Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Bacteria Isolated From Japanese Honey, and Their Potential for Conferring Macrolide and Lincosamide Resistance in the American Foulbrood Pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. - Related Documents




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359001.0000Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Bacteria Isolated From Japanese Honey, and Their Potential for Conferring Macrolide and Lincosamide Resistance in the American Foulbrood Pathogen Paenibacillus larvae. American foulbrood (AFB) is the most serious bacterial disease of honey bee brood. Spores of the causative agent Paenibacillus larvae are ingested by bee larvae via brood foods and germinated cells proliferate in the larval midgut. In Japan, a macrolide antibiotic, tylosin, is used as the approved prophylactic for AFB. Although tylosin-resistant P. larvae has yet to be found in Japan, it may emerge in the future through the acquisition of macrolide resistance genes from other bacteria, and bacteria latent in brood foods, such as honey, may serve as a source of resistance genes. In this study, to investigate macrolide resistance genes in honey, we attempted to isolate tylosin-resistant bacteria from 53 Japanese honey samples and obtained 209 isolates from 48 samples in the presence of 1 μg/ml of tylosin. All isolates were Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria mainly belonging to genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus, and 94.3% exhibited lower susceptibility to tylosin than Japanese P. larvae isolates. Genome analysis of 50 representative isolates revealed the presence of putative macrolide resistance genes in the isolates, and some of them were located on mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Among the genes on MGEs, ermC on the putative mobilizable plasmid pJ18TS1mac of Oceanobacillus strain J18TS1 conferred tylosin and lincomycin resistance to P. larvae after introducing the cloned gene using the expression vector. Moreover, pJ18TS1mac was retained in the P. larvae population for a long period even under non-selective conditions. This suggests that bacteria in honey is a source of genes for conferring tylosin resistance to P. larvae; therefore, monitoring of bacteria in honey may be helpful to predict the emergence of tylosin-resistant P. larvae and prevent the selection of resistant strains.202133995331
359110.9998Detection of macrolide resistance genes, ermC and ermB, in Japanese honey using real-time PCR assays. American foulbrood (AFB) is a honeybee disease caused by Paenibacillus larvae, and tylosin is used as the prophylactic in Japan. Honey contains macrolide-resistant bacteria that are a potential source of genes that may confer tylosin resistance to P. larvae. To investigate the potential risk of such genes in Japanese honey, we developed real-time PCR assays for the detection of important macrolide resistance genes, ermC and ermB, and analyzed 116 Japanese honey samples with known contamination status of P. larvae. Consequently, 91.38% of samples contained ermC and/or ermB, and 71.55% of samples contained both ermC and P. larvae, suggesting the possible emergence of tylosin-resistant P. larvae in Japan. Therefore, judicious use of the prophylactic is essential in maintaining its effectiveness.202236123020
359420.9998Directed Recovery and Molecular Characterization of Antibiotic Resistance Plasmids from Cheese Bacteria. Resistance to antimicrobials is a growing problem of worldwide concern. Plasmids are thought to be major drivers of antibiotic resistance spread. The present work reports a simple way to recover replicative plasmids conferring antibiotic resistance from the bacteria in cheese. Purified plasmid DNA from colonies grown in the presence of tetracycline and erythromycin was introduced into plasmid-free strains of Lactococcus lactis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus casei. Following antibiotic selection, the plasmids from resistant transformants were isolated, analyzed by restriction enzyme digestion, and sequenced. Seven patterns were obtained for the tetracycline-resistant colonies, five from L. lactis, and one each from the lactobacilli strains, as well as a single digestion profile for the erythromycin-resistant transformants obtained in L. lactis. Sequence analysis respectively identified tet(S) and ermB in the tetracycline- and erythromycin-resistance plasmids from L. lactis. No dedicated resistance genes were detected in plasmids conferring tetracycline resistance to L. casei and L. plantarum. The present results highlight the usefulness of the proposed methodology for isolating functional plasmids that confer antibiotic resistance to LAB species, widen our knowledge of antibiotic resistance in the bacteria that inhabit cheese, and emphasize the leading role of plasmids in the spread of resistance genes via the food chain.202134360567
359330.9998Genes homologous to glycopeptide resistance vanA are widespread in soil microbial communities. The occurrence of d-Ala : d-Lac ligase genes homologous to glycopeptide resistance vanA was studied in samples of agricultural (n=9) and garden (n=3) soil by culture-independent methods. Cloning and sequencing of nested degenerate PCR products obtained from soil DNA revealed the occurrence of d-Ala : d-Ala ligase genes unrelated to vanA. In order to enhance detection of vanA-homologous genes, a third PCR step was added using primers targeting vanA in soil Paenibacillus. Sequencing of 25 clones obtained by this method allowed recovery of 23 novel sequences having 86-100% identity with vanA in enterococci. Such sequences were recovered from all agricultural samples as well as from two garden samples with no history of organic fertilization. The results indicated that soil is a rich and assorted reservoir of genes closely related to those conferring glycopeptide resistance in clinical bacteria.200616734783
