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Wang Y, Ling N, Jiao R, Zhang X, Ren Y, Zhao W, Chen H, Ye Y. A universal mechanism on desiccation tolerance of Cronobacter based on intracellular trehalose accumulation regulated by EnvZ/OmpR. Food Microbiol 2024; 119:104455. [PMID: 38225055 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Cronobacter (seven species) can survive in dry powdered infant formula for a long time, but the thorough molecular mechanism of resistance to desiccation remains elusive. Here we examine the regulation mechanism of Cronobacter's tolerance to desiccation by the typical two-component system (TCS) EnvZ/OmpR. When exposed to desiccation conditions, Cronobacter showed higher survival than other pathogens, as well as significantly up-regulated expression of ompR and otsAB genes with markedly decreased survival of their mutants, suggesting their relationship with desiccation tolerance. OmpR directly binds to the promoter of trehalose biosynthesis operon otsBA, significantly enhancing their expression, and boosting the trehalose levels. The ompR-deletion in other six species further confirmed its positive regulation in desiccation tolerance. Our data present a hypothesis that EnvZ/OmpR increases intracellular trehalose levels against damage to the cells, which prompts Cronobacter to survive in desiccation conditions. This study reveals a universal molecular mechanism for desiccation resistance in Cronobacter species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Na Ling
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Rui Jiao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Xiyan Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Yuwei Ren
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Wenhua Zhao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Hanfang Chen
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Yingwang Ye
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China; State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangzhou, China.
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Lou X, Wu Y, Huang Z, Zhang W, Xiao X, Wu J, Li J, Fang Z. Biofilm formation and associated gene expression changes in Cronobacter from cereal related samples in China. Food Microbiol 2024; 118:104409. [PMID: 38049271 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Cronobacter is an important foodborne pathogen that can cause severe neonatal meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and bacteremia. Currently, there is limited knowledge of biofilm formation in Cronobacter. In the present study, biofilm formation ability and associated gene expression changes in Cronobacter from cereal related samples was carried out systematically. Our results from 307 Cronobacter isolates analyzed for 48 h showed strong biofilm-forming ability in 14 strains (4.6%), moderate in 47 strains (15.3%), weak in 142 strains (46.2%), and no such ability in the remaining 104 strains (33.9%). Further studies on five strains with strong biofilm-forming ability showed that maximum biofilm formation in Cronobacter occurred after 24 h of cultivation, reaching a peak around 48 h-72 h, reducing gradually thereafter. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in flagellar assembly, oxidative phosphorylation, ribosome, photosynthesis, O-Antigen nucleotide sugar biosynthesis, citrate cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle, TCA) and bacterial chemotaxis were enriched in biofilm forming cells. The genes involved these enrichment pathways were mostly downregulated when compared to planktonic cells. Several transcriptional regulator genes such as csrA and bolA, and the cell surface composition regulator gene glgS were significantly upregulated. 12 of 13 (92.3%) selected genes was found to be in agreement with the RNA-Seq of planktonic and biofilm cells by Quantitative real-time PCR analysis, thus increasing confidence in our data. Our research lays a sound theoretical basis for further studies on mechanisms regulating biofilm formation and provides a foundation for development of new food safety measures, clinical disease prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuqin Lou
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Zhenzhou Huang
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Lin'an Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 311399, China
| | - Jun Li
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, China.
| | - Zhiguo Fang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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Ekundayo TC, Ijabadeniyi OA. Global and regional prevalence of Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered milk and flour. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6865. [PMID: 38514864 PMCID: PMC10957878 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57586-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii (Cz) infections linked with powdered milk/flour (PMF) are on the increase in recent times. The current study aimed at assessing worldwide and regional prevalence of Cz in PMF. Cz-PMF-directed data were conscientiously mined in four mega-databases via topic-field driven PRISMA protocol without any restriction. Bivariate analysis of datasets was conducted and then fitted to random-intercept logistic mixed-effects regressions with leave-one-study-out-cross-validation (LOSOCV). Small-study effects were assayed via Egger's regression tests. Contributing factors to Cz contamination/detection in PMF were determined using 1000-permutation-bootstrapped meta-regressions. A total of 3761 records were found out of which 68 studies were included. Sample-size showed considerable correlation with Cz positivity (r = 0.75, p = 2.5e-17), Milkprod2020 (r = 0.33, p = 1.820e-03), and SuDI (r = - 0.30, p = 4.11e-03). The global prevalence of Cz in PMF was 8.39% (95%CI 6.06-11.51, PI: 0.46-64.35) with LOSOCV value of 7.66% (6.39-9.15; PI: 3.10-17.70). Cz prevalence in PMF varies significantly (p < 0.05) with detection methods, DNA extraction method, across continents, WHO regions, and world bank regions. Nation, detection method, world bank region, WHO region, and sample size explained 53.88%, 19.62%, 19.03%, 15.63%, and 9.22% of the true differences in the Cz prevalence in PMF, respectively. In conclusion, the results indicated that national will power in the monitoring and surveillance of Cz in PMF matched with adequate sample size and appropriate detection methods will go a long way in preventing Cz contamination and infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope C Ekundayo
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, Steve Biko Rd, Musgrave, Berea, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Oluwatosin A Ijabadeniyi
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, Steve Biko Rd, Musgrave, Berea, Durban, South Africa
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Yang N, Ding N, Qi S, Shang Z, Ma P, Khan IM, Wang Z, Xia Y, Zhang Y, Zhang L. High-affinity truncated aptamers for detection of Cronobacter spp with magnetic separation-assisted DNAzyme-driven 3D DNA walker. Mikrochim Acta 2024; 191:130. [PMID: 38351361 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06199-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
After optimizing the original aptamer sequence by truncation strategy, a magnetic separation-assisted DNAzyme-driven 3D DNA walker fluorescent aptasensor was developed for detecting the food-borne pathogen Cronobacter species. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) modified with a hybrid of truncated aptamer probe and DNAzyme strand (AP-E1) denoted as MNPs@AP-E1, were employed as capture probes. Simultaneously, a DNAzyme-driven 3D-DNA walker was utilized as the signal amplification element. The substrate strand (Sub) was conjugated with the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), resulting in the formation of AuNPs@Sub, which served as a 3D walking track. In the presence of the target bacteria and Mg2+, E1-DNAzyme was activated and moved along AuNPs@Sub, continuously releasing the signal probe. Under optimized conditions, a strong linear correlation was observed for Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) in the concentration range 101 to 106 CFU mL-1, with a low detection limit of 2 CFU mL-1. The fluorescence signal responses for different Cronobacter species exhibited insignificant differences, with a relative standard deviation of 3.6%. Moreover, the aptasensor was successfully applied to determine C. sakazakii in real samples with recoveries of 92.86%-108.33%. Therefore, the novel method could be a good candidate for ultra-sensitive and selective detection of Cronobacter species without complex manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningru Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Ning Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Shuo Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Zixuan Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Pengfei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Imran Mahmood Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
