided into control and experimental groups (thymol 250 mg/kg feed). Thymol was administered for 21 days and then withdrawn for 7 days. Concentration of thymol in the intestinal wall (IW) was significantly higher than in plasma (p < 0.05) and liver (p < 0.05); in the kidneys it was significantly higher than in plasma (p < 0.05) and liver (p < 0.05) during thymol addition. Thymol in IW was significantly higher than in plasma also after withdrawal (p < 0.01). Significant correlation (rs = −1.000, p < 0.01) between IW and plasma points to the intensive absorption of thymol from the intestine, while the correlation between plasma and liver (rs = 0.786, p < 0.05) indicates intensive biotransformation and excretion processes in liver. Significant correlation between liver and kidney (rs = 0.738, p < 0.05) confirms the intensive metabolism of thymol in the kidney. During the withdrawal period, thymol was detected above trace amounts only in faeces, and was significantly higher than in the colon during both periods (p < 0.01). Results show intensive biotransformation of thymol in the rabbit organism

Effect of thymol and Enterocin M administration on biochemical, antioxidant and immunological parameters, small intestinal morphology and microbiota in rabbits.

To find natural feed additives with a beneficial effect on rabbit health, thymol alone and in combination with Enterocin M were administered in drinking water for 42 days (35 -77 days of age). A total of 48 rabbits based on their weight were randomly divided into four experimental groups: C – control (basal diet), T – thymol (250 mg/L), E – Enterocin M (Ent M) (50 μL/animal/day), T + E (thymol with Ent M). Ent M (p < .05) and thymol (p < .01) separately decreased malondialdehyde in the liver. Thymol separately and in combination significantly increased phagocytic activity in the blood (p = .0051) and lactic acid in the caecum (p = .0142) and decreased coagulase-positive staphylococci in the caecum (p = .0329). Ent M separately and in combination increased immunoglobulin A content in the jejunal wall (p = .002) and decreased coliform bacteria in faeces (p = .0002). Thymol and Ent M application separately or in combination improved the antioxidant and immune response of rabbits and demonstrated an antibacterial effect