Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Use of Galleria mellonella as a Model Organism to Study Legionella pneumophila Infection
12:30

Use of Galleria mellonella as a Model Organism to Study Legionella pneumophila Infection

Published on: November 22, 2013

Legionella pneumophila in commercial bottled mineral water

Rocus R Klont1, Antonius J M Rijs, Adilia Warris

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.klont@mmb.umcn.nl

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
|May 19, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Bottled mineral water may contain Legionella bacteria, detected by PCR testing. Further research is needed to assess risks for immunocompromised individuals from potential viable but not culturable bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Safety
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Bottled mineral water is a widely consumed beverage.
  • Contamination of water sources with pathogenic bacteria is a public health concern.
  • Legionella species can cause severe respiratory infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of bacteria and fungi, specifically Legionella, in commercial bottled mineral waters.
  • To assess the potential risk posed by Legionella in bottled water, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

  • Testing of 68 commercial bottled mineral water samples from 64 brands.
  • Detection of bacteria and fungi.
  • Use of Legionella antigen testing and Legionella pneumophila Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
  • Negative Legionella cultures.

Main Results:

  • Six samples tested positive for Legionella antigen.
  • Six samples tested positive for Legionella pneumophila using PCR.
  • Two samples were positive for both Legionella antigen and L. pneumophila PCR.
  • All Legionella cultures were negative.

Conclusions:

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detected Legionella DNA in bottled mineral water, though cultures were negative.
  • The presence of Legionella, potentially in a viable but not culturable (VBNC) state, warrants further investigation.
  • The risk of infection from VBNC Legionella in bottled mineral water for immunocompromised patients requires further study.

More Related Videos

Legionella pneumophila Outer Membrane Vesicles: Isolation and Analysis of Their Pro-inflammatory Potential on Macrophages08:34

Legionella pneumophila Outer Membrane Vesicles: Isolation and Analysis of Their Pro-inflammatory Potential on Macrophages

Published on: February 22, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Cholera01:25

Cholera

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
Reservoir of Infection01:30

Reservoir of Infection

Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes01:30

Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes

Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...
Microbes in Beverage Production01:25

Microbes in Beverage Production

Alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and spirits are the products of microbial fermentation processes that transform simple sugars into ethanol and a wide array of complex flavor compounds. These transformations rely on the metabolic activities of specific yeasts and bacteria, which are selected and controlled to yield the desired beverage characteristics.Wine Fermentation and MaturationWine production begins with the crushing of grapes to release juice and pulp, forming a must that is...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...