1
|
Yang X, Scharff R. Foodborne Illnesses from Leafy Greens in the United States: Attribution, Burden, and Cost. J Food Prot 2024; 87:100275. [PMID: 38609013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfp.2024.100275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Leafy green vegetables are a major source of foodborne illnesses. Nevertheless, few studies have attempted to estimate attribution and burden of illness estimates for leafy greens. This study combines results from three outbreak-based attribution models with illness incidence and economic cost models to develop comprehensive pathogen-specific burden estimates for leafy greens and their subcategories in the United States. We find that up to 9.18% (90% CI: 5.81%-15.18%) of foodborne illnesses linked to identified pathogens are attributed to leafy greens. Including 'Unknown' illnesses not linked to specific pathogens, leafy greens account for as many as 2,307,558 (90% CI: 1,077,815-4,075,642) illnesses annually in the United States. The economic cost of these illnesses is estimated to be up to $5.278 billion (90% CI: $3.230-$8.221 billion) annually. Excluding the pathogens with small outbreak sizes, Norovirus, Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli (both non-O157 and O157:H7), Campylobacter spp., and nontyphoidal Salmonella, are associated with the highest number of illnesses and greatest costs from leafy greens. While lettuce (romaine, iceberg, "other lettuce") takes 60.8% of leafy green outbreaks, it accounts for up to 75.7% of leafy green foodborne illnesses and 70% of costs. Finally, we highlighted that 19.8% of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli O157:H7 illnesses are associated with romaine among all food commodities, resulting in 12,496 estimated illnesses and $324.64 million annually in the United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuerui Yang
- Department of Human Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Robert Scharff
- Department of Human Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Osborn B, Hatfield J, Lanier W, Wagner J, Oakeson K, Casey R, Bullough J, Kache P, Miko S, Kunz J, Pederson G, Leeper M, Strockbine N, McKeel H, Hofstetter J, Roundtree A, Kahler A, Mattioli M. Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Illness Outbreak Associated with Untreated, Pressurized, Municipal Irrigation Water - Utah, 2023. MMWR. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2024; 73:411-416. [PMID: 38722798 PMCID: PMC11095944 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7318a1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
During July-September 2023, an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 illness among children in city A, Utah, caused 13 confirmed illnesses; seven patients were hospitalized, including two with hemolytic uremic syndrome. Local, state, and federal public health partners investigating the outbreak linked the illnesses to untreated, pressurized, municipal irrigation water (UPMIW) exposure in city A; 12 of 13 ill children reported playing in or drinking UPMIW. Clinical isolates were genetically highly related to one another and to environmental isolates from multiple locations within city A's UPMIW system. Microbial source tracking, a method to indicate possible contamination sources, identified birds and ruminants as potential sources of fecal contamination of UPMIW. Public health and city A officials issued multiple press releases regarding the outbreak reminding residents that UPMIW is not intended for drinking or recreation. Public education and UPMIW management and operations interventions, including assessing and mitigating potential contamination sources, covering UPMIW sources and reservoirs, indicating UPMIW lines and spigots with a designated color, and providing conspicuous signage to communicate risk and intended use might help prevent future UPMIW-associated illnesses.
Collapse
|
3
|
Jacob C, Micallef SA, Melotto M. Editorial: Plant and human pathogen interactions: gaining insights into the impact of environmental and crop management factors. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1414227. [PMID: 38774218 PMCID: PMC11106785 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1414227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristián Jacob
- Departamento de Ciencias Vegetales, Facultad de Agronomía y Sistemas Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Shirley A. Micallef
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
- Centre for Food Safety and Security Systems, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Maeli Melotto
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wu W, Zhao Q, Zhang B. Viable Escherichia coli enumeration on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip with vertical channel-well configuration. Mikrochim Acta 2024; 191:241. [PMID: 38573377 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06338-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The culture-based methods for viable Escherichia coli (E. coli) detection suffer from long detection time and laborious procedures, whereas the molecule tests and immune recognition technologies lack live/dead E. coli differentiation. Rapid, easy-to-use, and accessible viable E. coli detection is of benefit to bacterial infection diagnosis and risk warning of E. coli contamination of water and food, safeguarding human health. Herein, we propose a microwell chip-based solution to realize simple and rapid determination of viable E. coli. The vertical channel-well configuration is applied to develop the microwell array chip for increasing the microwell density (6200 wells/cm2), yielding a broad dynamic range from 103 to 107 CFU/mL. We incorporate an inducible enzyme assay with the developed chip and achieve the differentiation of live/dead E. coli within 4 h, significantly shortening the detection time from over 24 h in the standard method. By encapsulating single E. coli into microwells, the concentration of viable cells can be determined simultaneously through counting positive microwells. In addition, the air soluble PDMS that can store negative pressure for independent sample digitalization endows the developed chip with simple operation and less reliance on external equipment. With further developments for increasing the number of microwell and integrating more sample panels, the developed chip can become a useful tool for rapid viable E. coli enumeration with user-friendly operation, simple procedures, and accessibility in decentralized settings, thereby deploying this device for water and food safety monitoring, as well as clinical bacterial infection diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenshuai Wu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Qianbin Zhao
- Center of Health Science and Engineering, Hebei Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Smart Theranostics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300131, China
| | - Boran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ding Q, Gu G, Nou X, Micallef SA. Cultivar was more influential than bacterial strain and other experimental factors in recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7 populations from inoculated live Romaine lettuce plants. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0376723. [PMID: 38363139 PMCID: PMC10986467 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03767-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The varied choice of bacterial strain, plant cultivar, and method used to inoculate, retrieve, and enumerate Escherichia coli O157:H7 from live plants could affect comparability among studies evaluating lettuce-enterobacterial interactions. Cultivar, bacterial strain, incubation time, leaf side inoculated, and sample processing method were assessed for their influence in recovering and quantifying E. coli O157:H7 from live Romaine lettuce. Cultivar exerted the strongest effect on E. coli O157:H7 counts, which held up even when cultivar was considered in interactions with other factors. Recovery from the popularly grown green Romaine "Rio Bravo" was higher than from the red variety "Outredgeous." Other modulating variables were incubation time, strain, and leaf side inoculated. Sample processing method was not significant. Incubation for 24 hours post-lettuce inoculation yielded greater counts than 48 hours, but was affected by lettuce cultivar, bacterial strain, and leaf side inoculated. Higher counts obtained for strain EDL933 compared to a lettuce outbreak strain 2705C emphasized the importance of selecting relevant strains for the system being studied. Inoculating the abaxial side of leaves gave higher counts than adaxial surface inoculation, although this factor interacted with strain and incubation period. Our findings highlight the importance of studying interactions between appropriate bacterial strains and plant cultivars for more relevant research results, and of standardizing inoculation and incubation procedures. The strong effect of cultivar exerted on the E. coli O157:H7-lettuce association supports the need to start reporting cultivar information for illness outbreaks to facilitate the identification and study of plant traits that impact food safety risk.IMPORTANCEThe contamination of Romaine lettuce with Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been linked to multiple foodborne disease outbreaks, but variability in the methods used to evaluate E. coli O157:H7 association with live lettuce plants complicates the comparability of different studies. In this study, various experimental variables and sample processing methods for recovering and quantifying E. coli O157:H7 from live Romaine lettuce were assessed. Cultivar was found to exert the strongest influence on E. coli O157:H7 retrieval from lettuce. Other modulating factors were bacterial incubation time on plants, strain, and leaf side inoculated, while sample processing method had no impact. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting relevant cultivars and strains, and of standardizing inoculation and incubation procedures, in these types of assessments. Moreover, results support the need to start reporting cultivars implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks to facilitate the identification and study of plant traits that impact food safety risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Ding
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ganyu Gu
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, USDA ARS, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiangwu Nou
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, USDA ARS, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Shirley A. Micallef
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
- Center for Food Safety and Security Systems, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Costa-Ribeiro A, Lamas A, Mora A, Prado M, Garrido-Maestu A. Moving towards on-site detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in ready-to-eat leafy greens. Curr Res Food Sci 2024; 8:100716. [PMID: 38511154 PMCID: PMC10950744 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2024.100716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapid identification of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, or STEC, is of utmost importance to assure the innocuousness of the foodstuffs. STEC have been implicated in outbreaks associated with different types of foods however, among them, ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables are particularly problematic as they are consumed raw, and are rich in compounds that inhibit DNA-based detection methods such as qPCR. In the present study a novel method based on Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to overcome the limitations associated with current molecular methods for the detection of STEC in RTE vegetables targeting stx1 and stx2 genes. In this sense, LAMP demonstrated to be more robust against inhibitory substances in food. In this study, a comprehensive enrichment protocol was combined with four inexpensive DNA extraction protocols. The one based on silica purification enhanced the performance of the method, therefore it was selected for its implementation in the final method. Additionally, three different detection chemistries were compared, namely real-time fluorescence detection, and two end-point colorimetric strategies, one based on the addition of SYBR Green, and the other based on a commercial colorimetric master mix. After optimization, all three chemistries demonstrated suitable for the detection of STEC in spiked RTE salad samples, as it was possible to reach a LOD50 of 0.9, 1.4, and 7.0 CFU/25 g for the real-time, SYBR and CC LAMP assays respectively. All the performance parameters reached values higher than 90 %, when compared to a reference method based on multiplex qPCR. More specifically, the analytical sensitivity was 100, 90.0 and 100 % for real-time, SYBR and CC LAMP respectively, the specificity 100 % for all three assays, and accuracy 100, 96 and 100 %. Finally, a high degree of concordance was also obtained (1, 0.92 and 1 respectively). Considering the current technological advances, the method reported, using any of the three detection strategies, demonstrated suitable for their implementation in decentralized settings, with low equipment resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Costa-Ribeiro