- College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimmie University, Jimei University, Jimei District, Xiamen City, 361021, Fujian Province, China
| | - Zhouping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
- Key Laboratory of Meat Processing of Sichuan, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Yu Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, International Joint Laboratory On Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Yin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Meat Processing of Sichuan, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety of Jiangsu Province-State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, China
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Chen X, Xue J, Dong X, Lu P. Uncovering virulence factors in Cronobacter sakazakii: insights from genetic screening and proteomic profiling. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0102823. [PMID: 37750707 PMCID: PMC10617496 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01028-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance has driven the search for virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria, which can serve as targets for the development of new antibiotics. Although whole-genome Tn5 transposon mutagenesis combined with phenotypic assays has been a widely used approach, its efficiency remains low due to labor-intensive processes. In this study, we aimed to identify specific genes and proteins associated with the virulence of Cronobacter sakazakii, a pathogenic bacterium known for causing severe infections, particularly in infants and immunocompromised individuals. By employing a combination of genetic screening, comparative proteomics, and in vivo validation using zebrafish and rat models, we rapidly screened highly virulent strains and identified two genes, rcsA and treR, as potential regulators of C. sakazakii toxicity toward zebrafish and rats. Proteomic profiling revealed upregulated proteins upon knockout of rcsA and treR, including FabH, GshA, GppA, GcvH, IhfB, RfaC, MsyB, and three unknown proteins. Knockout of their genes significantly weakened bacterial virulence, confirming their role as potential virulence factors. Our findings contribute to understanding the pathogenicity of C. sakazakii and provide insights into the development of targeted interventions and therapies against this bacterium.IMPORTANCEThe emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria has become a critical global health concern, necessitating the identification of virulence factors as potential targets for the development of new antibiotics. This study addresses the limitations of conventional approaches by employing a combination of genetic screening, comparative proteomics, and in vivo validation to rapidly identify specific genes and proteins associated with the virulence of Cronobacter sakazakii, a highly pathogenic bacterium responsible for severe infections in vulnerable populations. The identification of two genes, rcsA and treR, as potential regulators of C. sakazakii toxicity toward zebrafish and rats and the proteomic profiling upon knockout of rcsA and treR provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying bacterial virulence. The findings contribute to our understanding of C. sakazakii's pathogenicity, shed light on the regulatory pathways involved in bacterial virulence, and offer potential targets for the development of novel interventions against this highly virulent bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Eye Institute,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, China
| | - Juan Xue
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Xiaoli Dong
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Eye Institute,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, China
| | - Ping Lu
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Eye Institute,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, China
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Zhu Q, Hu J, Liu N, Qi H, Du X, Cui Z, Sun Y, Liu Y, Hu S, Wu L, Zhou H, He Z, Ma J. Large-scale genomic survey and characterization of mcr genes carried by foodborne Cronobacter isolates. mSystems 2023; 8:e0045023. [PMID: 37695127 PMCID: PMC10654070 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00450-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Cronobacter is an emerging foodborne opportunistic pathogen, which can cause neonatal meningitis, bacteremia, and NEC by contaminating food. However, the entire picture of foodborne Cronobacter carriage of the mcr genes is not known. Here, we investigated the mcr genes of Cronobacter isolates by whole-genome sequencing and found 133 previously undescribed Cronobacter isolates carrying mcr genes. Further genomic analysis revealed that these mcr genes mainly belonged to the mcr-9 and mcr-10. Genomic analysis of the flanking structures of mcr genes revealed that two core flanking structures were prevalent in foodborne Cronobacter isolates, and the flanking structure carrying IS1R was found for the first time in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianhui Zhu
- School of Engineering Medicine, School of Engineering Medicine, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, Hebei, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Jinrui Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Na Liu
- School of Engineering Medicine, School of Engineering Medicine, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Heyuan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaoli Du
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Zhigang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Yan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Yadong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Songnian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Linhuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Haijian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Zilong He
- School of Engineering Medicine, School of Engineering Medicine, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, Hebei, China
| | - Juncai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
- Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Microbial Resource and Big Data Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Hebei, China
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Wang Y, Ling N, Jiao R, Zhang X, Ren Y, Li H, Zhao W, Wu Q, Ye Y. Transcriptomic analysis reveals novel desiccation tolerance mechanism of Cronobacter based on type VI secretion system inhibition. Food Res Int 2023; 172:113143. [PMID: 37689845 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Cronobacter malonaticus (C. malonaticus) is a food-borne pathogen inducing severe infections both in infants and adults, and it could survive in dry powdered infant formula (PIF) for a long time, implying its strong tolerance to desiccation. However, the thorough molecular mechanism of resistance to desiccation remains elusive. When C. malonaticus was exposed to desiccation conditions (7, 15, and 30 d), transcriptomic analysis provided a universal adaptation strategy to withstand desiccation with the increased compatible solutes accumulation, activated stress resistance-related regulators, suppressed protein export and bacterial secretion system, and reduced other unessential survival functions including adhesion, invasion, virulence, and flagellar motility. Importantly, type VI secretion system (T6SS) genes exhibited significantly downregulated expressions, as well as markedly increased survival and viability of their mutants after desiccation treatment, revealing the negative regulation of T6SS in desiccation tolerance. Meanwhile, the decreased expressions of T6SS structure genes in other six species further confirmed the vital role of T6SS in desiccation tolerance of Cronobacter spp. Thus, our studies present a novel hypothesis of desiccation resistance in Cronobacter based on type VI secretion system inhibition, causing the reduction of macromolecule secretion such as effectors and hyperosmolality development within the cytomembrane, which allow Cronobacter to survive in desiccation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Na Ling
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Rui Jiao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Xiyan Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Yuwei Ren
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Wenhua Zhao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingwang Ye
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China.
