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Alcaligenes faecalis is a Gram-negative rod that is ubiquitous in the environment and is an opportunistic human pathogen. Here, we report the whole-genome sequencing analysis of A. faecalis HZ01, which presents mycobacterial growth inhibitory activity and was isolated from a contaminated culture of Mycobacterium chubuense ATCC 27278.

Infections related to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have recently increased worldwide. The transmission of these microorganisms from the environment has been suggested as the main source for human infections. To elucidate the epidemiological aspects and distribution of these pathogens, many studies have evaluated several decontamination methods and protocols to properly isolate NTM from environmental samples, mainly from water. However, no satisfactory strategy has been found for isolation of most of the NTM species harboring different phenotypic characteristics. Here, we evaluated the susceptibility of 23 NTM strains presenting variable growth rate and pigmentation patterns to eight different methods: oxalic acid (2.5% and 5%), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) (0.0025% and 0.005%), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (2% and 4%), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) plus NaOH (SDS 1.5%-NaOH 0.5% and SDS 3%-NaOH 1%). It was found that the viability of NTM exposed to different decontamination methods varies according to their phenotypic characteristics and two methods (SDS 1.5% plus NaOH 0.5% and CPC 0.0025%) were necessary for effective isolation of all of the species tested. These findings supply important insights for future studies on the environmental occurrence of mycobacteria and improving the sensibility of traditional strategies.

Background and Objectives:Staphylococcus aureusis an important pathogen and a frequent cause of infections associated with biofilm production in implantable medical devices. Biofilm production can be induced by sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of certain antibiotics, but few studies have researched this occurrence inS. aureus. In this study, we investigated the effect of sub-MICs of rifampicin and minocycline on biofilm production by five clinical and five non-clinicalS. aureusisolates.Methods:Microtiter Plate assay and Congo Red Agar Test were used to analyze the biofilm production. The biofilm composition was evaluated by the detachment assay with sodium metaperiodate and proteinase K.Results:Rifampicin sub-MICs induced very high biofilm formation in seven isolates that were non-producers in Tryptic Soy Broth. In one producer isolate, the biofilm formation level was not affected by sub-MICs of this drug. Sub-MICs of minocycline did not induce biofilm production in all isolates tested and in two producer isolates, instead, MIC/2 and MIC/4 inhibited biofilm production. The results of the drugs in combination were similar to those with rifampicin alone. The biofilm matrix was identified as polysaccharide, except for one producer isolate, classified as proteinaceous. Polysaccharide biofilm producer isolates, when grown on Congo Red Agar without sucrose, but with sub-MICs of rifampicin, showed results in agreement with those obtained in Microtiter Plate Test.Conclusion:The high biofilm production induced by sub-MICs of rifampicin has potential clinical relevance, because this is one of the drugs commonly used in the impregnation of catheters. In addition, it is used adjunctively to treat certainS. aureusinfections.