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Alexandre Lamas
- Food Hygiene, Inspection and Control Laboratory (Lhica), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition, and Bromatology, Veterinary School, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Azucena Mora
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Dpto. de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago, Spain
| | - Marta Prado
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal
- Food Hygiene, Inspection and Control Laboratory (Lhica), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition, and Bromatology, Veterinary School, Campus Terra, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Alejandro Garrido-Maestu
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MicroTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello, 6, 36208, Vigo, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Youseef M, Karam F, Kadry M, Elhariri M, Elhelw R. Escherichia coli and their potential transmission of carbapenem and colistin-resistant genes in camels. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:65. [PMID: 38402189 PMCID: PMC10893666 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03215-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Camels harbouring multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are capable of transmitting various microorganisms to humans. This study aimed to determine the distribution of anti-microbial resistance among Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from the feces of apparently healthy camels in Egyptian abattoirs. Additionally, we sought to characterize Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains, assess their virulence potential, and investigate the possibility of camels spreading carbapenem- and colistin-resistant E. coli. METHODS 121 fecal swaps were collected from camels in different abattoirs in Egypt. Isolation and identification of E. coli were performed using conventional culture techniques and biochemical identification. All isolates obtained from the examined samples underwent genotyping through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the Shiga toxin-encoding genes (Stx1 and Stx2), the carbapenemase-encoding genes (blaKPC, blaOXA-48, blaNDM, and blaVIM), and the mcr genes for mcr-1 to mcr-5. RESULT Bacteriological examination revealed 75 E. coli isolates. PCR results revealed that one strain (1.3%) tested positive for Stx1, and five (6.6%) were positive for Stx2. Among the total 75 strains of E. coli, the overall prevalence of carbapenemase-producing E. coli was 27, with 7 carrying blaOXA48, 14 carrying blaNDM, and 6 carrying blaVIM. Notably, no strains were positive for blaKPC but a high prevalence rate of mcr genes were detected. mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, and mcr-4 genes were detected among 3, 2, 21, and 3 strains, respectively. CONCLUSION The results indicate that camels in Egypt may be a primary source of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) E. coli, which could potentially be transmitted directly to humans or through the food chain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Youseef
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Fatma Karam
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mona Kadry
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Mahmoud Elhariri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Rehab Elhelw
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO Box 12211, Giza, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Thomas GA, Paradell Gil T, Müller CT, Rogers HJ, Berger CN. From field to plate: How do bacterial enteric pathogens interact with ready-to-eat fruit and vegetables, causing disease outbreaks? Food Microbiol 2024; 117:104389. [PMID: 37919001 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Ready-to-eat fruit and vegetables are a convenient source of nutrients and fibre for consumers, and are generally safe to eat, but are vulnerable to contamination with human enteric bacterial pathogens. Over the last decade, Salmonella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes have been linked to most of the bacterial outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with fresh produce. The origins of these outbreaks have been traced to multiple sources of contamination from pre-harvest (soil, seeds, irrigation water, domestic and wild animal faecal matter) or post-harvest operations (storage, preparation and packaging). These pathogens have developed multiple processes for successful attachment, survival and colonization conferring them the ability to adapt to multiple environments. However, these processes differ across bacterial strains from the same species, and across different plant species or cultivars. In a competitive environment, additional risk factors are the plant microbiome phyllosphere and the plant responses; both factors directly modulate the survival of the pathogens on the leaf's surface. Understanding the mechanisms involved in bacterial attachment to, colonization of, and proliferation, on fresh produce and the role of the plant in resisting bacterial contamination is therefore crucial to reducing future outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gareth A Thomas
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Teresa Paradell Gil
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Carsten T Müller
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Hilary J Rogers
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Cedric N Berger
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Baker KS, Jauneikaite E, Hopkins KL, Lo SW, Sánchez-Busó L, Getino M, Howden BP, Holt KE, Musila LA, Hendriksen RS, Amoako DG, Aanensen DM, Okeke IN, Egyir B, Nunn JG, Midega JT, Feasey NA, Peacock SJ. Genomics for public health and international surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2023; 4:e1047-e1055. [PMID: 37977162 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00283-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Historically, epidemiological investigation and surveillance for bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has relied on low-resolution isolate-based phenotypic analyses undertaken at local and national reference laboratories. Genomic sequencing has the potential to provide a far more high-resolution picture of AMR evolution and transmission, and is already beginning to revolutionise how public health surveillance networks monitor and tackle bacterial AMR. However, the routine integration of genomics in surveillance pipelines still has considerable barriers to overcome. In 2022, a workshop series and online consultation brought together international experts in AMR and pathogen genomics to assess the status of genomic applications for AMR surveillance in a range of settings. Here we focus on discussions around the use of genomics for public health and international AMR surveillance, noting the potential advantages of, and barriers to, implementation, and proposing recommendations from the working group to help to drive the adoption of genomics in public health AMR surveillance. These recommendations include the need to build capacity for genome sequencing and analysis, harmonising and standardising surveillance systems, developing equitable data sharing and governance frameworks, and strengthening interactions and relationships among stakeholders at multiple levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate S Baker
- Department for Clinical Infection, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Elita Jauneikaite
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Katie L Hopkins
- HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK; Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Reference Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Stephanie W Lo
- Parasites and Microbes, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Leonor Sánchez-Busó
- Genomics and Health Area, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Community (FISABIO-Public Health), Valencia, Spain; CIBERESP, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Getino
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | - Benjamin P Howden
- The Centre for Pathogen Genomics, Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kathryn E Holt
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Department of Infectious Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lillian A Musila
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, United States Army Medical Research Directorate - Africa, Nairobi, Kenya; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rene S Hendriksen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Daniel G Amoako
- Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - David M Aanensen
- Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Big Data Institute, Oxford, UK
| | - Iruka N Okeke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Beverly Egyir
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana, West Africa
| | - Jamie G Nunn
- Infectious Disease Challenge Area, Wellcome Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Nicholas A Feasey
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme, Malawi
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tarr GAM, Rounds J, Vachon MS, Smith K, Medus C, Hedberg CW. Differences in risk factors for transmission among Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups and stx profiles. J Infect 2023; 87:498-505. [PMID: 38251470 PMCID: PMC10803930 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Trends in the incidence of O157 and non-O157 serogroups of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections have markedly diverged. Here, we estimate the extent to which STEC serogroups share the same transmission routes and risk factors, potentially explaining these trends. METHODS With 3048 STEC cases reported in Minnesota from 2010 to 2019, we used lasso penalized regression to estimate pooled odds ratios (pOR) for the association between STEC risk factors and specific STEC serogroups and Shiga toxin gene profiles. We used random forests as a confirmatory analysis. RESULTS Across an extended period of time, we found evidence for person-to-person transmission associated with the O26 serogroup, relative to other serogroups (pOR = 1.32 for contact with an individual with diarrhea). Rurality was less associated with non-O157 serogroups than O157 (pOR = 1.21 for each increasing level of rurality). We also found an association between unpasteurized juice and strains carrying only stx1 (pOR = 1.41). CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these results show differences in risk factors across STEC types, which suggest differences in the most effective routes of transmission. Serogroup-specific disease control strategies should be explored. Specifically, preventative measures for non-O157 STEC need to extend beyond those we have employed for O157 STEC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gillian A M Tarr
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States.
