Autoinducer-2 activity of gram-negative foodborne pathogenic bacteria and its influence on biofilm formation

Investigation of LuxS-mediated quorum sensing in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Introduction

Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) quorum sensing is a bacterial communication system that responds to cell density. The system requires luxS activity to produce AI-2, which can regulate gene expression and processes such as biofilm formation.

Aim

To investigate the role of luxS in biofilm formation and gene expression in the nosocomial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Methodology

A ΔluxS gene deletion was made in K. pneumoniae KP563, an extensively drug-resistant isolate. AI-2 production was assessed in wild-type and ΔluxS strains grown in media supplemented with different carbohydrates. Potential roles of luxS in biofilm formation were investigated using a microtiter plate biofilm assay and scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative RT-PCR evaluated the expression of lipopolysaccharide (wzm and wbbM), polysaccharide (pgaA), and type 3 fimbriae (mrkA) synthesis genes in wild-type and ΔluxS mutant biofilm extracts.

Results

AI-2 production was dependent on the presence of luxS. AI-2 accumulation was highest during early stationary phase in media supplemented with glucose, sucrose or glycerol. Changes in biofilm architecture were observed in the ΔluxS mutant, with less surface coverage and reduced macrocolony formation; however, no differences in biofilm formation between the wild-type and ΔluxS mutant using a microtiter plate assay were observed. In ΔluxS mutant biofilm extracts, the expression of wzm was down-regulated, and the expression of pgaA, which encodes a porin for poly-β−1,6-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (PNAG) polysaccharide secretion, was upregulated.

Conclusion

Relationships among AI-2-mediated quorum sensing, biofilm formation and gene expression of outer-membrane components were identified in K. pneumoniae. These inter-connected processes could be important for bacterial group behaviour and persistence.

Exploitation of plant extracts and phytochemicals against resistant Salmonella spp. in biofilms

Salmonella is one of the most frequent causes of foodborne outbreaks throughout the world. In the last years, the resistance of this and other pathogenic bacteria to antimicrobials has become a prime concern towards their successful control. In addition, the tolerance and virulence of pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, are commonly related to their ability to form biofilms, which are sessile structures encountered on various surfaces and whose development is considered as a universal stress response mechanism. Indeed, the ability of Salmonella to form a biofilm seems to significantly contribute to its persistence in food production areas and clinical settings. Plant extracts and phytochemicals appear as promising sources of novel antimicrobials due to their cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, great structural diversity, and lower possibility of antimicrobial resistance development in comparison to synthetic chemicals. Research on these agents mainly attributes their antimicrobial activity to a diverse array of secondary metabolites. Bacterial cells are usually killed by the rupture of their cell envelope and in parallel the disruption of their energy metabolism when treated with such molecules, while their use at sub-inhibitory concentrations may also disrupt intracellular communication. The purpose of this article is to review the current available knowledge related to antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella in biofilms, together with the antibiofilm properties of plant extracts and phytochemicals against these detrimental bacteria towards their future application to control these in food production and clinical environments.

Modeling Quorum Sensing Dynamics and Interference on Escherichia coli

Bacteria control the expression of specific genes by Quorum Sensing (QS). This works using small signaling molecules called Autoinducers (AIs), for example, the Autoinducer-2 (AI-2). In this work, we present a mathematical model that represents the AI-2 dynamics on Escherichia coli, which is linked to the cell growth and the lsr operon expression. The model is adjusted using experimental data. Our results suggest that the extracellular AI-2 activity level depends on the cell growth rate, and this activity depends on the cell exponential growth phase. The model was adapted to simulate the interference of QS mechanisms in a co-culture of two E. coli strains: a wild type strain and a knock out strain that detects AI-2 but does not produce it. Co-culture simulations unveiled two conditions to avoid the QS on the wild strain: when the knock out takes control of the growth medium and overcomes the wild strain, or when is pre-cultured to its mid-exponential phase and then added to the wild strain culture. Model simulations unveiled new insights about the interference of bacterial communication and offer new tools for QS control.

Intra- and inter-species interactions within biofilms of important foodborne bacterial pathogens

A community-based sessile life style is the normal mode of growth and survival for many bacterial species. Under such conditions, cell-to-cell interactions are inevitable and ultimately lead to the establishment of dense, complex and highly structured biofilm populations encapsulated in a self-produced extracellular matrix and capable of coordinated and collective behavior. Remarkably, in food processing environments, a variety of different bacteria may attach to surfaces, survive, grow, and form biofilms. Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus are important bacterial pathogens commonly implicated in outbreaks of foodborne diseases, while all are known to be able to create biofilms on both abiotic and biotic surfaces. Particularly challenging is the attempt to understand the complexity of inter-bacterial interactions that can be encountered in such unwanted consortia, such as competitive and cooperative ones, together with their impact on the final outcome of these communities (e.g., maturation, physiology, antimicrobial resistance, virulence, dispersal). In this review, up-to-date data on both the intra- and inter-species interactions encountered in biofilms of these pathogens are presented. A better understanding of these interactions, both at molecular and biophysical levels, could lead to novel intervention strategies for controlling pathogenic biofilm formation in food processing environments and thus improve food safety.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli

In the United States, it is estimated that non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause more illnesses than STEC O157:H7, and the majority of cases of non-O157 STEC infections are due to serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, referred to as the top six non-O157 STEC. The diseases caused by non-O157 STEC are generally milder than those induced by O157 STEC; nonetheless, non-O157 STEC strains have also been associated with serious illnesses such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome, as well as death. Ruminants, particularly cattle, are reservoirs for both O157 and non-O157 STEC, which are transmitted to humans by person-to-person or animal contact and by ingestion of food or water contaminated with animal feces. Improved strategies to control STEC colonization and shedding in cattle and contamination of meat and produce are needed. In general, non-O157 STEC respond to stresses such as acid, heat, and other stresses induced during food preparation similar to O157 STEC. Similar to O157:H7, the top six non-O157 STEC are classified as adulterants in beef by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, and regulatory testing for these pathogens began in June 2012. Due to the genetic and phenotypic variability of non-O157 STEC strains, the development of accurate and reliable methods for detection and isolation of these pathogens has been challenging. Since the non-O157 STEC are responsible for a large portion of STEC-related illnesses, more extensive studies on their physiology, genetics, pathogenicity, and evolution are needed in order to develop more effective control strategies.

Interactions of O157 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) recovered from bovine hide and carcass with human cells and abiotic surfaces

Different structures related to biofilm formation by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), particularly O157 strains, have been described, but there are few data regarding their involvement in non-O157 strains. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of 14 O157 and 8 non-O157 strains isolated from bovine hide and carcass to interact with biotic and abiotic surfaces and also to evaluate the role of different adhesins. Biofilm formation assays showed that four O157 and two non-O157 strains were able to adhere to glass, and that only one O157 strain adhered to polystyrene. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was carried out using biofilm-forming strains to determine the expression of antigen 43 (Ag43), curli, type 1 fimbriae, STEC autotransporter contributing to biofilm formation (Sab), calcium-binding antigen 43 homologue (Cah), and autotransporter protein of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EhaA). Most of these structures were expressed under biofilm conditions. However, the lack of Ag43 in one non-O157 strain, as well as Cah and EhaA in two O157 strains, suggests that other adhesins are involved in biofilm formation in these strains. Despite the fact that adherence to HeLa cells was detected in 20 strains (91%), it was not possible to correlate biofilm formation with adherence patterns. Invasiveness in T84 and Caco-2 cells was observed in four and three O157 strains, respectively. Altogether, we showed that there are different sets of genes involved in the interactions of STEC with biotic and abiotic surfaces. Interestingly, one O157 strain that was able to form biofilm on both glass and polystyrene also adhered to and invaded human cells, indicating an important route for its persistence in the environment and interaction with the host. Additionally, the ability of non-O157 strains not carrying the LEE pathogenicity island to form biofilm highlights an industrial and health problem that cannot be neglected.

Detection of Escherichia coli O157 by peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH) and comparison to a standard culture method

Despite the emergence of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections, E. coli serotype O157 is still the most commonly identified STEC in the world. It causes high morbidity and mortality and has been responsible for a number of outbreaks in many parts of the world. Various methods have been developed to detect this particular serotype, but standard bacteriological methods remain the gold standard. Here, we propose a new peptide nucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH) method for the rapid detection of E. coli O157. Testing on 54 representative strains showed that the PNA probe is highly sensitive and specific to E. coli O157. The method then was optimized for detection in food samples. Ground beef and unpasteurized milk samples were artificially contaminated with E. coli O157 concentrations ranging from 1 × 10(-2) to 1 × 10(2) CFU per 25 g or ml of food. Samples were then preenriched and analyzed by both the traditional bacteriological method (ISO 16654:2001) and PNA-FISH. The PNA-FISH method performed well in both types of food matrices with a detection limit of 1 CFU/25 g or ml of food samples. Tests on 60 food samples have shown a specificity value of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 82.83 to 100), a sensitivity of 97.22% (95% CI, 83.79 to 99.85%), and an accuracy of 98.33% (CI 95%, 83.41 to 99.91%). Results indicate that PNA-FISH performed as well as the traditional culture methods and can reduce the diagnosis time to 1 day.