359540.9997Antibiotic Susceptibility, Resistance Gene Determinants and Corresponding Genomic Regions in Lactobacillus amylovorus Isolates Derived from Wild Boars and Domestic Pigs. Restrictions on the use of antibiotics in pigs lead to the continuous search for new probiotics serving as an alternative to antibiotics. One of the key parameters for probiotic bacteria selection is the absence of horizontally transmissible resistance genes. The aim of our study was to determine antibiotic susceptibility profiles in 28 Lactobacillus amylovorus isolates derived from the digestive tract of wild boars and farm pigs by means of the broth microdilution method and whole genome sequencing (WGS). We revealed genetic resistance determinants and examined sequences flanking resistance genes in these strains. Our findings indicate that L. amylovorus strains from domestic pigs are predominantly resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin and ampicillin. WGS analysis of horizontally transmissible genes revealed only three genetic determinants (tetW, ermB and aadE) of which all tetW and ermB genes were present only in strains derived from domestic pigs. Sequence analysis of coding sequences (CDS) in the neighborhood of the tetW gene revealed the presence of site-specific recombinase (xerC/D), site-specific DNA recombinase (spoIVCA) or DNA-binding transcriptional regulator (xre), usually directly downstream of the tetW gene. In the case of ermB, CDS for omega transcriptional repressor or mobilization protein were detected upstream of the ermB gene.202236677394
606550.9997Screening for enterocins and detection of hemolysin and vancomycin resistance in enterococci of different origins. The inhibitory activity of 122 out of 426 Enterococcus strains of geographically widespread origin and from different sources (food and feed, animal isolates, clinical and nonclinical human isolates) was tested against a wide range of indicator bacteria. Seventy-two strains, mainly belonging to the species Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis were bacteriocinogenic. A remarkable variation of inhibitory spectra occurred among the strains tested, including inhibition of, for instance, only closely related enterococci, other lactic acid bacteria (LAB), food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. No correlation could be found between the origin of the strains and the type of inhibitory spectrum, although a clustering of human isolates from both fecal and clinical origin was observed in the group of strains inhibiting lactic acid bacteria, Listeria, and either Staphylococcus or Clostridium. No relationship could be established between the presence of enterocin structural genes and the origin of the strain either, and hence no correlation seemed to exist between the presence of known enterocin genes and the activity spectra of these enterococci. The structural gene of enterocin A was widely distributed among E. faecium strains, whereas that of enterocin B only occurred in the presence of enterocin A. The vancomycin resistance phenotype as well as the presence of vancomycin resistance genes was also investigated. The vanA gene only occurred among E. faecium strains. The incidence of beta-hemolysis was not restricted to E. faecalis strains, but among the E. faecium strains the structural genes of cytolysin were not detected. beta-Hemolysis occurred in strains both from food and nonfood origin. It has been concluded that bacteriocin-producing E. faecium strains lacking hemolytic activity and not carrying cytolysin nor vancomycin resistance genes may be useful as starter cultures, cocultures, or probiotics.200312810293
467860.9997Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains of Potential Use as Feed Additives - The Basic Safety and Usefulness Criterion. The spread of resistance to antibiotics is a major health concern worldwide due to the increasing rate of isolation of multidrug resistant pathogens hampering the treatment of infections. The food chain has been recognized as one of the key routes of antibiotic resistant bacteria transmission between animals and humans. Considering that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could act as a reservoir of transferable antibiotic resistance genes, LAB strains intended to be used as feed additives should be monitored for their safety. Sixty-five LAB strains which might be potentially used as probiotic feed additives or silage inoculants, were assessed for susceptibility to eight clinically relevant antimicrobials by a minimum inhibitory concentration determination. Among antimicrobial resistant strains, a prevalence of selected genes associated with the acquired resistance was investigated. Nineteen LAB strains displayed phenotypic resistance to one antibiotic, and 15 strains were resistant to more than one of the tested antibiotics. The resistance to aminoglycosides and tetracyclines were the most prevalent and were found in 37 and 26% of the studied strains, respectively. Phenotypic resistance to other