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Karlsmose AK, Ivanova M, Kragh ML, Kjeldgaard JS, Otani S, Svendsen CA, Papić B, Zdovc I, Tasara T, Stephan R, Heir E, Langsrud S, Møretrø T, Dalgaard P, Fagerlund A, Hansen LT, Aarestrup FM, Leekitcharoenphon P. A novel metagenomic approach uncovers phage genes as markers for increased disinfectant tolerance in mixed Listeria monocytogenes communities. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 119:105582. [PMID: 38467173 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is an important human pathogen with a high mortality rate. Consumption of contaminated ready-to-eat food is the main mode of transmission to humans. Disinfectant-tolerant L. monocytogenes have emerged, which are believed to have increased persistence potential. Elucidating the mechanisms of L. monocytogenes disinfectant tolerance has been the focus of previous studies using pure cultures. A limitation of such approach is the difficulty to identify strains with reduced susceptibility due to inter-strain variation and the need to screen large numbers of strains and genes. In this study, we applied a novel metagenomic approach to detect genes associated with disinfectant tolerance in mixed L. monocytogenes planktonic communities. Two communities, consisting of 71 and 80 isolates each, were treated with the food industry disinfectants benzalkonium chloride (BC, 1.75 mg/L) or peracetic acid (PAA, 38 mg/L). The communities were subjected to metagenomic sequencing and differences in individual gene abundances between biocide-free control communities and biocide-treated communities were determined. A significant increase in the abundance of Listeria phage-associated genes was observed in both communities after treatment, suggesting that prophage carriage could lead to an increased disinfectant tolerance in mixed L. monocytogenes planktonic communities. In contrast, a significant decrease in the abundance of a high-copy emrC-harbouring plasmid pLmN12-0935 was observed in both communities after treatment. In PAA-treated community, a putative ABC transporter previously found to be necessary for L. monocytogenes resistance to antimicrobial agents and virulence, was among the genes with the highest weight for differentiating treated from control samples. The undertaken metagenomic approach in this study can be applied to identify genes associated with increased tolerance to other antimicrobials in mixed bacterial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnete Kirstine Karlsmose
- Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mirena Ivanova
- Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Martin Laage Kragh
- Research Group for Food Microbiology and Hygiene, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jette Sejer Kjeldgaard
- Research Group for Global Capacity Building, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Saria Otani
- Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christina Aaby Svendsen
- Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bojan Papić
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Irena Zdovc
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Taurai Tasara
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Even Heir
- Nofima - Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, Ås, Norway
| | - Solveig Langsrud
- Nofima - Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, Ås, Norway
| | - Trond Møretrø
- Nofima - Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, Ås, Norway
| | - Paw Dalgaard
- Research Group for Food Microbiology and Hygiene, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Annette Fagerlund
- Nofima - Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, Ås, Norway
| | - Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen
- Research Group for Food Microbiology and Hygiene, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Frank M Aarestrup
- Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pimlapas Leekitcharoenphon
- Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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Yu T, Jiang X, Xu X, Xu P, Qiu S, Yin J, Hamilton DP, Jiang X. Cross-Phosphorylation between AgrC Histidine Kinase and the Noncognate Response Regulator Lmo1172 in Listeria monocytogenes under Benzalkonium Chloride Stress. Microorganisms 2024; 12:392. [PMID: 38399796 PMCID: PMC10891604 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride (BC) is widely used for disinfection in the food industry. However, Listeria monocytogenes strains with resistance to BC have been reported recently. In L. monocytogenes, the Agr communication system consists of a membrane-bound peptidase AgrB, a precursor peptide AgrD, a histidine kinase (HK) AgrC, and a response regulator (RR) AgrA. Our previous study showed that the agr genes are significantly upregulated by BC adaptation. This study aimed to investigate the role of the Agr system in BC resistance in L. monocytogenes. Our results showed that the Agr system was involved in BC resistance. However, a direct interaction between BC and AgrC was not observed, nor between BC and AgrA. These results indicated that BC could induce the Agr system via an indirect action. Both AgrBD and AgrC were required for growth under BC stress. Nevertheless, when exposed to BC, the gene deletion mutant ∆agrA strain exhibited better growth performance than its parental strain. The RR Lmo1172 played a role in BC resistance in the ∆agrA strain, suggesting that Lmo1172 may be an alternative to AgrA in the phosphotransfer pathway. Phosphorylation of Lmo1172 by AgrC was observed in vitro. The cognate HK Lmo1173 of Lmo1172 was not involved in BC stress, regardless of whether it was as the wild-type or the ∆agrA mutant strain. Our evidence suggests that the HK AgrC cross-phosphorylates its noncognate RR Lmo1172 to cope with BC stress when the cognate RR AgrA is absent. In vivo, further studies will be required to detect phosphotransfer of AgrC/AgrA and AgrC/Lmo1172.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yu
- School of Biological Engineering, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang 453003, China; (T.Y.); (X.J.); (X.X.); (P.X.)