| | - Joshua Rounds
- Foodborne, Waterborne, Vectorborne, and Zoonotic Diseases Section, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States
| | - Madhura S Vachon
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Kirk Smith
- Foodborne, Waterborne, Vectorborne, and Zoonotic Diseases Section, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States
| | - Carlota Medus
- Foodborne, Waterborne, Vectorborne, and Zoonotic Diseases Section, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States
| | - Craig W Hedberg
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Carter MQ, Quiñones B, Laniohan N, Carychao D, Pham A, He X, Cooley M. Pathogenicity assessment of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from wild birds in a major agricultural region in California. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1214081. [PMID: 37822735 PMCID: PMC10562709 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1214081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) consists of diverse strains differing in genetic make-up and virulence potential. To better understand the pathogenicity potential of STEC carried by the wildlife, three STEC and one E. coli strains isolated from wild birds near a major agricultural region in California were selected for comparative pathogenomic analyses. Three American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) strains, RM9088, RM9513, and RM10410, belonging to phylogroup A with serotypes O109:H48, O9:H30, and O113:H4, respectively, and a red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) strain RM14516 in phylogroup D with serotype O17:H18, were examined. Shiga toxin genes were identified in RM9088 (stx1a), RM10410 (stx1a + stx2d), and RM14516 (stx2a). Unlike STEC O157:H7 strain EDL933, none of the avian STEC strains harbored the pathogenicity islands OI-122, OI-57, and the locus of enterocyte effacement, therefore the type III secretion system biogenesis genes and related effector genes were absent in the three avian STEC genomes. Interestingly, all avian STEC strains exhibited greater (RM9088 and RM14516) or comparable (RM10410) cytotoxicity levels compared with EDL933. Comparative pathogenomic analyses revealed that RM9088 harbored numerous genes encoding toxins, toxins delivery systems, and adherence factors, including heat-labile enterotoxin, serine protease autotransporter toxin Pic, type VI secretion systems, protein adhesin Paa, fimbrial adhesin K88, and colonization factor antigen I. RM9088 also harbored a 36-Kb high pathogenicity island, which is related to iron acquisition and pathogenicity in Yersinia spp. Strain RM14516 carried an acid fitness island like the one in EDL933, containing a nine gene cluster involved in iron acquisition. Genes encoding extracellular serine protease EspP, subtilase cytotoxin, F1C fimbriae, and inverse autotransporter adhesin IatC were only detected in RM14516, and genes encoding serine protease autotransporter EspI and P fimbriae were only identified in RM10410. Although all curli genes were present in avian STEC strains, production of curli fimbriae was only detected for RM9088 and RM14516. Consistently, strong, moderate, and little biofilms were observed for RM9088, RM14516, and RM10410, respectively. Our study revealed novel combinations of virulence factors in two avian strains, which exhibited high level of cytotoxicity and strong biofilm formation. Comparative pathogenomics is powerful in assessing pathogenicity and health risk of STEC strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Qiu Carter
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Beatriz Quiñones
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Nicole Laniohan
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Diana Carychao
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Antares Pham
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Xiaohua He
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Michael Cooley
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Costa-Ribeiro A, Azinheiro S, Fernandes SPS, Lamas A, Prado M, Salonen LM, Garrido-Maestu A. Evaluation of Covalent Organic Frameworks for the low-cost, rapid detection of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli in ready-to-eat salads. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1267:341357. [PMID: 37257973 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ready-to-eat products, such as leafy greens, must be carefully controlled as they are directly consumed without any treatment to reduce the presence of potential pathogens. Food industries, especially those that process products with short shelf-life, demand rapid detection of foodborne pathogens such as Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). In this sense, molecular methods can fulfill both requirements of turnaround time and consumer safety. The most popular rapid methods are those based on real-time PCR (qPCR) however, vegetables contain inhibitory compounds that may inhibit the amplification reaction thus, there is a need for novel sample preparation protocols. RESULTS In the current study, a low-cost sample treatment based on sequential filtration steps was developed. This protocol was combined with covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and compared against a chelating resin, to evaluate their performance by multiplex qPCR targeting the major virulence genes of STEC, namely stx1, stx2, and eae, along with the rfbE for the specific identification of serogroup O157 due to its particularly high incidence, and an Internal Amplification Control to assess reaction inhibition. The optimized sample treatment effectively removed vegetable qPCR inhibitory compounds, and it was possible to detect STEC in spiked ready-to-eat salad samples in one working day, roughly 5 h, with an LOD50 of 8.7 CFU/25 g with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The method was also assessed in samples with cold-stressed bacteria with good results, further demonstrating its applicability. SIGNIFICANCE It was demonstrated for the first time that COFs are suitable for DNA extraction and purification. In addition to this, due to the tunable nature of these materials, it is envisioned that future modifications in terms of pore size or combination with magnetic materials, will allow to further improve their performance. In addition to this, the rapid and low-cost sample treatment protocol developed demonstrated suitable for the rapid screening of STEC vegetable samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Costa-Ribeiro
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal; Health and Environment Research Center, School of Health, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias 712, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Sarah Azinheiro
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal; College of Pharmacy/School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, E-15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Soraia P S Fernandes
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry - Network of Chemistry and Technology (LAQV-REQUIMTE), Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Lamas
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Marta Prado
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal
| | - Laura M Salonen
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal; CINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Department of Organic Chemistry, 36310, Vigo, Spain.