antimicrobials was found in single strains. Determinants related to resistance phenotypes were detected in 15 strains as follows, the aph(3″)-IIIa gene in 9 strains, the lnu(A) gene in three strains, the str(A)-str(B), erm(B), msr(C), and tet(M) genes in two strains and the tet(K) gene in one strain. The nucleotide sequences of the detected genes revealed homology to the sequences of the transmissible resistance genes found in lactic acid bacteria as well as pathogenic bacteria. Our study highlights that LAB may be a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance determinants, thus, the first and key step in considering the usefulness of LAB strains as feed additives should be an assessment of their antibiotic resistance. This safety criterion should always precede more complex studies, such as an assessment of adaptability of a strain or its beneficial effect on a host. These results would help in the selection of the best LAB strains for use as feed additives. Importantly, presented data can be useful for revising the current microbiological cut-off values within the genus Lactobacillus and Pediococcus.202134277757
357770.9997Intrinsic tet(L) sub-class in Bacillus velezensis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is associated with a reduced susceptibility toward tetracycline. Annotations of non-pathogenic bacterial genomes commonly reveal putative antibiotic resistance genes and the potential risks associated with such genes is challenging to assess. We have examined a putative tetracycline tet(L) gene (conferring low level tetracycline resistance), present in the majority of all publicly available genomes of the industrially important operational group Bacillus amyloliquefaciens including the species B. amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus siamensis and Bacillus velezensis. The aim was to examine the risk of transfer of the putative tet(L) in operational group B. amyloliquefaciens through phylogenetic and genomic position analysis. These analyses furthermore included tet(L) genes encoded by transferable plasmids and other Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis. Through phylogenetic analysis, we could group chromosomally and plasmid-encoded tet(L) genes into four phylogenetic clades. The chromosomally encoded putative tet(L) from operational group B. amyloliquefaciens formed a separate phylogenetic clade; was positioned in the same genomic region in the three species; was not flanked by mobile genetic elements and was not found in any other bacterial species suggesting that the gene has been present in a common ancestor before species differentiation and is intrinsic. Therefore the gene is not considered a safety concern, and the risk of transfer to and expression of resistance in other non-related species is considered negligible. We suggest a subgrouping of the tet(L) class into four groups (tet(L)1.1, tet(L)1.2 and tet(L)2.1, tet(L)2.2), corresponding with the phylogenetic grouping and tet(L) from operational group B. amyloliquefaciens referred to as tet(L)2.2. Phylogenetic analysis is a useful tool to correctly differentiate between intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance genes.202235992677
461280.9997Assessment of tetracycline and erythromycin resistance transfer during sausage fermentation by culture-dependent and -independent methods. The food chain is considered one of the main routes of antibiotic resistance diffusion between animal and human population. The resistance to antimicrobial agents among enterococci could be related to the efficient exchange of transferable genetic elements. In this study a sausage model was used to evaluate the persistence of antibiotic resistant enterococci during meat fermentation and to assess horizontal gene transfer among bacteria involved in meat fermentation. Enterococcus faecalis OG1rf harbouring either pCF10 or pAMβ1 plasmid was used as donor strain. The analysis of population dynamics during fermentation confirmed that the human isolate E. faecalis OG1rf was able to colonize the meat ecosystem with similar growth kinetics to that of food origin enterococci and to transfer the mobile genetic elements coding for tetracycline and erythromycin resistances. Transconjugant strains were detected after only two days of fermentation and increased their numbers during ripening even in the absence of selective antibiotic pressure. By means of culture-dependent and -independent molecular techniques, transconjugant strains carrying both tetracycline and erythromycin resistance genes were identified in enterococci, pediococci, lactobacilli and staphylococci groups. Our results suggest that the sausage model provides a suitable environment for horizontal transfer of conjugative plasmids and antibiotic resistance genes among food microbiota.201222365347
