First Report of Bushy Stunt of Japanese Spindle Caused by <i>Rhodococcus</i> spp. in Tunisia

Pink is not just for girls – A case of severe, systemic Rhodococcus sp. infection

Dr Rhodo and Mr Coccus.

Today the interest toward horse (Equus caballus) and donkey (Equus asinus) milk for human consumption is receiving a renewed attention because of its particular composition, hypoallergenicity, and nutraceutical properties. The realistic perspective of global use of this aliment in balanced diets, especially for infancy and geriatrics, poses the need for a more in depth knowledge on milk hygiene and on the health status of dairy animals, as a prerequisite of consumers' safety. The aim of this paper was to review the available literature on the health and hygiene parameters as well as on the potential microbiological hazards in horse and donkey milk and the risks related to their consumption. Both microbial contamination and somatic cell count are reasonably low in equine milk and also the presence of pathogens, like Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Brucella spp., Mycobacterium spp., Bacillus cereus, Cronobacter sakazakii, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, Rhodococcus equi, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, Clostridium difficile and Burkholderia mallei is low. However, in those regions of the world where the prevalence of Brucella spp. and Rhodococcus equi is high, the alimentary risks could increase. Similarly, in areas with higher incidence of immunocompromised people, the increased risks should be warned not only for pathogens but also for opportunistic microbiota.

First Report of Phytopathogenic <i>Rhodococcus</i> Isolates on Pistachio Bushy Top Syndrome ‘UCB-1’ Rootstock in New Mexico

Extrapulmonary disorders associated with<i>Rhodococcus equi</i>infections

In this work, the effect of iron oxide particles Fe2O3 and iron nanoparticles encapsulated in a porous silica matrix (xerogel Fe/SiO2) was investigated on biphenyl biodegradation by the strain Rhodococcus erythropolis T902.1. After 18 days of incubation biodegradation yields of 75% and 85% were achieved respectively in presence of non-autoclaved or autoclaved xerogel Fe/SiO2at 10-5 M iron. These results are 42 and 60% higher than in standard conditions without nanoparticles. They suggest that the autoclave procedure lead to the release of some iron less anchored in the silica matrix. This study highlights that siderophore production byRhodococcus erythropolis T902.1 would be related to the presence of iron nanoparticles in the culture. It suggests that the production of these strong chelating compounds decreases with increase of iron release from xerogel Fe/SiO2. Moreover, most of the surfactants synthesized by Rhodococcus erythropolis T902.1 which are glycolipids containing trehalose (hexose),would be linked to cell surface and not excreted in the culture medium; the biomass hexose content also increased by 85% in presence of iron nanoparticles. Dans ce travail, l’effet de particules d’oxyde de fer Fe2O3 et de nanoparticules de fer encapsulées dans des particules poreuses de silice (xérogel Fe/SiO2) a été étudié sur la biodégradation du biphényle par la souche Rhodococcus erythropolis T902.1. Les pourcentages de biodégradation après 18 jours d’incubation en présence du xérogel Fe/SiO2 à 10-5 M en fer atteignent 75 % et 85 % respectivement pour les conditions sans ou après autoclavage ; c’est-à-dire 42 et 60 % de dégradation supplémentaire par rapport aux conditions standards sans xérogel Fe/SiO2. L’impact dû à l’autoclavage serait directement associé à la libération d’une certaine quantité de fer moins bien ancré dans la matrice de silice. Cette étude a jeté la lumière sur la liaison entre la sécrétion de sidérophores par Rhodococcus erythropolis T902.1 et la présence de nanoparticules de fer dans le milieu de culture. Elle suggère une diminution de la sécrétion de sidérophores avec l’augmentation de la quantité d’ions ferriques mobilisés à partir du xérogel Fe/SiO2. Finalement, la majorité des surfactants glycolipidiques contenant du trehalose (hexose) produits par Rhodococcus erythropolis T902.1sont liés à la surface de la cellule et ne sont pas excrétés dans le milieu de culture ; leur concentration a augmenté de 85 % en présence de nanoparticules de fer.

