Investigation of potential virulence genes and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Enterococcus faecalis isolates from human milk and colostrum samples

ÖZMEN TOĞAY S., Temiz A., ÇELEBİ KESKİN A., AÇIK L., YALÇIN S. S.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY, cilt.38, sa.3, ss.357-364, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 38 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2014
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3906/biy-1311-34
  • Dergi Adı: TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.357-364
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Enterococcus faecalis, virulence gene, antibiotic resistance, human milk, colostrum, FAECIUM STRAINS, ANIMAL ORIGIN, BREAST-MILK, FOOD SAFETY, CHEESE, DETERMINANTS, SUSCEPTIBILITY, INFANT, IDENTIFICATION, PATTERNS
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Enterococci may improve the typical taste and flavor of fermented foods through their proteolytic and lipolytic activities. However, some enterococcal strains are recognized as nosocomial pathogens, which have virulence genes and resistance to certain antibiotics. Enteroccocci are also found in human milk microflora. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential virulence genes and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Enterococcus faecalis isolates from human milk and colostrum samples. In total, 23 Enterococcus faecalis strains were identified from human milk and colostrum samples. Antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis isolates were determined using the disk diffusion method. Vancomycin resistance genes (vanA, vanB) and some virulence genes (agg(2), gelE, efaAfm, ccf, cpd, cad, cylM, cylB, etc.) were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All strains were sensitive to ampicillin, penicillin G, chloramphenicol, and vancomycin. None of the E. faecalis isolates contained vanA, vanB, or efaAfm genes. The results of this study indicated that there were no harmful enterococci strains in human milk and colostrum samples in terms of tested virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the E. faecalis isolates from human milk may have the potential to be considered as a functional culture for the food industry.