Attachment and biofilm formation by foodborne bacteria in meat processing environments: causes, implications, role of bacterial interactions and control by alternative novel methods

Attachment of potential spoilage and pathogenic bacteria to food contact surfaces and the subsequent biofilm formation represent serious challenges to the meat industry, since these may lead to cross-contamination of the products, resulting in lowered-shelf life and transmission of diseases. In meat processing environments, microorganisms are sometimes associated to surfaces in complex multispecies communities, while bacterial interactions have been shown to play a key role in cell attachment and detachment from biofilms, as well as in the resistance of biofilm community members against antimicrobial treatments. Disinfection of food contact surfaces in such environments is a challenging task, aggravated by the great antimicrobial resistance of biofilm associated bacteria. In recent years, several alternative novel methods, such as essential oils and bacteriophages, have been successfully tested as an alternative means for the disinfection of microbial-contaminated food contact surfaces. In this review, all these aspects of biofilm formation in meat processing environments are discussed from a microbial meat-quality and safety perspective.

Quorum sensing in the context of food microbiology

Food spoilage may be defined as a process that renders a product undesirable or unacceptable for consumption and is the outcome of the biochemical activity of a microbial community that eventually dominates according to the prevailing ecological determinants. Although limited information are reported, this activity has been attributed to quorum sensing (QS). Consequently, the potential role of cell-to-cell communication in food spoilage and food safety should be more extensively elucidated. Such information would be helpful in designing approaches for manipulating these communication systems, thereby reducing or preventing, for instance, spoilage reactions or even controlling the expression of virulence factors. Due to the many reports in the literature on the fundamental features of QS, e.g., chemistry and definitions of QS compounds, in this minireview, we only allude to the types and chemistry of QS signaling molecules per se and to the (bioassay-based) methods of their detection and quantification, avoiding extensive documentation. Conversely, we attempt to provide insights into (i) the role of QS in food spoilage, (ii) the factors that may quench the activity of QS in foods and review the potential QS inhibitors that might "mislead" the bacterial coordination of spoilage activities and thus may be used as biopreservatives, and (iii) the future experimental approaches that need to be undertaken in order to explore the "gray" or "black" areas of QS, increase our understanding of how QS affects microbial behavior in foods, and assist in finding answers as to how we can exploit QS for the benefit of food preservation and food safety.

Transcriptomic analysis for genetic mechanisms of the factors related to biofilm formation in Escherichia coli O157:H7

Two lineages of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EDL933, Stx1(+) and Stx2(+)) and 86-24 (Stx2(+)) were investigated to determine the genetic basis of biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. Strain EDL933 formed a robust biofilm while strain 86-24 formed almost no biofilm on either polystyrene plates or polyethylene tubes. Whole-transcriptome profiles of EDL933 versus 86-24 revealed that in the strong biofilm-forming strain, genes involved in curli biosynthesis and cellulose production were significantly induced, whereas genes involved in indole signaling were most repressed. Additionally, 49 phage genes were highly induced and repressed between the two strains. Curli assays using Congo red plates and scanning electron microscopy corroborated the microarray data as the EDL933 strain produced a large amount of curli, while strain 86-24 formed much less curli. Moreover, EDL933 produced 19-fold more cellulose than 86-24, and indole production in EDL933 was two times lower than that of the strain 86-24. Therefore, it appears E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 produces more biofilm because of its increased curli and cellulose production and reduced indole production.

AI-2 biosynthesis module in a magnetic nanofactory alters bacterial response via localized synthesis and delivery

Nanofactories are nano-dimensioned and comprised of modules serving various functions that alter the response of targeted cells when deployed by locally synthesizing and delivering cargo to the surfaces of the targeted cells. In its basic form, a nanofactory consists of a minimum of two functional modules: a cell capture module and a synthesis module. In this work, magnetic nanofactories that alter the response of targeted bacteria by the localized synthesis and delivery of the "universal" bacterial quorum sensing signal molecule autoinducer AI-2 are demonstrated. The magnetic nanofactories consist of a cell capture module (chitosan-mag nanoparticles) and an AI-2 biosynthesis module that contains both AI-2 biosynthetic enzymes Pfs and LuxS on a fusion protein (His-LuxS-Pfs-Tyr, HLPT) assembled together. HLPT is hypothesized to be more efficient than its constituent enzymes (used separately) at conversion of the substrate SAH to product AI-2 on account of the proximity of the two enzymes within the fusion protein. HLPT is demonstrated to be more active than the constituent enzymes, Pfs and LuxS, over a wide range of experimental conditions. The magnetic nanofactories (containing bound HLPT) are also demonstrated to be more active than free, unbound HLPT. They are also shown to elicit an increased response in targeted Escherichia coli cells, due to the localized synthesis and delivery of AI-2, when compared to the response produced by the addition of AI-2 directly to the cells. Studies investigating the universality of AI-2 and unraveling AI-2 based quorum sensing in bacteria using magnetic nanofactories are envisioned. The prospects of using such multi-modular nanofactories in developing the next generation of antimicrobials based on intercepting and interrupting quorum sensing based signaling are discussed.