The removal of heavy metal contaminants from the environment is one of the potential areas in which the usefulness of biosurfactants has not been thoroughly explored. The molecular nature of biosurfactants offers the possibility of interaction with the metals in solution, aiding in their subsequent removal and/or recovery. In the present research work, a systematic isolation and screening program was undertaken for obtaining biosurfactant-producing bacteria. A total of 129 isolates were screened and three bacterial isolates were selected for high surface tension reducing ability. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas koreensis (Strain DX1 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence NCBI Acc. No. GQ 493998 BankIt 1255714) and Rhodococcus spp isolates were identified by routine microbiological tests, API-32 and 16s rRNA profiling. The surface tension reduction of MS medium for the three isolates was: P. aeruginosa, 62.3 to 31.6 dynes/cm; S. koreensis, 62.4 to 27.8 dynes/cm; in 24 to 30 h for both organisms andRhodococcus spp, 64.4 to 43.7 dynes/cm in a period of 48 h. The emulsification index for all three isolates was 100% in diesel, petrol, toluene and sunflower oil. The ability of S. koreensis to remove heavy metal ions from solutions was explored. More than 30% of lead and cadmium ions were removed from 200 ppm metal solutions. Key words: Biosurfactant, Stenotrophomonas koreensis, surface tension, heavy metals, lead, cadmium.

The genus Rhodococcus and Rhodococcus infection (1)

Objective To study the imaging appearances of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS). Methods Thoracic imaging appearances of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in three patients with AIDS were retrospectively analyzed. Results The chest radiograph showed patchy consolidations and small nodules ( n = 3 ), large consolidations with multiple cavitations ( n = 2). CT showed large lobar or segmental consolidations with multiple cavitations (n=2),patchy consolidations (n=2), bronchiectasis (n=1), multiple small centrilobular nodules ( n = 2) and tree-in-bud patterns (n = 2). Conclusion The most common radiological findings in AIDS patients with Rhodococcus equi pulmonary infection are large consolidations with multiple cavitations and multiple centrilobular nodules. Key words: Lung diseases; AIDS-related opportunistic infections; Diagnostic imaging

Growth behavior and desulfurization ratio of Rhodococcus Erythropolis NCC-1 with the presence of direct currents( DC) were studied.The electric field-activated mechanism was also investigated.The results show that direct current can improve the desulfurization ratio of NCC-1 within an appropriate scope of current density.The optimized current density is 0.72 A/m2.Using 0.2 mmol/L dibenzothiophene ( DBT) as a probe,the complete removal time of DBT by NCC-1 could be shortened on platinum electrodes,e.g.24 h less than that without the presence of direct electric fieldor 48 h less than that using titanium electrodes under a current density of 0.72 A/m2.The desulfurization ratio can reach 67.4% at platinum electrodes under optimized direct current density in a mixture of water to diesel fuel with a ratio of 1∶9.This value is 11.7% and 24.6% higher than those achieved on titanium electrode and in a system without the presence of direct electric field,respectively.This could be ascribed to the different ratio of adsorbed hydrogen to released H2 produced from water on the cathode.The released H2 could significantly promote the shaking culture of the bacterium.

Rhodococcus equi in adult horses

Quinoline, a nitrogenous heterocyclic compound (NHC), is a common pollutant in many fossil industries wastewaters, such as coking plant wastewater. Due to the limitation of knowledge for the diversity of quinoline degrading bacteria, the isolation of diverse degrading bacteria from quinoline contaminated environment is important work not only for understanding the process of quinoline degradation, but also for optimizing the wastewater treatment. In this study, 56 strains of quinoline degrading bacteria were isolated from quinoline acclimated bioreactor and coking wastewater treatment bioreactor under different culture conditions. These strains were grouped into 12 OTUs by ADRDA and the representative sequences of these OTUs were affi liated to Ochrobactrum, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus. Some of these strains were used for measuring their quinoline degrading capabilities. Most of the assayed strains showed high degrading effi ciency, except that a few strains could not degrade quinoline independently. As we know, it is the fi rst report that the bacteria of Ochrobactrum could degrade quinoline so far. Fig 2, Tab 3, Ref 31