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia;
| | - Xiaojie Jiang
- School of Biological Engineering, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang 453003, China; (T.Y.); (X.J.); (X.X.); (P.X.)
| | - Xiaobo Xu
- School of Biological Engineering, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang 453003, China; (T.Y.); (X.J.); (X.X.); (P.X.)
| | - Ping Xu
- School of Biological Engineering, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang 453003, China; (T.Y.); (X.J.); (X.X.); (P.X.)
| | - Shuxing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health Risk Warning of Xinxiang City, Medical College, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang 453003, China; (S.Q.); (J.Y.)
| | - Junlei Yin
- Key Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health Risk Warning of Xinxiang City, Medical College, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang 453003, China; (S.Q.); (J.Y.)
| | - David P. Hamilton
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia;
| | - Xiaobing Jiang
- Henan Engineering Laboratory for Bioconversion Technology of Functional Microbes, College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
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Nogueira R, Cabo ML, García-Sanmartín L, Sánchez-Ruiloba L, Rodríguez-Herrera JJ. Risk factor-based clustering of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing environments using principal component analysis. Food Res Int 2023; 170:112989. [PMID: 37316020 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112989] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes has a range of strategies that allow it to persist as biofilms in food processing environments (FPE), making it a pathogen of concern to the food industry. The properties of these biofilms are highly variable among strains, and this significantly affects the risk of food contamination. The present study therefore aims to conduct a proof-of-concept study to cluster strains of L. monocytogenes by risk potential using principal component analysis, a multivariate approach. A set of 22 strains, isolated from food processing environments, were typed by serogrouping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, showing a relatively high diversity. They were characterized in terms of several biofilm properties that might pose a potential risk of food contamination. The properties studied were tolerance to benzalkonium chloride (BAC), the structural parameters of biofilms (biomass, surface area, maximum and average thickness, surface to biovolume ratio and roughness coefficient) measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy and (3) transfer of biofilm cells to smoked salmon. The PCA correlation circle revealed that the tolerance of biofilms to BAC was positively correlated with roughness, but negatively with biomass parameters. On the contrary, cell transfers were not related to three-dimensional structural parameters, which suggests the role of other variables yet unexplored. Additionally, hierarchical clustering grouped strains into three different clusters. One of them included the strains with high tolerance to BAC and roughness. Another one consisted of strains with enhanced transfer ability, whereas the third cluster contained those that stood out for the thickness of biofilms. The present study represents a novel and effective way to classify L. monocytogenes strains according to biofilm properties that condition the potential risk of reaching the consumer through food contamination. It would thus allow the selection of strains representative of different worst-case scenarios for future studies in support of QMRA and decision-making analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Nogueira
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Marta López Cabo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Lucía García-Sanmartín
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Lucía Sánchez-Ruiloba
- Optical Microscopy and Image Analysis Facility, Scientific-Technical Support Unit, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Juan José Rodríguez-Herrera
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain.
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Pérez-Rodríguez M, López Cabo M, Balsa-Canto E, García MR. Mechanisms of Listeria monocytogenes Disinfection with Benzalkonium Chloride: From Molecular Dynamics to Kinetics of Time-Kill Curves. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12132. [PMID: 37569507 PMCID: PMC10418441 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Unravelling the mechanisms of action of disinfectants is essential to optimise dosing regimes and minimise the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. In this work, we examined the mechanisms of action of a commonly used disinfectant-benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-over a significant pathogen-L. monocytogenes-in the food industry. For that purpose, we used modelling at multiple scales, from the cell membrane to cell population inactivation. Molecular modelling revealed that the integration of the BAC into the membrane requires three phases: (1) the approaching of BAC to the cellular membrane, (2) the absorption of BAC to its surface, and (3) the integration of the compound into the lipid bilayer, where it remains at least for several nanoseconds, probably destabilising the membrane. We hypothesised that the equilibrium of adsorption, although fast, was limiting for sufficiently large BAC concentrations, and a kinetic model was derived to describe time-kill curves of a large population of cells. The model was tested and validated with time series data of free BAC decay and time-kill curves of L. monocytogenes at different inocula and BAC dose concentrations. The knowledge gained from the molecular simulation plus the proposed kinetic model offers the means to design novel disinfection processes rationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Pérez-Rodríguez
- Biosystems & Bioprocess Engineering Group, IIM-CSIC Spanish National Research Council, 36208 Vigo, Spain; (M.P.-R.); (E.B.-C.)
