Australasian Biotechnology, Vol. 12 No. 1, 2002, pp. 5

FROM THE EDITOR

FOOD SAFETY, HUMAN HEALTH AND ANTIBIOTICS

Dr Martin Playne

Code Number: au02003

In this issue, we are proud to include a major review on the bacterium Enterococcus and food, from a leading German research group headed by Professor Wilhelm Holtzapfel. Why do I consider this paper so important? The genus Enterococcus contains species which are common inhabitants of faeces. Entereococcus faecium and E. faecalis are ubiquitous organisms and are usually considered to be pathogens and may cause a variety of human infections. They are also resistant to many antibiotics, and, importantly, hospital strains have been isolated which are even resistant to vancomycin (often considered to be one of the “last resort”antibiotics). Thus, some enterococcal strains are quite dangerous, particularly in the hospital situation. But this is not the case for all strains: some are prevalent during silage making, and indeed their metabolic abilities to utilise glucose differently in the presence and absence of malic acid and citric acid have made good subjects for research. Part of my own PhD studies in Edinburgh many years ago included such work.

A strain called SF68 of F. faecium has been used for over 20 years mainly in central Europe as a probiotic species and incorporated into yoghurts, fermented drinks and pills. It has been shown to be quite effective against travellers’ diarrhoea and a number of other conditions. More recently, an Irish research group has incorporated a similar strain into cheese for studies on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Preliminary studies elsewhere had shown that this strain may be effective against lBS. These strains show some good probiotic properties: they tolerate high concentrations of salt and high temperatures, making them particularly suitable for manufacturing processes. Enterococci are also found naturally occurring in some cheeses, particularly Mediterranean-style cheeses. So there is a good side to this important genus. Unfortunately, few manufacturers will risk using enterococci as probiotics, because of the ability of some strains to be vancomycin resistant in the hospital environment, and the dangers and costs that this incurs. This is why the work of Dr Franz and his co-authors published in this issue of Australasian Biotechnology is of importance to our readership. It highlights some important points for us: the magnitude of the emerging problem of antibiotic resistance to our health; the importance of subtle differences between strains of the same species- some safe, others not; and the realisation that ubiquitous organisms found in many ecological niches have potential to be important industrial organisms as well as nasty pathogens. I commend this quite long article by Franz et al to your attention.

In this issue, we have also included a very interesting legal paper by Sangeeta Puran of Freehills in Sydney on cloning, and embryonic research which highlights the important differences between States and the Commonwealth in legal aspects controlling this area of research and practice. The subtleties of such differences are often overlooked by most biotechnologists, yet they determine what can be researched in each state, and more importantly what can be practised. This is a topical and an emotive area, yet, perhaps the area of medical and veterinary biotechnology of greatest importance to the minimisation of the impact of genetic diseases in humans and, ultimately, to new ways of reproduction of the human race. For domestic animal production, it is already becoming obvious that cloning will be of great economic importance for meat, wool and dairy production.

The third paper presented is a short mini-review of DNA microarrays: their production and their applications, by Mark Street from Queensland. We are planning to bring you in later issues other mini-reviews of this style to provide readers with snapshot updates in emerging areas of biotechnology. Of course, this issue also contains many of our regular features.

I would like to remind our regular readers, and to bring to the attention of our many new readers, the need for you to send us news items about your research, your projects, your ideas, your papers be they legal or scientific, and particularly your comments about this journal. The journal will only prosper if you use it to advertise to our rapidly expanding readership your company’s products and services. I look forward to hearing from you during the year. I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.

Dr Martin Playne

Copyright 2002 - AusBiotech