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Mechanisms of Action and Cell Death Associated with Clostridium perfringens Toxins. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10050212. [PMID: 29786671 PMCID: PMC5983268 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10050212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens uses its large arsenal of protein toxins to produce histotoxic, neurologic and intestinal infections in humans and animals. The major toxins involved in diseases are alpha (CPA), beta (CPB), epsilon (ETX), iota (ITX), enterotoxin (CPE), and necrotic B-like (NetB) toxins. CPA is the main virulence factor involved in gas gangrene in humans, whereas its role in animal diseases is limited and controversial. CPB is responsible for necrotizing enteritis and enterotoxemia, mostly in neonatal individuals of many animal species, including humans. ETX is the main toxin involved in enterotoxemia of sheep and goats. ITX has been implicated in cases of enteritis in rabbits and other animal species; however, its specific role in causing disease has not been proved. CPE is responsible for human food-poisoning and non-foodborne C. perfringens-mediated diarrhea. NetB is the cause of necrotic enteritis in chickens. In most cases, host–toxin interaction starts on the plasma membrane of target cells via specific receptors, resulting in the activation of intracellular pathways with a variety of effects, commonly including cell death. In general, the molecular mechanisms of cell death associated with C. perfringens toxins involve features of apoptosis, necrosis and/or necroptosis.
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102
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Whole genome analysis reveals the diversity and evolutionary relationships between necrotic enteritis-causing strains of Clostridium perfringens. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:379. [PMID: 29788909 PMCID: PMC5964661 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4771-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium perfringens causes a range of diseases in animals and humans including necrotic enteritis in chickens and food poisoning and gas gangrene in humans. Necrotic enteritis is of concern in commercial chicken production due to the cost of the implementation of infection control measures and to productivity losses. This study has focused on the genomic analysis of a range of chicken-derived C. perfringens isolates, from around the world and from different years. The genomes were sequenced and compared with 20 genomes available from public databases, which were from a diverse collection of isolates from chickens, other animals, and humans. We used a distance based phylogeny that was constructed based on gene content rather than sequence identity. Similarity between strains was defined as the number of genes that they have in common divided by their total number of genes. In this type of phylogenetic analysis, evolutionary distance can be interpreted in terms of evolutionary events such as acquisition and loss of genes, whereas the underlying properties (the gene content) can be interpreted in terms of function. We also compared these methods to the sequence-based phylogeny of the core genome. Results Distinct pathogenic clades of necrotic enteritis-causing C. perfringens were identified. They were characterised by variable regions encoded on the chromosome, with predicted roles in capsule production, adhesion, inhibition of related strains, phage integration, and metabolism. Some strains have almost identical genomes, even though they were isolated from different geographic regions at various times, while other highly distant genomes appear to result in similar outcomes with regard to virulence and pathogenesis. Conclusions The high level of diversity in chicken isolates suggests there is no reliable factor that defines a chicken strain of C. perfringens, however, disease-causing strains can be defined by the presence of netB-encoding plasmids. This study reveals that horizontal gene transfer appears to play a significant role in genetic variation of the C. perfringens chromosome as well as the plasmid content within strains.
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103
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Bortoluzzi C, Rochell SJ, Applegate TJ. Threonine, arginine, and glutamine: Influences on intestinal physiology, immunology, and microbiology in broilers. Poult Sci 2018; 97:937-945. [DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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104
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Zahoor I, Ghayas A, Basheer A. Genetics and genomics of susceptibility and immune response to necrotic enteritis in chicken: a review. Mol Biol Rep 2017; 45:31-37. [PMID: 29264734 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-017-4138-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Global poultry production is facing many challenges and is currently under pressure due to the presence of several diseases like Necrotic Enteritis (NE). It is estimated that NE-caused global economic losses has increased from 2 billion to 6 billion US$ in 2015 because it is not easy to diagnose and control disease at the earlier stage of occurrence. Additionally, ban on the in-feed antibiotics and some other genetic and non-genetic predisposing factors affect the occurrence of the disease. Though the incidence of the disease can be reduced by minimizing the predisposing factors and through immunization of birds but there is no single remedy to control the disease. Therefore, we suggest that there is need to find out the genetic variants that could help to select the birds resistant to NE. The current review details the pertinent features about the genetic and genomics of susceptibility and immune response of birds to Necrotic Enteritis. We report here the list of candidate gene reported for their involvement with the susceptibility and/or resistance to the disease. However, most of these genes are involved in immune-related functions. For better understanding of the role of Clostridium perfringens and its toxins in the pathogenesis of disease there is need to unveil the association between any specific genetic variation and clinical status of NE. However, the presence of substantial genetic variations among different breeds/strains of chicken shows that it is possible to develop broiler strain with genetic resistant against NE. It would help in the cost-effective and sustainable production of safe broiler meat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Zahoor
