The present study was aimed to investigate the presence of Escherichia coli (E.coli) in raw chicken meat samples collected from retail shops, as well as the biofilm-forming ability of field isolates, and to characterize different adhesion genes. Out of 20 chicken meat samples, 17 (85%) were positive for E. coli. Fifteen E. coli strains were characterized by PCR using the 16S rDNA primers and all the isolates were positive which confirmed that all the isolates were E.coli. Out of the 15 confirmed E.coli field isolates which were subjected to biofilm-forming assay, 46% of them were found to be strong biofilm producers. While all the isolates were screened for the presence of adhesion genes viz. luxS, csgA, fimH, fimA, and papC, the adhesion gene luxS was detected in all the strains (100%). The other adhesion genes csgA, fimH and fimA were detected in 93%, 93%, and 73% of the isolates, respectively. The E. coli field isolates were screened blaTEM gene was detected in only four strains, which was categorized under strong biofilm producers. This study demonstrated the presence of biofilm forming E. coli in the raw chicken meat samples as contaminants, causing spoilage and potentially posing risk to consumer’s health and safety.

Copper has been known to possess antimicrobial properties since as far back as the Phoenician era where ship hulls were copper sheathed to prevent the inevitable effects of biofouling. As a consequence of evolving scientific research and development, therealization of novel materials and agents has enabled new scientific branches, such as nanotechnology. In this paper, we investigate the performance of different forms of copper coating for application as antifouling materials. Samples were deployed in Tuticorin-Newharbour for four weeks and analyzed for evidence of biofouling. It was found that copper in its nanoform, produced the greatest antifouling effectiveness in mild steel compared to other forms ofantifouling coating.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the occurrence of enterotoxigenic B. cereus from 200 samples including 100 raw milk, 50pasteurized milk and 50 ice cream samples sold in Puducherry. The results revealed that 68 samples (34 %) belonged to B. cereus group which included 36 from raw milk (36%), 9 from pasteurized milk (18%) and 23 from ice cream samples (46 %). On PCR analysis, 64 out of 68 isolates showed the presence of gyrB gene which differentiates B. cereus from B. cereus group isolates. Multiplex PCR revealed the presence of four enterotoxigenic genes hblA, nheA, cytK and entF Min 32.35 %, 77.94 %>, 54.41 % and 94.12% of the 64 isolates. On biofilm production assay, out of 64 enterotoxigenic B. cereus isolates, 60 (93.75 %) isolates showed the ability to form biofilm in which 13 (20.31 %) were strong, 21 (32.81 %) were moderate and26 (40.63 %) were weak biofilm producers. All the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin G and sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, vancomycin, streptomycin and norfloxacin. The current study directs the need for proper hygienic measures during collection, production, processing and storage of milk to reduce the contamination level. It also indicates the need for surveillance and action to reduce the contamination of enterotoxigenic B. cereus in milk and milk products in Puducherry.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the occurrence of enterotoxigenic B. cereus from 200 samples including 100 raw milk, 50pasteurized milk and 50 ice cream samples sold in Puducherry. The results revealed that 68 samples (34 %) belonged to B. cereus group which included 36 from raw milk (36%), 9 from pasteurized milk (18%) and 23 from ice cream samples (46 %). On PCR analysis, 64 out of 68 isolates showed the presence of gyrB gene which differentiates B. cereus from B. cereus group isolates. Multiplex PCR revealed the presence of four enterotoxigenic genes hblA, nheA, cytK and entF Min 32.35 %, 77.94 %>, 54.41 % and 94.12% of the 64 isolates. On biofilm production assay, out of 64 enterotoxigenic B. cereus isolates, 60 (93.75 %) isolates showed the ability to form biofilm in which 13 (20.31 %) were strong, 21 (32.81 %) were moderate and26 (40.63 %) were weak biofilm producers. All the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin G and sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, vancomycin, streptomycin and norfloxacin. The current study directs the need for proper hygienic measures during collection, production, processing and storage of milk to reduce the contamination level. It also indicates the need for surveillance and action to reduce the contamination of enterotoxigenic B. cereus in milk and milk products in Puducherry.

