Bacillus subtilis Strains Isolated from Cocoa Trees (Theobroma cacao L.) Rhizosphere for their use as Potential Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria in Côte d'Ivoire.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are important for agriculture through their activity in stimulating and facilitating plant growth. The rhizobacteria were screened for molecular characterization and followed by their indole acetic acid (IAA) production, phosphate solubility, antibiosis activity. In this study, 162 soil samples were collected from the cocoa rhizosphere to isolate Bacillus subtilis strains using Mössel agar medium with an additional egg yolk and identified by sequencing the ytcP gene. The ability of each strain to form biofilms was obtained in a tube. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production was estimated in Yeast Peptone Dextrose (YPB) broth. Phosphates were solubilized by each strain on Pikovskaya agar medium. The detection of lipopeptide genes using the molecular method has established the possession of isolates by antimicrobial genes. Fifty (50) B. subtilis strains were isolated and identified using the ytcP gene. Ninety percent (90%) of the strains were able to form a biofilm. All isolates produced an IAA. Forty (40 (80%)) of B. subtilis were solubilized phosphate with phosphate solubilizing index (PSI) of 0 to 97.33 ± 0.70%. Of all B. subtilis strains, 45 (90%) have the srfAA gene, 19 (38%) have the fenD gene and 12 (24%) have the ituC gene. B. subtilis strains from cocoa rhizosphere would be beneficial for agricultural production by their PGPR activities.

Characterization of Virulence Potential of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Bovine Meat, Fresh Fish, and Smoked Fish.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa owns a variability of virulence factors. These factors can increase bacterial pathogenicity and infection severity. Despite the importance of knowledge about them, these factors are not more characterized at level of strains derived from local food products. This study aimed to characterize the virulence potential of P. aeruginosa isolated from various animal products. Several structural and virulence genes of P. aeruginosa including lasB, exoS, algD, plcH, pilB, exoU, and nan1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on 204 strains of P. aeruginosa. They were isolated from bovine meat (122), fresh fish (49), and smoked fish (33). The 16S rRNA gene was detected on 91.1% of the presumptive strains as Pseudomonas. The rpoB gene showed that 99.5% of the strains were P. aeruginosa. The lasB gene (89.2%) was the most frequently detected (p < 0.05). In decreasing importance order, exoS (86.8%), algD (72.1%), plcH (72.1%), pilB (40.2%), and exoU (2.5%) were detected. The lasB gene was detected in all strains of P. aeruginosa serogroups O11 and O16. The prevalence of algD, exoS, and exoU genes in these strains varied from 51.2% to 87.4%. The simultaneous determination of serogroups and virulence factors is of interest for the efficacy of surveillance of infections associated with P. aeruginosa.

Comparing Influenza Positivity Rates by Real-Time RT-PCR, Elisa and Viral Culture Methods in Côte D'Ivoire, West Africa, in 2009.

Detection of circulating influenza strains is a key public health concern especially in limited-resource settings where diagnosis capabilities remain a challenge. As part of multi-site surveillance in Côte d'Ivoire during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, we had the opportunity to test respiratory specimens collected from patients with acute respiratory illness (ARI). We analyzed and compared the percentage of specimens testing positive using three laboratory methods (rtRT-PCR, ELISA, viral culture). From January to October 2009, 1,356 respiratory specimens were collected from patients with acute respiratory illness and shipped at the WHO NIC (Institut Pasteur) Cote d'Ivoire, and 453 (33%) tested positive for influenza by one or more laboratory methods. The proportion of positive influenza tests did not differ by the sex or age of the patient or presenting symptoms, but did differ depending on the timing and site of specimen collection. Of the 453 positive specimens, 424 (93.6%) were detected by PCR, 199 (43.9%) by ELISA and 40 (8.8%) by viral culture. While seasonal influenza A(H1N1) virus strains were prominent, only four 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) cases were detected. Use of molecular biology method (rtRT-PCR) increased sensitivity and diagnosis capabilities. Among all three methods used, rRT-PCR was the most sensitive and rapid method. More capacity building is still required for viral culture. Need to collect denominator data in order to have an accurate estimate of the burden of influenza. There was delayed introduction of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)2009 in Cote d'Ivoire.