Planning Meeting for Colloquium and Report on: Systems Microbiology: Beyond Microbial Genomics
SciTech Connect
Buckley, Merry R.
The steering committee for the American Academy of Microbiology's colloquium, ''Systems Microbiology: Beyond Microbial Genomics'' met September 26, 2003, in Washington, DC, to plan the colloquium and discuss the report that would be produced following the colloquium. The steering committee developed the intellectual approach to the issues relating to systems microbiology, including drafting questions for the colloquium participants to work their way through. The committee then identified the scientists that should be invited in order to ensure a comprehensive and thorough analytical report. Dates and a venue were decided upon. The colloquium was held June 4-6, 2004 in Portland, Oregon.more» There were 35 scientists who spent the weekend discussing specific recommendations for how to capitalize scientifically on the advances in microbial genomics and progress towards a functional understanding of individual microorganisms and microbial communities. The issues discussed at the colloquium were timely and important, and we expect the report, which will be published in 2005, to be extremely well received. Once the report is available, a copy will be forwarded to you. The following items were discussed and will be included in our published report: The focus of this colloquium was on how to capitalize scientifically on the advances in microbial genomics and progress towards a functional understanding of individual microorganisms and microbial communities. Colloquium participants discussed where the field is heading and identify scientific opportunities, challenges, and benefits of this research. An important aspect was the identification of resource and technology gaps that must be addressed in order to advance the field. Making the Case for Systems Microbiology: [1] What can we learn about life processes through studying microbiological systems [sub-cellular, cellular, community]? [2] What important, new fundamental information and potential applications a re likely
Microbiology of processed edible insect products - Results of a preliminary survey.
PubMed
Grabowski, Nils Th; Klein, Günter
2017-02-21
Little is known of the microbiology of processed insect products. The present survey analysed a total of n=38 samples of deep-fried and spiced [Acheta domesticus, Locusta migratoria, and Omphisa fuscidentalis], cooked in soy sauce ["tsukudani"; Oxya yezoensis, Vespula flaviceps, and Bombyx mori], dried [A. domesticus, L. migatoria, Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor, B. mori, Hermetia illucens, and Musca domestica], powdered [H. illucens, T. molitor] and other [incl. deep-frozen B. mori and honeybee pollen] insect products microbiologically [total bacterial count [TBC], Enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci, bacilli, and yeasts and moulds counts, salmonellae, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli]. Although each product type revealed a microbiological profile of its own, dried and powdered insects ["class I"] displayed markedly higher counts than the deep-fried and cooked ones ["class II"]. Thresholds between class I and II products were estimated at 4.0 [TBC], 1.0 [Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and moulds], 2.5 [staphylococci], and 3.0lgcfu/g [bacilli]. All samples were negative for salmonellae, L. monocytogenes, E. coli and Stapyhlococcus aureus, but dried and powdered insects, as well as pollen, contained B. cereus, coliforms, Serratia liquefaciens, Listeria ivanovii, Mucor spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Cryptococcus neoformans. Comparing the results with the hygiene criteria for edible insects proposed by Belgium and the Netherlands, class I products failed to comply with many bacterial count limits despite the absence of classical food pathogens. Therefore, class I products should always be consumed after another heating step as indicated by the manufacturer, until drying techniques are able to ensure lower bacterial counts. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Comparison of the Microbiological Quality and Safety between Conventional and Organic Vegetables Sold in Malaysia
PubMed Central
Kuan, Chee-Hao; Rukayadi, Yaya; Ahmad, Siti H.; Wan Mohamed Radzi, Che W. J.; Thung, Tze-Young; Premarathne, Jayasekara M. K. J. K.; Chang, Wei-San; Loo, Yuet-Ying; Tan, Chia-Wanq; Ramzi, Othman B.; Mohd Fadzil, Siti N.; Kuan, Chee-Sian; Yeo, Siok-Koon; Nishibuchi, Mitsuaki; Radu, Son
2017-01-01
Given the remarkable increase of public interest in organic food products, it is indeed critical to evaluate the microbiological risk associated with consumption of fresh organic produce. Organic farming practices including the use of animal manures may increase the risk of microbiological contamination as manure can act as a vehicle for transmission of foodborne pathogens. This study aimed to determine and compare the microbiological status between organic and conventional fresh produce at the retail level in Malaysia. A total of 152 organic and conventional vegetables were purchased at retail markets in Malaysia. Samples were analyzed for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, and total coliforms using conventional microbiological methods. Combination methods of most probable number-multiplex polymerase chain reaction [MPN-mPCR] were used to detect and quantify foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli [STEC], Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Salmonella Enteritidis. Results indicated that most types of organic and conventional vegetables possessed similar microbial count [P > 0.05] of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, and total coliforms. E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium were not detected in any sample analyzed in this study. Among the 152 samples tested, only the conventional lettuce and organic carrot were tested positive for STEC and S. Enteritidis, respectively. L. monocytogenes were more frequently detected in both organic [9.1%] and conventional vegetables [2.7%] as compared to E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and S. Enteritidis. Overall, no trend was shown that either organically or conventionally grown vegetables have posed greater microbiological risks. These findings indicated that one particular type of farming practices would not affect the microbiological profiles of fresh produce. Therefore, regardless of farming methods, all vegetables should be subjected to
Comparison of the Microbiological Quality and Safety between Conventional and Organic Vegetables Sold in Malaysia.
