Research Findings
- E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from shrimp P. indicus from retail market in Cochin This is the first report of detection and isolation of typical E. coli O157 EHEC from seafood in India.
- E. coli serotypes isolated from aquaculture system were O157 and O6 (from shrimp), O8 (from sediment) and O142 and O112ac ( from Feed ).
- The tdh gene for virulence in V. paraheamolyticus was not detected in shrimp, post larvae and fish samples analysed, thereby indicating that they have no pathogenic potential.
- Acinomycete isolates from Puffer fish exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus.
- Bacillus spp. isolated from Pufferfish produced thermo tolerant amylase and proteolytic enzymes active at 550C. The optimum temperature and pH protease enzyme production was at >= 300C and pH 6.0.
- C. botulinum type B was detected in pasteurized crab sample.
- Yersinia enterocolitica was detected in squid samples from retail market in Cochin. This is the first report of isolation of Y. enterocolitica from seafoods in Kerala. Fish and shellfish from retail market in Cochin were found to be contaminated with other Yersinia spp, Y. intermedia, Y. fredriksenii and Y. kristensenii .
- The envelop proteins of White spot Syndrome virus VP19, VP28, VP68, VP281, VP466 and the capsid protein VP26 were PCR characterized
- Salmonella Washington and Salmonella Worthington, Salmonella VI were identified from seafood samples and active lactose utilizing Salmonella salmae and Salmonella indica were isolated from seafood
- A matrix effect was observed for cephalopod (squid, cuttlefish and octopus) during PCR assay and the ink was found to interfere with the detection of Salmonella by Direct PCR assay of squid, cuttlefish and octopus samples.
- The microflora of cephalopods revealed a preponderance of Gram negative bacteria comprising of Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium Acinetobacter, Shewanella and Moraxella. Other genera like Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococccus, Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Nocardia , Micrococcus and Streptococcus were found in lower frequencies.
- The aerobic mesophilic bacterial count on gutted rainbow trout (Oncorynchus spp) collectd from Munnar ( <105cfu/g) was decreased on icing and one log reduction was noticed. Significant reduction (>90% ) was also noticed in total coliform counts after 8 days of storage.
- In hot smoked trout stored under vacuum the the aerobic mesophilic bacterial count exceeded 108 cfu/g after three months storage whereas in cold smoked trout stored under vacuum, the count exceeded 108 cfu/g after two months storage. The microflora was dominated by H2S producers and LAB.
- In smoked common carp samples with and without adding spices and stored under air and vacuum at 0-20C, the aerobic mesophilic count exceeded 107 cfu/g after one month in all the samples irrespective of the storage atmosphere. Faecal streptococci were found in significant numbers. Fungal count was high in all the samples and samples were spoiled
- The osmotolerant genes for ectoine biosynthesis in saline soil bacteria Bacillus spp. and for Glycine betaine biosynthesis in marine cyanobacteria were characterized.
- Gene Sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAL1 mRNA (an antiporter gene responsible for osmotolerance) was submitted to National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), USA. with GenBank Accession number: EF015596 Authors: Joseph T.C.. Anbu rajan L.. Bansal K.C. Chinnusamy V. and Thampuran. N.