The present study was aimed to investigate the presence of Escherichia coli (E.coli) in raw chicken meat samples collected from retail shops, as well as the biofilm-forming ability of field isolates, and to characterize different adhesion genes. Out of 20 chicken meat samples, 17 (85%) were positive for E. coli. Fifteen E. coli strains were characterized by PCR using the 16S rDNA primers and all the isolates were positive which confirmed that all the isolates were E.coli. Out of the 15 confirmed E.coli field isolates which were subjected to biofilm-forming assay, 46% of them were found to be strong biofilm producers. While all the isolates were screened for the presence of adhesion genes viz. luxS, csgA, fimH, fimA, and papC, the adhesion gene luxS was detected in all the strains (100%). The other adhesion genes csgA, fimH and fimA were detected in 93%, 93%, and 73% of the isolates, respectively. The E. coli field isolates were screened blaTEM gene was detected in only four strains, which was categorized under strong biofilm producers. This study demonstrated the presence of biofilm forming E. coli in the raw chicken meat samples as contaminants, causing spoilage and potentially posing risk to consumer’s health and safety.

Serratia marcescens is known for its high production of prodigiosin, a pigment that serves as a virulence factor and possesses beneficial biological, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimalarial characteristics. Another virulence factor of Serratia marcescens is the ability to produce biofilms, which are aggregations of microorganisms adhering to surfaces surrounded by self-produced matrix. These biofilms pose many health risks in the milk production and processing industry, such as milk spoilage, poor-quality milk products, and other health risks. Our study revealed that, after 24 hours of incubation at 30°C, colonies on Chrome agar appeared pink with a dark center while on nutrient agar colonies appeared red at 28°C due to Serratia marcescens' ability to produce pigment. the ability of these local isolates to produce pigment was evaluated using NB Medium with different incubation time A total of 11 isolates from milk samples showed the ability to produce a high concentration of prodigiosin when incubated for 72 hours. All isolates were found to produce biofilm at different rates. In isolate (6), we observed the highest production of biofilm.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important animal pathogen and contributes to hemorrhagic pneumonia in mink. Between April 2011 and December 2016, samples of lung, liver, and spleen were collected from mink with this disease on 11 mink farms in 5 Chinese provinces. From these samples, we obtained 98 isolates of P. aeruginosa that belonged to 5 serotypes: G (n = 58), I (n = 15), C (n = 8), M (n = 5), and B (n = 2); 10 isolates were not typeable (10/98). More than 90% of the isolates formed biofilms, and 85% produced slime. All 98 isolates were resistant to 10 antibiotics (oxacillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, cefazolin, cefaclor, tilmicosin, tildipirosin, and sulfonamide). However, almost all were susceptible to gentamicin, polymyxin B, and amikacin. We identified 56 unique genotypes by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These findings have revealed genetic diversity and high antimicrobial resistance in P. aeruginosa isolated from mink with hemorrhagic pneumonia and will facilitate the prevention and control of this disease.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of gentamicin, silver, or both additives in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) biofilm formation in vitro. SAMPLE 4 preparations of PMMA beads (formed with no additive [control], gentamicin, silver, and gentamicin and silver). PROCEDURES Beads from each group were exposed to 10 MRSP isolates known to be strong biofilm formers. Following incubation, the beads were rinsed to remove planktonic bacteria, then sonicated to dislodge biofilm-associated bacteria. Resulting suspensions were serially diluted, plated on blood agar, and incubated overnight; CFUs were counted. Variance of mean CFU counts following log10 transformation was analyzed among PMMA groups. RESULTS None of the PMMA additives tested completely inhibited MRSP biofilm formation. There was a significant effect of gentamicin and gentamicin plus silver on this variable, compared with controls, but not of silver alone. There was no difference between gentamicin and gentamicin plus silver. When only isolates not susceptible to gentamicin were evaluated, there were no significant differences among PMMA additive groups. Within gentamicin-susceptible isolates, there was an impact of gentamicin and gentamicin plus silver, but no impact of silver alone and no difference between gentamicin and gentamicin plus silver. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Gentamicin-impregnated PMMA was effective at reducing biofilm formation of gentamicin-susceptible MRSP isolates but had no effect on isolates not susceptible to gentamicin. Silver-impregnated PMMA had no effect on MRSP biofilm formation. Results suggested that gentamicin-impregnated PMMA may not be effective in vivo against MRSP isolates not susceptible to gentamicin. Antibacterial efficacy of silver should not be assumed without proper testing of the target bacteria and specific silver compound.