PubMed
Kuan, Chee-Hao; Rukayadi, Yaya; Ahmad, Siti H; Wan Mohamed Radzi, Che W J; Thung, Tze-Young; Premarathne, Jayasekara M K J K; Chang, Wei-San; Loo, Yuet-Ying; Tan, Chia-Wanq; Ramzi, Othman B; Mohd Fadzil, Siti N; Kuan, Chee-Sian; Yeo, Siok-Koon; Nishibuchi, Mitsuaki; Radu, Son
2017-01-01
Given the remarkable increase of public interest in organic food products, it is indeed critical to evaluate the microbiological risk associated with consumption of fresh organic produce. Organic farming practices including the use of animal manures may increase the risk of microbiological contamination as manure can act as a vehicle for transmission of foodborne pathogens. This study aimed to determine and compare the microbiological status between organic and conventional fresh produce at the retail level in Malaysia. A total of 152 organic and conventional vegetables were purchased at retail markets in Malaysia. Samples were analyzed for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, and total coliforms using conventional microbiological methods. Combination methods of most probable number-multiplex polymerase chain reaction [MPN-mPCR] were used to detect and quantify foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli [STEC], Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Salmonella Enteritidis. Results indicated that most types of organic and conventional vegetables possessed similar microbial count [ P > 0.05] of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds, and total coliforms. E. coli O157:H7 and S . Typhimurium were not detected in any sample analyzed in this study. Among the 152 samples tested, only the conventional lettuce and organic carrot were tested positive for STEC and S . Enteritidis, respectively. L. monocytogenes were more frequently detected in both organic [9.1%] and conventional vegetables [2.7%] as compared to E. coli O157:H7, S . Typhimurium, and S . Enteritidis. Overall, no trend was shown that either organically or conventionally grown vegetables have posed greater microbiological risks. These findings indicated that one particular type of farming practices would not affect the microbiological profiles of fresh produce. Therefore, regardless of farming methods, all vegetables should be subjected to
[Bacterial identification methods in the microbiology laboratory].
PubMed
Bou, Germán; Fernández-Olmos, Ana; García, Celia; Sáez-Nieto, Juan Antonio; Valdezate, Sylvia
2011-10-01
In order to identify the agent responsible of the infectious process and understanding the pathogenic/pathological implications, clinical course, and to implement an effective antimicrobial therapy, a mainstay in the practice of clinical microbiology is the allocation of species to a microbial isolation. In daily routine practice microbiology laboratory phenotypic techniques are applied to achieve this goal. However, they have some limitations that are seen more clearly for some kinds of microorganism. Molecular methods can circumvent some of these limitations, although its implementation is not universal. This is due to higher costs and the level of expertise required for thei implementation, so molecular methods are often centralized in reference laboratories and centers. Recently, proteomics-based methods made an important breakthrough in the field of diagnostic microbiology and will undoubtedly have a major impact on the future organization of the microbiology services. This paper is a short review of the most noteworthy aspects of the three bacterial identification methods described above used in microbiology laboratories. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.
Automation in the clinical microbiology laboratory.
PubMed
Novak, Susan M; Marlowe, Elizabeth M
2013-09-01
Imagine a clinical microbiology laboratory where a patient's specimens are placed on a conveyor belt and sent on an automation line for processing and plating. Technologists need only log onto a computer to visualize the images of a culture and send to a mass spectrometer for identification. Once a pathogen is identified, the system knows to send the colony for susceptibility testing. This is the future of the clinical microbiology laboratory. This article outlines the operational and staffing challenges facing clinical microbiology laboratories and the evolution of automation that is shaping the way laboratory medicine will be practiced in the future. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Recent advances in diagnostic microbiology.
PubMed
Bravo, Lulette Tricia C; Procop, Gary W
2009-07-01
The past decade has seen a surge in the development of a variety of molecular diagnostics designed to rapidly identify or characterize medically important microorganisms. We briefly review important advances in molecular microbiology, and then discuss specific assays that have been implemented in clinical microbiology laboratories throughout the country. We also discuss emerging methods and technologies that will soon be more widely used for the prompt and accurate detection of the agents of infectious diseases.
Membrane processing technology in the food industry: food processing, wastewater treatment, and effects on physical, microbiological, organoleptic, and nutritional properties of foods.
PubMed
Kotsanopoulos, Konstantinos V; Arvanitoyannis, Ioannis S
2015-01-01
Membrane processing technology [MPT] is increasingly used nowadays in a wide range of applications [demineralization, desalination, stabilization, separation, deacidification, reduction of microbial load, purification, etc.] in food industries. The most frequently applied techniques are electrodialysis [ED], reverse osmosis [RO], nanofiltration [NF], ultrafiltration [UF], and microfiltration [MF]. Several membrane characteristics, such as pore size, flow properties, and the applied hydraulic pressure mainly determine membranes' potential uses. In this review paper the basic membrane techniques, their potential applications in a large number of fields and products towards the food industry, the main advantages and disadvantages of these methods, fouling phenomena as well as their effects on the organoleptic, qualitative, and nutritional value of foods are synoptically described. Some representative examples of traditional and modern membrane applications both in tabular and figural form are also provided.
Management of microbiological safety of ready-to-eat meat products by mathematical modelling: Listeria monocytogenes as an example.
PubMed
Carrasco, E; Valero, A; Pérez-Rodríguez, F; García-Gimeno, R M; Zurera, G
2007-03-10
The recent Commission Regulation [EC] No 2073/2005 establishes microbiological criteria in foods. For the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes in the category ready-to-eat foods able to support its growth, other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes, two different microbiological criteria are proposed: [i] L. monocytogenes levels should be