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Schmid PJ, Forstner P, Kittinger C. Sliding motility of Bacillus cereus mediates vancomycin pseudo-resistance during antimicrobial susceptibility testing. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024:dkae156. [PMID: 38785365 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The glycopeptide vancomycin is the antimicrobial agent-of-choice for the treatment of severe non-gastrointestinal infections with members of Bacillus cereus sensu lato (s.l.). Recently, sporadic detection of vancomycin-resistant phenotypes emerged, mostly for agar diffusion testing such as the disc diffusion method or gradient test (e.g. Etest®) method. RESULTS In this work, we were able to disprove a preliminarily assumed high resistance to vancomycin in an isolate of B. cereus s.l. using broth microdilution and agar dilution. Microscopic imaging during vancomycin susceptibility testing showed spreading towards the inhibition zone, which strongly suggested sliding motility. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis using RNA-Seq on the nanopore platform revealed several key genes of biofilm formation (e.g. calY, tasA, krsEABC) to be up-regulated in pseudo-resistant cells, substantiating that bacterial sliding is responsible for the observed mobility. Down-regulation of virulence (e.g. hblABCD, nheABC, plcR) and flagellar genes compared with swarming cells also confirmed the non-swarming phenotype of the pseudo-resistant isolate. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight an insufficiency of agar diffusion testing for vancomycin susceptibility in the B. cereus group, and reference methods like broth microdilution are strongly recommended. As currently no guideline mentions interfering phenotypes in antimicrobial susceptibility testing of B. cereus s.l., this knowledge is essential to obtain reliable results on vancomycin susceptibility. In addition, this is the first report of sliding motility undermining accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing in B. cereus s.l. and may serve as a basis for future studies on bacterial motility in susceptibility testing and its potential impact on treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Schmid
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Patrick Forstner
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Clemens Kittinger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Baev V, Iliev I, Stefanov Y, Tsankova M, Marhova M, Apostolova E, Gozmanova M, Yahubyan G, Kostadinova S. Exploring the Genomic Landscape of Bacillus paranthracis PUMB_17 as a Proficient Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C Producer. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:2497-2513. [PMID: 38534774 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46030158] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phospholipases find versatile applications across industries, including detergent production, food modification, pharmaceuticals (especially in drug delivery systems), and cell signaling research. In this study, we present a strain of Bacillus paranthracis for the first time, demonstrating significant potential in the production of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). The investigation thoroughly examines the B. paranthracis PUMB_17 strain, focusing on the activity of PC-PLC and its purification process. Notably, the PUMB_17 strain displays extracellular PC-PLC production with high specific activity during the late exponential growth phase. To unravel the genetic makeup of PUMB_17, we employed nanopore-based whole-genome sequencing and subsequently conducted a detailed genome annotation. The genome comprises a solitary circular chromosome spanning 5,250,970 bp, featuring a guanine-cytosine ratio of 35.49. Additionally, two plasmids of sizes 64,250 bp and 5845 bp were identified. The annotation analysis reveals the presence of 5328 genes, encompassing 5186 protein-coding sequences, and 142 RNA genes, including 39 rRNAs, 103 tRNAs, and 5 ncRNAs. The aim of this study was to make a comprehensive genomic exploration that promises to enhance our understanding of the previously understudied and recently documented capabilities of Bacillus paranthracis and to shed light on a potential use of the strain in the industrial production of PC-PLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesselin Baev
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Ivan Iliev
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | | | - Marinela Tsankova
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Mariana Marhova
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Elena Apostolova
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Mariyana Gozmanova
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Galina Yahubyan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Sonya Kostadinova
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Plovdiv, Tzar Assen 24, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Algammal AM, Eid HM, Alghamdi S, Ghabban H, Alatawy R, Almanzalawi EA, Alqahtani TM, Elfouly SG, Mohammed GM, Hetta HF, El-Tarabili RM. Meat and meat products as potential sources of emerging MDR Bacillus cereus: groEL gene sequencing, toxigenic and antimicrobial resistance. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:50. [PMID: 38326741 PMCID: PMC10848520 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03204-9] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus cereus is implicated in severe foodborne infection in humans. This study intended to assess the occurrence, groEL gene sequencing, biofilm production, and resistance profiles of emerged multidrug resistant (MDR) B. cereus in meat and meat product samples. Moreover, this work highlights the virulence and toxigenic genes (hblABCD complex, nheABC complex, cytK, ces, and pc-plc) and antimicrobial resistance genes (bla1, tetA, bla2, tetB, and ermA). METHODS Consequently, 200 samples (sausage, minced meat, luncheon, beef meat, and liver; n = 40 for each) were indiscriminately collected from commercial supermarkets in Port Said Province, Egypt, from March to May 2021. Subsequently, food samples were bacteriologically examined. The obtained isolates were tested for groEL gene sequence analysis, antibiotic susceptibility, biofilm production, and PCR screening of toxigenic and resistance genes. RESULTS The overall prevalence of B. cereus among the inspected food samples was 21%, where the highest predominance was detected in minced meat (42.5%), followed by beef meat (30%). The phylogenetic analysis of the groEL gene exposed that the examined B. cereus strain disclosed a notable genetic identity with other strains from the USA and China. Moreover, the obtained B. cereus strains revealed β-hemolytic activity, and 88.1% of the recovered strains tested positive for biofilm production. PCR evidenced that the obtained B. cereus strains usually inherited the nhe complex genes (nheA and nheC: 100%, and nheB: 83.3%), followed by cytK (76.2%), hbl complex (hblC and hblD: 59.5%, hblB: 16.6%, and hblA: 11.9%), ces (54.7%), and pc-plc (30.9%) virulence genes. Likewise, 42.9% of the examined B. cereus strains were MDR to six antimicrobial classes and encoded bla1, bla2, ermA, and tetA genes. CONCLUSION In summary, this study highlights the presence of MDR B. cereus in meat and meat products, posing a significant public health risk. The contamination by B. cereus is common in minced meat and beef meat. The molecular assay is a reliable fundamental tool for screening emerging MDR B. cereus strains in meat and meat products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelazeem M Algammal
- Department of Bacteriology, Immunology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.