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Section, Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Abdul Ghayas
- Department of Poultry Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Atia Basheer
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Section, Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
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105
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Mishra N, Smyth JA. Oral vaccination of broiler chickens against necrotic enteritis using a non-virulent NetB positive strain of Clostridium perfringens type A. Vaccine 2017; 35:6858-6865. [PMID: 29102330 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a severe disease of chickens and turkeys caused by some strains of Clostridium perfringens type A. The disease is well controlled by the use of in-feed antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). However, due to worldwide public and regulatory pressure to reduce the use of AGPs inter alia, there is an urgent need to develop non-antibiotic based preventative measures. Vaccination would be a suitable control measure, but currently there is no commercial vaccine. NetB (necrotic enteritis toxin B-like) is a pore-forming toxin produced by C. perfringens that has been reported as an important virulence factor in the pathogenesis of NE. The present study tests a non-virulent NetB producing strain of C. perfringens (nvNetB+), with or without adjuvants, as an orally administered live vaccine. Adjuvants used were Gel 01™, Cholera toxin (CT), Escherichia coli wild type heat-labile holotoxin (LT) and mutant E. coli LT (dmLT) (R192G/L211A). Several vaccine administration regimes were tested. All vaccination regimes elicited serum and mucosal antibody responses to alpha toxin and to secreted proteins of both nvNetB+ and a very virulent NetB positive (vvNetB+) strain (p<0.0001 to p<0.05). In some vaccinated groups, there was milder intestinal pathology upon disease challenge. 55% of birds vaccinated orally at days 2, 12 with nvNetB+ adjuvanted with CT did not develop any lesions of NE by 6 days post challenge, compared to a 100% incidence of NE lesions in the unvaccinated disease challenged group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Mishra
- Department of Pathobiology & Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
| | - Joan A Smyth
- Department of Pathobiology & Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
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106
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Yin D, Du E, Yuan J, Gao J, Wang Y, Aggrey SE, Guo Y. Supplemental thymol and carvacrol increases ileum Lactobacillus population and reduces effect of necrotic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringes in chickens. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7334. [PMID: 28779076 PMCID: PMC5544757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07420-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens is one of the most detrimental infectious diseases in poultry. This study examined the effect of blends of essential oils (BEOs) (25% thymol and 25% carvacrol) on NE and bacterial dynamics and functions in chicks challenged with C. perfringens. Chicks were assigned to a Control diet and BEOs diet (Control diet + 120 mg/kg BEOs), were challenged with C. perfringens from days 14 to 20 and were killed on day 21 for assessment. Supplementation with BEOs decreased the mortality, alleviated gut lesions, and decreased the virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria (VF 0073-ClpE, VF0124-LPS, and VF0350-BSH). Lack of supplementation also changed the nutrient and immunological dynamics of host microbiota in responding to C. perfringens infection. Adding BEOs changed the host ileum microbial population by increasing the numbers of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus agilis, and decreasing Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus johnsonii. The functional roles of these changing host bacterial populations coupled with the putative reduced pathogenicity of C. perfringens by BEOs contributed to the reduction in gut lesions and mortality in infected chickens. It suggests that dietary supplementation with BEOs could significantly reduce the impact of NE caused by C. perfringens on broilers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafei Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Encun Du
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianmin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - YouLi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Samuel E Aggrey
- NutriGenomics Laboratory, Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 20602, USA
| | - Yuming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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107
