Evaluation of novel chromogenic substrates for the detection of bacterial β-glucosidase

Perry, John, Morris, Kirsti, James, Arthur, Oliver, Michelle and Gould, Frances Kate (2007) Evaluation of novel chromogenic substrates for the detection of bacterial β-glucosidase. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 102 (2). pp. 410-415. ISSN 1364-5072

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Abstract

Aims: To evaluate three previously unreported substrates for the detection of β-glucosidase activity in clinically relevant bacteria and to compare their performance with a range of known substrates in an agar medium.

Methods and Results: The performance of 11 chromogenic β-glucosidase substrates was compared using 109 Enterobacteriaceae strains, 40 enterococci and 20 strains of Listeria spp. Three previously unreported β-glucosides were tested including derivatives of alizarin, 3′,4′-dihydroxyflavone and 3-hydroxyflavone. These were compared with esculin and β-glucoside derivatives of 3,4-cyclohexenoesculetin, 8-hydroxyquinoline and five indoxylics. All substrates yielded coloured precipitates upon hydrolysis in agar. Alizarin-β-d-glucoside was the most sensitive substrate tested and detected β-glucosidase activity in 72% of Enterobacteriaceae strains and all enterococci and Listeria spp. The two flavone derivatives showed poor sensitivity with Gram-negative bacteria but excellent sensitivity with enterococci and Listeria spp.

Conclusions: Alizarin-β-d-glucoside is a highly sensitive substrate for detection of bacterial β-glucosidase and compares favourably with existing substrates. β-glucosides of 3′,4′-dihydroxyflavone and 3-hydroxyflavone are effective substrates for the detection of β-glucosidase in enterococci and Listeria spp.

Significance and Impact of the Study: The data presented allow for informed decisions to be made regarding the optimal choice of β-glucosidase substrate for detection of pathogenic and/or indicator bacteria.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	β-glucosidase; 3-hydroxyflavone; Alizarin; Chromogenic substrates; Dihydroxyflavone
Subjects:	C500 Microbiology
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Applied Sciences
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2015 12:04
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 17:30
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/20087

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