| | - Hamza M Eid
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Saad Alghamdi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 24381, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanaa Ghabban
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roba Alatawy
- Medical Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Enas A Almanzalawi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tahani M Alqahtani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabreen G Elfouly
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal Health Research Institute, Port-Said branch, Port Said, 42511, Egypt
| | - Gihan M Mohammed
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal Health Research Institute, Port-Said branch, Port Said, 42511, Egypt
| | - Helal F Hetta
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Reham M El-Tarabili
- Department of Bacteriology, Immunology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
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Cha X, Lin Y, Brennan C, Cao J, Shang Y. Antibiotic Resistance of Bacillus cereus in Plant Foods and Edible Wild Mushrooms in a Province. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2948. [PMID: 38138092 PMCID: PMC10745370 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122948] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is a common pathogen causing foodborne diseases, secreting and producing a large number of toxins that can cause a variety of diseases and pose many threats to human health. In this study, 73 strains of Bacillus cereus were isolated and identified from six types of foods from seven different cities in a province, and the antibiotic-resistant phenotype was detected by using the Bauer-Kirby method. Results showed that the 73 isolates were completely sensitive to gentamicin and 100% resistant to chloramphenicol, in addition to which all strains showed varying degrees of resistance to 13 other common antibiotics, and a large number of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics were found. A bioinformatic analysis of the expression of resistance genes in Bacillus cereus showed three classes of antibiotic-resistant genes, which were three of the six classes of antibiotics identified according to the resistance phenotype. The presence of other classes of antibiotic-resistant genes was identified from genome-wide information. Antibiotic-resistant phenotypes were analyzed for correlations with genotype, and remarkable differences were found among the phenotypes. The spread of antibiotic-resistant strains is a serious public health problem that requires the long-term monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in Bacillus cereus, and the present study provides important information for monitoring antibiotic resistance in bacteria from different types of food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Cha
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.B.)
| | - Yingting Lin
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.B.)
| | - Charles Brennan
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.B.)
- School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne 3000, Australia
| | - Jianxin Cao
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.B.)
| | - Ying Shang
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.B.)