| | - Alejandro Garrido-Maestu
- International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Av. Mestre José Veiga s/n, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Stager C, Donovan D, Edwards L, Pereira E, Williams L, Freiman J, Schwensohn C, Gieraltowski L. Notes from the Field: Multistate Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to a National Fast-Food Chain - United States, 2022. MMWR. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2023; 72:732-733. [PMID: 37384571 PMCID: PMC10328485 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7226a6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
|
14
|
Oxendine A, Walsh AA, Young T, Dixon B, Hoke A, Rogers EE, Lee MD, Maurer JJ. Conditions Necessary for the Transfer of Antimicrobial Resistance in Poultry Litter. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1006. [PMID: 37370325 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12061006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal manures contain a large and diverse reservoir of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes that could potentially spillover into the general population through transfer of AMR to antibiotic-susceptible pathogens. The ability of poultry litter microbiota to transmit AMR was examined in this study. Abundance of phenotypic AMR was assessed for litter microbiota to the antibiotics: ampicillin (Ap; 25 μg/mL), chloramphenicol (Cm; 25 μg/mL), streptomycin (Sm; 100 μg/mL), and tetracycline (Tc; 25 μg/mL). qPCR was used to estimate gene load of streptomycin-resistance and sulfonamide-resistance genes aadA1 and sul1, respectively, in the poultry litter community. AMR gene load was determined relative to total bacterial abundance using 16S rRNA qPCR. Poultry litter contained 108 CFU/g, with Gram-negative enterics representing a minor population (<104 CFU/g). There was high abundance of resistance to Sm (106 to 107 CFU/g) and Tc (106 to 107 CFU/g) and a sizeable antimicrobial-resistance gene load in regards to gene copies per bacterial genome (aadA1: 0.0001-0.0060 and sul1: 0.0355-0.2455). While plasmid transfer was observed from Escherichia coli R100, as an F-plasmid donor control, to the Salmonella recipient in vitro, no AMR Salmonella were detected in a poultry litter microcosm with the inclusion of E. coli R100. Confirmatory experiments showed that isolated poultry litter bacteria were not interfering with plasmid transfer in filter matings. As no R100 transfer was observed at 25 °C, conjugative plasmid pRSA was chosen for its high plasmid transfer frequency (10-4 to 10-5) at 25 °C. While E. coli strain background influenced the persistence of pRSA in poultry litter, no plasmid transfer to Salmonella was ever observed. Although poultry litter microbiota contains a significant AMR gene load, potential to transmit resistance is low under conditions commonly used to assess plasmid conjugation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Oxendine
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Allison A Walsh
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Tamesha Young
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Brandan Dixon
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Alexa Hoke
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Eda Erdogan Rogers
- Department of Biomedical Science and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Margie D Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - John J Maurer
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Marder EP, Cui Z, Bruce BB, Richardson LC, Boyle MM, Cieslak PR, Comstock N, Lathrop S, Garman K, McGuire S, Olson D, Vugia DJ, Wilson S, Griffin PM, Medus C. Risk Factors for Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infections, United States. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:1183-1190. [PMID: 37209671 DOI: 10.3201/eid2906.221521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes acute diarrheal illness. To determine risk factors for non-O157 STEC infection, we enrolled 939 patients and 2,464 healthy controls in a case-control study conducted in 10 US sites. The highest population-attributable fractions for domestically acquired infections were for eating lettuce (39%), tomatoes (21%), or at a fast-food restaurant (23%). Exposures with 10%-19% population attributable fractions included eating at a table service restaurant, eating watermelon, eating chicken, pork, beef, or iceberg lettuce prepared in a restaurant, eating exotic fruit, taking acid-reducing medication, and living or working on or visiting a farm. Significant exposures with high individual-level risk (odds ratio >10) among those >1 year of age who did not travel internationally were all from farm animal environments. To markedly decrease the number of STEC-related illnesses, prevention measures should focus on decreasing contamination of produce and improving the safety of foods prepared in restaurants.
Collapse
|
16
|
Microbiological analysis and characterization of Salmonella and ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates recovered from retail fresh vegetables in Shaanxi Province, China. Int J Food Microbiol 2023; 387:110053. [PMID: 36521241 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.110053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fresh vegetables are closely associated with foodborne disease outbreaks; however, systematic analysis of the microbiological quality of fresh vegetables and molecular information on foodborne pathogens in fresh produce are poorly reported in China. Here, we evaluated the epidemiological prevalence of coliforms via the most probable number method and characterized Salmonella and ciprofloxacin-resistant (CIPR) Escherichia coli isolates recovered from retail fresh vegetables in Shaanxi Province, China. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, serotype determination, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), antibiotic resistance encoding gene (ARG) annotation, virulence factor prediction, and functional classification were performed. Between October 2020 and September 2021, 576 samples (i.e., tomatoes, lettuces, spinaches, and cabbages) were found to be positive for coliforms, and the prevalence of coliforms showed a seasonal trend. Coliform counts of vegetables in supermarkets in Xi'an were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that in other cities. The detection rates of Salmonella and CIPRE. coli-positive vegetables were 1 % (6/576) and 0.7 % (4/576), respectively. All isolates exhibited resistance to ≥1 antibiotics, and 92.9 % (13/14) were multidrug-resistant. One extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing CIPRE. coli isolate in spinach was resistant to not only three third-generation cephalosporins but also to two polymyxins. Among nine Salmonella isolates, five different serovars (S. Enteritidis, S. Indiana, monophasic variant of S. Typhimurium, S. Agona, and S. Gallinarum), four sequence types (STs; ST11, ST13, ST17, and ST34), and seven core genome STs (cgSTs) were identified. Five CIPRE. coli strains were assigned to three serovars (O101:H4, O8:H18, and O11:H25), three STs (ST44, ST48, and ST457), and four cgSTs. Coexisting amino acid mutations of Thr57Ser/Ser80Arg in ParC and Ser83Phe/Asp87Gly in GyrA in quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) might be causes for nalidixic acid resistance. Eight definite virulence profiles in eight serovars were identified. Notably, cdtB and pltA only encoded typhoid toxins and were just detected from S. Typhoid isolates were also detected from S. Indiana and monophasic S. Typhimurium, which are closely associated with swine food chain were first detected in fresh vegetables. In conclusion, our findings suggest that coliform contamination on fresh vegetables is prevalent in this province. Most Salmonella and CIPRE. coli isolates were phenotypically and genetically diverse and could resist multiple antibiotics by carrying multiple ARGs and virulence genes.