457290.9997Effect of high pressure processing on changes in antibiotic resistance genes expression among strains from commercial starter cultures. This study analyzed the effect of high-pressure processing on the changes in resistance phenotype and expression of antibiotic resistance genes among strains from commercial starter cultures. After exposure to high pressure the expression of genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides (aac(6')Ie-aph(2″)Ia and aph(3')-IIIa) decreased and the expression of genes encoding resistance to tetracyclines (tetM and tetW), ampicillin (blaZ) and chloramphenicol (cat) increased. Expression changes differed depending on the pressure variant chosen. The results obtained in the gene expression analysis correlated with the results of the phenotype patterns. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first studies focused on changes in antibiotic resistance associated with a stress response among strains from commercial starter cultures. The results suggest that the food preservation techniques might affect the phenotype of antibiotic resistance among microorganisms that ultimately survive the process. This points to the need to verify strains used in the food industry for their antibiotic resistance as well as preservation parameters to prevent the further increase in antibiotic resistance in food borne strains.202336462825
6072100.9997Bad to the bone? - Genomic analysis of Enterococcus isolates from diverse environments reveals that most are safe and display potential as food fermentation microorganisms. Enterococci comprise a group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with considerable potential to serve as food fermentation microorganisms. Unfortunately, enterococci have received a lot of negative attention, due to the occurrence of pathogenic and multidrug resistant strains. In this study, we used genomics to select safe candidates among the forty-four studied enterococcal isolates. The genomes of the forty-four strains were fully sequenced and assessed for presence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Nineteen isolates belonging to the species Enterococcus lactis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus durans, and Enterococcus thailandicus, were deemed safe from the genome analysis. The presence of secondary metabolite gene clusters for bacteriocins was assessed, and twelve candidates were found to secrete antimicrobial compounds effective against Listeria monocytogenes isolated from cheese and Staphylococcus aureus. Physiological characterization revealed nineteen industrial potentials; all strains grew well at 42 °C and acidified 1.5 hours faster than their mesophilic counterpart Lactococcus lactis, with which they share metabolism and flavor forming ability. We conclude that a large fraction of the examined enterococci were safe and could serve as excellent food fermentation microorganisms with inherent bioprotective abilities.202438552381
5992110.9997Emergence of Enterococcus gallinarum carrying vanA gene cluster displaying atypical phenotypes. Motile enterococci such as Enterococcus gallinarum has the ability to acquire and transfer antibiotic resistance genes to other enterococci. Even though infections caused by E. gallinarum are rare, the discovery of this bacteria in food sources and in clinical environments is disturbing. Here, we report the isolation and identification of E. gallinarum from the wound of a hospital in-patient. The isolate was identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. Isolate 146 harboured the vanA and vanC1 gene clusters, was vancomycin-susceptible, and displayed resistance to ampicillin, penicillin, erythromycin and teicoplanin. This isolate also showed intermediate resistance to linezolid and sequencing of the 23S rRNA peptidyl transferase region did not unveil any known mutations associated to the conferment of linezolid resistance. The presence of vanA did not confer resistance to vancomycin. Structural analyses into the Tn1546 transposon carrying the vanA gene revealed distinct genetic variations in the vanS, vanY and vanS-vanH intergenic region that could be associated to the atypical antibiotic resistance phenotypes of isolate 146. Finding from this study are suggestive of the occurrence of interspecies horizontal gene transfer and that similarities in genotypic characteristic may not necessarily correlate with actual antibiotic resistance pattern of E. gallinarum.201633579083
5502120.9997Short communication: Diversity of species and transmission of antimicrobial resistance among Staphylococcus spp. isolated from goat milk. The increasing production of goat milk and its derivatives is affected by the occurrence of intramammary infections, which are highly associated with the presence of Staphylococcus species, including some with zoonotic potential. Staphylococci in general can exchange mobile genetic elements, a process that may be facilitated by the isolate's capacity of forming biofilms. In this study we identified, to the species level, Staphylococcus isolated from goat milk samples by MALDI-TOF and confirmed the identification by sequencing housekeeping genes (rrs and tuf). Eight species were identified, more than half being either Staphylococcus epidermidis or Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The isolates were shown by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to be genetically diverse between the studied herds. Resistance to ampicillin and penicillin was widespread, and 2 Staph. epidermidis isolates contained the methicillin-resistance gene mecA. Most of the isolates that were resistant to at least 1 of the 13 antimicrobials tested harbored plasmids, one of which was demonstrated to be conjugative, being transferred from a Staph. epidermidis to a Staphylococcus aureus strain. Biofilm formation was observed in almost every isolate, which may contribute to their capacity of exchanging antimicrobial resistance genes in addition to acting as a physical barrier to the access of drugs. Our results showed that antimicrobial resistance among goat staphylococci may be emerging in a process facilitated by the exchange of mobile genetic elements between the bacteria and the establishment of biofilms, which calls for careful monitoring and more effective control therapies.201930928272
