Toxin gene detection and antibiotic resistance of Clostridium perfringens from aquatic sources

Clostridium perfringens is a zoonotic opportunistic pathogen that produces toxins that can cause necrotic enteritis and even "sudden death disease". This bacterium is widely distributed in the intestines of livestock and human, but there are few reports of distribution in aquatic animals (Hafeez et al., 2022). In order to explore the isolation rate of C. perfringens and the toxin genes they carry, 141 aquatic samples, including clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), oysters (Ostreidae), and mud snails (Bullacta exerata Philippi), were collected from the coastal areas of Shandong Province, China. C. perfringens strains were tested for cpa, cpb, etx, iap, cpb2, cpe, netB, and tpeL genes. 45 clam samples were boiled at 100 °C for 5 min before bacteria isolation. 80 strains were isolated from 141 samples with the positive rate being 57 %.And the positive rates of cooked clams was 87 % which was higher than the average. In detection of 8 toxin genes, all strains tested cpa positive, 3 strains netB positive, and 2 cpb and cpe, respectively. 64 strains were selected to analyze the antibiotic resistance phenotype of 10 antibiotics. The average antibiotic resistance rates of the strains to tetracycline, clindamycin, and ampicillin were 45 %, 20 %, and 16 % respectively, and the MIC of 4 strains to clindamycin was ≥128 μg/mL. A high isolation rate of C. perfringens from aquatic animals was shown, and it was isolated from boiled clams for the first time, in which cpe and netB toxin genes were detected for the first time too. The toxin encoded by cpe gene can cause food poisoning of human, thus the discoveries of this study have certain guiding significance for food safety. Antibiotics resistant C. perfringens of aquatic origin may arise from transmission in the terrestrial environment or from antibiotic contamination of the aquaculture environment and is of public health significance.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Chinese children: association among the agr groups and genotypes, virulence genes and disease types

BACKGROUND

This study was aimed to investigate the clinical and molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from Chinese children and determine the possible relationship among the accessory gene regulator (agr) groups and genotypes, as well as among the virulence genes and disease types.

METHODS

S. aureus strains were isolated from Beijing Children's Hospital between October 2017 and October 2019. The isolates and 19 virulence genes were characterized using multi-locus sequence typing, staphylococcal protein A (spa), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec, and agr typing.

RESULTS

A total of 191 non-repetitive S. aureus clinical isolates were divided into 33 sequence types (STs), 18 clonal complexes (CCs), and 59 spa types. ST59 (39.8%), t437 (37.7%), and agr I (84.8%) were the predominant types. CC59, CC25, CC22, CC951, CC8, and CC398 belonged to agr I. CC5 and CC15 were assigned to agr II, and CC30 was characterized as agr III. CC121 was classified under agr IV. The eta, etb, and bbp genes were more prevalent in agr IV (P < 0.001 for each), while tst was more prevalent in agr group III compared to the other groups (P < 0.001). Nearly all isolates that harbored lukS/F-PV belonged to agr I (P = 0.005). However, the correlation between disease types and agr groups was not significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

An association among the agr groups and genotypes, as well as specific toxin genes, was observed among the S. aureus strains isolated from Chinese children. However, a statistical correlation was not found among the agr groups and disease types.

The identification and determination of toxin genes of Vibrio strains causing hemorrhagic disease on red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) using PCR

Data were collected from 30 strains of Vibrio and sampled on different organs (brain, hemorrhagic site and digestive tract) of Sciaenops ocellatus infection. The results showed that the nucleotide sequences 16S rRNA region are highly similar to those of V. alginolyticus, V. azureus, V. fluvialis, V. natriengens and V. orientalis, which were published on Genbank and other, ranging from 98.05 to 100%. The digestive tract has the most common Vibrio strains (V. alginolyticus [16] V. azureus [7] and V. fluvialis). Thereout, 25 of 30 strains of Vibrio contained 1 to 3 toxin genes, except V. parahaemolyticus. Six parameters were used to measure the DNA polymorphism of 33 homologous DNA sequences in this Vibrio bacteria population. The results indicated that number of separate polymorphic sites (S), total number of mutant sites (Eta), number of haplotype (h), haplotype diversity (Hd), average number of nucleotide differences (k), nucleotide diversity (Pi) were 98 (S), 103 (Eta), 9 (h), 0.887 ± 0.032 (Hd), 25.789 (k) and 17.980 × 10-3 ± 0.003 (Pi), respectively (P < 0,05). The G + C content above 1434 sites positions of nucleotide sequences accounted for 0.542. The phylogenetic tree showed that these strains are divided into six groups. As observed, the appearance of isolated Vibrio on 3 organs of fish (S. ocellatus) hemorrhagic are V. azureus (27,67%), V. alginolyticus (50%), V. orientalis (6,67%) and V. fluvialis (16,67%). Through this result, we found that the diversity of Vibrio species that appeared on the red drum was used in the 16S rRNA region and the presence of toxin genes in these Vibrio species.

