Digoxigenin-labeled probes for detection of genes coding for enterotoxins and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 from staphylococcal strains

Identification and characterization of quaternary ammonium compound resistant staphylococci from the food industry

The distribution of known genes conferring resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) among different species of staphylococci isolated from the food industry was investigated. Twenty-four isolates hosting one of the genes qacA/qacB, smr, qacG or qacH, were subjected to species identification. Species determination was performed by biochemical analyses (API STAPH), comparative 16S rDNA sequence analysis and tDNA intergenic spacer length polymorphism analysis. Good correlation was obtained between the different methods. The isolates belonged to six different species of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. The most commonly found species were Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. The results also indicated the possible spread of specific isolates of staphylococci which may reflect the dominance of certain strains in environments were QACs are used on a regular basis. The isolates were further characterized by the resistance phenotype to antimicrobial agents including antibiotics and disinfectants. Resistance to ampicillin, penicillin G and dyes was prevalent in strains harbouring the qacA or qacB genes, features also common among clinical staphylococci containing qacA/qacB. One QAC resistant strain harbouring the smr gene showed resistance to ampicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin and trimethoprim. No enterotoxin production was detected among the QAC resistant strains.

Digoxigenin-labeled deoxyribonucleic acid probes for the enumeration of bifidobacteria in fecal samples

The numbers of bifidobacteria in fecal samples were specifically determined by colony hybridization with the mixture of digoxigenin-labeled DNA probes that were prepared from whole chromosomal DNA of Bifidobacterium longum 6001 and Bifidobacterium adolescentis 6003. These DNA probes strongly hybridized with DNA of B. longum, B. adolescentis, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium suis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium angulatum, and Bifidobacterium animalis. Detectable positive signals with DNA of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum ssp. pseudolongum, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, and Bifidobacterium thermophilum were also found after hybridization. When dot-blot hybridization was performed with whole cells of 47 reference strains containing 11 species (16 strains) of bifidobacteria, all of the bifidobacteria tested could be specifically detected by using these DNA probes; Lactobacillus fermentum JCM 1173, however, showed a slight nonspecific signal. The counts of bifidobacteria by colony hybridization in the fecal samples of four of the five subjects were the same as the counts that were obtained by the conventional method using BL agar medium. Furthermore, no significant difference existed in the number of bifidobacteria that were determined by either method.