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Effect of starvation on survival and adhesion ability of Shigella spp. in domestic treatment plant effluent microcosms

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Abstract

The survival of bacteria in natural environments is of practical importance. In this study, we investigated the effect of starvation on the survival and adhesion ability of Shigella in domestic treatment plant effluent microcosms after incubation at either room temperature or 4°C for 1 month. Our results showed that the number of cells decreased considerably after this period of stress. We also revealed some modifications to the biochemical and enzymatic profiles, and antibiotic susceptibility of stressed cells. Adherence assays to the human oral cavity epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cell line revealed an increase in the number of adherent cells from 0.7 to 1.85% after 1 month of incubation in domestic treatment plant effluent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Analysis, Treatment and Valorization of Environment Pollutants and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Avenue Avicenne, 5019, Monastir, Tunisia

    Ali Ellafi, Fethi Ben Abdallah & Amina Bakhrouf

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  1. Ali Ellafi
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  2. Fethi Ben Abdallah
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  3. Amina Bakhrouf
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Correspondence to Ali Ellafi.

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Ellafi, A., Abdallah, F.B. & Bakhrouf, A. Effect of starvation on survival and adhesion ability of Shigella spp. in domestic treatment plant effluent microcosms. Ann Microbiol 60, 383–389 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0053-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0053-0

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