A typical tropical soil from the northeast of Brazil, where an important terrestrial oil field is located, was accidentally contaminated with a mixture of oil and saline production water. To study the bioremediation potential in this area, molecular methods based on PCR-DGGE were used to determine the diversity of the bacterial communities in bulk and in contaminated soils. Bacterial fingerprints revealed that the bacterial communities were affected by the presence of the mixture of oil and production water, and different profiles were observed when the contaminated soils were compared with the control. Halotolerant strains capable of degrading crude oil were also isolated from enrichment cultures obtained from the contaminated soil samples. Twenty-two strains showing these features were characterized genetically by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and phenotypically by their colonial morphology and tolerance to high NaCl concentrations. Fifteen ARDRA groups were formed. Selected strains were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and Actinobacteria was identified as the main group found. Strains were also tested for their growth capability in the presence of different oil derivatives (hexane, dodecane, hexadecane, diesel, gasoline, toluene, naphthalene, o-xylene, and p-xylene) and different degradation profiles were observed. PCR products were obtained from 12 of the 15 ARDRA representatives when they were screened for the presence of the alkane hydroxylase gene (alkB). Members of the genera Rhodococcus and Gordonia were identified as predominant in the soil studied. These genera are usually implicated in oil degradation processes and, as such, the potential for bioremediation in this area can be considered as feasible.

Rhodococcus equi e um coco-bacilo gram positivo que causa pneumonia em potros. Trata-se de um patogeno oportunista amplamente detectado no ambiente e isolado de varias fontes, como solo, fezes e intestino de potros doentes e sadios. O presente estudo visa caracterizar a situacao epidemiologica de criatorios equinos da regiao de Bage, RS, Brasil, pela tecnica de PCR multiplex. Cento e dezoito isolados de R. equi foram identificados por testes bioquimicos e, posteriormente, submetidos a um PCR multiplex para caracterizacao da especie e da presenca do gene vapA. Estes isolados eram provenientes de tres haras com historico da doenca, dois haras onde nao havia casos da doenca e uma propriedade onde a infeccao por R. equi e relatada frequentemente. Todos os isolados clinicos provenientes de haras onde a doenca e endemica e/ou esporadica foram vapA positivos. Nenhum isolado ambiental foi vapA positivo. Nos tres haras onde a doenca e esporadica, 11,54% dos isolados de fezes de equinos adultos foram positivos para o gene vapA. A tecnica de PCR multiplex mostrou-se efetiva para caracterizacao epidemiologica e molecular dos criatorios equinos, estando de acordo com o historico da propriedade. Um fato relevante demonstrado pela aplicacao desta tecnica foi a deteccao de R. equi vapA positivo nas fezes de equinos adultos. Esta observacao pode pressupor que haja outras vias de disseminacao da bacteria dentro de uma propriedade.

<abstract language="por">O perfil de sensibilidade microbiana e a concentração inibitória mínima (MIC) da azitromicina para 42 cepas de Rhodococcus equi isoladas de potros, no Brasil, e em uma cepa-controle, foi avaliado, respectivamente, pelos métodos de difusão com discos e E-test. A azitromicina apresentou 100% de efetividade in vitro para todas as cepas em ambos os testes. As cepas de R. equi apresentaram MIC90 para azitromicina em valores <1.5µg/ml. Este estudo mostra a alta efetividade da azitromicina em linhagens de R. equi isoladas no Brasil, sugerindo o uso dessa droga como alternativa na terapia da rodococose em potros.

The microbial degradative characteristics of three phthalate ester isomers (ortho-, meta-, and para- benzene dicarboxylic esters, DMP,DMI, and DMT respectively for short) by a degrading bacterium isolated from mangrove soil were investigated. The bacterium was identified as Rhodococcus ruber with 16S rDNA sequencing. Experimental results showed that as the sole source of carbon and energy, DMP could be degraded and the degradation intermediates were identified as mono-methyl phthalate(MMP) and phthalic acid (PA). The tentative pathway proposed for degradation of DMP by the bacterium under aerobic condition was through monoester initially, and further degradation of monoester produced phthalic acid, and finally CO_ 2 and H_ 2O. DMI and DMT at a concentration of 50mg·L -1 were degraded within 10 days by Rhodococcus ruber, but the intermediates accumulated in the culture medium. the results suggest that the degradation of phthalate ester isomers was related to the structures of chemicals.

Bio-Degradation of Pristane in Mixed Alkanes by a Mixed Culture Containing Nocardia corynebacterioides

Abstract For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

With the advent of AIDS, Rhodococcus equi infection has become more common in humans. Identification of virulence-associated antigens and virulence