Antimicrobial Essential Oil Combinations to Combat Foot Odour.

Foot odour (bromodosis) is an embarrassing and perplexing condition mostly caused by bacteria of the Brevibacterium species. Essential oils are a credible option as an affordable treatment of odour and contribute towards antimicrobial efficacy. Therefore, this study sets out to investigate the antimicrobial activity of essential oil combinations against odour-causing bacteria. The broth microdilution method was used to investigate the antimicrobial activity of 119 essential oil combinations, and the fractional inhibitory index was calculated to determine the interactive profile. Combinations that resulted in synergy in 1 : 1 ratios were further evaluated in different concentrations, and isobolograms were plotted to determine the influence of the ratio on overall activity. Numerous combinations could be identified as having synergistic interactions against the Brevibacterium spp. and no antagonism was observed. The combination of Juniperus virginiana (juniper) and Styrax benzoin (benzoin) demonstrated synergy against all three Brevibacterium spp. tested and J. virginiana was the essential oil responsible for the majority of the synergistic interactions. The results reported here confirm the promising potential of the majority of these oils and selected combinations in treating and controlling bromodosis.

Characterization of a selenium-tolerant rhizosphere strain from a novel Se-hyperaccumulating plant Cardamine hupingshanesis.

A novel selenium- (Se-) hyperaccumulating plant, Cardamine hupingshanesis, accumulating Se as a form of SeCys2, was discovered in Enshi, Hubei, China, which could not be explained by present selenocysteine methyltransferase (SMT) theory. However, it is interesting to investigate if rhizosphere bacteria play some roles during SeCys2 accumulation. Here, one Se-tolerant rhizosphere strain, Microbacterium oxydans, was isolated from C. hupingshanesis. Phylogenetic analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequences determined the strain as a kind of Gram positive bacillus and belonged to the family Brevibacterium frigoritolerans. Furthermore, Se tolerance test indicated the strain could grow in extreme high Se level of 15.0 mg Se L(-1). When exposed to 1.5 mg Se L(-1), SeCys2 was the predominant Se species in the bacteria, consistent with the Se species in C. hupingshanesis. This coincidence might reveal that this strain played some positive effect in SeCys2 accumulation of C. hupingshanesis. Moreover, when exposed to 1.5 mg Se L(-1) or 15.0 mg Se L(-1), As absorption diminished in the logarithmic phase. In contrast, As absorption increased when exposed to 7.5 mg Se L(-1), indicating As metabolism processes could be affected by Se on this strain. The present study provided a sight on the role of rhizosphere bacteria during Se accumulation for Se-hyperaccumulating plant.

Biodegradation of bensulfuron-methyl and its effect on bacterial community in paddy soils.

Bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) is a new kind of sulfonylurea herbicide widely used to control broad-leaf weeds in rice paddies. The aim of this work was to study BSM biodegradation in paddy soils with BSM-degrading bacteria Bacillus megaterium L1 and Brevibacterium sp. BH and its effect on the structures of soil bacterial community. More than 90 % of BSM could be degraded in paddy soils with 0.0355 mg kg⁻¹ BSM concentration. Addition of BSM-degrading bacterial strains Bacillus megaterium L1 into BSM contaminated paddy soil could have the half-life time of BSM compared to treatment without Bacillus megaterium L1 inoculation. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and principle component analysis indicated that the diversity of the soil microbial community structure changed along with the addition of BSM, which recovered at the end of the experiment (5 weeks). Addition of BSM-degrading bacteria Bacillus megaterium L1 enriched the diversity of soil microbial community structure in paddy soils. This study provides information on the biodegradation of BSM and BSM's influences on the soil bacteria microbial community structures.

Antibiotic Therapy of an Infant With a Brevibacterium casei Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infection.