Toxic potential of Bacillus cereus isolated from fermented alcoholic beverages

Pathogenicity of Bacillus cereus is associated with the production of various toxins. This study investigated the distribution of toxin genes encoding haemolysin BL (hblA, hblC, and hblD), nonhemolytic enterotoxin (nheA, nheB, and nheC), enterotoxin FM (entFM), cytotoxin K (cytK), and cereulide (ces) in 185 B. cereus strains isolated from draft beer, microbrewed beer, pasteurized beer, grape wine, other fruit wine, refined rice wine, traditional Korean pure liquor, and traditional Korean turbid rice wines. A total of 93.0% (172 isolates) of these isolates possessed at least one toxin gene. The nonhemolytic enterotoxin-encoding genes were highly prevalent in the isolates; the detection rate of enterotoxins was 91.4% for nheC, 81.6% for entFM, 62.7% for nheB, 57.3% for nheA, 53.0% for hblC, 48.6% for cytK, 36.8% for hblA, and 36.2% for hblD. Overall, 54.6% and 33.0% of strains carried the integrated Nhe-encoding gene cluster (nheA, nheB, nheC at the same time) and had the Hbl-encoding gene cluster, respectively. The cereulide synthetase gene was detected in only 2.2% of isolates. Toxin gene distribution patterns could be classified into 8 major profile clusters, and the most prevalent profile was the presence of enterotoxin genes only and no emetic toxin genes. Therefore, B. cereus in fermented alcoholic beverages was predominantly of the diarrhoeagenic type. Our results may provide important basic information when considering microbial standards and regulations for B. cereus in related products.

Importance of messenger RNA stability of toxin synthetase genes for monitoring toxic cyanobacterial bloom

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms, occurring frequently worldwide, have posed serious threats to human health and aquatic ecosystem. RNA-based quantitative PCR, which could detect potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria that are actively transcribing toxin genes, is a more reliable method, compared to DNA-based qPCR. However, single-stranded mRNA is labile, and their degradation may lead to an underestimate of gene expression level, even misleading toxic risk management, and thus impeding its application. Here, the mRNA stability of microcystin synthetase genes (mcyA-J) was systematically evaluated in unicellular and colonial Microcystis with various treatments (-80 ℃, -196 ℃, 4 °C or 25 °C with RNases inhibitors). Results revealed the highly instability of toxin gene transcripts, affected by transcript structures and cell aggregation. The -196 ℃ treatment was the most effective for stabilizing these transcripts. RNAstore^® (4 °C) could stabilize these transcripts effectively for a short time (less than 7 d), but their stability was strikingly reduced in colonial Microcystis. Furthermore, decay kinetics of mcyA-J transcripts in various treatments was developed, and showed that their decay rates were varied (0.0018-3.014 d^-1), due to different molecular structures. The mcyH transcripts had the lowest decay rate (0.0018 d^-1 at -196 ℃), attributed to the fewest AU sites and stem-loops involved in its secondary structure. Thus, mcyH was the most proper target gene for monitoring toxic cyanobacterial bloom. These findings provided new insight into mRNA stability of toxin genes, and contributed to monitoring toxic cyanobacterial blooms and water managements using RNA-based molecular techniques.

Molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile and risk factors for the detection of toxin gene-positive strains

In this study, we investigated all Clostridioides difficile strains isolated from stool samples in Nagasaki University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2014. Toxin genes (tcdA, tcdB and cdtA/cdtB) were analyzed for multiplex PCR in a total of 213 strains. In the toxin gene-positive strain, PCR ribotyping was conducted using capillary gel electrophoresis-based PCR and the Webribo database. Patients' backgrounds were analyzed by departments, disorders, antimicrobials, and clinical dates. The positive rates of tcdA, tcdB, and cdtA/cdtB genes were 62.9%, 63.4%, and 2.8%, respectively. The most frequent PCR ribotype was 047 (14.1%), followed by 014/0 (11.1%) and 002/0 (8.2%). In univariate analysis, the risk factors for the detection of toxin gene-positive strains in patients were older age (p = 0.0036), over ≥ 65 years old (p = 0.0175), the patients hospitalized at Department of Digestive Surgery (P = 0.0059), higher CRP level (P = 0.0395), and lower albumin level (p = 0.0014). In the multivariate analysis, the risk factor for detection of toxin gene-positive strains was the patients hospitalized at Department of Digestive Surgery (OR; 4.62, 95% CI; 1.18-18.0, p = 0.0274). In this study, the percentage of toxin gene-positive and cdtA/cdtB gene-positive strains was almost the same as that reported in previous studies, but the ribotype was different. In addition, we revealed that the risk factor associated with the detection of toxin gene-positive strains was the patients hospitalized at Department of digestive surgery.

