Species-specific quantification of probiotic lactobacilli in yoghurt by quantitative real-time PCR.

AIMS: Lactobacilli strains with probiotic effects have been widely used in dairy products such as yoghurts as well as in food additives and pharmaceuticals. Despite their successful commercial application, the current species identification and quantification methods of the genus Lactobacillus are time-consuming and labour-intensive. METHODS AND RESULTS: To fulfil the requirements of a robust quality management, we have developed a quantitative real-time PCR assay based on the heat shock protein 60 gene (hsp60) for accurate identification and quantification of five commercially important Lactobacillus species. The developed assay allows an unambiguous species-specific detection of the species Lact. acidophilus, Lact. brevis, Lact. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lact. helveticus and Lact. reuteri from bacterial cultures as well as directly from dairy products for instance yoghurt. CONCLUSIONS: With the assay, we were able to specifically detect lactobacilli strains down to 10(5)  CFU ml(-1) directly from yoghurt, which is a sufficient detection limit as commercial products usually contain 10(6) -10(12)  CFU ml(-1) of probiotic strains. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The real-time PCR assay developed here might become a convenient tool enabling an accurate, fast and sensitive detection of probiotic lactobacilli commercially used in food.

[Sepsis during pregnancy: Key points in 2022]. / Sepsis et grossesse.

Sepsis is a severe affection, that requires an urgent and specific treatment sequence. Physiological changes occurring during pregnancy make the diagnosis of sepsis more challenging in this setting, with possible delay in treatment initiation, that in turn is responsible for poorer maternal and fetal outcome. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the diagnosis and treatment of maternal sepsis, as well as persistent knowledge gaps in the field.

Life-threatening hemophagocytic syndrome triggered by disseminated toxoplasmosis in a young patient with previously unknown AIDS.

Hemophagocytic syndrome is a rare life-threatening disorder that can be triggered by various conditions such as HIV infection and opportunistic agents. We report a case of disseminated toxoplasmosis complicated with severe hemophagocytic syndrome and revealing an unknown acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The patient presented with multiple organ failure in intensive care unit. Once diagnosed, he benefitted from etoposide infusion, administration of specific anti-toxoplasmosis treatments and secondary antiretroviral therapy. He was alive at intensive care unit discharge and returned home with little sequalae. This case illustrates both the importance of rapid investigations of hemophagocytic syndrome etiologies in HIV positive patients and the necessity to prompt etoposide and specific treatments in order to improve potentially dramatic outcomes.