We describe a newborn infant with hydrocephalus and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection caused by Brevibacterium casei. Essential for correct diagnosis was rapid species identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight, after initial report of coryneform bacteria. The patient responded well to vancomycin and rifampicin for 15 days. The shunt was not removed. Repeated cerebrospinal fluid cultures up to 4 months after therapy remained negative.

Cellular response of Brevibacterium casei #NIOSBA88 to arsenic and chromium-a proteomic approach.

Cellular response against different heavy metal stress differs with the metal. Arsenic and chromium are heavy metals and toxic to living systems. The concentration of these metals in seawater is very low. However, due to their solubility in nature, they actively enter cells via various transport mechanisms and cause damage to the cells. Brevibacterium casei #NIOSBA88, a marine-derived, gram-positive isolate was multi-metal tolerant. Proteomic analysis of this isolate in response to arsenic and chromium resulted in the identification of total 2549 proteins, out of which 880 proteins were found to be commonly expressed at 750 mgL-1 arsenic and 100 mgL-1 chromium and in absence of both the metals. In contrast, 533, 212, and 270 proteins were found to be unique in the absence of any metal, 750 mgL-1 of arsenic and 100 mgL-1 of chromium respectively. Proteins such as antibiotic biosynthesis monooxygenase, ArsR family transcriptional regulator, cytochrome C oxidase subunit II, and thioredoxin reductase were exclusively expressed only in response to arsenic and chromium. Other proteins like superoxide dismutase, lipid hydroperoxide reductase, and thioredoxin-disulfide reductase were found to be upregulated in response to both the metals. Most of the proteins involved in the normal cell functioning were found to be downregulated. Major metabolic functions affected include amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, translation, and energy metabolism. Peptide mass fingerprinting of Brevibacterium casei #NIOSBA88 exposed to arsenic and chromium respectively revealed the deleterious effect of these metals on the bacterium and its strategy to overcome the stress.

Mitigation of Hyper KCl Stress at 42ºC with Externally Existing Sodium Glutamate to a Halotolerant Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894.

Halotolerant Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894 grew at 37ºC in the presence of 2.3 M KCl, while the growth was repressed with the same concentration of NaCl. When resting cells, 107.4 ± 0.1 (CFU·mL-1), prepared from cells grown in the absence of salts at 30ºC, were exposed to 3.3 M NaCl for 36 h at 42ºC, reduction of the number of resting cells was maintained within a 1-log cycle in the presence of proline, betaine, or ectoine (50 mM). In the presence of 3.3 M KCl, the most functional osmoprotectant was sodium glutamate (50 mM), and the value was 107.2 ± 0.1 (CFU·mL-1) when exposed for 72 h at 42ºC. In the absence of osmoprotectants, the value was reduced to four orders of magnitude in each experimental condition. The number of resting cells, 106.8 ± 0.1 (CFU·mL-1), prepared from grown cells pre-adapted to 2.3 M KCl at 37ºC, was hardly reduced when exposed to 3.3 M KCl in the presence of sodium glutamate more than 50 mM for 72 h at 42ºC. Those results indicate that the isolate can sense the difference in hyper KCl stress as opposed to hyper NaCl stress, and different kinds of osmoadaptation systems can function to cope with each hyper salt stress.

Draft whole-genome sequence of Brevibacterium casei strain isolated from a bloodstream infection.

Despite its low virulence potential and a commensal lifestyle as a member of the human skin microbiota, Brevibacterium casei has been increasingly reported as an opportunistic pathogen, especially in immunocompromised patients. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of the S51 strain isolated from a bloodstream infection. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the draft genome sequence of the B. casei strain isolated from the clinical infection. The strain was identified using phenotypic and molecular methods and subsequently sequenced using the next-generation sequencing. The draft whole genome was assembled de novo, automatically annotated by Rapid Annotations using Subsystems Technology (RAST) server and scrutinized to predict the presence of virulence, resistance, and stress response proteins. The genome size of the S51 strain was 3,743,532 bp and an average G+C content was 68.3%. The predicted genes included 48 genes involved in resistance to antibiotics (including vancomycin, fluoroquinolones, and beta-lactams) and toxic compounds (heavy metals), 16 genes involved in invasion and intracellular resistance (Mycobacterium virulence operons), and 94 genes involved in stress response (osmotic, oxidative stress, cold and heat shock). ResFinder has indicated the presence of a beta-lactamase, and a phenotypic analysis showed resistance to penicillin. This whole-genome NGS project for the S51strain has been deposited at EMBL/GenBank under the accession no. QNGF00000000.

