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Sulaiman IM, Tang K, Segars K, Miranda N, Sulaiman N, Simpson S. Application of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and DNA sequencing-based SLST and MLST analysis for the identification of Cronobacter spp. isolated from environmental surveillance samples. Arch Microbiol 2021; 203:4813-4820. [PMID: 34196749 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02465-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cronobacter spp. are emerging infectious foodborne bacteria that can cause acute meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates and immunocompromised individuals. Although, little is known about its reservoirs or transmission routes, it has been linked to powdered infant formula worldwide. Three Cronobacter spp. (C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus, and C. turicensis) have been described as more virulent, and isolated frequently from infant meningitis cases. The estimated mortality rates are as high as 80% in infants. Thus, surveillance and typing of Cronobacter spp. isolated from food and environmental samples is essential to prevent contamination and spread of this pathogen. In this study, we have characterized 83 Cronobacter isolates recovered from various environmental samples by conventional microbiologic protocols. Species identification was accomplished by VITEK 2 system and real-time PCR analysis. Subsequently, these isolates were analyzed using VITEK MS system. Single locus sequence typing (SLST) was achieved by characterizing the regions of 16S rRNA and rpoB genes. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed by sequence characterization of seven housekeeping genes (atpD, fusA, glnS, gltB, gyrB, infB, and pps) using ABI 3500XL Genetic Analyzer. VITEK MS system identified, the majority of isolates as Cronobacter sakazakii with a high confidence value (99.9%). MLST analysis ascertained 12 distinct clonal complexes (CC1, CC4, CC8, CC13, CC17, CC21, CC31, CC40, CC52, CC64, CC73, and CC83) for the recovered C. sakazakii isolates. The results suggest that the MALDI-TOF MS is a reliable diagnostic tool for rapid species identification whereas 7-loci MLST is a powerful technique to discriminate and differentiate Cronobacter spp. isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad M Sulaiman
- Microbiological Sciences Branch, Southeast Food and Feed Laboratory, Office of Regulatory Science, Office of Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 60, Eighth Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA.
| | - Kevin Tang
- Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Katharine Segars
- Microbiological Sciences Branch, Southeast Food and Feed Laboratory, Office of Regulatory Science, Office of Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 60, Eighth Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA
| | - Nancy Miranda
- Microbiological Sciences Branch, Southeast Food and Feed Laboratory, Office of Regulatory Science, Office of Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 60, Eighth Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA
| | - Nikhat Sulaiman
- Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, Division of Scientific Resources, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Steven Simpson
- Microbiological Sciences Branch, Southeast Food and Feed Laboratory, Office of Regulatory Science, Office of Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 60, Eighth Street NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA
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Diversity of O Antigens within the Genus Cronobacter: from Disorder to Order. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:5574-82. [PMID: 26070668 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00277-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cronobacter species are Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens that can cause serious infections in neonates. The lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) that form part of the outer membrane of such bacteria are possibly related to the virulence of particular bacterial strains. However, currently there is no clear overview of O-antigen diversity within the various Cronobacter strains and links with virulence. In this study, we tested a total of 82 strains, covering each of the Cronobacter species. The nucleotide variability of the O-antigen gene cluster was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. As a result, the 82 strains were distributed into 11 previously published serotypes and 6 new serotypes, each defined by its characteristic restriction profile. These new serotypes were confirmed using genomic analysis of strains available in public databases: GenBank and PubMLST Cronobacter. Laboratory strains were then tested using the current serotype-specific PCR probes. The results show that the current PCR probes did not always correspond to genomic O-antigen gene cluster variation. In addition, we analyzed the LPS phenotype of the reference strains of all distinguishable serotypes. The identified serotypes were compared with data from the literature and the MLST database (www.pubmlst.org/cronobacter/). Based on the findings, we systematically classified a total of 24 serotypes for the Cronobacter genus. Moreover, we evaluated the clinical history of these strains and show that Cronobacter sakazakii O2, O1, and O4, C. turicensis O1, and C. malonaticus O2 serotypes are particularly predominant in clinical cases.
