title: Diversity and dynamics of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in cheese as determined by PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.
abstract: This work reports the composition and succession of tetracycline- and erythromycin-resistant bacterial communities in a model cheese, monitored by polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Bacterial 16S rRNA genes were examined using this technique to detect structural changes in the cheese microbiota over manufacturing and ripening. Total bacterial genomic DNA, used as a template, was extracted from cultivable bacteria grown without and with tetracycline or erythromycin (both at 25 μg ml(-1)) on a non-selective medium used for enumeration of total and viable cells (Plate Count agar with Milk; PCA-M), and from those grown on selective and/or differential agar media used for counting various bacterial groups; i.e., lactic acid bacteria (de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe agar; MRSA), micrococci and staphylococci (Baird-Parker agar; BPA), and enterobacteria (Violet Red Bile Glucose agar; VRBGA). Large numbers of tetracycline- and erythromycin-resistant bacteria were detected in cheese samples at all stages of ripening. Counts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria varied widely depending on the microbial group and the point of sampling. In general, resistant bacteria were 0.5-1.0 Log10 units fewer in number than the corresponding susceptible bacteria. The PCR-DGGE profiles obtained with DNA isolated from the plates for total bacteria and the different bacterial groups suggested Escherichia coli, Lactococcus lactis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus spp. as the microbial types resistant to both antibiotics tested. This study shows the suitability of the PCR-DGGE technique for rapidly identifying and tracking antibiotic resistant populations in cheese and, by extension, in other foods.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Bioquímica, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares, s/n, 33300-Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain. Electronic address: abflorez@ipla.csic.es.
authors.forename: Ana Belén
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Flórez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Bioquímica, Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares, s/n, 33300-Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Baltasar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mayo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D044822:Biodiversity; D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology*; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005516:Food Microbiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Cheese; DGGE; Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; Lactic acid bacteria; Non-starter lactic acid bacteria