Identification of Facklamia sourekii from a Lactating Cow

Antimicrobial susceptibility rates in gram-positive catalase-negative cocci from sheep and goat genital microbiota

Gram-positive catalase-negative cocci (GPCNCs) are significant components of the genital microbiota in sheep and goats. However, characterizing them can be difficult due to overlapping culture features and the limited information on their susceptibility to antibiotics. In this study, 97 foreskin and 13 vaginal swabs were investigated using a culturomic approach. Of 110 animals, 76 (69.09 %) hosted GPCNCs, including strains from Streptococcaceae (37, 33.64 %), Aerococcaceae (30, 27.27 %), Enterococcaceae (6, 5.45 %) and other minor species. With increasing antimicrobial resistance rates in livestock, surveillance programs are globally required, so we conducted a pilot study on GPCNCs isolated from the genital mucosa surfaces of sheep and goats using the minimal inhibitory concentration assay (MIC). Due to gaps in interpretative standard breakpoints, normalized resistance interpretation was used for setting epidemiological susceptibility cut-off values (COWTs). Of 57 suitable strains, the majority (80.71 %) showed high COWTs with decrease susceptibility to at least one antimicrobial class, with 22.81 % displaying multiresistant profiles. Of interest, combined resistances to beta-lactams, macrolides, lincosamides, and tetracyclines were detected in strains of Streptococcus plurianimalium. Further combinations, including resistance to beta-lactams, pleuromutilins, aminoglycosides, and lincosamides, were also recorded in both Streptococcus uberis and Enterococcus spp. strains. Being beta-lactams, macrolides, and tetracyclines the most used antibiotics in livestock worldwide, our results highlight the need for their prudent use. Collectively, our findings highlight that small ruminant genital microbiota can serve as reservoirs for opportunistic severe pathogens, often zoonotic, carrying multidrug resistances, thus standing for high risks for both animals and humans.

Characterization of rumen, fecal, and milk microbiota in lactating dairy cows

Targeting the gastrointestinal microbiome for improvement of feed efficiency and reduction of production costs is a potential promising strategy. However little progress has been made in manipulation of the gut microbiomes in dairy cattle to improve milk yield and milk quality. Even less understood is the milk microbiome. Understanding the milk microbiome may provide insight into how the microbiota correlate with milk yield and milk quality. The objective of this study was to characterize similarities between rumen, fecal, and milk microbiota simultaneously, and to investigate associations between microbiota, milk somatic cell count (SCC), and milk yield. A total of 51 mid-lactation, multiparous Holstein dairy cattle were chosen for sampling of ruminal, fecal, and milk contents that were processed for microbial DNA extraction and sequencing. Cows were categorized based on low, medium, and high SCC; as well as low, medium, and high milk yield. Beta diversity indicated that ruminal, fecal, and milk populations were distinct (p < 0.001). Additionally, the Shannon index demonstrated that ruminal microbial populations were more diverse (p < 0.05) than were fecal and milk populations, and milk microbiota was the least diverse of all sample types (p < 0.001). While diversity indices were not linked (p > 0.1) with milk yield, milk microbial populations from cows with low SCC demonstrated a more evenly distributed microbiome in comparison to cows with high SCC values (p = 0.053). These data demonstrate the complexity of host microbiomes both in the gut and mammary gland. Further, we conclude that there is a significant relationship between mammary health (i.e., SCC) and the milk microbiome. Whether this microbiome could be utilized in efforts to protect the mammary gland remains unclear, but should be explored in future studies.

Reclassification of Facklamia ignava, Facklamia sourekii and Facklamia tabacinasalis as Falseniella ignava gen. nov., comb. nov., Hutsoniella sourekii gen. nov., comb. nov., and Ruoffia tabacinasalis gen. nov., comb. nov., and description of Ruoffia halotolerans sp. nov., isolated from hypersaline Inland Sea of Qatar

A Gram-stain-positive, non-pigmented, coccus-shaped, facultatively anaerobic and α-hemolytic bacterium designated as INB8^T was isolated from a hypersaline marine water sample collected at the Inland Sea of Qatar. The isolate was able to grow at 25-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5-11 and with 2-8% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain INB8^T was placed within the family Aerococcaceae with the highest sequence similarity to Facklamia tabacinasalis CCUG 30090^T (99.5%), followed by Facklamia hominis CCUG 36813^T (93.9%), Facklamia sourekii Y17312^T (93.8%), Facklamia ignava CCUG 37419^T (93.6%), Facklamia miroungae CCUG 42728^T (93.5%), Suicoccus acidiformans ZY16052^T (93.5%), Facklamia languida CCUG 37842^T (93.2%), Ignavigranum ruoffiae (93.1%), and Dolosicoccus paucivorans DSM 15742^T (90.8%). Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain INB8^T and F. tabacinasalis CCUG 30090^T were determined to be 94.5% and 58.9% respectively, confirming strain INB8^T represents a novel species. The major fatty acids were C_14:0, C_16:0, C_18:0 and C_18:1 ω9c_. The G + C content of strain INB8^T determined from the genome was 36.3 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic information, it is proposed that Facklamia tabacinasalis should be reclassified as Ruoffia tabacinasalis, Facklamia ignava be reclassified as Falseniella ignava, and Facklamia sourekii be reclassified Hutsoniella sourekii. It is further proposed that strain INB8^T should be classified as a species of the genus Ruoffia for which the name Ruoffia halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is INB8^T (= LMG 30291^T = CCUG 70701^T = QCC/B60/17^T).

