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Probiotic lactobacilli have an unprecedented history of safe use, although some cases of infections have raised concerns about their safety, and hence, a rigorous screening of any new strain even of Lactobacillus is a must in order to study possible adverse interactions with the host, particularly under unhealthy conditions. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to investigate the safety as well as therapeutic efficacy of probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum MTCC 5690 and L. fermentum MTCC 5689 strains in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Both MTCC 5690 and MTCC 5689 did not induce any detrimental effect on the colitic mice, as was reflected by normal colon and caecum length, blood biochemistry, hematology, and absence of inflammation. Although translocation of both the strains was observed in extraintestinal organs, probiotic-fed mice had significantly improved intestinal permeability and decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Probiotic interventions also led to an improved health index and better growth of colitis mice compared to colitis animals with no probiotic intervention. These results point towards the safe use of L. plantarum MTCC 5690 and L. fermentum MTCC 5689 as biotherapeutics for amelioration of inflammatory conditions after establishing their efficacy in human clinical trials.

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We report here a 3.2-Mb draft assembled genome of Lactobacillus casei Lbs2. The bacterium shows probiotic and immunomodulatory activities. The genome assembly and annotation will help to identify molecules and pathways responsible for interaction between the host immune system and the microbe.

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Lactobacillus plantarum is a highly versatile species among lactic acid bacteria that has been widely isolated from highly diversified ecological niches, including the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of an Indian isolate of the probiotic strain L. plantarum Lp91, isolated from human gut.

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Lactobacillus fermentum is a normal inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal tract. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of an Indian isolate of the probiotic strain L. fermentum Lf1, isolated from the human gut.

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The present study investigates the effect of adaptive resistance to ciprofloxacin (Cip) and benzalkonium chloride (BC) on biofilm formation potential (BFP), efflux pump activity (EPA) and haemolysin activity of Escherichia coli isolates of dairy origin. All the isolates, irrespective of antimicrobial susceptibility, developed significant adaptive resistance (P < 0·05). All the resistant phenotypes (antibiotic resistant: AR; & biocide resistant: BR) were stronger biofilm former and post-adaptation, an insignificant change was observed in their BFP. Whereas, post-adaptation, non-resistant isolates (antibiotic non-resistant: ANR; biocide non-resistant: BNR) transformed from poor or moderate to strong biofilm formers. Post-adaptive percentage increase in EPA was highly significant in non-resistant categories (P < 0·01) and significant at P < 0·05 in BR category. Interestingly, post-adaptive increase in EPA in BR isolates was more than that in AR yet, the latter exhibited greater adaptive resistance than the former. These findings indicated prevalence of some other specific resistance mechanism/s responsible for adaptive resistance against Cip. Strain specific variations were observed for stability of adaptive resistance and haemolysin activity for all the categories. Our findings especially in reference to post-adaptation upgradation of BFP status of non-resistant isolates seems to be providing an insight into the process of conversion of non-resistant isolate into resistant ones with enhanced BFP. These observations emphasize the serious implications of sub-lethal residual levels of antimicrobials in food environments and suggest a role of food chain in emergence of antimicrobial resistances.

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The present investigation reports development of post real time PCR (RTi-PCR) - melt curve analysis for simultaneous detection of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. The optimal Sybr Green I (SG-I) concentration of 1.6 µM resulted in two specific peaks with melting temperature (Tm) of 79.90 ± 0.39 °C and 86.29 ± 0.13 °C for L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp respectively. The detection sensitivity of the assay in reconstituted non-fat dried milk (NFDM; 11%) spiked with the target pathogens at different levels was 3 log cfu per ml of each pathogen. However, the sensitivity was improved up to 1 log cfu per ml by including pre-enrichment step of 6 h. On application of assay on 60 market samples, one sample each of raw milk and ice cream was detected positive for L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. Assay was quite specific as no cross reactivity with non target cultures could be observed. The developed assay can find valuable application in monitoring dairy products for the presence of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. to ensure their microbiological quality and safety.

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The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of efflux pump activity (EPA) in conferring adaptive and cross resistances against ciprofloxacin (CF) and benzalkonium chloride (BC) in dairy isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilm formation potential was correlated with development of adaptive resistance in originally resistant strains. Irrespective of parent strains's susceptibility, isolates developed substantial adaptive resistance against CF and BC. Significant difference was observed in ability of non resistant isolates to develop adaptive resistance against CF and BC (P < 0.02) and subsequent cross resistance. EPA was quantified using EtBr (Ethidium Bromide) model and its role was more prominent [confirmed by its inhibition using efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP)], in conferring adaptive resistance (P = 0.147) than cross resistance (P = 0.343). Reduction in adaptive resistances due to EPI was more evident in originally non resistant strains, which reaffirms EPA as probable mechanism of adaptive resistance. The present study perhaps first of its kind, suggests an active role of EPA in conferring adaptive and cross resistances in food related P. aeruginosa isolates and supports reverse hypothesis that antibiotic-resistant organisms eventually become tolerant to other antibacterial agents as well.