4679130.9997Antimicrobial and Phylogenomic Characterization of Bacillus cereus Group Strains Isolated from Different Food Sources in Italy. Background:Bacillus cereus is a widespread environmental Gram-positive bacterium which is especially common in soil and dust. It produces two types of toxins that cause vomiting and diarrhea. At present, foodborne outbreaks due to Bacillus cereus group bacteria (especially Bacillus cereus sensu stricto) are rising, representing a serious problem in the agri-food supply chain. Methods: In this work, we analyzed 118 strains belonging to the Bacillus cereus group, isolated from several food sources, for which in vitro and in silico antibiotic resistance assessments were performed. Results: Many strains showed intermediate susceptibility to clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline, suggesting an evolving acquisition of resistance against these antibiotics. Moreover, one strain showed intermediate resistance to meropenem, an antibiotic currently used to treat infections caused by Bacillus cereus. In addition to the phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profile, all strains were screened for the presence/absence of antimicrobial genes via whole-genome sequencing. There was inconsistency between the in vitro and in silico analyses, such as in the case of vancomycin, for which different isolates harbored resistance genes but, phenotypically, the same strains were sensitive. Conclusions: This would suggest that antibiotic resistance is a complex phenomenon due to a variety of genetic, epigenetic, and biochemical mechanisms.202439335071
4613140.9997Glycopeptide-resistance transferability from vancomycin-resistant enterococci of human and animal source to Listeria spp. AIMS: The glycopeptide-resistance transferability from vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) of clinical and animal origin to different species of Listeria was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 36 matings, performed on membrane filter, the glycopeptide resistance was successfully transferred in six attempts, five with donors of animal origin and only one with donors from clinical source. The acquired glycopeptide resistance in Listeria transconjugants was confirmed by the presence of the conjugative plasmid band and by the amplification of the 732-bp fragment of vanA gene in transferred plasmids. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lower number of bacteria used in this study, the source of enterococci influenced the outcome of mating. Moreover transferred VanA plasmid induced a different expression in Listeria transconjugants, suggesting that gene expression might be influenced by species affiliation of recipients. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our data strengthen the opinion that enterococci are an important source of resistance genes for Listeria via the transfer of movable genetic elements. As these strains are commonly found in the same habitats, a horizontal spread of glycopeptide resistance in Listeria spp. could be possible.200415548299
5995150.9997In vitro conjugal transfer of tetracycline resistance from Lactobacillus isolates to other Gram-positive bacteria. The ability of 14 Lactobacillus strains, isolated from fermented dry sausages, to transfer tetracycline resistance encoded by tet(M) through conjugation was examined using filter mating experiments. Seven out of 14 tetracycline-resistant Lactobacillus isolates were able to transfer in vitro this resistance to Enterococcus faecalis at frequencies ranging from 10(-4) to 10(-6) transconjugants per recipient. Two of these strains could also transfer their resistance to Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, whereas no conjugal transfer to a Staphylococcus aureus recipient was found. These data suggest that meat lactobacilli might be reservoir organisms for acquired resistance genes that can be spread to other lactic acid bacteria. In order to assess the risk of this potential hazard, the magnitude of transfer along the food chain merits further research.200312900030
3701160.9997Genetic Determinants for Metal Tolerance and Antimicrobial Resistance Detected in Bacteria Isolated from Soils of Olive Tree Farms. Copper-derived compounds are often used in olive tree farms. In a previous study, a collection of bacterial strains isolated from olive tree farms were identified and tested for phenotypic antimicrobial resistance and heavy metal tolerance. The aim of this work was to study the genetic determinants of resistance and to evaluate the co-occurrence of metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance genes. Both metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance genes (including beta-lactamase genes) were detected in the bacterial strains from Cu-treated soils. A high percentage of the strains positive for metal tolerance genes also carried antibiotic resistance genes, especially for genes involved in resistances to beta-lactams and tetracycline. Significant associations were detected between genes involved in copper tolerance and genes coding for beta-lactamases or tetracycline resistance mechanisms. A significant association was also detected between zntA (coding for a Zn(II)-translocating P-type ATPase) and tetC genes. In conclusion, bacteria from soils of Cu-treated olive farms may carry both metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance genes. The positive associations detected between metal tolerance genes and antibiotic resistance genes suggests co-selection of such genetic traits by exposure to metals.202032756388
