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Abstract The aim of the study was to compare bacterial composition and load in waters and fish related to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), particularly waters and wild fish affected by sugarplant processing (sugar cane and sugar beet). Aeromonads were the most frequently isolated group from water and fish. A. hydrophila was a prevailing species in isolates from water, followed by A. veronii, Rheinheimera soli and Ochrobactrum anthropi. Of indicator bacteria for aquatic contamination from fish tissues, the most prominent were V. cholerae , Enterobacter cloacae and E. sakazakii. Sugar cane processing contributed to high viable cell counts at 37 °C while sugar beet processing contributed to high bacterial counts at 22 °C. Heterotrophs from gills of effluent fish were highest during sugar cane processing. Counts retrieved from fish skin were more uniform between effluent fish and fish from downstream waters. Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from water was high against amoxicillin, sulfamethoxazole, flumequine, norfloxacin and oxolinic acid in samples from the inflow of raw municipal wastewaters to WWTP, while resistance found in bacteria from the inflow of sugarplant mostly related to sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin. The PCA analysis associated the occurrence of high heterotroph counts, P. aeruginosa , and intestinal enterococci on skin and gills with sugar cane, and yeasts and molds with sugar beet processing. Fish living in treated wastewaters and related water bodies could pose a microbial hazard if fished for human consumption, possibly causing infection when being handled and processed, as a risk of human pathogens penetrating fish tissues. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • We evaluated microbiological impact of sugarplant effluent on wild fish. • Ubiquitous and pathogenic bacteria were retrieved from tissues; mostly aeromonads. • 63% of fish aeromonads showed resistance against tested antimicrobials. • Gill and kidney histopathology showed an increased number of bacterial cells. • Multivariate tools correlated effectively microbiological data, tissues and seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean Sea is the sixth largest area of marine litter accumulation in the world, and plastic pollution is a growing problem in its Adriatic sub-basin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cultivable microbiota associated with plastic litter collected by commercial fishing trawlers in the south-eastern Adriatic Sea in comparison with microbiota in seawater and sediment. Plastic litter in the sea contains an autochthonous microbiota that is different from that of the surrounding seawater and sediment. Vibrio abundance was higher on plastic litter than in surrounding seawater and sediment. All isolated Vibrio showing resistance to ampicillin and vancomycin, while resistance to other antibiotics depended on the isolated species. Overall, this study provides for the first time information on the cultivable microbiota associated with plastic litter collected by commercial fishing trawlers and provides a data base for further studies. • Plastic litter collected by commercial fishing trawlers was analyzed. • The microbiota on plastic litter, in seawater, and in sediment was determined. • Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus were detected on plastic litter. • Multiple resistance among Vibrio isolates was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• As-rich mixture of pharmacolite, hornesite, and talmessite from Crven Dol mine. • Stenotrophomonas sp., Microbacterium spp. and bacterial consortium were isolated. • Novel hyper-resistant bacteria survive 32 g/L arsenite and 176 g/L arsenate. • As-tolerance involve efflux systems including ArsB, Acr3(1) and Acr3(2) proteins. • SEM/EDS analyses confirmed intracellular accumulation of arsenic. Novel hyper-resistant bacteria were isolated from the Crven Dol mine (Allchar, North Macedonia), arsenic-rich extreme environment. Bacteria were recovered from a secondary mineral mixture, an alteration of hydrothermal realgar rich in arsenates (pharmacolite, hornesite, and talmessite). The sample was recovered from the dark part of the mine at 28 m depth. Three bacterial strains and a bacterial consortium were isolated for their capacity to survive exposure to 32 g/L (209 mM) of arsenite, and 176 g/L (564 mM) of arsenate. The 16S rRNA gene analysis identified bacterial isolates as Stenotrophomonas sp. and two Microbacterium spp. This analysis also revealed that bacterial consortium comprise two Bacteriodetes exhibiting similarity to Olivibacter ginsengisoli and to uncultured bacterium, and one γ-proteobacteria with similarity to Luteimonas sp. Among all isolates Stenotrophomonas sp. exhibited the highest tolerance to As compound as well as the capacity to accumulate As inside the cells. Analysis of genes involved in As-resistance showed that recovered isolates possess the genes encoding the ArsB, Acr3(1) and Acr3(2) proteins, indicating that at least a part of their resistance could be ascribed to As-efflux systems described in isolates obtained from human-polluted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is composed of multifunctional interactions of eating habits, behaviors, microbiota, genetics, and other unknown