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Li Y, Lin G, Zhang L, Hu Y, Hong C, Xie A, Fang L. Genomic insights into Cronobacter spp. recovered from food and human clinical cases in Zhejiang province, China (2008-2021). J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:7049111. [PMID: 36807689 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Cronobacter spp. are emerging food-borne pathogens capable of causing life-threatening illness via several distinct routes. Although endeavors to reduce the incidence of Cronobacter infections are implemented, potential risk of these microorganisms on food safety remains poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the genomic features of clinical Cronobacter and the possible food reservoirs of these infections. METHODS AND RESULTS Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of all human clinical cases (n = 15) during 2008-2021 in Zhejiang were used and compared to sequenced Cronobacter genomes (n = 76) representing various food products. Cronobacter strains exhibited a high degree of genetic diversity by WGS-based subtyping. A variety of serotypes (n = 12) and sequence types (n = 36) were identified, including six novel STs (ST762-ST765, ST798, and ST803) first-time described in this study. Nine clinical clusters representing 12/15 (80%) patients match a potential food source. Genomic insights into virulence genes revealed species/hosts specificity signatures associated with autochthonous populations. Resistance to streptomycin, azithromycin, sulfanilamide isoxazole, cefoxitin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol, as well as multidrug resistance, was noted. WGS data can be used to predict resistance phenotypes in amoxicillin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol, which were extensively used in clinical treatment. CONCLUSIONS The wide dissemination of pathogenic potential and antibiotic-resistant strains in multiple food sources emphasized the importance of rigorous food safety policies to reduce Cronobacter contamination in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Guankai Lin
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Leyi Zhang
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Yuqin Hu
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Chengji Hong
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Airong Xie
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Lei Fang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou 310018, China
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310018, China
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9
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Gan X, Li M, Xu J, Yan S, Wang W, Li F. Emerging of Multidrug-Resistant Cronobacter sakazakii Isolated from Infant Supplementary Food in China. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0119722. [PMID: 36173309 PMCID: PMC9603571 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01197-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter is a foodborne pathogen associated with severe infections in restricted populations and particularly with high mortality in neonates and infants. The prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotype of Cronobacter cultured from powdered infant formula and supplementary food were studied. The virulence factors, AMR genes, and genomic environments of the multidrug-resistant isolates were further studied. A total of 1,055 Cronobacter isolates were recovered from 12,105 samples of powdered infant formula and supplementary food collected from 29 provinces between 2018 and 2019 in China. Among these, 1,048 isolates were from infant supplementary food and 7 were from powdered infant formula. Regarding antimicrobial resistance susceptibility, 11 (1.0%) isolates were resistant and two showed resistance to four antimicrobials (ampicillin [AMP], tetracycline [TET], sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim [SXT], and chloramphenicol [CHL]), defined as MDR. These two MDR isolates were subsequently identified as Cronobacter sakazakii sequence type 4 (ST4) (C. sakazakii Crono-589) and ST40 (C. sakazakii Crono-684). Both MDR isolates contain 11 types of virulence genes and 7 AMR genes on their genomes. Meanwhile, the IncFIB plasmids of both MDR C. sakazakii isolates also harbored 2 types of virulence genes. Results of the genomic comparative analysis indicated that food-associated C. sakazakii could acquire antimicrobial resistance determinants through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). IMPORTANCE As a foodborne pathogen, Cronobacter can cause serious infections in restricted populations and lead to death or chronic sequelae. Although a number of investigations showed that Cronobacter isolates are susceptible to most antimicrobial agents, MDR Cronobacter isolates, isolated mainly from clinical cases but occasionally from foods, have been reported in recent years. In this study, we successfully identified two MDR Cronobacter sakazakii isolates from infant foods based on nationwide surveillance and genome sequencing in China. Genomic analysis revealed that these two MDR C. sakazakii strains acquired resistance genes from other species via different evolution and transmission routes. It is important to monitor MDR C. sakazakii isolates in infant foods, and appropriate control measures should be taken to reduce the contamination with and transmission of this MDR bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gan
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health Commission, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Menghan Li
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health Commission, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health Commission, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaofei Yan
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health Commission, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health Commission, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengqin Li
- Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, National Health Commission, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Abstract
Contaminated powdered infant formula from opened containers is the most commonly identified transmission vehicle. Invasive Cronobacter infections among infants are associated with severe neurologic disabilities and death. Early Cronobacter reports typically featured hospitalized and preterm infants and recognized contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF) as a transmission vehicle. To clarify recent epidemiology, we reviewed all cases of bloodstream infection or meningitis among infants that were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in the literature (1961–2018; n = 183). Most infants were neonates (100/150 [67%]); 38% (42/112) died, and 79% (81/102) had reported recent PIF consumption. In the final quarter of the study period (2004–2018), case counts were significantly higher (global average 8.7 cases/year); among US cases, significantly higher proportions occurred among full-term (56% [27/48]) and nonhospitalized (78% [42/54]) infants. PIF contamination, most commonly from opened containers, was identified in 30% (21/71) of investigations. Our findings reaffirm the need to promote safer alternatives for infant feeding, particularly among neonates.
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Luo D, Li C, Wu Q, Ding Y, Yang M, Hu Y, Zeng H, Zhang J. Isolation and characterization of new phage vB_CtuP_A24 and application to control Cronobacter spp. in infant milk formula and lettuce. Food Res Int 2021; 141:110109. [PMID: 33641976 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cronobacter spp. are opportunistic pathogenic bacteria that cause severe diseases in neonates and infants. Bacteriophages are novel antibacterial agents with a potential to control this pathogen. In the current study, a novel lytic Cronobacter phage, vB_CtuP_A24, was isolated from a river in Guangzhou, China. The phage was characterized by a short, non-contractile tail and a long head and identified as a new member of the family Podoviridae. Complete genome sequence analysis of this phage indicated that its genome contained 75,106 bp of DNA, an average GC content of 44.05%, and 108 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). The annotated ORFs were associated with phage structure, packaging, host lysis, DNA manipulation, transcription, and additional functions. Genes responsible for antibiotic resistance, virulence, and toxic effects were not present. Cronobacter phage vB_CtuP_A24 is a novel lytic phage that can lyse five Cronobacter spp. It was stable over a wide range of temperatures (25-60 °C) and pH values (pH 4-11) and displayed a short latent period (approximately 10 min) and a large burst size (500 plaque-forming units (PFUs)/cell). In Luria-Bertani (LB) broth, phage A24 effectively inhibited the growth of C. dublinensis cro280B, C. sakazakii 465G, and C. malonaticus cro695W up to 9, 10, and 12 h, respectively, while in infant milk formulas, it inhibited two strains, C. sakazakii 465G and C. malonaticus cro695W, up to 24 h at 37 °C, with maximum reduction levels of approximately 5.12 ± 3.95 and 7.38 ± 3.03 log10 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL, respectively. In lettuce, the reduction of all three strains was highly significant at 25 °C. However, the growth of C. dublinensis cro280B and C. sakazakii 465G were not significantly inhibited at 4 °C. In conclusion, Cronobacter spp. phage vB_CtuP_A24, which has lytic ability against five Cronobacter species, stability under different environments, and shows potential as a promising biocontrol agent against Cronobacter spp. in food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Luo
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Chengsi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Food Science &Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meiyan Yang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongdan Hu
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China.
| | - Haiyan Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Jumei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Safety and Health, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, Guangdong Province, China.