- CINBIO, Applied Physics Department, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Marta López Cabo
- Microbiology Group, IIM-CSIC Spanish National Research Council, 36208 Vigo, Spain;
| | - Eva Balsa-Canto
- Biosystems & Bioprocess Engineering Group, IIM-CSIC Spanish National Research Council, 36208 Vigo, Spain; (M.P.-R.); (E.B.-C.)
| | - Míriam R. García
- Biosystems & Bioprocess Engineering Group, IIM-CSIC Spanish National Research Council, 36208 Vigo, Spain; (M.P.-R.); (E.B.-C.)
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Maillard J. Impact of benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and chloroxylenol on bacterial antimicrobial resistance. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:3322-3346. [PMID: 35882500 PMCID: PMC9826383 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
This review examined 3655 articles on benzalkonium chloride (BKC), benzethonium chloride (BZT) and chloroxylenol (CHO) aiming to understand their impact on antimicrobial resistance. Following the application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, only 230 articles were retained for analysis; 212 concerned BKC, with only 18 for CHO and BZT. Seventy-eight percent of studies used MIC to measure BKC efficacy. Very few studies defined the term 'resistance' and 85% of studies defined 'resistance' as <10-fold increase (40% as low as 2-fold) in MIC. Only a few in vitro studies reported on formulated products and when they did, products performed better. In vitro studies looking at the impact of BKC exposure on bacterial resistance used either a stepwise training protocol or exposure to constant BKC concentrations. In these, BKC exposure resulted in elevated MIC or/and MBC, often associated with efflux, and at time, a change in antibiotic susceptibility profile. The clinical relevance of these findings was, however, neither reported nor addressed. Of note, several studies reported that bacterial strains with an elevated MIC or MBC remained susceptible to the in-use BKC concentration. BKC exposure was shown to reduce bacterial diversity in complex microbial microcosms, although the clinical significance of such a change has not been established. The impact of BKC exposure on the dissemination of resistant genes (notably efflux) remains speculative, although it manifests that clinical, veterinary and food isolates with elevated BKC MIC carried multiple efflux pump genes. The correlation between BKC usage and gene carriage, maintenance and dissemination has also not been established. The lack of clinical interpretation and significance in these studies does not allow to establish with certainty the role of BKC on AMR in practice. The limited literature and BZT and CHO do not allow to conclude that these will impact negatively on emerging bacterial resistance in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean‐Yves Maillard
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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The Influence of Sous Vide Parameters on Nutritional Characteristics and Safety of Pikeperch Fillets. Foods 2022; 11:foods11111605. [PMID: 35681355 PMCID: PMC9180277 DOI: 10.3390/foods11111605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of temperature and time combination on the quality of pikeperch fillets and to propose settings which allow high nutritional quality fish fillets to be obtained. The material for the study consisted of 24 farmed pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) fillets, which were evaluated raw and after sous vide (SV) cooking proceeded at 65 °C for 45 min (SV65), 75 °C for 20 min (SV75), and 90 °C for 10 min (SV90). The chemical composition was affected by SV procedure; SV90 was similar to raw samples in terms of moisture, protein, and fat content, whereas SV65 differed the most. Carnosine contents decreased in all SV samples compared with raw ones, and anserine only decreased in SV90. There were no differences in terms of fatty acid composition (% of total) between SV and raw samples. In SV75 and SV90 total viable counts, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. were reduced below a detection level but not in SV65. These samples also showed a better sensory quality than SV65. Therefore, SV75 and SV90 might be recommended for pikeperch fillets preparation, taking into account safety and nutritional aspects.