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Parreira VR, Ojha S, Lepp D, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Zhou H, Susta L, Gong J, Prescott JF. Necrotic enteritis locus 1 diguanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase (cyclic-di-GMP) gene mutation attenuates virulence in an avian necrotic enteritis isolate of Clostridium perfringens. Vet Microbiol 2017; 208:69-73. [PMID: 28888651 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by netB-positive strains of Clostridium perfringens is an important disease of intensively-reared broiler chickens. It is widely controlled by antibiotic use, but this practice that has come under increasing scrutiny and alternative approaches are required. As part of the search for alternative approaches over the last decade, advances have been made in understanding its pathogenesis but much remains to be understood and applied to the control of NE. The objective of this work was to assess the effect on virulence of mutation of the cyclic-di-GMP signaling genes present on the large pathogenicity locus (NELoc-1) in the tcp-encoding conjugative virulence plasmid, pNetB. For this purpose, the diguanylate cyclase (dgc) and phosphodiesterase (pde) genes were individually insertionally inactivated and the two mutants were subsequently complemented with their respective genes. Southern blotting showed that a single gene insertion was present. Mutation of either gene resulted in almost total attenuation of the mutants to cause NE in experimentally-infected broiler chickens, which was fully restored in each case by complementation of the respective mutated gene. Production of NetB-associated cytotoxicity for Leghorn male hepatoma (LMH) cells was unaffected in mutants. We conclude that the cyclic-di-GMP signaling system is important in controlling virulence in a NE C. perfringens strain and might be a target for control of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria R Parreira
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Shivani Ojha
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Dion Lepp
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada
| | | | - Hongzhuan Zhou
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada; Beijing Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097 China
| | - Leonardo Susta
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jianhua Gong
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
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108
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Transglycosylation by a chitinase from Enterobacter cloacae subsp. cloacae generates longer chitin oligosaccharides. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5113. [PMID: 28698589 PMCID: PMC5505975 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05140-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans have exploited natural resources for a variety of applications. Chitin and its derivative chitin oligosaccharides (CHOS) have potential biomedical and agricultural applications. Availability of CHOS with the desired length has been a major limitation in the optimum use of such natural resources. Here, we report a single domain hyper-transglycosylating chitinase, which generates longer CHOS, from Enterobacter cloacae subsp. cloacae 13047 (EcChi1). EcChi1 was optimally active at pH 5.0 and 40 °C with a Km of 15.2 mg ml−1, and kcat/Km of 0.011× 102 mg−1 ml min−1 on colloidal chitin. The profile of the hydrolytic products, major product being chitobiose, released from CHOS indicated that EcChi1 was an endo-acting enzyme. Transglycosylation (TG) by EcChi1 on trimeric to hexameric CHOS resulted in the formation of longer CHOS for a prolonged duration. EcChi1 showed both chitobiase and TG activities, in addition to hydrolytic activity. The TG by EcChi1 was dependent, to some extent, on the length of the CHOS substrate and concentration of the enzyme. Homology modeling and docking with CHOS suggested that EcChi1 has a deep substrate-binding groove lined with aromatic amino acids, which is a characteristic feature of a processive enzyme.
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109
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Li C, Lillehoj HS, Gadde UD, Ritter D, Oh S. Characterization ofClostridium perfringensStrains Isolated from Healthy and Necrotic Enteritis-Afflicted Broiler Chickens. Avian Dis 2017; 61:178-185. [DOI: 10.1637/11507-093016-reg.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Li
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service–U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
| | - Hyun S. Lillehoj
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service–U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
| | - Ujvala Deepthi Gadde
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service–U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
| | - Don Ritter
- Mountaire Farms, 29005 John J. Williams Highway, Millsboro, DE 19966
| | - SungTaek Oh
- Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service–U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
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110
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The Agr-Like Quorum Sensing System Is Required for Pathogenesis of Necrotic Enteritis Caused by Clostridium perfringens in Poultry. Infect Immun 2017; 85:IAI.00975-16. [PMID: 28373356 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00975-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens encodes at least two different quorum sensing (QS) systems, the Agr-like and LuxS, and recent studies have highlighted their importance in the regulation of toxin production and virulence. The role of QS in the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis (NE) in poultry and the regulation of NetB, the key toxin involved, has not yet been investigated. We have generated isogenic agrB-null and complemented strains from parent strain CP1 and demonstrated that the virulence of the agrB-null mutant was strongly attenuated in a chicken NE model system and restored by complementation. The production of NetB, a key NE-associated toxin, was dramatically reduced in the agrB mutant at both the transcriptional and protein levels, though not in a luxS mutant. Transwell assays confirmed that the Agr-like QS system controls NetB production through a diffusible signal. Global gene expression analysis of the agrB mutant identified additional genes modulated by Agr-like QS, including operons related to phospholipid metabolism and adherence, which may also play a role in NE pathogenesis. This study provides the first evidence that the Agr-like QS system is critical for NE pathogenesis and identifies a number of Agr-regulated genes, most notably netB, that are potentially involved in mediating its effects. The Agr-like QS system thus may serve as a target for developing novel interventions to prevent NE in chickens.