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Amaretti A, Righini L, Candeliere F, Musmeci E, Bonvicini F, Gentilomi GA, Rossi M, Raimondi S. Antibiotic Resistance, Virulence Factors, Phenotyping, and Genotyping of Non- Escherichia coli Enterobacterales from the Gut Microbiota of Healthy Subjects. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051847. [PMID: 32156029 PMCID: PMC7084377 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-Escherichia coli Enterobacterales (NECE) can colonize the human gut and may present virulence determinants and phenotypes that represent severe heath concerns. Most information is available for virulent NECE strains, isolated from patients with an ongoing infection, while the commensal NECE population of healthy subjects is understudied. In this study, 32 NECE strains were isolated from the feces of 20 healthy adults. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and mass spectrometry attributed the isolates to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter kobei, Citrobacter freundii, Citrobacter amalonaticus, Cronobacter sp., and Hafnia alvei, Morganella morganii, and Serratia liquefaciens. Multiplex PCR revealed that K. pneumoniae harbored virulence genes for adhesins (mrkD, ycfM, and kpn) and enterobactin (entB) and, in one case, also for yersiniabactin (ybtS, irp1, irp2, and fyuA). Virulence genes were less numerous in the other NECE species. Biofilm formation was spread across all the species, while curli and cellulose were mainly produced by Citrobacter and Enterobacter. Among the most common antibiotics, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was the sole against which resistance was observed, only Klebsiella strains being susceptible. The NECE inhabiting the intestine of healthy subjects have traits that may pose a health threat, taking into account the possibility of horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Amaretti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.R.); (F.C.); (E.M.); (M.R.)
- Biogest-Siteia, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Viale Amendola 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Lucia Righini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.R.); (F.C.); (E.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Francesco Candeliere
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.R.); (F.C.); (E.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Eliana Musmeci
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.R.); (F.C.); (E.M.); (M.R.)
| | - Francesca Bonvicini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.B.); (G.A.G.)
| | - Giovanna Angela Gentilomi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (F.B.); (G.A.G.)
- Unit of Microbiology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maddalena Rossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.R.); (F.C.); (E.M.); (M.R.)
- Biogest-Siteia, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Viale Amendola 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Stefano Raimondi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy; (A.A.); (L.R.); (F.C.); (E.M.); (M.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-059-205-8595
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Li Y, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Hu Y, Hong C, Xie A, Wu Y, Shangguan Z, Zhou B, Fang L, Mei L. Prevalence and genetic characteristics of Cronobacter spp. from food and human clinical stool samples in Wenzhou, China 2008-2018. Food Microbiol 2020; 89:103432. [PMID: 32138990 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2020.103432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic Cronobacter species are responsible for life-threatening illness in neonates. A ten-year comprehensive survey was conducted to examine the population structure and antimicrobial resistant patterns of Cronobacter isolates from food (n = 78) and clinical (n = 12) sources in Wenzhou, China. A total of 90 (4.4%) isolates were recovered from 2051 collected samples. The occurrence of Cronobacter spp. was highest in spices with a rate of 22% (26/119), whereas the lowest contamination rate of 1% was found in powered infant and toddler formula (7/494), special medical infant formula (1/95) and human stool samples (12/1024). Cronobacter strains revealed a high degree of genetic diversity among the isolates tested. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) distinguished 75 clonal groups, and the biggest cluster consisted of four strains. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method displayed 43 sequence types (STs), of which ST1, ST4, ST8, ST64, ST148 and ST201 were most frequently identified. Meanwhile, two new sequence types were discovered and added to the PubMLST international database. Resistance to ceftriaxone, cefotaxiv, amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefoxitin, tetracycline, streptomycin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol, as well as multidrug resistance, was noted. Taken together, this large-scale surveillance study highlights the wide dissemination and diverse molecular features of Cronobacter spp. in Wenzhou China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Leyi Zhang
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yuqin Hu
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chengji Hong
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, China
| | - Airong Xie
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yuejin Wu
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Shangguan
- Wenzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wenzhou, China
| | - Biao Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Fang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Lingling Mei
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
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Johnson R, Mills J, Pittet JL, Rannou M, Bird P, Nelson M. Evaluation of the GENE-UP®Cronobacter Method for the Detection of Cronobacter Species in Select Foods and Environmental Surfaces: Collaborative Study, First Action 2019.01. J AOAC Int 2020; 103:184-196. [PMID: 31451135 DOI: 10.5740/jaoacint.19-0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The GENE-UP®Cronobacter assay (Performance Tested MethodSM 081801) is a real-time PCR technology for the rapid detection of Cronobacter species in select foods and environmental surfaces. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this validation was to evaluate the method's interlaboratory performance and submit the result to AOAC INTERNATIONAL for adoption as a First Action Official MethodSM for the detection of Cronobacter species in select foods and environmental surfaces. METHOD The GENE-UP method was evaluated in a multilaboratory study as part of the AFNOR NF VALIDATION certification process (NF102) following ISO 16140-2:2016 using unpaired test portions for one food matrix, reconstituted infant formula containing probiotics. The candidate method was compared to the ISO 22964:2017 reference method. Sixteen participants from fifteen laboratories throughout the European Union participated. Three levels of contamination were evaluated: a noninoculated control level (0 CFU/target test portion), a low contamination level (approximately 2 CFU/target test portion), and a high contamination level (approximately 10 CFU/target test portion). Data from that study were analyzed according to the probability of detection (POD) statistical model as presented in the AOAC validation guidelines. The difference in laboratory POD (dLPODC) values with 95% confidence intervals across collaborators was calculated for each level between the candidate and reference method results and between the candidate presumptive and confirmed results. RESULTS The dLPODC values with 95% confidence intervals were 0.00 (-0.03, 0.03), -0.08 (-0.19, 0.02), and 0.00 (-0.03, 0.03) for the noninoculated, low, and high contamination levels, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The dLPODC results indicate no significant difference between the candidate method and the reference method or between presumptive and confirmed results for all three levels of contamination. HIGHLIGHTS The GENE-UP Cronobacter assay provides industry with a rapid, easy to use method for the rapid detection of Cronobacter in a wide range of products and environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John Mills
- bioMérieux, Inc., 595 Anglum Rd, Hazelwood, MO 63042
| | | | - Maryse Rannou
- ADRIA Développement, Creac'h Gwen, F-29196 Quimper, Cedex, France
| | - Patrick Bird
- AOAC International, 2275 Research Blvd, No. 300, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Maria Nelson
- AOAC International, 2275 Research Blvd, No. 300, Rockville, MD 20850
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15
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Abstract
In Bogotá, Colombia, a large number of babies are fed with breast milk substitutes made from corn and plantain starch. We found 34.3% of tested samples to be contaminated with Cronobacter spp.; C. sakazakii was the most recovered species. Our findings underscore the risk for contamination of breast milk substitutes.