Waterborne outbreaks in diarrhoea endemic foci of India: a longitudinal exploration and its implications

Diarrhoea remains a global public health enigma raising deep concerns for the health planners since contaminated potable water often spoils the community health structure. We hereby report a 6-year odd continuing outbreak surveillance report based on potable water indices, during which 264 water samples were screened from different districts of West Bengal, India. Samples were analysed for the presence of different enteropathogenic bacterial species by conventional molecular tools and their sensitivity to antibiotics. 78.03% samples were positive for enteropathogenic bacterial organisms and 75% samples harbored Coliform. 45.45, 12.12, and 4.16% samples were positive for E.coli, V. cholerae, and V. mimicus, respectively. Diarrhoeagenic E.coli 7 EPEC, 10 ETEC, and 2 EIEC were isolated along with 2 V. cholerae O1 Ogawa (ctxA and tcpA ElTor positive), one each from tube well and pond. Interestingly, 4 V.cholerae non-O1/non-O139 also harbored hlyA gene. The detection of toxin genes among this bacterial pool of sampled water indicates the fallout of the potable water sources, thus enabling us to establish that it is none other than the contaminated potable water system which often wreaks havoc in the south Bengal diarrhoeal menace. The consequences are further complicated by the presence of drug-resistant pathogenic bacterial pool to fluoroquinolone, beta-lactams, and cephalosporins, in the accessible potable water, with threats of outbreaks exploding into an epidemic, given suitable environment, poor sanitation, and unhygienic practices. Therefore, we strongly recommend re-modelling of 'point-of-use water disinfection' measures and adequate personal hygiene for healthier community life.

Detection of Clostridium perfringens toxin genes in the gut microbiota of autistic children

We studied stool specimens from 33 autistic children aged 2-9 years with gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities and 13 control children without autism and without GI symptoms. We performed quantitative comparison of all Clostridium species and Clostridium perfringens strains from the fecal microbiota by conventional, selective anaerobic culture methods. We isolated C. perfringens strains and performed PCR analysis for the main C. perfringens toxin genes, alpha, beta, beta2, epsilon, iota and C. perfringens enterotoxin gene. Our results indicate that autistic subjects with gastrointestinal disease harbor statistically significantly (p = 0.031) higher counts of C. perfringens in their gut compared to control children. Autistic subjects also harbor statistically significantly (p = 0.015) higher counts of beta2-toxin gene-producing C. perfringens in their gut compared to control children, and the incidence of beta2-toxin gene-producing C. perfringens is significantly higher in autistic subjects compared to control children (p = 0.014). Alpha toxin gene was detected in all C. perfringens strains studied. C. perfringens enterotoxin gene was detected from three autistic and one control subject. Beta, epsilon, and iota toxin genes were not detected from autistic or control subjects.

Genes and evolution of two-domain toxins from lynx spider venom

Spiderines are comparatively long polypeptide toxins (∼110 residues) from lynx spiders (genus Oxyopes). They are built of an N-terminal linear cationic domain (∼40 residues) and a C-terminal knottin domain (∼60 residues). The linear domain empowers spiderines with strong cytolytic activity. In the present work we report 16 novel spiderine sequences from Oxyopes takobius and Oxyopes lineatus classified into two subfamilies. Strikingly, negative selection acts on both linear and knottin domains. Genes encoding Oxyopes two-domain toxins were sequenced and found to be intronless. We further discuss a possible scenario of lynx spider modular toxin evolution.

Analysis of Colonization and Genotyping of the Exotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

BACKGROUND

The skin of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients has a high susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus colonization, and the toxins produced by S. aureus may aggravate AD by acting as superantigens.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of the skin barrier function, colonization of S. aureus, and the clinical severity of AD. We also examined the predominant toxin genes produced in Korean AD patients.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with AD were evaluated for clinical severity and skin barrier function by using Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). S. aureus was isolated from the forearm, popliteal fossa, and anterior nares of AD patients (n=39) and age-matched controls (n=40); the toxin genes were analyzed by performing multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

TEWL showed a statistically significant correlation with clinical severity in patients with AD (p<0.05). TEWL was correlated with the number of S. aureus colonization sites and the presence of nasal colonization, but these results were not statistically significant. S. aureus strains were isolated in 64.1% of the 39 AD patients. The SCORAD index and AD severity were strongly correlated with the number of colonization sites. The predominant toxin gene found in AD patients was staphylococcal enterotoxin a (sea) only, which was produced in 52.6% of patients. The toxin genes sea and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (tsst-1) were found together in 42.1%, while tsst-1 only was found in 5.3% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

S. aureus strains were isolated in 64.1% of the 39 AD patients. Skin barrier function, as measured by TEWL, revealed a statistically significant correlation with clinical severity in AD patients. The SCORAD index and severity of AD was strongly correlated with the number of colonization. The most common toxin gene was sea in the Korean AD patients and this gene might have an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.