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Gundolf T, Kalb R, Rossmanith P, Mester P. Bacterial Resistance Toward Antimicrobial Ionic Liquids Mediated by Multidrug Efflux Pumps. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:883931. [PMID: 35663893 PMCID: PMC9161554 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.883931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The effective elimination of foodborne pathogens through cleaning and disinfection measures is of great importance to the food processing industry. As food producers rely heavily on disinfectants to control pathogenic bacteria in their facilities, the increasing spread of tolerant, often even multidrug resistant, strains is of particular concern. In addition to efforts to prevent or at least reduce development and spread of strains resistant to disinfectants and sanitizers, there is an urgent need for new and effective antimicrobials. One new class of promising antimicrobials is ionic liquids (ILs), which have been reported to be effective against resistant strains as they interact with bacterial cells in multiple ways, but investigations of their effectivity against MDR bacteria or specific defense mechanisms are still limited. This study investigates the role of multidrug efflux pumps of the Resistance Nodulation-Division family (RND) on the resistance of bacterial pathogens Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium toward 10 antimicrobial active ILs. Results reveal that, while known structure–activity relationships (SARs), such as the side-chain effect, were found for all strains, antimicrobial ILs with one elongated alkyl side chain were significantly affected by the RND efflux pump, highlighting the importance of efflux pumps for future IL toxicity studies. In case of antimicrobial ILs with multiple side chains and different cationic head groups, two ILs were identified that were highly active against all investigated strains with little to no effect of the efflux pump. The results obtained in this study for RND efflux pumps can serve as a starting point for identifying and designing antimicrobial ILs as effective biocides against MDR bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Gundolf
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Monitoring of Microbial Contaminants, Unit for Food Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Kalb
- Proionic Production of Ionic Substances GmbH, Grambach, Austria
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Peter Rossmanith
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Unit for Food Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Mester
- Unit for Food Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Patrick Mester,
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Osek J, Lachtara B, Wieczorek K. Listeria monocytogenes - How This Pathogen Survives in Food-Production Environments? Front Microbiol 2022; 13:866462. [PMID: 35558128 PMCID: PMC9087598 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.866462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of human listeriosis, a severe disease, especially dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women, and newborns. Although this infection is comparatively rare, it is often associated with a significant mortality rate of 20-30% worldwide. Therefore, this microorganism has an important impact on food safety. L. monocytogenes can adapt, survive and even grow over a wide range of food production environmental stress conditions such as temperatures, low and high pH, high salt concentration, ultraviolet lights, presence of biocides and heavy metals. Furthermore, this bacterium is also able to form biofilm structures on a variety of surfaces in food production environments which makes it difficult to remove and allows it to persist for a long time. This increases the risk of contamination of food production facilities and finally foods. The present review focuses on the key issues related to the molecular mechanisms of the pathogen survival and adaptation to adverse environmental conditions. Knowledge and understanding of the L. monocytogenes adaptation approaches to environmental stress factors will have a significant influence on the development of new, efficient, and cost-effective methods of the pathogen control in the food industry, which is critical to ensure food production safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Osek
- Department of Hygiene of Food of Animal Origin, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
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Genetic Diversity and Relationships of Listeria monocytogenes Serogroup IIa Isolated in Poland. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030532. [PMID: 35336111 PMCID: PMC8951407 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, 100 L. monocytogenes isolates of serogroup IIa from food and food production environments in Poland were characterized towards the presence of virulence, resistance, and stress response genes using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The strains were also molecularly typed and compared with multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core genome MLST analyses. The present isolates were grouped into 6 sublineages (SLs), with the most prevalent SL155 (33 isolates), SL121 (32 isolates), and SL8 (28 isolates) and classified into six clonal complexes, with the most prevalent CC155 (33 strains), CC121 (32 isolates), and CC8 (28 strains). Furthermore, the strains were grouped to eight sequence types, with the most prevalent ST155 (33 strains), ST121 (30 isolates), and ST8 (28; strains) followed by 60 cgMLST types (CTs). WGS data showed the presence of several virulence genes or putative molecular markers playing a role in pathogenesis of listeriosis and involved in survival of L. monocytogenes in adverse environmental conditions. Some of the present strains were molecularly closely related to L. monocytogenes previously isolated in Poland. The results of the study showed that food and food production environments may be a source of L. monocytogenes of serogroup IIa with pathogenic potential.