4575170.9997Antimicrobial Resistance of Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter Species Originating from Vinegars. Consumers' preference towards healthy and novel foods dictates the production of organic unfiltered bottled vinegar that still contains acetic acid bacteria. After ingesting vinegar, the bacteria come into close contact with the human microbiota, creating the possibility of horizontal gene transfer, including genetic determinants for antibiotic resistance. Due to the global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), we analyzed the AMR of Acetobacter and Komagataeibacter species originating mainly from vinegars. Six antibiotics from different structural groups and mechanisms of action were selected for testing. The AMR was assessed with the disk diffusion method using various growth media. Although the number of resistant strains differed among the growth media, 97.4%, 74.4%, 56.4%, and 33.3% of strains were resistant to trimethoprim, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol, respectively, on all three media. Moreover, 17.9% and 53.8% of all strains were resistant to four and three antibiotics of different antimicrobial classes, respectively. We then looked for antimicrobial resistance genes in the genome sequences of the reference strains. The most common genetic determinant potentially involved in AMR encodes an efflux pump. Since these genes pass through the gastrointestinal tract and may be transferred to human microbiota, further experiments are needed to analyze the probability of this scenario in more detail.202235010733
4675180.9997Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles of Pediococcus pentosaceus from Various Origins and Their Implications for the Safety Assessment of Strains with Food-Technology Applications. ABSTRACT: In the fight against the spread of antibiotic resistance, authorities usually require that strains "intentionally added into the food chain" be tested for their antibiotic susceptibility. This applies to strains used in starter or adjunct cultures for the production of fermented foods, such as many strains of Pediococcus pentosaceus. The European Food Safety Authority recommends testing strains for their antibiotic susceptibility based on both genomic and phenotypic approaches. Furthermore, it proposes a set of antibiotics to assess as well as a list of microbiological cutoffs (MCs), allowing classification of lactic acid bacteria as susceptible or resistant. Accurate MCs are essential not only to avoid false-negative strains, which may carry antibiotic resistance genes and remain unnoticed, but also to avoid false-positive strains, which may be discarded while screening potential candidates for food-technology applications. Because of relatively scarce data, MCs have been defined for the whole Pediococcus genus, although differences between species should be expected. In this study, we investigated the antibiotic susceptibility of 35 strains of P. pentosaceus isolated from various matrices in the past 70 yr. MICs were determined using a standard protocol, and MIC distributions were established. Phenotypic analyses were complemented with genome sequencing and by seeking known antibiotic resistance genes. The genomes of all the strains were free of known antibiotic resistance genes, but most displayed MICs above the currently defined MCs for chloramphenicol, and all showed excessive MICs for tetracycline. Based on the distributions, we calculated and proposed new MCs for chloramphenicol (16 instead of 4 mg/L) and tetracycline (256 instead of 8 mg/L).202133320937
5645190.9997Antibiotic Resistance of Bacillus cereus in Plant Foods and Edible Wild Mushrooms in a Province. Bacillus cereus is a common pathogen causing foodborne diseases, secreting and producing a large number of toxins that can cause a variety of diseases and pose many threats to human health. In this study, 73 strains of Bacillus cereus were isolated and identified from six types of foods from seven different cities in a province, and the antibiotic-resistant phenotype was detected by using the Bauer-Kirby method. Results showed that the 73 isolates were completely sensitive to gentamicin and 100% resistant to chloramphenicol, in addition to which all strains showed varying degrees of resistance to 13 other common antibiotics, and a large number of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics were found. A bioinformatic analysis of the expression of resistance genes in Bacillus cereus showed three classes of antibiotic-resistant genes, which were three of the six classes of antibiotics identified according to the resistance phenotype. The presence of other classes of antibiotic-resistant genes was identified from genome-wide information. Antibiotic-resistant phenotypes were analyzed for correlations with genotype, and remarkable differences were found among the phenotypes. The spread of antibiotic-resistant strains is a serious public health problem that requires the long-term monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in Bacillus cereus, and the present study provides important information for monitoring antibiotic resistance in bacteria from different types of food.202338138092