[Effect of cultivation parameters of antarctic strains Enterobacter hormaechei and Brevibacterium antarcticumon resistant to copper(II) ions].

Enterobacter hormaechei and Brevibacterium antarcticum strains isolated from ornithogenic soils of Galindez Island (West Antarctica) were investigated for their resistance to Cu2+ cations and for their capacity to Cu2+ uptake from the environment. The studied strains are capable to grow in the concentration range of copper 100-1100 mg/l and to extract 11-75% of Cu2+ from the environment depending on cultivation parameters and copper output concentration in the culture medium.

Efficient cyclic system to yield ectoine using Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894 subjected to osmotic downshock.

Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894 cells grown in the presence of 1.5-2.5 M NaCl for 24 h at 30 degrees C were subjected to the osmotic downshock. Downshocked cells after ectoine release were grown for further 24 h in the fresh medium with same salinity as before shock. When this cyclic system was applied to the strain JCM 6894, the amount of ectoine in the cells increased with an increase of incubation time, which indicates that the cells manipulated by the present conditions were enough active to survive and synthesize ectoine after several times of osmotic downshock. In the presence of 2 M NaCl, the highest yield of ectoine released was achieved in this cyclic system, more than 2.4 g/L during 7 days of incubation. (1)H and (13)C-NMR analyses of solutes released from the cells by the osmotic downshock showed the presence of only ectoine with high purity. Release of ectoine from the cells was carried out within 5 min and its rates were increased by the dilution in the downshock treatment. For the convenience of operations, non-sterilized medium containing 2 M NaCl was examined for the cell growth in the present system, in which almost same level of ectoine yield, release rates, and cell viability were observed as those of sterilized medium.

Brevibacterium casei bacteraemia in a port-a-cath carrier patient: a case report.

Brevibacteria are part of the normal flora of the skin and adjacent structures, but have been increasingly encountered in humans as opportunistic pathogens and have been isolated from various clinical specimens, generally causing infections in immuno-compromised patients. We present a case of a port-a-cath-related bacteraemia caused by Brevibacterium casei in a woman with a prior history of bilateral breast cancer. The clinical outcome was favourable.

Brevibacterium linens RS16 confers salt tolerance to Oryza sativa genotypes by regulating antioxidant defense and H+ ATPase activity.

Soil salinity is one of the major limitations that affects both plant and its soil environment, leading to reduced agricultural production. Evaluation of stress severity by plant physical and biochemical characteristics is an established way to study plant-salt stress interaction, but the halotolerant properties of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) along with plant growth promotion is less studied till date. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the strategy, used by ACC deaminase-containing halotolerant Brevibacterium linens RS16 to confer salt stress tolerance in moderately salt-tolerant (FL478) and salt-sensitive (IR29) rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. The plants were exposed to salt stress using 0, 50, and 100 mM of NaCl with and without bacteria. Plant physiological and biochemical characteristics were estimated after 1, 5, 10 days of stress application. H+ ATPase activity and the presence of hydroxyectoine gene (ectD) that is responsible for compatible solute accumulation were also analyzed in bacteria. The height and dry mass of bacteria inoculated plants significantly increased compared to salt-stressed plants, and the differences increased in time dependent manner. Bacteria priming reduced the plant antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation and it also regulated the salt accumulation by modulating vacuolar H+ ATPase activity. ATPase activity and presence of hydroxyectoine gene in RS16 might have played a vital role in providing salt tolerance in bacteria inoculated rice cultivars. We conclude that dual benefits provided by the halotolerant plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) can provide a major way to improve rice yields in saline soil.