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111
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Gaucher ML, Perron GG, Arsenault J, Letellier A, Boulianne M, Quessy S. Recurring Necrotic Enteritis Outbreaks in Commercial Broiler Chicken Flocks Strongly Influence Toxin Gene Carriage and Species Richness in the Resident Clostridium perfringens Population. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:881. [PMID: 28567032 PMCID: PMC5434140 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in food animals has been questioned due to the globally increasing problem of antibiotic resistance. For the poultry industry, digestive health management following AGP withdrawal in Europe has been a challenge, especially the control of necrotic enteritis. Much research work has focused on gut health in commercial broiler chicken husbandry. Understanding the behavior of Clostridium perfringens in its ecological niche, the poultry barn, is key to a sustainable and cost-effective production in the absence of AGPs. Using polymerase chain reaction and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we evaluated how the C. perfringens population evolved in drug-free commercial broiler chicken farms, either healthy or affected with recurring clinical necrotic enteritis outbreaks, over a 14-month period. We show that a high genotypic richness was associated with an increased risk of clinical necrotic enteritis. Also, necrotic enteritis-affected farms had a significant reduction of C. perfringens genotypic richness over time, an increase in the proportion of C. perfringens strains harboring the cpb2 gene, the netB gene, or both. Thus, necrotic enteritis occurrence is correlated with the presence of an initial highly diverse C. perfringens population, increasing the opportunity for the selective sweep of particularly virulent genotypes. Disease outbreaks also appear to largely influence the evolution of this bacterial species in poultry farms over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-HyacintheQC, Canada.,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Center, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie Vétérinaire, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-HyacintheQC, Canada.,Chair in Poultry Research, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-HyacintheQC, Canada
| | - Gabriel G Perron
- Reem-Kayden Center for Science and Computation, Department of Biology, Bard College, Annandale-On-HudsonNY, United States
| | - Julie Arsenault
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Center, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie Vétérinaire, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-HyacintheQC, Canada
| | - Ann Letellier
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-HyacintheQC, Canada
| | - Martine Boulianne
- Chair in Poultry Research, Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-HyacintheQC, Canada
| | - Sylvain Quessy
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-HyacintheQC, Canada
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112
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Zhou H, Lepp D, Pei Y, Liu M, Yin X, Ma R, Prescott JF, Gong J. Influence of pCP1NetB ancillary genes on the virulence of Clostridium perfringens poultry necrotic enteritis strain CP1. Gut Pathog 2017; 9:6. [PMID: 28127404 PMCID: PMC5251324 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-016-0152-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of poultry caused by certain Clostridium perfringens type A strains. The NetB toxin plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of NE. We previously demonstrated that netB is located within a 42 kb plasmid-encoded pathogenicity locus (NELoc-1), which also encodes 36 additional genes. Although NetB clearly plays a role in pathogenesis, the involvement of the other NELoc-1 genes has not yet been established. The current study was to provide experimental evidence to confirm the involvement of these genes in NE pathogenesis. Results The present study has characterized a virulent C. perfringens strain (CP1) that has spontaneously lost the NELoc-1-encoding plasmid, pCP1netB. When assessed for cytotoxicity on Leghorn Male Hepatoma (LMH) cells, the culture supernatant of the pCP1netB-deficient CP1 variant (CP1ΔpCP1netB) demonstrated significantly reduced cytotoxicity compared to the wild-type. In addition, CP1ΔpCP1netB was unable to cause intestinal lesions in chickens in a NE disease model. When netB alone was introduced into CP1ΔpCP1netB, in vitro cytotoxicity was restored to the wild-type level; however, it did not completely restore virulence when used to challenge broiler chickens [mean lesion score of 0.71 compared to 3.23 in the wild type control group (n = 14)]. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that other genes present in NELoc-1, in addition to netB, are required for full virulence in the chicken challenge model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhuan Zhou
- Beijing Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097 China.,Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Dion Lepp
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Yanlong Pei
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Mei Liu
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Xianhua Yin
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Rongcai Ma
- Beijing Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097 China
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Joshua Gong
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
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113
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To H, Suzuki T, Kawahara F, Uetsuka K, Nagai S, Nunoya T. Experimental induction of necrotic enteritis in chickens by a netB-positive Japanese isolate of Clostridium perfringens. J Vet Med Sci 2016; 79:350-358. [PMID: 27980252 PMCID: PMC5326941 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.16-0500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most important bacterial diseases in terms of
economic losses. Clostridium perfringens necrotic enteritis toxin B,
NetB, was recently proposed as a new key virulent factor for the development of NE. The
goal of this work was to develop a necrotic enteritis model in chickens by using a
Japanese isolate of C. perfringens. The Japanese isolate has been found
to contain netB gene, which had the same nucleotide and deduced amino