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10
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Lakicevic BZ, Den Besten HMW, De Biase D. Landscape of Stress Response and Virulence Genes Among Listeria monocytogenes Strains. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:738470. [PMID: 35126322 PMCID: PMC8811131 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.738470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic microorganism Listeria monocytogenes is ubiquitous and responsible for listeriosis, a disease with a high mortality rate in susceptible people. It can persist in different habitats, including the farm environment, the food production environments, and in foods. This pathogen can grow under challenging conditions, such as low pH, low temperatures, and high salt concentrations. However, L. monocytogenes has a high degree of strain divergence regarding virulence potential, environmental adaption, and stress response. This review seeks to provide the reader with an up-to-date overview of clonal and serotype-specific differences among L. monocytogenes strains. Emphasis on the genes and genomic islands responsible for virulence and resistance to environmental stresses is given to explain the complex adaptation among L. monocytogenes strains. Moreover, we highlight the use of advanced diagnostic technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing, to fine-tune quantitative microbiological risk assessment for better control of listeriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brankica Z. Lakicevic
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia
- *Correspondence: Brankica Z. Lakicevic,
| | | | - Daniela De Biase
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
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11
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Chmielowska C, Korsak D, Chapkauskaitse E, Decewicz P, Lasek R, Szuplewska M, Bartosik D. Plasmidome of Listeria spp.-The repA-Family Business. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910320. [PMID: 34638661 PMCID: PMC8508797 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Listeria (phylum Firmicutes) include both human and animal pathogens, as well as saprophytic strains. A common component of Listeria spp. genomes are plasmids, i.e., extrachromosomal replicons that contribute to gene flux in bacteria. This study provides an in-depth insight into the structure, diversity and evolution of plasmids occurring in Listeria strains inhabiting various environments under different anthropogenic pressures. Apart from the components of the conserved plasmid backbone (providing replication, stable maintenance and conjugational transfer functions), these replicons contain numerous adaptive genes possibly involved in: (i) resistance to antibiotics, heavy metals, metalloids and sanitizers, and (ii) responses to heat, oxidative, acid and high salinity stressors. Their genomes are also enriched by numerous transposable elements, which have influenced the plasmid architecture. The plasmidome of Listeria is dominated by a group of related replicons encoding the RepA replication initiation protein. Detailed comparative analyses provide valuable data on the level of conservation of these replicons and their role in shaping the structure of the Listeria pangenome, as well as their relationship to plasmids of other genera of Firmicutes, which demonstrates the range and direction of flow of genetic information in this important group of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora Chmielowska
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (E.C.); (R.L.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (D.B.)
| | - Dorota Korsak
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Elvira Chapkauskaitse
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (E.C.); (R.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Przemysław Decewicz
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Robert Lasek
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (E.C.); (R.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Magdalena Szuplewska
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (E.C.); (R.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Dariusz Bartosik
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (E.C.); (R.L.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (D.B.)
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Sudagidan M, Yildiz G, Onen S, Al R, Temiz ŞN, Yurt MNZ, Tasbasi BB, Acar EE, Coban A, Aydin A, Dursun AD, Ozalp VC. Targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticles for improved inhibition of disinfectant resistant Listeria monocytogenes and lower environmental pollution. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 418:126364. [PMID: 34329020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a common ingredient of disinfectants used for industrial, medical, food safety and domestic applications. It is a common pollutant detected in surface and wastewaters to induce adverse effects on Human health as well as aquatic and terrestrial life forms. Since disinfectant use is essential in combatting against microorganisms, the best approach to reduce ecotoxicity level is to restrict BAC use. We report here that encapsulation of BAC in mesoporous silica nanoparticles can provide an efficient strategy for inhibition of microbial activity with lower than usual concentrations of disinfectants. As a proof-of-concept, Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nanomaterial encapsulated BAC. Aptamer molecular gate structures provided a specific targeting of the disinfectant to Listeria cells, leading to high BAC concentrations around bacterial cells, but significantly reduced amounts in total. This strategy allowed to inhibition of BAC resistant Listeria strains with 8 times less the usual disinfectant dose. BAC encapsulated and aptamer functionalized silica nanoparticles (AptBACNP) effectively killed only target bacteria L. monocytogenes, but not the non-target cells, Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. AptBACNP was not cytotoxic to Human cells as determined by in vitro viability assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mert Sudagidan
- Kit-ARGEM R&D Center, Konya Food and Agriculture University, Konya 42080, Turkey.
| | - Gulsah Yildiz
- Kit-ARGEM R&D Center, Konya Food and Agriculture University, Konya 42080, Turkey.
| | - Selin Onen
- Department of Biology, Medical School, Atilim University, 06830 Ankara, Turkey; Department of Stem Cell Sciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey.
| | - Rabia Al
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, 48000 Muğla, Turkey.
| | | | | | - Behiye Busra Tasbasi
- Kit-ARGEM R&D Center, Konya Food and Agriculture University, Konya 42080, Turkey.
| | - Elif Esma Acar
- Kit-ARGEM R&D Center, Konya Food and Agriculture University, Konya 42080, Turkey.
| | - Aysen Coban
- Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, Istanbul Gedik University, Kartal, 34876 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Ali Aydin
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Ali D Dursun
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, Atilim University, 06830 Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Veli C Ozalp
- Department of Biology, Medical School, Atilim University, 06830 Ankara, Turkey.
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