Effect of duration of osmotic downshock and coexisting glutamate on survival and uptake of ectoine in halotolerant Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894.

Halotolerant Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894 that was subjected to an osmotic downshock (0.7 M NaCl to 0 M) was examined for its survival and uptake of ectoine in the presence of ectoine and/or carbon sources. In the presence of ectoine alone, the rates of ectoine uptake by the 1 h-downshocked cells were low and high in the absence and presence of 0.7 M NaCl, respectively, which were in parallel with the rates of cell growth. The presence of glutamate or amino acids together with ectoine exerted a stimulative effect on the survival of downshocked cells. The incubation time of the cells subjected to osmotic downshock strongly affected ectoine uptake as well as the cell growth of this strain, suggesting that the transporter of ectoine in the strain JCM 6894 was stimulated during the osmotic downshock for about 1 h. Different downshock strengths had marked effects on the rate of ectoine uptake when the downshocked cells were incubated in the presence of NaCl.

Supplementation effects of hydroxyectoine on proline uptake of downshocked Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894.

Downshock treatment of the halotolerant Brevibacterium sp. JCM 6894 was a prerequisite for proline uptake which is a function for cell survival. Hydroxyectoine served as an effective stimulator for the proline uptake and cell survival of the downshocked cells of this strain. Duration of osmotic downshock, downshock strength, and the kinds of osmolyte affected the efficient rate of growth (ERG) and the uptake of proline. A shorter duration of osmotic downshock, that is

Isolation procedure and properties of monomer unit from lysozyme digest of peptidoglycan complex excreted into the medium by penicillin-treated Brevibacterium divaricatum mutant.

1. The peptidoglycan complex excreted in large amounts into the medium by the biotin-requiring mutant Brevibacterium divaricatum NRRL-2311 incubated in the presence of penicillin for 1 h has been investigated. A convenient isolation procedure with high yield for the pure monomeric unit from lysozyme digest of the accumulated polymer is described. 2. It is shown that the released peptidoglycan possesses the linear uncross-linked structure made of repeating disaccharide-pentapeptide unit [GlcNAc-MurNac-Ala-D-Glyn(meso-DAP-D-Ala-D-Ala)] which was isolated by stepwise gel filtration and fractionation of the digestion mixture in 10-mg quantities. Evidence that the minor digestion product of accumulated peptidoglycan possesses the glycan-linked dimer structure is given. Under conditions of beta-elimination, the monomeric unit yielded a lactylpentapeptide which was isolated in pure form by gel filtration. 3. The monomer unit originating from the cultures to which L-[U-14C]glutamic acid was added simultaneously with penicillin incorporated the label exclusively in the peptide chain, whereas that labeled from E11-14C]acetate as the precursor contained radioactivity in both the peptide chain (53%) and N-acetylamino groups (47%) of the glycan portion.

Formation of insoluble magnesium phosphates during growth of the archaea Halorubrum distributum and Halobacterium salinarium and the bacterium Brevibacterium antiquum.

Stationary phase cells of the halophilic archaea Halobacterium salinarium and Halorubrum distributum, growing at 3-4 M NaCl, and of the halotolerant bacterium Brevibacterium antiquum, growing with and without 2.6 NaCl, took up approximately 90% of the phosphate from the culture media containing 2.3 and 11.5 mM phosphate. The uptake was blocked by the uncoupler FCCP. In B. antiquum, EDTA inhibited the phosphate uptake. The content of polyphosphates in the cells was significantly lower than the content of orthophosphate. At a high phosphate concentration, up to 80% of the phosphate taken up from the culture medium was accumulated as Mg(2)PO(4)OH x 4H(2)O in H. salinarium and H. distributum and as NH(4)MgPO(4) x 6H(2)O in B. antiquum. Consolidation of the cytoplasm and enlargement of the nucleoid zone were observed in the cells during phosphate accumulation. At phosphate surplus, part of the H. salinarium and H. distributum cell population was lysed. The cells of B. antiquum were not lysed and phosphate crystals were observed in the cytoplasm.