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Sousa JM, Rocha R, Cerqueira L, Almeida C, Azevedo NF, Bastin B, Bird P, Benzinger MJ, Agin J, Goins D, Chen Y, Brodsky M, Odumoru J. Validation of Biomode S.A. Probe4Cronobacter TM for the Identification of Cronobacter spp. J AOAC Int 2019; 102:855-864. [PMID: 30458901 DOI: 10.5740/jaoacint.18-0328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Probe4Cronobacter test kit is based on the use of a fluorescence-labeled peptide nucleic acid probe (PNA) allied to fluorescence microscopy. A sample is taken after a 24 h enrichment of rehydrated 30 g portions of powdered infant formula (PIF). The method uses ready to use dropper solutions applied directly in the sample. This simple process takes less than 2 h to provide a result. In the presence of Cronobacter species, bright red rod-shaped cells will be visible under a fluorescence microscope. Objective: Probe4Cronobacter validation as a new method for the detection Cronobacter species in Powdered Infant Formula (PIF) under the AOAC Performance Tested MethodsSM (License No. 081702). Methods: The validation study encompassed matrix comparison study, inclusivity and exclusivity testing and robustness studies (stability, kit variation, and ruggedness). Results: The inclusivity and exclusivity testing (50 and 35 strains, respectively) yielded no false negative or false positive results. Probe4Cronobacter was compared to the ISO/TS 22964:2006 in 30 g of PIF samples within method comparison in an unpaired study. A total of 30 samples with both low and high level of inoculation were analyzed by Probe4Cronobacter and compared to the same number of samples screened by ISO/TS 22964:2006. No statistically significant differences between presumptive and confirmed results or between candidate and reference method results were observed. Robustness studies showed a high level of consistency and integrity of the kit when different parameters were varied. The deviation conditions tested did not affect the performance of the kit. Conclusions: Probe4Cronobacter test kit has shown to be a accurate, highly sensitive and robust methods for the detection of Cronobacter spp. in PIF samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Mário Sousa
- Biomode 2, S.A., Edifício GNRation, Praça Conde Agrologo nº123, Braga 4700-312, Portugal
| | - Rui Rocha
- Biomode 2, S.A., Edifício GNRation, Praça Conde Agrologo nº123, Braga 4700-312, Portugal
| | - Laura Cerqueira
- Biomode 2, S.A., Edifício GNRation, Praça Conde Agrologo nº123, Braga 4700-312, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- Biomode 2, S.A., Edifício GNRation, Praça Conde Agrologo nº123, Braga 4700-312, Portugal
| | - Nuno F Azevedo
- Biomode 2, S.A., Edifício GNRation, Praça Conde Agrologo nº123, Braga 4700-312, Portugal
| | - Benjamin Bastin
- Q Laboratories, Inc., 1400 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214
| | - Patrick Bird
- Q Laboratories, Inc., 1400 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214
| | | | - James Agin
- Q Laboratories, Inc., 1400 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214
| | - David Goins
- Q Laboratories, Inc., 1400 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214
| | - Yi Chen
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy, College Park, MD 20740
| | - Michael Brodsky
- Brodsky Consultants, 73 Donnamora Crescent, Thornhill, ON L3T 4K6, Canada
| | - Joseph Odumoru
- University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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Zeng H, Zhang J, Wu Q, He W, Wu H, Ye Y, Li C, Ling N, Chen M, Wang J, Cai S, Lei T, Ding Y, Xue L. Reconstituting the History of Cronobacter Evolution Driven by Differentiated CRISPR Activity. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e00267-18. [PMID: 29523551 PMCID: PMC5930372 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00267-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter strains harboring the CRISPR-Cas system are important foodborne pathogens causing serious neonatal infections. However, the specific role of the CRISPR-Cas system in bacterial evolution remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we investigated the impact of the CRISPR-Cas system on Cronobacter evolution and obtained 137 new whole-genome Cronobacter sequences by next-generation sequencing technology. Among the strains examined (n = 240), 90.6% (193/213) of prevalent species Cronobacter sakazakii, Cronobactermalonaticus, and Cronobacterdublinensis strains had intact CRISPR-Cas systems. Two rare species, Cronobactercondimenti (n = 2) and Cronobacteruniversalis (n = 6), lacked and preserved the CRISPR-Cas system at a low frequency (1/6), respectively. These results suggest that the presence of one CRISPR-Cas system is important for a Cronobacter species to maintain genome homeostasis for survival. The Cronobacter ancestral strain is likely to have harbored both subtype I-E and I-F CRISPR-Cas systems; during the long evolutionary process, subtype I-E was retained while subtype I-F selectively degenerated in Cronobacter species and was even lost by the major Cronobacter pathovars. Moreover, significantly higher CRISPR activity was observed in the plant-associated species Cdublinensis than in the virulence-related species C. sakazakii and Cmalonaticus Similar spacers of CRISPR arrays were rarely found among species, suggesting intensive change through adaptive acquisition and loss. Differentiated CRISPR activity appears to be the product of environmental selective pressure and might contribute to the bidirectional divergence and speciation of CronobacterIMPORTANCE This study reports the evolutionary history of Cronobacter under the selective pressure of the CRISPR-Cas system. One CRISPR-Cas system in Cronobacter is important for maintaining genome homeostasis, whereas two types of systems may be redundant and not conducive to acquiring beneficial DNA for environmental adaptation and pathogenicity. Differentiated CRISPR activity has contributed to the bidirectional divergence and genetic diversity of Cronobacter This perspective makes a significant contribution to the literature by providing new insights into CRISPR-Cas systems in general, while further expanding the roles of CRISPR beyond conferring adaptive immunity and demonstrating a link to adaptation and species divergence in a genus. Moreover, our study provides new insights into the balance between genome homeostasis and the uptake of beneficial DNA related to CRISPR-based activity in the evolution of Cronobacter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Zeng
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jumei Zhang
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingping Wu
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjing He
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haoming Wu
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingwang Ye
- School of Food Science and Technology, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Chengsi Li
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Na Ling
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Moutong Chen
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juan Wang
- College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuzhen Cai
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Lei
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Food Science & Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Xue
- Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology Culture Collection and Application, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Guangzhou, China
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18
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Gan X, Wang W, Hu Y, Li F, Mao X, Xu J. [Study on species identification of Cronobacter isolated from infant formula foods and cereal based foods and clinical diarrhea cases in 2012-2014 in China]. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 2017; 46:695-704. [PMID: 29903292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop a Cronobacter spieces identification PCR method based on RNA polymerase beta subunit( rpo B) gene and identify species of Cronobacter isolated from different sources. METHODS A total of 7 primer pairs based on the rpo B were design, and 9 standard strains were set as reference strains to identify species of261 strains isolated from infant formula foods, cereal based foods and clinical diarrhea cases in 2012-2014 in China. RESULTS The molecular weight of 9 standard strains were as same as expect, 179 of 216 Cronobacter isolates were C. sakazakii, 56 were C. malonaticus, 13 were C. universalis, 11 were C. dublinensis, 2 were C. turicensis, accounted for 68. 58%, 21. 46%, 4. 98%, 4. 21% and 0. 77% of the total isolates, respectively. CONCLUSION The Cronobacter species identification PCR system is specific, convenient, sensitive. This system can provide technical support for Cronobacter risk surveillance and control in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gan
- Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yujie Hu
- Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Fengqin Li
- Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xu Mao
- Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health, China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100021, China
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19
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Zhang H, Hou P, Lv H, Chen Y, Li X, Ren Y, Wang M, Tan H, Bi Z. Surveillance and molecular typing of Cronobacter spp. in commercial powdered infant formula and follow-up formula from 2011 to 2013 in Shandong Province, China. J Sci Food Agric 2017; 97:2141-2146. [PMID: 27594404 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.8021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with Cronobacter spp. leads to neonatal meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis and bacteremia. Cronobacter spp. are reported to comprise an important pathogen contaminating powdered infant formula (PIF) and follow-up formula (FUF), although little is known about the contamination level of Cronobacter spp. in PIFs and FUFs in China. RESULTS In total, 1032 samples were collected between 2011 and 2013. Forty-two samples were positive, including 1.6% in PIFs and 6.5% in FUFs. The strains were susceptible to most antibiotics except for cefoxitin. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis after XbaI digestion produced a total of 36 banding patterns. The 38 strains were found in 27 sequence types (STs), of which nine types (ST454 to ST462) had not been reported in other countries. The clinically relevant strains obtained from the 38 isolates in the present study comprised three ST3, two ST4, two ST8 and one ST1. CONCLUSION The contamination rate in the PIF and FUF has stayed at a relatively high level. The contamination rate of PIF was significantly lower than FUF. The isolates had high susceptibility to the antibiotics tested, except cefoxitin. There were polymorphisms between the Cronobacter spp. as indicated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing. Therefore, contamination with Cronobacter spp. remains a current issue for commercial infant formulas in China. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaning Zhang
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Peibin Hou
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Hui Lv
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Yuzhen Chen
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Xinpeng Li
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Yanyan Ren
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Mei Wang
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Hailian Tan
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Zhenwang Bi
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
- Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
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20
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Huang Y, Pang Y, Wang H, Tang Z, Zhou Y, Zhang W, Li X, Tan D, Li J, Lin Y, Liu X, Huang W, Shi Y. Occurrence and Characterization of Cronobacter spp. in Dehydrated Rice Powder from Chinese Supermarket. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131053. [PMID: 26132635 PMCID: PMC4488472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter spp. are emerging food-borne pathogens and have been identified as causative agents of meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants. Dehydrated rice is popular with a wide range of people and it is frequently used as a substitute for infant milk powder to baby older than four months. The occurrence of Cronobacter spp. was investigated in 1,012 samples of dehydrated rice powder collected from 14 manufacturers in China during 2010 to 2012. The isolates were identified using fusA allele sequencing and subtyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Seventy-six samples (7.5%) contained Cronobacter spp. The prevalence among manufacturers ranged from 0-28.8%. The 76 isolates included 4 species [Cronobacter sakazakii (52 isolates) Cronobacter malonaticus (14 isolates), Cronobacter dublinensis (7 isolates), and Cronobacter muytjensii (3 isolates)]. Twenty-three unique fusA alleles and sixty-six PFGE-patterns were detected. All isolated strains were observed to be sensitive or to show intermediate susceptibility to eight tested antimicrobial agents. The study revealed serious contamination of dehydrated rice powder by Cronobacter spp., with prevalence varying among manufacturers in China. Identified Cronobacter species, fusA alleles, and subtypes were diverse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huang
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- * E-mail: (YH); (YS)
| | - Yiheng Pang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhengzhu Tang
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Weiyu Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiugui Li
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Dongmei Tan
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jian Li
- Food Quality and Safety Center of Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Ying Lin
- Food Quality and Safety Center of Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaoling Liu
- Food Quality and Safety Center of Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Weiyi Huang
- Food Quality and Safety Center of Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yunliang Shi
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Food Quality and Safety Center of Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- * E-mail: (YH); (YS)
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21
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Yan Q, Wang J, Gangiredla J, Cao Y, Martins M, Gopinath GR, Stephan R, Lampel K, Tall BD, Fanning S. Comparative Genotypic and Phenotypic Analysis of Cronobacter Species Cultured from Four Powdered Infant Formula Production Facilities: Indication of Pathoadaptation along the Food Chain. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:4388-402. [PMID: 25911470 PMCID: PMC4475896 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00359-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter species are opportunistic pathogens commonly found in the environment. Among the seven Cronobacter species, Cronobacter sakazakii sequence type 4 (ST-4) is predominantly associated with recorded cases of infantile meningitis. This study reports on a 26-month powdered infant formula (PIF) surveillance program in four production facilities located in distinct geographic regions. The objective was to identify the ST(s) in PIF production environments and to investigate the phenotypic features that support their survival. Of all 168 Cronobacter isolates, 133 were recovered from a PIF production environment, 31 were of clinical origin, and 4 were laboratory type strains. Sequence type 1 (n = 84 isolates; 63.9%) was the dominant type in PIF production environments. The majority of these isolates clustered with an indistinguishable pulsotype and persisted for at least an 18-month period. Moreover, DNA microarray results identified two phylogenetic lineages among ST-4 strains tested. Thereafter, the ST-1 and -4 isolates were phenotypically compared. Differences were noted based on the phenotypes expressed by these isolates. The ST-1 PIF isolates produced stronger biofilms at both 28°C and 37°C, while the ST-4 clinical isolates exhibited greater swimming activity and increased binding to Congo red dye. Given the fact that PIF is a low-moisture environment and that the clinical environment provides for an interaction between the pathogen and its host, these differences may be consistent with a form of pathoadaptation. These findings help to extend our current understanding of the epidemiology and ecology of Cronobacter species in PIF production environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongqiong Yan
- UCD Centre for Food Safety, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Reference & Training on Cronobacter, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Juan Wang
- UCD Centre for Food Safety, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Reference & Training on Cronobacter, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jayanthi Gangiredla
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, OARSA, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Yu Cao
- UCD Centre for Food Safety, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Reference & Training on Cronobacter, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marta Martins
- UCD Centre for Food Safety, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Reference & Training on Cronobacter, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gopal R Gopinath