Collapse
|
17
|
Choo KW, Mao L, Mustapha A. CAM-21, a novel lytic phage with high specificity towards Escherichia coli O157:H7 in food products. Int J Food Microbiol 2023; 386:110026. [PMID: 36444789 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.110026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that has become a serious global concern for food safety. Despite the application of different traditional biocontrol methods in the food industry, food borne disease outbreaks linked to this organism remain. Due to their high specificity, lytic bacteriophages are promising antimicrobial agents that could be utilized to control pathogens in foods. In this study, a novel Escherichia phage, CAM-21, was isolated from a dairy farm environment. CAM-21 showed targeted host specificity towards various serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, including O157:H7, O26, O103, and O145. Morphological analyses revealed that CAM-21 has a polyhedron capsid and a contractile tail with a diameter of about 92.83 nm, and length of about 129.75 nm, respectively. CAM-21 showed a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli O157:H7, even at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of as low as 0.001. Phage adsorption and one-step growth analysis indicated that the target pathogen was rapidly lysed by CAM-21 that exhibited a short latent time (20 min). Electron microscopic and genomic DNA analyses suggested that CAM-21 is a lytic phage, classified as a new species in the Tequatrovirus genus of the Myoviridae Family. Based on whole genome sequencing, CAM-21 has a double-stranded DNA with 166,962 bp, 265 open reading frames and 11 tRNA. The genome of CAM-21 did not encode toxins, virulence factors, antibiotic resistance, lysogeny or allergens. Phylogenetic and genomic comparative analyses suggested that CAM-21 is a T4-like phage species. The growth of E. coli O157:H7 was effectively controlled in milk, ground beef and baby spinach at MOIs of 1000 and 10,000. CAM-21 significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the bacterial counts of the treated foods, ranging from 1.4-2.0 log CFU/mL in milk to 1.3-1.4 log CFU/g in ground beef and baby spinach. These findings suggest that the lytic phage, CAM-21, is a potential candidate for controlling E. coli O157:H7 contamination in foods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wen Choo
- Food Science Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States of America
| | - Liang Mao
- Food Science Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States of America
| | - Azlin Mustapha
- Food Science Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Malayil L, Ramachandran P, Chattopadhyay S, Allard SM, Bui A, Butron J, Callahan MT, Craddock HA, Murray R, East C, Sharma M, Kniel K, Micallef S, Hashem F, Gerba CP, Ravishankar S, Parveen S, May E, Handy E, Kulkarni P, Anderson-Coughlin B, Craighead S, Gartley S, Vanore A, Duncan R, Foust D, Haymaker J, Betancourt W, Zhu L, Mongodin EF, Sapkota A, Pop M, Sapkota AR. Variations in Bacterial Communities and Antibiotic Resistance Genes Across Diverse Recycled and Surface Water Irrigation Sources in the Mid-Atlantic and Southwest United States: A CONSERVE Two-Year Field Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15019-15033. [PMID: 36194536 PMCID: PMC9632240 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Reduced availability of agricultural water has spurred increased interest in using recycled irrigation water for U.S. food crop production. However, there are significant knowledge gaps concerning the microbiological quality of these water sources. To address these gaps, we used 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing to characterize taxonomic and functional variations (e.g., antimicrobial resistance) in bacterial communities across diverse recycled and surface water irrigation sources. We collected 1 L water samples (n = 410) between 2016 and 2018 from the Mid-Atlantic (12 sites) and Southwest (10 sites) U.S. Samples were filtered, and DNA was extracted. The V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were then PCR amplified and sequenced. Metagenomic sequencing was also performed to characterize antibiotic, metal, and biocide resistance genes. Bacterial alpha and beta diversities were significantly different (p < 0.001) across water types and seasons. Pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aeromonas hydrophilia were observed across sample types. The most common antibiotic resistance genes identified coded against macrolides/lincosamides/streptogramins, aminoglycosides, rifampin and elfamycins, and their read counts fluctuated across seasons. We also observed multi-metal and multi-biocide resistance across all water types. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive longitudinal study to date of U.S. recycled water and surface water used for irrigation. Our findings improve understanding of the potential differences in the risk of exposure to bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes originating from diverse irrigation water sources across seasons and U.S. regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leena Malayil
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Padmini Ramachandran
- Office
of Regulatory Science, Division of Microbiology, United States Food and Drug Administration, HFS-712, 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Suhana Chattopadhyay
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Sarah M. Allard
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Anthony Bui
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Jicell Butron
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Mary Theresa Callahan
- Department
of Plant Science and Landscape Agriculture, University of Maryland, College
Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Hillary A. Craddock
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Rianna Murray
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Cheryl East
- Northeast
Area, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Environmental Microbiology
and Food Safety Laboratory, Agriculture
Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Manan Sharma
- Northeast
Area, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Environmental Microbiology
and Food Safety Laboratory, Agriculture
Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Kalmia Kniel
- Department
of Animal and Food Sciences, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Shirley Micallef
- Department
of Plant Science and Landscape Agriculture, University of Maryland, College
Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Fawzy Hashem
- Department
of Agriculture and Resource Sciences, University
of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, United States
| | - Charles P. Gerba
- Department
of Environmental Science, University of
Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Sadhana Ravishankar
- School
of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Salina Parveen
- Department
of Agriculture and Resource Sciences, University
of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, United States
| | - Eric May
- Department
of Agriculture and Resource Sciences, University
of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, United States
| | - Eric Handy
- Northeast
Area, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, Environmental Microbiology
and Food Safety Laboratory, Agriculture
Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, United States
| | - Prachi Kulkarni
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Brienna Anderson-Coughlin
- Department
of Animal and Food Sciences, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Shani Craighead
- Department
of Animal and Food Sciences, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Samantha Gartley
- Department
of Animal and Food Sciences, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Adam Vanore
- Department
of Animal and Food Sciences, University
of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Rico Duncan
- Department
of Agriculture and Resource Sciences, University
of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, United States
| | - Derek Foust
- Department
of Agriculture and Resource Sciences, University
of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, United States
| | - Joseph Haymaker
- Department
of Agriculture and Resource Sciences, University
of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, United States
| | - Walter Betancourt
- Department
of Environmental Science, University of
Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Libin Zhu
- School
of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Emmanuel F. Mongodin
- Institute
for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland
School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Amir Sapkota
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Mihai Pop
- Department
of Computer Science and Center for Bioinformatics and Computational
Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Amy R. Sapkota
- Maryland
Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Mohammad ZH, Prado ID, Sirsat SA. Comparative microbial analyses of hydroponic versus in-soil grown Romaine lettuce obtained at retail. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11050. [PMID: 36281368 PMCID: PMC9587268 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The overarching goal of this study was to assess the microbiological profile of hydroponically grown Romaine lettuce and in-soil Romaine lettuce (organic and conventional). Thirty-six samples of hydroponic lettuce, seventy-two samples organic lettuce (thirty-six bagged lettuce and thirty-six non-bagged lettuce), and thirty-six conventionally grown lettuce was purchased from retail stores. A portion of each sample was analyzed for aerobic bacteria (APC), coliforms and E. coli, and yeasts and molds (YM). Another portion of each sample was enriched for Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, and confirmed with RT-PCR. No statistical differences were found in the microbial profile (P > 0.05) between the different farming practices. The APC, coliforms, E. coli, and YM counts were similar across bagged samples. The results demonstrated that APC and E. coli were significantly higher (P<0.05) in organic non-bagged samples compared to other practices. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were detected in some organically and conventionally grown lettuce samples but were only detected in 3 hydroponically grown lettuce samples. This study indicated that hydroponically grown lettuce obtained at retail may have food safety risks similar to organic and conventional systems. These findings highlight the need for food safety training and educational programs.