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Structural studies of O-polysaccharide isolated from Cronobacter sakazakii Sequence Type 12 from a case of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Carbohydr Res 2015; 407:55-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2015.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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A proposed harmonized LPS molecular-subtyping scheme for Cronobacter species. Food Microbiol 2015; 50:38-43. [PMID: 25998813 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cronobacter are opportunistic pathogens, which cause infections in all age groups. To aid the characterization of Cronobacter in foods and environments a harmonized LPS identification scheme for molecular serotyping is needed. To this end, we studied 409 Cronobacter isolates representing the seven Cronobacter species using two previously reported molecular serotyping schemes, described here as Mullane-Jarvis (M-J) and Sun schemes. PCR analysis revealed many overlapping results that were obtained when independently applying the two serotyping schemes. There were complete agreements between the two PCR schemes for Cronobacter sakazakii (Csak) O:1, Csak O:3, and Csak O:7 serotypes. However, only thirty-five of 41 Csak O:4 strains, identified using the M-J scheme, were PCR-positive with the Sun scheme primers. Also the Sun scheme Csak O:5 primers failed to identify this serotype in any of the C. sakazakii strains tested, but did recognize seven Cronobacter turicensis strains, which were identified as Ctur O:3 using the M-J scheme. Similarly, the Sun scheme Csak O:6 primers recognized 30 Cronobacter malonaticus O:2 strains identified with the M-J scheme, but failed to identify this serotype in any C. sakazakii strain investigated. In this report, these findings are summarized and a harmonized molecular-serotyping scheme is proposed which is predicated on the correct identification of Cronobacter species, prior to serotype determination. In summary, fourteen serotypes were identified using the combined protocol, which consists of Csak O:1-O:4, and Csak O:7; Cmal O:1-O:2; Cdub O:1-O:2, Cmuy O:1-O:2, Cuni O:1, as well as Ctur O:1 and Ctur O:3.
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Marszewska K, Czerwicka M, Forsythe SJ, Sałdak E, Szulta S, Dziadziuszko H, Ossowska K, Kaczyński Z. The structure of O-polysaccharide isolated from Cronobacter universalis NCTC 9529T. Carbohydr Res 2014; 398:77-9. [PMID: 25240186 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2014.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The O-polysaccharide (OPS) was isolated from Cronobacter universalis NCTC 9529(T), a new species in the genus Cronobacter, which was created by the reclassification of the species Enterobacter sakazakii. Purified polysaccharide was analyzed by NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, HSQC, and HSQC-TOCSY) and chemical methods. The monosaccharide derivatives were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These experiments enabled the type and number of monosaccharides in the repeating unit of OPS, their positions of linkages, and absolute configuration to be determined. Together the chemical analysis established a structure of the OPS of C. universalis NCTC 9529(T). [structure: see text]. OPS isolated from C. universalis was structurally characterized for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Marszewska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Czerwicka
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Stephen J Forsythe
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom
| | - Ewelina Sałdak
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Sylwia Szulta
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Halina Dziadziuszko
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Do Studzienki 38, 80-227 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Karolina Ossowska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Kaczyński
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
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Jaradat ZW, Al Mousa W, Elbetieha A, Al Nabulsi A, Tall BD. Cronobacter spp.--opportunistic food-borne pathogens. A review of their virulence and environmental-adaptive traits. J Med Microbiol 2014; 63:1023-1037. [PMID: 24878566 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.073742-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Cronobacter consists of a diverse group of Gram-negative bacilli and comprises seven species: Cronobacter sakazakii, Cronobacter malonaticus, Cronobacter muytjensii, Cronobacter turicensis, Cronobacter dublinensis, Cronobacter universalis and Cronobacter condimenti. Cronobacter are regarded as opportunistic pathogens, and have been implicated in newborn and infant infections, causing meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis and bacteraemia or sepsis. Cronobacter virulence is believed to be due to multiple factors. Some strains were found to produce diarrhoea or cause significant