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C olpoda secrete viable L isteria monocytogenes within faecal pellets
Author(s) -
Raghu Nadhanan Rethish,
Thomas Connor J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12230
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , pellets , secretion , bacteria , food science , genetics , biochemistry , paleontology
Summary Transmission electron microscopy was used to demonstrate that co‐cultures of the ciliate C olpoda RR (an environmental isolate) and C olpoda MLS ‐5 (a food processing environment isolate) with the pathogenic L isteria monocytogenes DRDC8 resulted in secretion of faecal pellets containing intact DRDC8 cells. A green fluorescent protein expressing variant of DRDC8 was used in co‐cultures to confirm that the pellet‐associated bacterial cells were L . monocytogenes . Viability was confirmed by plate counts, and assay of microbial respiratory activity‐proved DRDC8 cells present within faecal pellets was metabolically active. Following treatment of faecal pellets secreted by C olpoda RR and MLS ‐5 with gentamycin and sodium hypochlorite ( NaOCl ), no loss of viability of the pellet‐located DRDC8 cells was observed, indicating that faecal pellet encapsulated DRDC8 cells are resistant to biocidal agents. This work suggests that C olpoda ‐derived faecal pellets may provide a mechanism for transmission of L . monocytogenes and other pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, bacteria encapsulated by faecal pellets may be resistant to disinfectants and cleaning agents used in food manufacturing and preparation facilities.