Collapse
|
20
|
Arellano S, Zhu L, Dev Kumar G, Law B, Friedman M, Ravishankar S. Essential Oil Microemulsions Inactivate Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria on Iceberg Lettuce during 28-Day Storage at 4 °C. Molecules 2022; 27:6699. [PMID: 36235235 PMCID: PMC9570928 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of essential oil-based microemulsions in the wash water against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Pseudomonas fluorescens on Iceberg lettuce. Evaluated wash microemulsions included oregano oil, lemongrass oil, and cinnamon oil, along with a plant-based emulsifier for improved solubility. Iceberg lettuce was inoculated for 2 min with E. coli O157:H7 (6.0 log CFU/g) or P. fluorescens (6.0 log CFU/g) and then dip-treated in a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) control, 50 ppm chlorine, 3% hydrogen peroxide treatment or a 0.1%, 0.3%, or 0.5% microemulsion solution. Treated leaves were stored at 4 °C, and analyzed for surviving bacteria on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28. Efficacies of the antimicrobials were concentration and storage-time dependent. There was a 1.26−4.86 log CFU/g reduction in E. coli O157:H7 and significant reductions (0.32−2.35 log CFU/g) in P. fluorescens during storage at days 0−28 (p < 0.05). The 0.1% oregano oil microemulsion resulted in the best visual appeal in Iceberg leaves inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and showed better improvement in the quality of the Iceberg leaves inoculated with spoilage bacteria P. fluorescens. The results suggest that 0.5% cinnamon and 0.3% oregano oil treatments have the potential to provide natural, eco-friendly, and effective alternatives to chemicals for the decontamination of leafy greens, eliminating E. coli O157:H7 and P. fluorescens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Arellano
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1117 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Libin Zhu
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1117 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | | | - Bibiana Law
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1117 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Mendel Friedman
- USDA-ARS Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA 94710, USA
| | - Sadhana Ravishankar
- School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, 1117 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gelalcha BD, Kerro Dego O. Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Producing Enterobacteriaceae in the USA Dairy Cattle Farms and Implications for Public Health. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1313. [PMID: 36289970 PMCID: PMC9598938 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global health threats of the 21th century. Recent studies are increasingly reporting the rise in extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLs-Ent) in dairy cattle and humans in the USA. The causes of the increased prevalence of ESBLs-Ent infections in humans and commensal ESBLs-Ent in dairy cattle farms are mostly unknown. However, the extensive use of beta-lactam antibiotics, especially third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs) in dairy farms and human health, can be implicated as a major driver for the rise in ESBLs-Ent. The rise in ESBLs-Ent, particularly ESBLs-Escherichia coli and ESBLs-Klebsiella species in the USA dairy cattle is not only an animal health issue but also a serious public health concern. The ESBLs-E. coli and -Klebsiella spp. can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with carrier animals or indirectly through the food chain or via the environment. The USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports also showed continuous increase in community-associated human infections caused by ESBLs-Ent. Some studies attributed the elevated prevalence of ESBLs-Ent infections in humans to the frequent use of 3GCs in dairy farms. However, the status of ESBLs-Ent in dairy cattle and their contribution to human infections caused by ESBLs-producing enteric bacteria in the USA is the subject of further study. The aims of this review are to give in-depth insights into the status of ESBL-Ent in the USA dairy farms and its implication for public health and to highlight some critical research gaps that need to be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Oudessa Kerro Dego
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Partyka ML, Bond RF. Wastewater reuse for irrigation of produce: A review of research, regulations, and risks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154385. [PMID: 35271919 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The burden of disease caused by the contamination of ready-to-eat produce with common waterborne microbial pathogens suggests that irrigation supplies should be closely monitored and regulated. Simultaneously freshwater resources have become increasingly scarce worldwide while global demand continues to grow. Since the turn of the 20th century with the advent of modern wastewater treatment plants, the reuse of treated wastewater is considered a safe and viable water source for irrigation of ready-to-eat vegetables. However strict, and often costly, treatment regimens mean that only a fraction of the world's wastewater supplies are being put to reuse. The purpose of this review is to explore the available literature on the risks associated with reuse water for ready-to-eat produce production including different approaches to reducing those risks as the demand for reuse water increases. It is not the intent of the authors to determine which methods of treatment should be applied, which pathogens should be considered of greatest concern, or which regulations should be applied. Rather, it is meant to be a discussion of the evolving guidelines governing irrigation with reuse water, potential risks from known pathogens common to produce production and recommendations for improving the adoption of water reuse moving forward. To date, there is little evidence to suggest that adequately treated reuse water poses more risk for produce-related illness or outbreaks than other sources of irrigation water. However, multiple epidemiological and quantitative risk assessment models suggest that guidelines for the use of reuse water should be regionally specific and based on local growing practices, available technologies for wastewater treatment, and overall population health. Though research suggests water reuse is generally safe, the assumptions of risk are both personal and of public interest, they should be considered carefully before water reuse is either allowed or disallowed in produce production environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Partyka
- Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States of America.
| | - Ronald F Bond
- Western Center for Food Safety, Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Single Escherichia coli bacteria detection using a chemiluminescence digital microwell array chip. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 215:114594. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
24
|
Survival of Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua on Lettuce after Irrigation with Contaminated Water in a Temperate Climate. Foods 2021; 10:foods10092072. [PMID: 34574181 PMCID: PMC8468451 DOI: 10.3390/foods10092072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial disease outbreaks related to fresh produce consumption, including leafy green vegetables, have increased in recent years. Where contamination occurs, pathogen persistence may represent a risk for consumers' health. This study analysed the survival of E. coli and L. innocua on lettuce plants watered with contaminated irrigation water via a single irrigation event and within stored irrigation water. Separate lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa var. capitata) were irrigated with water spiked with Log10 7 cfu/mL of each of the two strains and survival assessed via direct enumeration, enrichment and qPCR. In parallel, individual 20 L water microcosms were spiked with Log10 7 cfu/mL of the individual strains and sampled at similar time points. Both strains were observed to survive on lettuce plants up to 28 days after inoculation. Direct quantification by culture methods showed a Log10 4 decrease in the concentration of E. coli 14 days after inoculation, and a Log10 3 decrease in the concentration of L. innocua 10 days after inoculation. E. coli was detected in water samples up to 7 days after inoculation and L. innocua was detected up to 28 days by direct enumeration. Both strains were recovered from enriched samples up to 28 days after inoculation. These results demonstrate that E. coli and L. innocua strains are able to persist on lettuce after a single contamination event up until the plants reach a harvestable state. Furthermore, the persistence of E. coli and L. innocua in water for up to 28 days after inoculation illustrates the potential for multiple plant contamination events from stored irrigation water, emphasising the importance of ensuring that irrigation water is of a high quality.
Collapse
|
25
|
Irvin K, Viazis S, Fields A, Seelman S, Blickenstaff K, Gee E, Wise ME, Marshall KE, Gieraltowski L, Harris S. An Overview of Traceback Investigations and Three Case Studies of Recent Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce. J Food Prot 2021; 84:1340-1356. [PMID: 33836048 DOI: 10.4315/jfp-21-112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Leafy greens contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli have continued to cause foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years and present a threat to public health. An important component of foodborne illness outbreak investigations is determining the source of the outbreak vehicle through traceback investigations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is home to traceback investigation experts who use a standardized process to initiate, execute, and interpret the results of traceback investigations in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local partners. Traceback investigations of three outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce in 2018 and 2019 were examined to demonstrate challenges, limitations, and opportunities for improvement. The three outbreaks resulted in a total of 474 illnesses, 215 hospitalizations, and 5 deaths. These illnesses were linked to the consumption of romaine lettuce from three distinct growing regions in Arizona and California. Some of the challenges encountered included the time it took to initiate a traceback, limited product-identifying information throughout the supply chain, lack of interoperability in record-keeping systems, and comingling of product from multiple suppliers. These challenges led to time delays in the identification of the farm source of the leafy greens and the inability to identify the root cause of contamination. Implementation of technology-enabled traceability systems, testing of these systems, and future regulations to incentivize adoption of traceability systems are some of the initiatives that will help address these challenges by improving traceback investigations and ultimately preventing foodborne illnesses and future outbreaks from occurring. HIGHLIGHTS
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kari Irvin
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4300 River Road, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Stelios Viazis
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4300 River Road, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Angela Fields
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4300 River Road, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Sharon Seelman
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4300 River Road, College Park, Maryland 20740
- (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8788-1485 [S.S.];)
| | - Karen Blickenstaff
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4300 River Road, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Ellen Gee
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4300 River Road, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Matthew E Wise
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
| | | | | | - Stic Harris
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 4300 River Road, College Park, Maryland 20740
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Witte S, Zinsli LV, Gonzalez-Serrano R, Matter CI, Loessner MJ, van Mierlo JT, Dunne M. Structural and functional characterization of the receptor binding proteins of Escherichia coli O157 phages EP75 and EP335. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3416-3426. [PMID: 34194667 PMCID: PMC8217332 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) are widely used as biocontrol agents in food and as antibacterial agents for treatment of food production plant surfaces. An important feature of such phages is broad infectivity towards a given pathogenic species. Phages attach to the surfaces of bacterial cells using receptor binding proteins (RBPs), namely tail fibers or tailspikes (TSPs). The binding range of RBPs is the primary determinant of phage host range and infectivity, and therefore dictates a phage's suitability as an antibacterial agent. Phages EP75 and EP335 broadly infect strains of E. coli serotype O157. To better understand host recognition by both phages, here we focused on characterizing the structures and functions of their RBPs. We identified two distinct tail fibers in the genome of the podovirus EP335: gp12 and gp13. Using fluorescence microscopy, we reveal how gp13 recognizes strains of E. coli serotypes O157 and O26. Phage EP75 belongs to the Kuttervirus genus within the Ackermannviridae family and features a four TSP complex (TSPs 1-4) that is universal among such phages. We demonstrate enzymatic activity of TSP1 (gp167) and TSP2 (gp168) toward the O18A and O157 O-antigens of E. coli, respectively, as well as TSP3 activity (gp169.1) against O4, O7, and O9 Salmonella O-antigens. TSPs of EP75 present high similarity to TSPs from E. coli phages CBA120 (TSP2) and HK620 (TSP1) and Salmonella myovirus Det7 (TSP3), which helps explain the cross-genus infectivity observed for EP75.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sander Witte
- Micreos Food Safety B.V., Wageningen, Nieuwe Kanaal 7P, 6709PA, The Netherlands
| | - Léa V. Zinsli
- Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Cassandra I. Matter
- Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin J. Loessner
- Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Joël T. van Mierlo
- Micreos Food Safety B.V., Wageningen, Nieuwe Kanaal 7P, 6709PA, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew Dunne
- Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Schmelzbergstrasse 7, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
Acute bacterial gastroenteritis is among the most common infections worldwide, with millions of infections annually in the United States. Much of the illness is foodborne, occurring as both sporadic cases and large multistate outbreaks. Pathogen evolution through genetic exchange of virulence traits and antibiotic resistance determinants poses challenges for empiric therapy. Culture-independent diagnostic tests in clinical laboratories afford rapid diagnosis and expanded identification of pathogens. However, cultures remain important to generate sensitivity data and strain archiving for outbreak investigations. Most infections are self-limited, permitting judicious selection of antibiotic use in more severe forms of illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James M Fleckenstein
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in Saint Louis, School of Medicine, Campus Box 8051, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Infectious Disease Section, Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs Saint Louis Health Care System, 915 North Grand Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63106, USA.