acid sequences as those of prototype gene characterized in Australian strain EHE-NE18, and
also expressed in vitro a 33-kDa protein identified as NetB toxin by
nano-scale liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry. In the challenge experiment,
broiler chickens fed a commercial chicken starter diet for 14 days post-hatch were changed
to a high protein feed mixed 50:50 with fishmeal for 6 days. At day 21 of age, feed was
withheld for 24 hr, and each chicken was orally challenged twice daily with 2
ml each of C. perfringens culture (109 to
1010 CFU) on 5 consecutive days. The gross necrotic lesions were observed in
90 and 12.5% of challenged and control chickens, respectively. To our knowledge, this is
the first study that demonstrated that a netB-positive Japanese isolate
of C. perfringens is able to induce the clinical signs and lesions
characteristic of NE in the experimental model, which may be useful for evaluating the
pathogenicity of field isolates, the efficacy of a vaccine or a specific drug against
NE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho To
- Nippon Institute for Biological Science, 9-2221-1 Shinmachi, Ome, Tokyo 198-0024, Japan
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114
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Diaz Carrasco JM, Redondo LM, Redondo EA, Dominguez JE, Chacana AP, Fernandez Miyakawa ME. Use of Plant Extracts as an Effective Manner to Control Clostridium perfringens Induced Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:3278359. [PMID: 27747227 PMCID: PMC5055920 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3278359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an important concern in poultry industry since it causes economic losses, increased mortality, reduction of bird welfare, and contamination of chicken products for human consumption. For decades, the use of in-feed antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) has been the main strategy to control intestinal pathogens including Clostridium perfringens (CP), the causative agent of NE. However, the use of AGPs in animal diet has been linked to the emergence and transmission of antimicrobial resistance through food-borne microorganisms, which has led to the ban of AGPs in many countries. This scenario has challenged the poultry industry to search for safer alternative products in order to prevent NE. In this context, the utilization of natural plant extracts with antimicrobial properties appears as a promising and feasible tool to control NE in chicken. In this paper, we review the scientific studies analyzing the potential of plant extracts as alternative feed additives to reduce NE in poultry, with focus on two types of plant products that arise as promising candidates: tannins and essential oils. Some of these products showed antimicrobial activity against CP and coccidia in vitro and in vivo and are able to increase productive performance, emulating the bioactive properties of AGPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. M. Diaz Carrasco
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25, 1712 Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - L. M. Redondo
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25, 1712 Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - E. A. Redondo
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25, 1712 Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J. E. Dominguez
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25, 1712 Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A. P. Chacana
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25, 1712 Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. E. Fernandez Miyakawa
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25, 1712 Castelar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rivadavia 1917, 1033 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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115
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Parreira VR, Russell K, Athanasiadou S, Prescott JF. Comparative transcriptome analysis by RNAseq of necrotic enteritis Clostridium perfringens during in vivo colonization and in vitro conditions. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:186. [PMID: 27520106 PMCID: PMC4983038 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by netB-positive type A Clostridium perfringens is an important bacterial disease of poultry. Through its complex regulatory system, C. perfringens orchestrates the expression of a collection of toxins and extracellular enzymes that are crucial for the development of the disease; environmental conditions play an important role in their regulation. In this study, and for the first time, global transcriptomic analysis was performed on ligated intestinal loops in chickens colonized with a netB-positive C. perfringens strain, as well as the same strain propagated in vitro under various nutritional and environmental conditions. RESULTS Analysis of the respective pathogen transcriptomes revealed up to 673 genes that were significantly expressed in vivo. Gene expression profiles in vivo were most similar to those of C. perfringens grown in nutritionally-deprived conditions. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results suggest a bacterial transcriptome responses to the early stages of adaptation, and colonization of, the chicken intestine. Our work also reveals how netB-positive C. perfringens reacts to different environmental conditions including those in the chicken intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kay Russell
- Disease Systems, Animal and Veterinary Sciences SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, EH25 9RG Scotland
| | - Spiridoula Athanasiadou
- Disease Systems, Animal and Veterinary Sciences SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, EH25 9RG Scotland
| | - John F. Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
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116
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Van Immerseel F, Lyhs U, Pedersen K, Prescott JF. Recent breakthroughs have unveiled the many knowledge gaps inClostridium perfringens-associated necrotic enteritis in chickens: the first International Conference on Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry. Avian Pathol 2016; 45:269-70. [DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2016.1166857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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