factors. We hypothesize that correlations occur between the fat mass and obesity-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms ( FTO SNPs), the composition of microorganisms in the saliva, and life habits in obese women from Zagreb County. Our results of the analysis of 3 FTO SNPs showed a statistically significant positive correlation among the frequencies of the high-risk genotypes AA rs9939609 ( P = .0367), CC rs1421085 ( P = .0367), and GG rs17817449 ( P = .0065) of the FTO gene in obese cases. Interestingly, 39.13% of obese women were triple homozygous for all 3 risk alleles. Furthermore, the composition of the oral microbiota in the obese group showed a higher occurrence of a major human pathogen, bacterium Staphylococcus aureus , but a significantly low presence of bacteria Streptococcus oralis , Streptococcus mitis , and Serratia ureilytica compared with the control group. The investigation also revealed that obese women prefer to consume candy and snacks and more meat and meat-derived products, sleep less than 6 hours per day, and had higher hypertension in comparison with the control group. These results support the hypothesis that female obesity is strongly related to all 3 variants of the FTO gene and perhaps a specific composition of microbiota in saliva due to dietary habits. Considering the bimodal distribution of the SNPs and bacterial content of saliva in obese women taken together are factors to consider for risk of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relating the treated wastewater quality and its impact on organismic biosensors (Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio and earthworm, Eisenia fetida ) was the main objective of the study. The impact on health status of fish living downstream, microbiological contamination and antimicrobial resistance, fish tissue structure, blood biochemistry, oxidative stress, genotoxic effects, as well as multixenobiotic resistance mechanism (MXR) was assessed. Treated wastewater discharged from the WWTP modified the environmental parameters and xenobiotic concentrations of the receiving surface waters. Potential bacterial pathogens from fish and respective waters were found in relatively low numbers, although they comprised aeromonads with a zoonotic potential. High resistance profiles were determined towards the tested antimicrobial compounds, mostly sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin. Histopathology primarily revealed gill lamellar fusion and reduction of interlamellar spaces of effluent fish. A significant increase in plasma values of urea, total proteins, albumins and triglycerides and a significant decrease in the activity of plasma superoxide dismutase were noted in carp from the effluent-receiving canal. Micronucleus test did not reveal significant differences between the examined groups, but a higher frequency of erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities was found in fish sampled from the effluent-receiving canal. Earthworms indicated to the presence of MXR inhibitors in water and sludge samples, thus proving as a sensitive sentinel organism for environmental pollutants. The integrative approach of this study could serve as a guiding principle in conducting evaluations of the aquatic habitat health in complex bio-monitoring studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenic oomycete Aphanomyces astaci , the causative agent of crayfish plague, is listed among the world's 100 worst invasive alien species due to its fast spread and detrimental impact on native European crayfish populations, as well as losses in crayfish aquaculture. During the infection process, A. astaci mycelium invades the host through its cuticle where it interacts with the resident epibiotic bacteria. Since host microbial communities may have an important role in the defense against pathogens, in this study we aimed to i) identify the epibiotic bacterial isolates from the cuticle of two commercially relevant crayfish – the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus and the narrow-clawed crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus , and ii) distinguish those that can inhibit the growth of A. astaci mycelium. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry revealed that the majority of collected isolates belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria (69%), followed by Bacteroidetes (17%) and Firmicutes (8%). Using the in vitro plate assays, we tested the potential of the isolates to inhibit A. astaci mycelial growth and classified them as inhibitors (33%) or non-inhibitors (67%). More than half of the identified inhibitors (56%) belonged to the genus Pseudomonas. Our results represent the first step in the understanding of interactions between A. astaci and epibiotic bacteria on the crayfish cuticle and open the perspective for testing in vivo the application of selected bacterial inoculums for crayfish plague prevention and/or treatment. The development of such A. astaci biocontrol measures is urgently needed in astaciculture. • Bacteria were isolated from the cuticle of commercially relevant crayfish. • A third of the isolates inhibited the growth of crayfish pathogen A. astaci. • Pseudomonas isolates were the most potent A. astaci inhibitors. • Our results could start the development of new approaches in A. astaci control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]