Geomicrobial Investigations of Colored Outer Coatings from an Ethiopian Rock Art Gallery

The open rock shelter of Yabelo in Ethiopia hosts diverse Holocene paintings of great cultural importance. The paintings are characterized by the presence of different mineral coatings, whose features have not been studied yet. Our goal was to understand whether different rock samples from the Yabelo paintings collected in close proximity may reveal coatings with different minerology and biology. Thus, elemental analyses combined with microscopic and molecular investigations were performed on two coatings, one whitish (sample 1) and one reddish (sample 2). Although both samples were dominated by heterotrophic bacteria, the two coatings showed distinct mineralogical and microbiological characteristics. Sample 1 contained higher amounts of Ca and P than sample 2, which was likely related to the presence of organic matter. Sample 1 hosted bacterial genera that are potentially involved in biomineralization processes, metal redox cycles and metal resistance. In contrast, sample 2 showed mainly pathogenic and commensal bacteria that are characteristic of animal and human microbiota, and other microorganisms that are involved in nitrogen and metal biogeochemical cycles. Overall, our results indicated that the bacterial communities were particular to the coating mineralogy, suggesting a potential role of the biological components in the crust genesis.

Facklamia Species as an Underrecognized Pathogen

Facklamia species are a rarely reported etiology of clinical infection with few cases described in literature. However, the prevalence of infection may be underestimated due to challenges in species identification. We describe 3 cases of Facklamia species bacteremia and the unique microbiologic aspects inherent to this genus that make it particularly challenging to identify. In addition, given the unique susceptibility profile of Facklamia species, we discuss the importance of fully identifying this organism when it is a suspected as a pathogen, to optimize therapy based on its distinct antibiotic resistance profile.

Environmental and mucosal microbiota and their role in childhood asthma

BACKGROUND

High microbial diversity in the environment has been associated with lower asthma risk, particularly in children exposed to farming. It remains unclear whether this effect operates through an altered microbiome of the mucosal surfaces of the airways.

METHODS

DNA from mattress dust and nasal samples of 86 school age children was analyzed by 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene fragments. Based on operational taxonomic units (OTUs), bacterial diversity and composition were related to farm exposure and asthma status.

RESULTS

Farm exposure was positively associated with bacterial diversity in mattress dust samples as determined by richness (P = 8.1 × 10^-6 ) and Shannon index (P = 1.3 × 10^-5 ). Despite considerable agreement of richness between mattress and nasal samples, the association of richness with farming in nasal samples was restricted to a high gradient of farm exposure, that is, exposure to cows and straw vs no exposure at all. In mattress dust, the genera Clostridium, Facklamia, an unclassified genus within the family of Ruminococcaceae, and six OTUs were positively associated with farming. Asthma was inversely associated with richness [aOR = 0.48 (0.22-1.02)] and Shannon index [aOR = 0.41 (0.21-0.83)] in mattress dust and to a lower extent in nasal samples [richness aOR 0.63 = (0.38-1.06), Shannon index aOR = 0.66 (0.39-1.12)].

CONCLUSION

The stronger inverse association of asthma with bacterial diversity in mattress dust as compared to nasal samples suggests microbial involvement beyond mere colonization of the upper airways. Whether inhalation of metabolites of environmental bacteria contributes to this phenomenon should be the focus of future research.

Case report: first report of a prosthetic joint infection caused by Facklamia hominis

Facklamia spp. are gram-positive cocci first described in 1997. They are α-hemolytic, facultative anaerobes, catalase-negative cocci, resembling viridians streptococci on 5% sheep blood agar. Facklamia hominis is, by far, the most common species of the 6 so far described, and it is thought that its natural habitat is the female genital tract. Four previous human infections with Facklamia spp. have been documented. We report the first case of a chronic prosthetic joint infection caused by F. hominis and its successful treatment by a 2-stage exchange procedure to eradicate the infection. This is also the first osteoarticular infection reported. The clinical implications are discussed.

Population dynamics of two antilisterial cheese surface consortia revealed by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis

Background

Surface contamination of smear cheese by Listeria spp. is of major concern for the industry. Complex smear ecosystems have been shown to harbor antilisterial potential but the microorganisms and mechanisms involved in the inhibition mostly remain unclear, and are likely related to complex interactions than to production of single antimicrobial compounds. Bacterial biodiversity and population dynamics of complex smear ecosystems exhibiting antilisterial properties in situ were investigated by Temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE), a culture independent technique, for two microbial consortia isolated from commercial Raclette type cheeses inoculated with defined commercial ripening cultures (F) or produced with an old-young smearing process (M).

Results

TTGE revealed nine bacterial species common to both F and M consortia, but consortium F exhibited a higher diversity than consortium M, with thirteen and ten species, respectively. Population dynamics were studied after application of the consortia on fresh-produced Raclette cheeses. TTGE analyses revealed a similar sequential development of the nine species common to both consortia. Beside common cheese surface bacteria (Staphylococcus equorum, Corynebacterium spp., Brevibacterium linens, Microbacterium gubbeenense, Agrococcus casei), the two consortia contained marine lactic acid bacteria (Alkalibacterium kapii, Marinilactibacillus psychrotolerans) that developed early in ripening (day 14 to 20), shortly after the growth of staphylococci (day 7). A decrease of Listeria counts was observed on cheese surface inoculated at day 7 with 0.1-1 × 10² CFU cm^-2, when cheeses were smeared with consortium F or M. Listeria counts went below the detection limit of the method between day 14 and 28 and no subsequent regrowth was detected over 60 to 80 ripening days. In contrast, Listeria grew to high counts (10⁵ CFU cm^-2) on cheeses smeared with a defined surface culture.

Conclusions

This work reports the first population dynamics study of complex smear ecosystems exhibiting in situ antilisterial activity. TTGE revealed the presence of marine lactic acid bacteria that are likely related to the strong Listeria inhibition, as their early development in the smear occurred simultaneously with a decrease in Listeria cell count.