| | - F Matthew Kuhlmann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in Saint Louis, School of Medicine, Campus Box 8051, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alaullah Sheikh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University in Saint Louis, School of Medicine, Campus Box 8051, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Weller DL, Love TMT, Wiedmann M. Interpretability Versus Accuracy: A Comparison of Machine Learning Models Built Using Different Algorithms, Performance Measures, and Features to Predict E. coli Levels in Agricultural Water. Front Artif Intell 2021; 4:628441. [PMID: 34056577 PMCID: PMC8160515 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2021.628441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Since E. coli is considered a fecal indicator in surface water, government water quality standards and industry guidance often rely on E. coli monitoring to identify when there is an increased risk of pathogen contamination of water used for produce production (e.g., for irrigation). However, studies have indicated that E. coli testing can present an economic burden to growers and that time lags between sampling and obtaining results may reduce the utility of these data. Models that predict E. coli levels in agricultural water may provide a mechanism for overcoming these obstacles. Thus, this proof-of-concept study uses previously published datasets to train, test, and compare E. coli predictive models using multiple algorithms and performance measures. Since the collection of different feature data carries specific costs for growers, predictive performance was compared for models built using different feature types [geospatial, water quality, stream traits, and/or weather features]. Model performance was assessed against baseline regression models. Model performance varied considerably with root-mean-squared errors and Kendall's Tau ranging between 0.37 and 1.03, and 0.07 and 0.55, respectively. Overall, models that included turbidity, rain, and temperature outperformed all other models regardless of the algorithm used. Turbidity and weather factors were also found to drive model accuracy even when other feature types were included in the model. These findings confirm previous conclusions that machine learning models may be useful for predicting when, where, and at what level E. coli (and associated hazards) are likely to be present in preharvest agricultural water sources. This study also identifies specific algorithm-predictor combinations that should be the foci of future efforts to develop deployable models (i.e., models that can be used to guide on-farm decision-making and risk mitigation). When deploying E. coli predictive models in the field, it is important to note that past research indicates an inconsistent relationship between E. coli levels and foodborne pathogen presence. Thus, models that predict E. coli levels in agricultural water may be useful for assessing fecal contamination status and ensuring compliance with regulations but should not be used to assess the risk that specific pathogens of concern (e.g., Salmonella, Listeria) are present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Weller
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Current Affiliation, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Tanzy M. T. Love
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Martin Wiedmann
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Tominaga T. Rapid detection of total bacteria in foods using a poly- l-lysine-based lateral-flow assay. J Microbiol Methods 2021; 183:106175. [PMID: 33640403 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Food safety and freshness are evaluated according to microbiological load. To analyze this load rapidly, a poly-l-lysine-based lateral-flow assay (PLFA) was developed. A total of 90 strains of bacteria that are often detected in spoiled foods, including Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus were detected using the PLFA. A positive signal was obtained when the bacterial concentration was ≥6 log10 (cfu/test). A total of 36 fresh foods (meats, pastries, lettuces, cabbages, radishes, and sprouts) and corresponding spoiled foods were cultured for 0, 3, 6, and 9 h to investigate how many hours were required for microbial detection using PLFA. The higher the number of bacteria in a food, the shorter was the culture time required for PLFA-positive results to be obtained, so the distinction between fresh and spoiled food could be made based on the time taken for the culture to become PLFA-positive. The coefficient of determination of the least squares regression between the time to become PLFA-positive and the initial log10 (cfu/g) bacterial count for the food was 0.9888. The test time for the PLFA, including pretreatment, was approximately 15-30 min. This novel method will enable the detection of total bacteria on the food processing site.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Tominaga
- Saitama Industrial Technology Center North Institute, 2-133, Suehiro, Kumagayashi, Saitama 360-0031, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Su Z, Zhang L, Sun H, Hu Y, Fanning S, Du P, Cui S, Bai L. Characterization of Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Cultured from Cattle Farms in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, During 2016-2017. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2021; 18:761-770. [PMID: 33524305 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2020.2843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Most outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are attributed to consumption of contaminated foodstuffs including beef and dairy products. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of non-O157 STEC cultured from beef and dairy cattle and collected in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China. Results identified 67 non-O157 STEC recovered from the 793 samples including beef cattle (10.28%, 43/418) and dairy cattle (6.40%, 24/375). A total of 67 non-O157 STEC was sequenced allowing for in silico analyses of their serotypes, virulence genes, and identification of the corresponding multilocus sequence types (STs). Twenty-one O serogroups and nine H serotypes were identified and the dominant serotype identified was O22:H8. One stx1 subtype (stx1a) and four stx2 subtypes (2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d) were found in the 67 non-O157 STEC isolates. The results revealed that stx1a+stx2a-positive STEC isolates were predominant (32.83%, 22/67), followed by stx1a+stx2d (29.85%, 20/67) and stx2a alone (17.91%, 12/67). Non-O157 STEC isolates carried virulence genes ehxA (98.51%), subA (53.73%), and cdtB (17.91%). Of the four adherence-associated genes tested, eaeA was absent, whereas lpfA and iha were present in 67 and 55 non-O157 STEC isolates, respectively. The STEC isolates were divided into 48 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and 10 STs, and ST446 (O22:H8) was the dominant clone (22.38%). Our results revealed that there was a high genetic diversity among non-O157 STEC isolated from beef and dairy cattle, some of which have potential to cause human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhanqiang Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.,National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Food Safety Research Unit (2019RU014) of Chinese Academy of Medical Science, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China
| | - Honghu Sun
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Food Safety Research Unit (2019RU014) of Chinese Academy of Medical Science, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.,Food Microbiology Lab, Chengdu Institute for Food and Drug Control, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Hu
- Department of Food Science, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China.,School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Séamus Fanning
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Food Safety Research Unit (2019RU014) of Chinese Academy of Medical Science, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China.,UCD-Centre for Food Safety, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pengcheng Du
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shenghui Cui
- Department of Food Science, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Li Bai
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Food Safety Research Unit (2019RU014) of Chinese Academy of Medical Science, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Precision long-read metagenomics sequencing for food safety by detection and assembly of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in irrigation water. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245172. [PMID: 33444384 PMCID: PMC7808635 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) contamination of agricultural water might be an important factor to recent foodborne illness and outbreaks involving leafy greens. Closed bacterial genomes from whole genome sequencing play an important role in source tracking. We aimed to determine the limits of detection and classification of STECs by qPCR and nanopore sequencing using 24 hour enriched irrigation water artificially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 (EDL933). We determined the limit of STEC detection by qPCR to be 30 CFU/reaction, which is equivalent to 105 CFU/ml in the enrichment. By using Oxford Nanopore's EPI2ME WIMP workflow and de novo assembly with Flye followed by taxon classification with a k-mer analysis software (Kraken2), E. coli O157:H7 could be detected at 103 CFU/ml (68 reads) and a complete fragmented E. coli O157:H7 metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) was obtained at 105-108 CFU/ml. Using a custom script to extract the E. coli reads, a completely closed MAG was obtained at 107-108 CFU/ml and a complete, fragmented MAG was obtained at 105-106 CFU/ml. In silico virulence detection for E. coli MAGs for 105-108 CFU/ml showed that the virulotype was indistinguishable from the spiked E. coli O157:H7 strain. We further identified the bacterial species in the un-spiked enrichment, including antimicrobial resistance genes, which could have important implications to food safety. We propose this workflow provides proof of concept for faster detection and complete genomic characterization of STECs from a complex microbial sample compared to current reporting protocols and could be applied to determine the limit of detection and assembly of other foodborne bacterial pathogens.