fluid accumulation in suckling mice. Two iron acquisition systems (eitCBAD and iucABCD/iutA), Cronobacter plasminogen activator gene (cpa), a 17 kb type VI secretion system (T6SS), and a 27 kb filamentous haemagglutinin gene (fhaBC) and associated putative adhesins locus are harboured on a family of RepFIB-related plasmids (pESA3 and pCTU1), suggesting that these are common virulence plasmids; 98% of 229 tested Cronobacter strains possessed these plasmids. Even though pESA3 and pCTU1 share a common backbone composed of the repA gene and eitCBAD and iucABCD/iutA gene clusters, the presence of cpa, T6SS and FHA loci depended on species, demonstrating a strong correlation with the presence of virulence traits, plasmid type and species. Other factors were observed, in that Cronobacter form biofilms, and show unusual resistance to heat, dry and acid stress growth conditions. The outer-membrane protein A is probably one of the best-characterized virulence markers of Cronobacter. Furthermore, it was reported that Cronobacter employ phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase/Akt signalling, which activates protein kinase C-α and impairs the host cell's mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, in order to invade cells. Cronobacter can also use immature dendritic cells and macrophages to escape the immune response. This review addresses the various virulence and environmental-adaptive characteristics possessed by members of the genus Cronobacter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziad W Jaradat
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Waseem Al Mousa
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Ahmed Elbetieha
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Anas Al Nabulsi
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Ben D Tall
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Division of Virulence Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
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Sun Y, Arbatsky NP, Wang M, Shashkov AS, Liu B, Wang L, Knirel YA. Structure and genetics of the O-antigen ofCronobacter turicensisG3882 from a new serotype,C. turicensisO2, and identification of a serotype-specific gene. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 66:323-33. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2012.01013.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Structure and genetics of the O-antigen of Cronobacter sakazakii G2726 (serotype O3) closely related to the O-antigen of C. muytjensii 3270. Carbohydr Res 2012; 355:50-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2012.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2012] [Revised: 02/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Yan QQ, Condell O, Power K, Butler F, Tall BD, Fanning S. Cronobacter species (formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii) in powdered infant formula: a review of our current understanding of the biology of this bacterium. J Appl Microbiol 2012; 113:1-15. [PMID: 22420458 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05281.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cronobacter species (formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii) are opportunistic pathogens that can cause necrotizing enterocolitis, bacteraemia and meningitis, predominantly in neonates. Infection in these vulnerable infants has been linked to the consumption of contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF). Considerable research has been undertaken on this organism in the past number of years which has enhanced our understanding of this neonatal pathogen leading to improvements in its control within the PIF production environment. The taxonomy of the organism resulted in the recognition of a new genus, Cronobacter, which consists of seven species. This paper presents an up-to-date review of our current knowledge of Cronobacter species. Taxonomy, genome sequencing, current detection protocols and epidemiology are all discussed. In addition, consideration is given to the control of this organism in the manufacturing environment, as a first step towards reducing the occurrence of this pathogen in PIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Q 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, Dublin, Ireland
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MacLean LL, Vinogradov E, Pagotto F, Perry MB. Structure of the O-antigen polysaccharide present in the lipopolysaccharide ofCronobacter dublinensis(subspecieslactaridiorlausannensis) HPB 3169. Can J Microbiol 2012; 58:540-6. [DOI: 10.1139/w2012-022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cronobacter dublinensis (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) HPB 3169 is a pathogenic Gram-negative bacterium that produces a smooth-type lipopolysaccharide in which the antigenic O-polysaccharide component was determined to be a repeating pentasaccharide unit composed of l-rhamnose; 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose; 3,6-dideoxy-3-(R)-3-hydroxybutyramido-d-glucose; and 