Flies are important vectors of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food production, but their role in meat processing environments remains poorly characterized. This study isolated Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcaceae (including Mammaliicoccus sciuri ) from flies collected in bovine and swine slaughterhouses and meat processing industries. Phenotypic AMR was assessed, and the presence of selected antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes ( mecA , sea , see , sec , stx1 , stx2 , and eae ) was verified. Out of 60 flies collected, a total of 34 isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF with 13 different bacterial species, including Escherichia coli , Citrobacter braakii , C. freundii , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Hafnia alvei , Enterobacter kobei , S. aureus , S. epidermidis , S. saprophyticus , S. simulans , S. warneri , S. xylosus , and M. sciuri . Among Staphylococcaceae isolates, 17.6% were resistant to oxacillin and 23.5% to gentamicin. Regarding the Enterobacteriaceae isolates, 41.2% were resistant to streptomycin. Ten isolates (two E. coli , one S . epidermidis , two S. saprophyticus , one S. simulans , one S . warneri and three M. sciuri ) were considered multidrug-resistant (MDR). Notably, none of the targeted genes ( mecA , sea , see , sec , stx1 , stx2 , eae ) were detected by PCR. These findings suggest that flies can disseminate important resistant opportunistic bacteria in meat processing environments, posing concerns due to the capacity of flies to transmit these bacteria across food, processing facilities, animals and humans. These results underscore the need for continuous AMR surveillance and effective vector control to reduce the risks posed by flies in meat processing environments.

This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of coconut water sold from street carts equipped with cooling coils or refrigerated at bakeries in the Grande Vitória Region, Brazil. Additionally, it assessed the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles of isolated enterobacteria. The results indicated that coconut water sold at street carts had lower microbiological quality compared to refrigerated samples, as evidenced by significantly higher counts of mesophilic microorganisms. Using MALDI-TOF, the following opportunistic pathogens were identified: Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter bugandensis, E. kobei, E. roggenkampii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Kluyvera ascorbata. Three isolates—E. bugandensis, K. pneumoniae, and K. ascorbata—were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). Widespread resistance to β-lactams and cephalosporins was detected, and some isolates were resistant to quinolones, nitrofurans, and phosphonic acids. The gene bla_CTX-M-2 was detected in C. freundii, E. bugandensis, E. kobei, and K. ascorbata. However, genes bla_NDM, bla_KPC, bla_CMY-1, and bla_CMY-2 were not detected in any isolate. The findings underscore the need to enhance good manufacturing practices in this sector to control the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To our knowledge, this is the first study documenting the presence of potentially pathogenic enterobacteria in coconut water samples and their associated phenotypic and genotypic AMR profiles.

The BOL lectin, a 34 kDa protein with a hemagglutination titer of 64 hemagglutination units (HU), was extracted from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea spp. botrytis L.), purified by affinity and ion exchange chromatography, and confirmed, in this study, by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The antibiofilm activity of BOL was evaluated at two concentrations (0.1 mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL) against bacterial strains of importance to human health (Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Streptococcus agalactiae ATCC 12403). In addition to a biofilm formation assay, a pre-formed biofilm assay was conducted, with biofilm structure analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The antimicrobial potential of BOL was also investigated using the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assay in 96-well microplates. Among the tested bacterial strains, BOL exhibited activity against S. aureus at 1.0 mg/mL, interfering with both biofilm formation and disrupting pre-formed biofilms, which may be explained by a possible interaction between BOL and the components present in the biofilm matrix. However, no antibiofilm activity was observed against E. coli, B. cereus, or S. agalactiae, possibly due to differences in the composition of their biofilm matrices. Furthermore, BOL showed no detectable bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity in the antimicrobial assays. In conclusion, BOL lectin, at the tested concentrations, does not exhibit direct antimicrobial activity but effectively disrupts the extracellular matrix in S. aureus ATCC 29213.