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Vanhee C, Jacobs B, Kamugisha A, Canfyn M, Van Der Meersch H, Ceyssens B, Deconinck E, Van Hoorde K, Willocx M. Substandard and falsified ivermectin tablets obtained for self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic as a source of potential harm. Drug Test Anal 2023. [PMID: 38043940 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3618] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
In 2019, a global viral pandemic, due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, broke out. Soon after, the search for a vaccine and/or antiviral medicine began. One of the candidate antiviral medicines tested was ivermectin. Although several health authorities warned the public against the use of this medicine outside clinical trials, the drug was widely used at the end of 2020 and in 2021. Simultaneously, several reports started to emerge demonstrating serious adverse effects after self-medicating with ivermectin. It stands to reason that the self-administration of substandard or falsified (SF) medicines bearing harmful quality deficiencies have contributed to this phenomenon. In order to have a better view on the nature of these harmful quality deficiencies, SF ivermectin samples, intercepted in large quantities by the Belgian regulatory agencies during the period 2021-2022, were analyzed in our official medicines control laboratory. None of the samples (n = 19) were compliant to the quality criteria applicable to medicinal products. These SF products either suffered from a systematic underdosing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient or were severely contaminated with bacteria, two of which were contaminated with known pathogens that cause gastrointestinal illness upon oral intake. In addition to the direct risks of self-medicating with such a product, the improper usage and dosage of ivermectin medication might also facilitate ivermectin tolerance or resistance in parasites. This may have detrimental consequences on a global scale, certainly as the number of newly developed active pharmaceutical ingredients that can safely be used to combat parasites is rather scarce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Vanhee
- Service Medicines and Health Products, Scientific Direction of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bram Jacobs
- Service of Foodborne Pathogen, Scientific Direction of Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Angélique Kamugisha
- Service Medicines and Health Products, Scientific Direction of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michael Canfyn
- Service Medicines and Health Products, Scientific Direction of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Bart Ceyssens
- Federal Agency for Medicine and Health Care Products, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eric Deconinck
- Service Medicines and Health Products, Scientific Direction of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Koenraad Van Hoorde
- Service of Foodborne Pathogen, Scientific Direction of Infectious Diseases in Humans, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie Willocx
- Service Medicines and Health Products, Scientific Direction of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
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Abdelli M, Falaise C, Morineaux-Hilaire V, Cumont A, Taysse L, Raynaud F, Ramisse V. Get to Know Your Neighbors: Characterization of Close Bacillus anthracis Isolates and Toxin Profile Diversity in the Bacillus cereus Group. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2721. [PMID: 38004733 PMCID: PMC10673079 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112721] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Unexpected atypical isolates of Bacillus cereus s.l. occasionally challenge conventional microbiology and even the most advanced techniques for anthrax detection. For anticipating and gaining trust, 65 isolates of Bacillus cereus s.l. of diverse origin were sequenced and characterized. The BTyper3 tool was used for assignation to genomospecies B. mosaicus (34), B. cereus s.s (29) and B. toyonensis (2), as well as virulence factors and toxin profiling. None of them carried any capsule or anthrax-toxin genes. All harbored the non-hemolytic toxin nheABC and sphygomyelinase spH genes, whereas 41 (63%), 30 (46%), 11 (17%) and 6 (9%) isolates harbored cytK-2, hblABCD, cesABCD and at least one insecticidal toxin gene, respectively. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry confirmed the production of cereulide (ces genes). Phylogeny inferred from single-nucleotide polymorphisms positioned isolates relative to the B. anthracis lineage. One isolate (BC38B) was of particular interest as it appeared to be the closest B. anthracis neighbor described so far. It harbored a large plasmid similar to other previously described B. cereus s.l. megaplasmids and at a lower extent to pXO1. Whereas bacterial collection is enriched, these high-quality public genetic data offer additional knowledge for better risk assessment using future NGS-based technologies of detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Abdelli
- DGA CBRN Defence Center, Biology Division, French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 91710 Vert-le-Petit, France; (M.A.); (V.M.-H.); (A.C.); (L.T.); (F.R.)
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Charlotte Falaise
- DGA CBRN Defence Center, Biology Division, French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 91710 Vert-le-Petit, France; (M.A.); (V.M.-H.); (A.C.); (L.T.); (F.R.)
| | - Valérie Morineaux-Hilaire
- DGA CBRN Defence Center, Biology Division, French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 91710 Vert-le-Petit, France; (M.A.); (V.M.-H.); (A.C.); (L.T.); (F.R.)
| | - Amélie Cumont
- DGA CBRN Defence Center, Biology Division, French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 91710 Vert-le-Petit, France; (M.A.); (V.M.-H.); (A.C.); (L.T.); (F.R.)
| | - Laurent Taysse
- DGA CBRN Defence Center, Biology Division, French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 91710 Vert-le-Petit, France; (M.A.); (V.M.-H.); (A.C.); (L.T.); (F.R.)
| | - Françoise Raynaud
- DGA CBRN Defence Center, Biology Division, French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 91710 Vert-le-Petit, France; (M.A.); (V.M.-H.); (A.C.); (L.T.); (F.R.)
| | - Vincent Ramisse
- DGA CBRN Defence Center, Biology Division, French Ministry of the Armed Forces, 91710 Vert-le-Petit, France; (M.A.); (V.M.-H.); (A.C.); (L.T.); (F.R.)
