title: Detection of thermoactinomyces species in selected agricultural substrates from Queensland.
abstract: Selected overheated substrates commercially available for public use in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia were screened for the presence of Thermoactinomyces species using an air sampler. All substrates with the exception of tea tree mulch were found to contain Thermoactinomyces species. Subsequent 16S rDNA oligonucleotide sequencing of the selected eight isolates indicated that some of these species were closely related to previously reported allergenic Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and Laceyella sacchari. In view of this, the isolates were tested to determine their adhesion ability and cytotoxicity to human lung cells (calu-3 cells). The results indicated that all eight isolates were highly adherent and showed cytotoxicity to this cell line. These findings might indicate that the presence of such species in overheated agricultural materials may constitute a public health risk if storage and handling conditions are not optimal and do not meet criteria defined for sub-tropical climates.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Brinkmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katouli
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kurtböke
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000382:microbiology; D002460:Cell Line; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D008372:Manure / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011793:Queensland; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D056509:Thermoactinomyces / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008372:Manure; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S