3-deoxy-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid in the respective molar ratio 2:1:1:1. Chemical and 2D NMR analyses of the O-polysaccharide and a pentasaccharide derived by the mild acid hydrolysis of the ketosyl linkage of the Kdo (3-deoxy-d-manno-2-octulosonic acid) residue in the O-polysaccharide established that the O-antigen is a high molecular mass unbranched polymer of a repeating pentasaccharide unit and has the structure where Bu is a (R)-3-hydroxybutanoyl substituent. The O-antigen is structurally similar to that of the recently reported Cronobacter sakazakii strain G706 (designated as serotype O5), except that in strain G706 the d-Qui3N is in its N-acetyl form, in contrast to its presence as a 3-deoxy-3-(R)-3-hydroxybutyramido derivative in the C. sakazakii HPB 3169 strain O-antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leann L. MacLean
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Evgeny Vinogradov
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Franco Pagotto
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Products and Food Branch, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Malcolm B. Perry
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
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Genetic analysis of the Cronobacter sakazakii O4 to O7 O-antigen gene clusters and development of a PCR assay for identification of all C. sakazakii O serotypes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:3966-74. [PMID: 22447597 DOI: 10.1128/aem.07825-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Cronobacter sakazakii is an emerging food-borne pathogen that causes severe invasive infections in neonates. Variation in the O-antigen lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane provides the basis for Gram-negative bacteria serotyping. The O-antigen serotyping scheme for C. sakazakii, which includes seven serotypes (O1 to O7), has been recently established, and the O-antigen gene clusters and specific primers for three C. sakazakii serotypes (O1, O2, and O3) have been characterized. In this study, the C. sakazakii O4, O5, O6, and O7 O-antigen gene clusters were sequenced, and gene functions were predicted on the basis of homology. C. sakazakii O4 shared a similar O-antigen gene cluster with Escherichia coli O103. The general features and anomalies of all seven C. sakazakii O-antigen gene clusters were evaluated and the relationship between O-antigen structures and their gene clusters were investigated. Serotype-specific genes for O4 to O7 were identified, and a molecular serotyping method for all C. sakazakii O serotypes, a multiplex PCR assay, was developed by screening against 136 strains of C. sakazakii and closely related species. The sensitivity of PCR-based serotyping method was determined to be 0.01 ng of genomic DNA and 10(3) CFU of each strain/ml. This study completes the elucidation of C. sakazakii O-antigen genetics and provides a molecular method suitable for the identification of C. sakazakii O1 to O7 strains.
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MacLean LL, Vinogradov E, Pagotto F, Perry MB. Characterization of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen of Cronobacter turicensis HPB3287 as a polysaccharide containing a 5,7-diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-ulosonic acid (legionaminic acid) residue. Carbohydr Res 2011; 346:2589-94. [PMID: 21963342 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2011.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2011] [Revised: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 09/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cronobacter turicensis, previously known as Enterobacter sakazakii, is a Gram-negative opportunistic food-borne pathogen that has been reported as a cause of life-threatening neonatal infections. From chemical and physical analyses involving composition analysis, methylation, two-dimensional high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry methods, the antigenic O-polysaccharide in the smooth-type lipopolysaccharide of C. turicensis (strain HPB 3287) was determined to be a high molecular mass polymer of a repeating pentasaccharide unit composed of D-galactose, D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, and 5,7-diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-non-2-ulosonic acid (legionaminic acid), in a molar ratio 2:1:1:1, and having the structure: [see formula in text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Leann L MacLean
- Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6
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Shashkov AS, Arbatsky NP, Knirel YA. Structures and genetics of Kdo-containing O-antigens of Cronobacter sakazakii G2706 and G2704, the reference strains of serotypes O5 and O6. Carbohydr Res 2011; 346:1924-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2011.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2011] [Revised: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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