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, OARSA, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Roger Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Keith Lampel
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, OARSA, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Ben D Tall
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, OARSA, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Séamus Fanning
- UCD Centre for Food Safety, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Reference & Training on Cronobacter, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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22
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Singh N, Goel G, Raghav M. Prevalence and Characterization of Cronobacter spp. from Various Foods, Medicinal Plants, and Environmental Samples. Curr Microbiol 2015; 71:31-8. [PMID: 25855303 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-015-0816-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Dairy or non-dairy based products were explored to determine the prevalence, molecular characterization, and antibiotic susceptibility of Cronobacter spp. The isolation was done as per ISO 22964:2006 on chromogenic media followed by further confirmation by biochemical- and 16S rRNA-based identification. From 219 samples, the chromogenic agar assay and biochemical tests yielded presumptive 45 isolates. Among them, only 36 isolates showed 282 bp band amplified from ITS-G gene confirming as Cronobacter sakazakii. The Cronobacter spp. prevalence was highest in herbs and spices (34 %) while environmental samples had contamination rates of 23 % indicating plants as a possible reservoir of this pathogen. All the isolates were resistant to β-lactam derivatives (68 %), macrolides (88.6 %), and aminoglycosides (79.9 %) but susceptible to phenicoles (31.6 %) and tetracyclines (15 %) derivatives. The results emphasize the screening of plant materials before their incorporation in food matrices.
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MESH Headings
- Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
- Bacterial Typing Techniques
- Cluster Analysis
- Cronobacter/classification
- Cronobacter/drug effects
- Cronobacter/genetics
- Cronobacter/isolation & purification
- DNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- DNA, Bacterial/genetics
- DNA, Ribosomal/chemistry
- DNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics
- Environmental Microbiology
- Food Microbiology
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests
- Phylogeny
- Plants, Medicinal/microbiology
- Prevalence
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Affiliation(s)
- Niharika Singh
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, 173234, India
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23
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Abstract
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is a molecular-based subtyping strategy that uses a suitable DNA restriction endonuclease enzyme to cut genomic DNA into several large linear fragments, that can be separated based on their sizes. PFGE has been successfully applied to the subtyping of many pathogenic bacteria, including Cronobacter species, and it is commonly considered as a "gold standard" in epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongqiong Yan
- UCD-Centre for Food Safety, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Reference and Training on Cronobacter, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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24
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Forsythe SJ, Dickins B, Jolley KA. Cronobacter, the emergent bacterial pathogen Enterobacter sakazakii comes of age; MLST and whole genome sequence analysis. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1121. [PMID: 25515150 PMCID: PMC4377842 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following the association of Cronobacter spp. to several publicized fatal outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units of meningitis and necrotising enterocolitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 requested the establishment of a molecular typing scheme to enable the international control of the organism. This paper presents the application of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to Cronobacter which has led to the establishment of the Cronobacter PubMLST genome and sequence definition database (http://pubmlst.org/cronobacter/) containing over 1000 isolates with metadata along with the recognition of specific clonal lineages linked to neonatal meningitis and adult infections RESULTS Whole genome sequencing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has supports the formal recognition of the genus Cronobacter composed of seven species to replace the former single species Enterobacter sakazakii. Applying the 7-loci MLST scheme to 1007 strains revealed 298 definable sequence types, yet only C. sakazakii clonal complex 4 (CC4) was principally associated with neonatal meningitis. This clonal lineage has been confirmed using ribosomal-MLST (51-loci) and whole genome-MLST (1865 loci) to analyse 107 whole genomes via the Cronobacter PubMLST database. This database has enabled the retrospective analysis of historic cases and outbreaks following re-identification of those strains. CONCLUSIONS The Cronobacter PubMLST database offers a central, open access, reliable sequence-based repository for researchers. It has the capacity to create new analysis schemes 'on the fly', and to integrate metadata (source, geographic distribution, clinical presentation). It is also expandable and adaptable to changes in taxonomy, and able to support the development of reliable detection methods of use to industry and regulatory authorities. Therefore it meets the WHO (2004) request for the establishment of a typing scheme for this emergent bacterial pathogen. Whole genome sequencing has additionally shown a range of potential virulence and environmental fitness traits which may account for the association of C. sakazakii CC4 pathogenicity, and propensity for neonatal CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Forsythe
- />School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Benjamin Dickins
- />School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Keith A Jolley
- />Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS UK
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25
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Cui J, Du X, Liu H, Hu G, Lv G, Xu B, Yang X, Li W, Cui Z. The genotypic characterization of Cronobacter spp. isolated in China. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102179. [PMID: 25029018 PMCID: PMC4100892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) is an important pathogen contaminating powdered infant formula (PIF). To describe the genotypic diversity of Cronobacter isolated in China, we identified the isolates using fusA allele sequencing, and subtyped all of the isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA). A total of 105 isolates were identified, which included C. sakazakii (58 isolates), C. malonaticus (30 isolates), C. dublinensis (11 isolates), C. turicensis (5 isolates), and C. muytjensii (1 isolate). These isolates were showed to have 85 PFGE-patterns, 71 sequence types (STs), and 55 MLVA-patterns. Comparisons among the three molecular subtyping methods revealed that the PFGE method was the most distinguishable tool in identifying clusters of Cronobacter spp. through DNA fingerprinting, and MLST method came second. However, ESTR-1, ESTR-2, ESTR-3, and ESTR-4 were not effective loci for subtyping Cronobacter spp. such that the MLVA method requires further improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Du
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Jinan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Guangchun Hu
- Jinan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, China
| | - Guoping Lv
- Shijiazhuang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Baohong Xu
- Shijiazhuang Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaorong Yang
- Sichuan Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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26