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Kazantseva OA, Skorynina AV, Piligrimova EG, Ryabova NA, Shadrin AM. A Genomic Analysis of the Bacillus Bacteriophage Kirovirus kirovense Kirov and Its Ability to Preserve Milk. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12584. [PMID: 37628765 PMCID: PMC10454425 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612584] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are widely recognized as alternatives to traditional antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of bacterial infection diseases and in the food industry, as phages offer a potential solution in combating multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. In this study, we describe a novel bacteriophage, Kirovirus kirovense Kirov, which infects members of the Bacillus cereus group. Kirovirus kirovense Kirov is a broad-host-range phage belonging to the Caudoviricetes class. Its chromosome is a linear 165,667 bp double-stranded DNA molecule that contains two short, direct terminal repeats, each 284 bp long. According to bioinformatics predictions, the genomic DNA contains 275 protein-coding genes and 5 tRNA genes. A comparative genomic analysis suggests that Kirovirus kirovense Kirov is a novel species within the Kirovirus genus, belonging to the Andregratiavirinae subfamily. Kirovirus kirovense Kirov demonstrates the ability to preserve and decontaminate B. cereus from cow milk when present in milk at a concentration of 104 PFU/mL. After 4 h of incubation with the phage, the bacterial titer drops from 105 to less than 102 CFU/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesya A. Kazantseva
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Anna V. Skorynina
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Emma G. Piligrimova
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Natalya A. Ryabova
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, Institutskaya St., 4, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Andrey M. Shadrin
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center, Prospect Nauki, 5, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (A.V.S.); (E.G.P.); (N.A.R.)
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8
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Bogaerts B, Fraiture MA, Huwaert A, Van Nieuwenhuysen T, Jacobs B, Van Hoorde K, De Keersmaecker SCJ, Roosens NHC, Vanneste K. Retrospective surveillance of viable Bacillus cereus group contaminations in commercial food and feed vitamin B 2 products sold on the Belgian market using whole-genome sequencing. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1173594. [PMID: 37415815 PMCID: PMC10321352 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1173594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium that occurs as a contaminant in food and feed, occasionally resulting in food poisoning through the production of various toxins. In this study, we retrospectively characterized viable B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.) isolates originating from commercial vitamin B2 feed and food additives collected between 2016 and 2022 by the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain from products sold on the Belgian market. In total, 75 collected product samples were cultured on a general medium and, in case of bacterial growth, two isolates per product sample were collected and characterized using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and subsequently characterized in terms of sequence type (ST), virulence gene profile, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene profile, plasmid content, and phylogenomic relationships. Viable B. cereus was identified in 18 of the 75 (24%) tested products, resulting in 36 WGS datasets, which were classified into eleven different STs, with ST165 (n = 10) and ST32 (n = 8) being the most common. All isolates carried multiple genes encoding virulence factors, including cytotoxin K-2 (52.78%) and cereulide (22.22%). Most isolates were predicted to be resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (100%) and fosfomycin (88.89%), and a subset was predicted to be resistant to streptothricin (30.56%). Phylogenomic analysis revealed that some isolates obtained from different products were closely related or even identical indicating a likely common origin, whereas for some products the two isolates obtained did not show any close relationship to each other or other isolates found in other products. This study reveals that potentially pathogenic and drug-resistant B. cereus s.l. can be present in food and feed vitamin B2 additives that are commercially available, and that more research is warranted to assess whether their presence in these types of products poses a threat to consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Bogaerts
- Transversal activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Bram Jacobs
- Foodborne Pathogens, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Preservation, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Kevin Vanneste
- Transversal activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
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Bianco A, Normanno G, Capozzi L, Del Sambro L, Di Fato L, Miccolupo A, Di Taranto P, Caruso M, Petruzzi F, Ali A, Parisi A. High Genetic Diversity and Virulence Potential in Bacillus cereus sensu lato Isolated from Milk and Cheeses in Apulia Region, Southern Italy. Foods 2023; 12:foods12071548. [PMID: 37048369 PMCID: PMC10094235 DOI: 10.3390/foods12071548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Bacillus cereus group includes species that act as food-borne pathogens causing diarrheal and emetic symptoms. They are widely distributed and can be found in various foods. In this study, out of 550 samples of milk and cheeses, 139 (25.3%) were found to be contaminated by B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.). One isolate per positive sample was characterized by Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) and for the presence of ten virulence genes. Based on MLST, all isolates were classified into 73 different sequence types (STs), of which 12 isolates were assigned to new STs. Virulence genes detection revealed that 90% and 61% of the isolates harboured the nheABC and the hblCDA gene cluster, respectively. Ninety-four percent of the isolates harboured the enterotoxin genes entS and entFM; 8% of the isolates possessed the ces gene. Thirty-eight different genetic profiles were identified, suggesting a high genetic diversity. Our study clearly shows the widespread diffusion of potentially toxigenic isolates of B. cereus s.l. in milk and cheeses in the Apulia region highlighting the need to adopt GMP and HACCP procedures along every step of the milk and cheese production chain in order to reduce the public health risk linked to the consumption of foods contaminated by B. cereus s.l.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Bianco
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Normanno
- Department of Sciences of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Loredana Capozzi
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Laura Del Sambro
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Laura Di Fato
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Angela Miccolupo
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Pietro Di Taranto
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Marta Caruso
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Petruzzi
- Department of Sciences of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Ashraf Ali
- Department of Sciences of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Parisi
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Apulia and Basilicata, Via Manfredonia 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy
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