Bioprospecting for Isoetes cangae Endophytes with Potential to Promote Plant Growth.

Isoetes cangae is a native plant found only in a permanent pond in Serra dos Carajás in the Amazon region. Plant-associated microbial communities are recognized to be responsible for biological processes essential for the health, growth, and even adaptation of plants to environmental stresses. In this sense, the aims of this work were to isolate, identify, and evaluate the properties of endophytic bacteria isolated from I. cangae. The bioprospecting of potentially growth-promoting endophytes required the following steps to be taken: isolation of endophytic colonies, molecular identification by 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and evaluation of the bacterial potential for nitrogen fixation, production of indole acetic acid and siderophores, as well as phosphate solubilization and mineralization. Bacillus sp., Rhizobium sp., Priestia sp., Acinetobacter sp., Rossellomorea sp., Herbaspirillum sp., Heyndrickxia sp., and Metabacillus sp., among other bacterial species, were identified. The isolates showed to be highly promising, evidencing the physiological importance for the plant and having the potential to promote plant growth.

Microbiological, technological and therapeutic properties of kefir: a natural probiotic beverage

Kefir is a fermented milk beverage produced by the action of bacteria and yeasts that exist in symbiotic association in kefir grains. The artisanal production of the kefir is based on the tradition of the peoples of Caucasus, which has spread to other parts of the world, from the late 19th century, and nowadays integrates its nutritional and therapeutic indications to the everyday food choices of several populations. The large number of microorganisms present in kefir and their microbial interactions, the possible bioactive compounds resulting of microbial metabolism, and the benefits associated with the use this beverage confers kefir the status of a natural probiotic, designated as the 21th century yoghurt. Several studies have shown that kefir and its constituents have antimicrobial, antitumor, anticarcinogenic and immunomodulatory activity and also improve lactose digestion, among others. This review includes data on the technological aspects, the main beneficial effects on human health of kefir and its microbiological composition. Generally, kefir grains contain a relatively stable and specific microbiota enclosed in a matrix of polysaccharides and proteins. Microbial interactions in kefir are complex due to the composition of kefir grains, which seems to differ among different studies, although some predominant Lactobacillus species are always present. Besides, the specific populations of individual grains seem to contribute to the particular sensory characteristics present in fermented beverages. This review also includes new electron microscopy data on the distribution of microorganisms within different Brazilian kefir grains, which showed a relative change in its distribution according to grain origin.

Coliformes totais e Escherichia coli em coxas de frango comercializados no Rio de Janeiro / Total coliforms and Escherichia coli chicken thigh commercialized in Rio de Janeiro

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram enumerar coliformes totais e Escherichia coli, que é um indicador de contaminação fecal,comparando os resultados obtidos frente aos padrões de identidade e qualidade nacionais vigentes, além de realizar asorologia das cepas de E. coli isoladas em coxas de frango, obtidas em estabelecimentos com e sem inspeção sanitária,comercializadas no município do Rio de Janeiro. Para enumeração dos microrganismos foi utilizada metodologia miniaturizadacom meios de cultura de rápida detecção, contendo indicadores fluorogênicos e cromogênicos. Das 30 amostras analisadas,12 apresentaram número mais provável (NMP) de E. coli variando de <3 a 2,9x107/g, sendo seis (20 por cento) consideradas imprópriaspara o consumo de acordo com a legislação vigente. Das 150 colônias suspeitas e confirmadas em testes bioquímicos 18(12 por cento) foram positivas para os sorogrupos E. coli enteropatogênica (EPEC) e E. coli enteroinvasiva (EIEC), provenientes de 15amostras diferentes. Das 17 colônias suspeitas para E. coli enterohemorrágica (EHEC), nenhuma cepa pertencia a estegrupo. Os resultados indicam que a existência de um serviço de inspeção eficiente, em todas as fases do processo tecnológicodo frango, é muito importante para obtenção de um produto de qualidade e seguro, sem riscos para a saúde do consumidor.

The objectives of this work were to enumerate total coliforms and Escherichia coli, that is indicators of fecal contamination,comparing the achieved results with the current standards of national identity and quality, and also to perform the serologicalconfirmation of isolated strains E. coli in chicken thigh, obtained in establishments with and without sanitary inspection,commercialized in the city of Rio de Janeiro. In the enumeration of the microorganisms, the miniaturized methodology wasperformed with culture media for rapid detection, based in fluorogenic and chromogenic substrates in their composition. Twelveof the 30 analyzed samples presented most probable number (MPN) of E. coli varying from <3 to 2.9x107/g, with six (20 percent)considered improper for human consumption in accordance with the current legislation. From the 150 colonies suspected andconfirmed with biochemical tests, 18 (12 percent) were tested positive for enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and enteroinvasive E. coli(EIEC), taken from 15 different samples. From 17 colonies suspected for enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), no strain belongedto this group. The results indicate that the existence of a service of efficient inspection, in all the stages of the technologicalprocess of the poultry, is very important to supply a product with quality and safety, without risking the health of the consumer.