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Cai XQ, Yu HQ, Ruan ZX, Yang LL, Bai JS, Qiu DY, Jian ZH, Xiao YQ, Yang JY, Le TH, Zhu XQ. Rapid detection and simultaneous genotyping of Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) in powdered infant formula using real-time PCR and high resolution melting (HRM) analysis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67082. [PMID: 23825624 PMCID: PMC3692429 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter spp. is an emerging pathogen that causes meningitis, sepsis, bacteremia, and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates and children. The present study developed an assay integrating real-time PCR and high resolution melting (HRM) analysis targeting the OmpA gene for the specific detection and rapid identification of Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) in powdered infant formula. Eleven Cronobacter field isolates and 25 reference strains were examined using one pair of primers, having the accuracy of 100% in reference to conventional methods. The assay was proved to be highly sensitive with a detection limit of 102 CFU/ml without pre-enrichment, and highly concordant (100%) when compared with ISO-IDF 22964 in 89 actual samples. The method performed for Cronobacter spp. detection was less than 24 h, drastically shortened, compared to several days using standard culturing method, it is probe-free and reduces a risk of PCR carryover. Moreover, all Cronobacter strains examined in this study were genotyped into two species according to their HRM profiles. The established method should provide a molecular tool for direct detection and simultaneous genotyping of Cronobacter spp. in powdered infant formula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Quan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China
- Technical Center, Zhongshan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hai-Qiong Yu
- Technical Center, Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhou-Xi Ruan
- Animal & Plant Inspection and Quarantine Technical Center, Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei-Liang Yang
- Technical Center, Zhongshan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian-Shan Bai
- Guangzhou Airport Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - De-Yi Qiu
- Technical Center, Zhongshan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Hua Jian
- Technical Center, Zhongshan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-Qian Xiao
- Technical Center, Zhongshan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie-Yang Yang
- Technical Center, Zhongshan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Thanh Hoa Le
- Immunology Department, Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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27
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Joseph S, Desai P, Ji Y, Cummings CA, Shih R, Degoricija L, Rico A, Brzoska P, Hamby SE, Masood N, Hariri S, Sonbol H, Chuzhanova N, McClelland M, Furtado MR, Forsythe SJ. Comparative analysis of genome sequences covering the seven cronobacter species. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49455. [PMID: 23166675 PMCID: PMC3500316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Species of Cronobacter are widespread in the environment and are occasional food-borne pathogens associated with serious neonatal diseases, including bacteraemia, meningitis, and necrotising enterocolitis. The genus is composed of seven species: C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis, C. dublinensis, C. muytjensii, C. universalis, and C. condimenti. Clinical cases are associated with three species, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis and, in particular, with C. sakazakii multilocus sequence type 4. Thus, it is plausible that virulence determinants have evolved in certain lineages. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We generated high quality sequence drafts for eleven Cronobacter genomes representing the seven Cronobacter species, including an ST4 strain of C. sakazakii. Comparative analysis of these genomes together with the two publicly available genomes revealed Cronobacter has over 6,000 genes in one or more strains and over 2,000 genes shared by all Cronobacter. Considerable variation in the presence of traits such as type six secretion systems, metal resistance (tellurite, copper and silver), and adhesins were found. C. sakazakii is unique in the Cronobacter genus in encoding genes enabling the utilization of exogenous sialic acid which may have clinical significance. The C. sakazakii ST4 strain 701 contained additional genes as compared to other C. sakazakii but none of them were known specific virulence-related genes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Genome comparison revealed that pair-wise DNA sequence identity varies between 89 and 97% in the seven Cronobacter species, and also suggested various degrees of divergence. Sets of universal core genes and accessory genes unique to each strain were identified. These gene sequences can be used for designing genus/species specific detection assays. Genes encoding adhesins, T6SS, and metal resistance genes as well as prophages are found in only subsets of genomes and have contributed considerably to the variation of genomic content. Differences in gene content likely contribute to differences in the clinical and environmental distribution of species and sequence types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Joseph
- Pathogen Research Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Prerak Desai
- Vaccine Research Institute San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Yongmei Ji
- Life Technologies Corporation, Foster City, California, United States of America
| | - Craig A. Cummings
- Life Technologies Corporation, Foster City, California, United States of America
| | - Rita Shih
- Life Technologies Corporation, Foster City, California, United States of America
| | - Lovorka Degoricija
- Life Technologies Corporation, Foster City, California, United States of America
| | - Alain Rico
- Life Technologies Corporation, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Pius Brzoska
- Life Technologies Corporation, Foster City, California, United States of America
| | - Stephen E. Hamby
- Bioinformatics and Biomathematics Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Naqash Masood
- Pathogen Research Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sumyya Hariri
- Pathogen Research Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hana Sonbol
- Pathogen Research Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nadia Chuzhanova
- Bioinformatics and Biomathematics Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Michael McClelland
- Vaccine Research Institute San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Manohar R. Furtado
- Life Technologies Corporation, Foster City, California, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Forsythe
- Pathogen Research Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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28
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Huang CH, Chang MT, Huang L. Use of novel species-specific PCR primers targeted to DNA gyrase subunit B (gyrB) gene for species identification of the Cronobacter sakazakii and Cronobacter dublinensis. Mol Cell Probes 2012; 27:15-8. [PMID: 22963906 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2012.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2012] [Revised: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii and its phylogenetically closest species are considered to be an opportunistic pathogens associated with food-borne disease in neonates and infants. Neither phenotypic nor genotypic (16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis) techniques can provide sufficient resolutions for accurately and rapidly identification of these species. The objective of this study was to develop species-specific PCR based on the gyrB gene sequence for direct species identification of the C. sakazakii and Cronobacter dublinensis within the C. sakazakii group. Two pair of species-specific primers were designed and used to specifically identify C. sakazakii and C. dublinensis, but none of the other C. sakazakii group strains. Our data indicate that the novel species-specific primers could be used to rapidly and accurately identify the species of C. sakazakii and C. dublinensis from C. sakazakii group by the PCR based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Hsun Huang
- Bioresource Collection and Research Center, Food Industry Research and Development Institute, 331 Shih-Pin Road, Hsinchu 30062, Taiwan, ROC
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29
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Lehner A, Fricker-Feer C, Stephan R. Identification of the recently described Cronobacter condimenti by an rpoB-gene-based PCR system. J Med Microbiol 2012; 61:1034-1035. [PMID: 22466029 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.042903-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A Lehner
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C Fricker-Feer
- QA and Food Safety Department, Hochdorf Nutritec AG, CH-6280 Hochdorf, Switzerland
| | - R Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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