Collapse
|
32
|
Iqbal T, DuPont HL. Approach to the patient with infectious colitis: clinical features, work-up and treatment. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2021; 37:66-75. [PMID: 33105253 DOI: 10.1097/mog.0000000000000693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide the definition, causes, and current recommendations for workup and treatment of acute infectious colitis in adults, a common medical problem of diverse cause. RECENT FINDINGS The management of acute colitis in adults depend upon establishment of cause. Most forms of infectious colitis are treatable with antimicrobials. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by guided culture on PCR-positive pathogens can often confirm active infection while standard culture methods provide isolates for antibiotic susceptibility testing, subtyping, and Whole Genome Sequencing. SUMMARY Patients with colitis may be suffering from a range of etiologies including infectious colitis, neutropenic colitis, drug-induced colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The present review was prepared to provide an approach to prompt diagnosis and management of acute colitis to prevent severe complications (e.g. dehydration and malnutrition, or toxic megacolon) and provide recommendations for antimicrobial therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Herbert L DuPont
- University of Texas School of Public Health
- University of Texas McGovern Medical School
- Kelsey Research Foundation
- Baylor College of Medicine
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
A Toxic Environment: a Growing Understanding of How Microbial Communities Affect Escherichia coli O157:H7 Shiga Toxin Expression. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.00509-20. [PMID: 32358004 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00509-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains, including E. coli O157:H7, cause severe illness in humans due to the production of Shiga toxin (Stx) and other virulence factors. Because Stx is coregulated with lambdoid prophage induction, its expression is especially susceptible to environmental cues. Infections with Stx-producing E. coli can be difficult to model due to the wide range of disease outcomes: some infections are relatively mild, while others have serious complications. Probiotic organisms, members of the gut microbiome, and organic acids can depress Stx production, in many cases by inhibiting the growth of EHEC strains. On the other hand, the factors currently known to amplify Stx act via their effect on the stx-converting phage. Here, we characterize two interactive mechanisms that increase Stx production by O157:H7 strains: first, direct interactions with phage-susceptible E. coli, and second, indirect amplification by secreted factors. Infection of susceptible strains by the stx-converting phage can expand the Stx-producing population in a human or animal host, and phage infection has been shown to modulate virulence in vitro and in vivo Acellular factors, particularly colicins and microcins, can kill O157:H7 cells but may also trigger Stx expression in the process. Colicins, microcins, and other bacteriocins have diverse cellular targets, and many such molecules remain uncharacterized. The identification of additional Stx-amplifying microbial interactions will improve our understanding of E. coli O157:H7 infections and help elucidate the intricate regulation of pathogenicity in EHEC strains.
Collapse
|
34
|
Marshall KE, Hexemer A, Seelman SL, Fatica MK, Blessington T, Hajmeer M, Kisselburgh H, Atkinson R, Hill K, Sharma D, Needham M, Peralta V, Higa J, Blickenstaff K, Williams IT, Jhung MA, Wise M, Gieraltowski L. Lessons Learned from a Decade of Investigations of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Outbreaks Linked to Leafy Greens, United States and Canada. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26:2319-2328. [PMID: 32946367 PMCID: PMC7510726 DOI: 10.3201/eid2610.191418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause substantial and costly illnesses. Leafy greens are the second most common source of foodborne STEC O157 outbreaks. We examined STEC outbreaks linked to leafy greens during 2009-2018 in the United States and Canada. We identified 40 outbreaks, 1,212 illnesses, 77 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome, and 8 deaths. More outbreaks were linked to romaine lettuce (54%) than to any other type of leafy green. More outbreaks occurred in the fall (45%) and spring (28%) than in other seasons. Barriers in epidemiologic and traceback investigations complicated identification of the ultimate outbreak source. Research on the seasonality of leafy green outbreaks and vulnerability to STEC contamination and bacterial survival dynamics by leafy green type are warranted. Improvements in traceability of leafy greens are also needed. Federal and state health partners, researchers, the leafy green industry, and retailers can work together on interventions to reduce STEC contamination.
Collapse
|
35
|
Whelan R, McVicker G, Leo JC. Staying out or Going in? The Interplay between Type 3 and Type 5 Secretion Systems in Adhesion and Invasion of Enterobacterial Pathogens. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4102. [PMID: 32521829 PMCID: PMC7312957 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric pathogens rely on a variety of toxins, adhesins and other virulence factors to cause infections. Some of the best studied pathogens belong to the Enterobacterales order; these include enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., and the enteropathogenic Yersiniae. The pathogenesis of these organisms involves two different secretion systems, a type 3 secretion system (T3SS) and type 5 secretion systems (T5SSs). The T3SS forms a syringe-like structure spanning both bacterial membranes and the host cell plasma membrane that translocates toxic effector proteins into the cytoplasm of the host cell. T5SSs are also known as autotransporters, and they export part of their own polypeptide to the bacterial cell surface where it exerts its function, such as adhesion to host cell receptors. During infection with these enteropathogens, the T3SS and T5SS act in concert to bring about rearrangements of the host cell cytoskeleton, either to invade the cell, confer intracellular motility, evade phagocytosis or produce novel structures to shelter the bacteria. Thus, in these bacteria, not only the T3SS effectors but also T5SS proteins could be considered "cytoskeletoxins" that bring about profound alterations in host cell cytoskeletal dynamics and lead to pathogenic outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jack C. Leo
- Antimicrobial Resistance, Omics and Microbiota Group, Department of Biosciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK; (R.W.); (G.M.)
| |
Collapse
|