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The present study investigates the effect of surface hydrophobicity and media on in vitro biofilm formation potential of S. aureus isolates from two dairies. There was lack of correlation between biofilm formation potential of S. aureus and sampling points but not with the source of isolation. Biofilm formation was more pronounced on hydrophobic polypropylene (PP) than hydrophilic stainless steel (SSC). A better correlation was established between the biofilms on SSC and PP when analyzed by crystal violet staining than conventional plating method. On comparative evaluation of nutrient rich and diluted growth media, enhanced biofilm formation was observed in latter (1/20 tryptic soya broth). Highest survival in the preformed biofilms was observed at incubation temperature of 25 °C in sterilized skim milk rather than TSB. The present study signify preferable adherence of S. aureus on hydrophobic surfaces and potential survival within preformed biofilm at temperatures prevalent in dairy industries.

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BACKGROUND: Probiotic microorganisms favorably alter the intestinal microflora balance, promote intestinal integrity and mobility, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and increase resistance to infection. Probiotics are increasingly used in nutraceuticals, functional foods or in microbial interference treatment. However, the effectiveness of probiotic organism is considered to be population-specific due to variation in gut microflora, food habits and specific host-microbial interactions. Most of the probiotic strains available in the market are of western or European origin, and a strong need for exploring new indigenous probiotic organisms is felt. METHODS AND FINDINGS: An indigenous isolate Lp9 identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by molecular-typing methods was studied extensively for its functional and probiotic attributes, viz., acid and bile salt tolerance, cell surface hydrophobicity, autoaggregation and Caco-2 cell-binding as well as antibacterial and antioxidative activities. Lp9 isolate could survive 2 h incubation at pH 1.5-2.0 and toxicity of 1.5-2.0% oxgall bile. Lp9 could deconjugate major bile salts like glycocholate and deoxytaurocholate, indicating its potential to cause hypocholesterolemia. The isolate exhibited cell-surface hydrophobicity of approximately 37% and autoaggregation of approximately 31%. Presence of putative probiotic marker genes like mucus-binding protein (mub), fibronectin-binding protein (fbp) and bile salt hydrolase (bsh) were confirmed by PCR. Presence of these genes suggested the possibility of specific interaction and colonization potential of Lp9 isolate in the gut, which was also suggested by a good adhesion ratio of 7.4+/-1.3% with Caco-2 cell line. The isolate demonstrated higher free radical scavenging activity than standard probiotics L. johnsonii LA1 and L. acidophilus LA7. Lp9 also exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. typhi, S. aureus and B. cereus. CONCLUSION: The indigenous Lactobacillus plantarum Lp9 exhibited high resistance against low pH and bile and possessed antibacterial, antioxidative and cholesterol lowering properties with a potential for exploitation in the development of indigenous functional food or nutraceuticals.

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In this study, a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay based on two specific molecular beacons tagged with different reporter dyes was designed and developed for Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in such a way that each pathogen could be detected simultaneously in a single tube and differentiated. The duplex assay was developed by targeting the rfb gene of E. coli O157:H7 and the hly gene of L. monocytogenes using the homemade master reaction mix. The detection limit of the assay in reconstituted nonfat dried milk (11%) spiked with the two targeted pathogens at different levels was 1 and 3 log colony forming units/mL of each with and without enrichment (6 h) of the sample. The assay was quantifiable for both pathogens over 5 logs with respective regression coefficient 0.9852 (E. coli O157:H7) and 0.9812 (L. monocytogenes). The application of the developed assay on 60 market samples, including 20 samples of two popular Indian indigenous products (10 each of Kulfi and Paneer), revealed three samples involving one each of raw milk, kulfi, and paneer found to be positive for E. coli O157:H7, while one sample of raw milk was positive for L. monocytogenes. The performance of the assay was validated using commercially available individual detection kits for both pathogens, which further authenticated the results by detecting the same samples positive. These assays were set up rigorously in a closed system, therefore enabling rapid, highly specific, and sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes in dairy food samples.

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Methods for rapidly detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7, a high risk foodborne pathogen of considerable public health concern, are extremely important for monitoring of food safety. Conventional detection such as microbiological, biochemical, and immunological methods, including polymerase chain reactions (PCR), are time consuming and only qualitative. In this study, a rapid real-time PCR (RTi-PCR) method based on Scorpion probe technology targeting the eae gene of E. coli O157:H7 was developed and applied using spiked and naturally contaminated products. The assay was highly specific and did not show any cross-reactivity with any of the 15 nontargeted bacterial cultures. The assay was sensitive enough to detect 2 log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of the target pathogen in pure broth culture and 3 log CFU/mL in spiked skim milk. When the assay was applied with 60 market dairy food samples, one sample each of raw milk, paneer, and ice cream, was found to be positive for E. coli O157:H7 with respective RTi-PCR counts of 6.7, 6.2, and 5.9 log CFU. The present study demonstrates the application of Scorpion probe technology for the detection of foodborne pathogens and reports the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in paneer, a very popular indigenous dairy product (soft cheese) in India, for the first time.

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Chymosin, an aspartyl proteinase, is used for curdling of milk and manufacture of cheese. We report the purification and the physicochemical properties of chymosin isolated from the abomasal tissue of buffalo calves. The enzyme preparation extracted from buffalo abomasal tissues could be purified 29-fold using anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 35.6 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first eight amino acid sequences of buffalo chymosin was identical to the first eight amino acid sequences of cattle chymosin. Buffalo chymosin exhibited a skewed bell-shaped stability profile as a function of temperature with maximum activity near 55 degrees C. Milk clotting activity decreased gradually as pH increased. The enzyme became completely inactive, however, above pH 7.0. The ratio of milk clotting to proteolytic activity was 3.03. When compared with cattle chymosin, there were subtle differences in the stability and relative proteolytic activity of buffalo chymosin.

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