Significant scientific results 2012

Selenomonas ruminantium plasmids

Lívia Kolesar Fecskeová, Peter Javorský, Peter Pristaš

Genomic analysis of plasmid populations in Selenomonas ruminantium, an important representative of the microbial ecosystem of the ruminant digestive tract, revealed that recombination plays an important role in the evolution of these plasmids. By comparing plasmid genomes, we identified highly conserved sequences that are likely to serve as hot spots for recombination and exchange of replication modules. Using PCR, we characterised several replication modules of S. ruminantium plasmids and identified the presence of a novel replication module from a previously unknown plasmid. We also observed significant structural instability of S. ruminantium plasmids.

KOLESAR FECSKEOVÁ, Lívia – IVAN, Jozef – JAVORSKÝ, Peter – PRISTAŠ, Peter. Variability of putative rep gene cassettes in Selenomonas ruminantium plasmids. In FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2012, vol., 336 no. 2, p. 98-103. (2011: 2.044 – IF, Q3 – JCR, 1.105 – SJR, Q2 – SJR, karentované – CCC). (2012 – Current Contents). ISSN 0378-1097.

Experimental probiotics in dogs

Viola Strompfová, Iveta Plachá, Klaudia Čobanová, Andrea Lauková

In an effort to find solutions to current health problems in dogs, primarily related to immune system dysfunction, we focused on investigating the effects of a plant extract of pimento (Eleutherococcus senticosus Rupr. & Maxim.) – an adaptogen known primarily for its anti-stress, antioxidant, immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory effects found in human studies to date. At the same time, the combination of the extract with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum CCM 7421 (AD1) applied orally to healthy dogs for 14 days was also tested. The differential results of the application of the extract alone and its combination with the probiotic strain indicated a more beneficial use of the combination application, in which an increase in the population of lactic acid producing bacteria, a reduction in clostridia and ammonia concentration in faeces, stimulation of phagocytic activity of leucocytes and an increase in total proteins in blood serum were observed. The combination of E. senticosus extract with L. fermentum CCM 7421 may have a promising application in the modulation of the intestinal microflora and the immune system in dogs, once the dose and duration of administration have been optimised in terms of maintaining the solid consistency of the faeces.

STROMPFOVÁ, Viola – PLACHÁ, Iveta – ČOBANOVÁ, Klaudia – GANCARČÍKOVÁ, Soňa – MUDROŇOVÁ, Dagmar – LAUKOVÁ, Andrea. Experimental addition of Eleutherococcus senticosus and probiotic to the canine diet. In Central European Journal of Biology, 2012, vol. 7, no. 3, p. 436-447. (2011: 1.000 – IF, Q3 – JCR, karentované – CCC). (2012 – Current Contents). ISSN 1895-104X.

Bifidobacteria isolated from dog faeces

Vladimír Kmeť

The aim of this study was to identify and characterise bifidobacteria from dogs and to compare them with commercially available probiotic strains. Sixteen isolates of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp.lactis from dog faeces (German Shepherd) were identified by species-specific PCR, MALDI-TOF analysis and DNA sequencing. This work is the first to describe the occurrence of B. animalis ssp.lactis in the intestinal tract of dogs. Isolates from dogs differed subtly in RAPD and rep-PCR profiles compared to strains from yoghurt and type strains of B.animalis ssp.lactis. Strong auto-aggregation ability was observed only in the dog strains.

BUNEŠOVÁ, V. – VLKOVÁ, E. – ŘADA, V. – ROČKOVÁ, Š. – SVOBODOVÁ, I. – JEBAVÝ, L. – KMEŤ, Vladimír. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strains isolated from dog faeces. In Veterinary Microbiology, 2012, vol. 160, no. 3-4, p. 501-503. (2011: 3.327 – IF, Q1 – JCR, 1.560 – SJR, Q1 – SJR, karentované – CCC). (2012 – Current Contents). ISSN 0378-1135.