A shuttle vector system for Brevibacterium lactofermentum.

We have constructed a shuttle vector that replicates in Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum and Brevibacterium lactofermentum, by fusion of a 4.4-kb cryptic plasmid isolated from B. lactofermentum and a derivative of pBR322. Resistance to erythromycin which is expressed in all three bacteria has been a useful selective marker. The frequency of homospecific transformation was 1.5 X 10(5) transformants/micrograms of hybrid plasmid DNA.

Carnitine acts as a compatible solute in Brevibacterium linens.

Carnitine is a trimethyl amino acid found at relatively high concentrations in materials of animal origin. Exogenously provided L-carnitine was found to stimulate growth of Brevibacterium linens ATCC 19391 in media with inhibitory osmotic strength. Its osmoprotective ability was as potent as that of glycine betaine. Electrophoretic and spectroscopic (NMR) analysis showed that this compound is only transiently accumulated, but in significant amounts, by B. linens under hyperosmotic stress and is converted into glycine betaine. The L-carnitine/glycine betaine pathway is inducible by L-carnitine in B. linens. The D-enantiomer did not improve growth of B. linens, even though this solute is accumulated by B. linens at the same level as glycine betaine. The two isomeric forms of carnitine repress the build-up of ectoine, the main endogenous osmolyte in B. linens.

Discrimination of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Brevibacterium flavum and Brevibacterium lactofermentum by restriction pattern analysis of DNA adjacent to the hom gene.

Different strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Brevibacterium flavum, and Brevibacterium lactofermentum were analysed for restriction fragment length polymorphism using the homoserine dehydrogenase gene (hom) as a probe. The hybridization patterns obtained PvuII- or Asp700-restriction of chromosomal DNA were specific and distinguishable for each of the three species and identical for the different strains of each species. Thus, the method employed allows rapid distinction of Corynebacterium glutamicum, Brevibacterium flavum, and Brevibacterium lactofermentum. The former species could also be discriminated from the latter two by its resistance to 0.5 g/l of the methionine analog ethionine.

Management of long-term catheter-related Brevibacterium bacteraemia.

Brevibacterium has been reported as a rare cause of implanted-device infection. In two cases of recurrent Brevibacterium casei bacteraemia associated with infection of surgically implanted intravascular devices, relapse occurred 2 and 5 months, respectively, after completion of therapy with vancomycin via the infected catheter. A second intravenous antibiotic therapy course by the antibiotic-lock technique led to bacteriological cure in one patient. Molecular typing results demonstrated that the recurrent bacteraemia was caused by the same strain. Implanted-device removal may be necessary, in addition to appropriate antibiotics, for successful management of such infections.

Studies of the mode of action of amiclenomycin.

Amiclenomycin (AM) was found to be a strong inhibitor of KAPA-DAPA aminotransferase of Brevibacterium divaricatum. This transamination was suggested to follow Ping Pong Bi Bi mechanism. Inhibition of this transamination by AM is of a noncompetitive type in a Lineweaver-Burk plot of initial velocity, but not in a Dixon plot. The activity of KAPA-DAPA aminotransferase drops abruptly after preincubation with AM, but its activity is restored by dialysis against 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). Inhibition by AM is decreased by an increase of KAPA in the reaction mixture, but not by an increase of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) or pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PALP). These facts indicate that AM exerts its inhibitory action against KAPA-DAPA aminotransferase by binding to the enzyme, probably to the KAPA-DAPA binding site.