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Anin vitro evaluation of the interactions ofLegionella pneumophila serogroups 2 to 14 strains with other bacteria in the same habitat

  • Ecological and Environmental Microbiology
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Abstract

The aim of the present study is to determinein vitro inhibitory and/or stimulatory effects of different bacteria on concomitantLegio nella pneumophila. The interactions betweenLegionella and other bacteria were investigated by using bacteria culture and cell-free supernatants (CFSs) on Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract agar (BCYEA) and/or in BCYEA lacking L-cysteine. Additionally, CFSs of non-Legionella bacteria that possess inhibitory effect onL. pneumophila were characterised using enzyme and heat treatments. The inhibition ratio of the CFSs and the cultures of Gram-negative rod bacteria (GNRB) and Gram-positive rod bacteria (GPRB) on the growth ofL. pneumophila strains were 26–47% and 33–67%, respectively, on BCYEA. It was detected that the cultures ofAeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas spp. strain andBacillus pumilus stimulated the growth of one of the investigatedL. pneumophila strains, but their CFSs did not show any stimulatory effect. The results indicated that growth and multiplication of legionellae could be affected by different bacteria sharing the same habitat and the level of this effect varies among the species. To our knowledge, this is the first study which determined the inhibitory effects ofB. pumilus andBrevibacillus brevis againstLegionella. The biologically active substances produced by the bacteria could play an important role in the control ofL. pneumophila. This phenomenon may be used an alternative approach for controlling legionellae in man-made environments.

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  1. Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Section of Basic and Industrial Microbiology, Istanbul University, 34134, Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ayten Kimiran Erdem & Aysegül Yazici

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  1. Ayten Kimiran Erdem
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  2. Aysegül Yazici
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Correspondence to Ayten Kimiran Erdem.

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Erdem, A.K., Yazici, A. Anin vitro evaluation of the interactions ofLegionella pneumophila serogroups 2 to 14 strains with other bacteria in the same habitat. Ann. Microbiol. 58, 395–401 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175534

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175534

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