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Fichant A, Lanceleur R, Hachfi S, Brun-Barale A, Blier AL, Firmesse O, Gallet A, Fessard V, Bonis M. New Approach Methods to Assess the Enteropathogenic Potential of Strains of the Bacillus cereus Group, including Bacillus thuringiensis. Foods 2024; 13:1140. [PMID: 38672813 PMCID: PMC11048917 DOI: 10.3390/foods13081140] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus (Bc) is a wide group of Gram-positive and spore-forming bacteria, known to be the etiological agents of various human infections, primarily food poisoning. The Bc group includes enteropathogenic strains able to germinate in the digestive tract and to produce enterotoxins such as Nhe, Hbl, and CytK. One species of the group, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), has the unique feature of producing insecticidal crystals during sporulation, making it an important alternative to chemical pesticides to protect crops from insect pest larvae. Nevertheless, several studies have suggested a link between the ingestion of pesticide strains and human cases of food poisoning, calling their safety into question. Consequently, reliable tools for virulence assessment are worth developing to aid decision making in pesticide regulation. Here, we propose complementary approaches based on two biological models, the human intestinal Caco-2 cell line and the insect Drosophila melanogaster, to assess and rank the enteric virulence potency of Bt strains in comparison with other Bc group members. Using a dataset of 48 Bacillus spp. strains, we showed that some Bc group strains, including Bt, were able to induce cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells with concomitant release of IL-8 cytokine, a landmark of pro-inflammatory response. In the D. melanogaster model, we were able to sort a panel of 39 strains into four different classes of virulence, ranging from no virulence to strong virulence. Importantly, for the most virulent strains, mortality was associated with a loss of intestinal barrier integrity. Interestingly, although strains can share a common toxinotype, they display different degrees of virulence, suggesting the existence of specific mechanisms of virulence expression in vivo in the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Fichant
- Laboratory for Food Safety, University Paris-Est, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.F.); (O.F.)
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INRAE, ISA, 06903 Sophia-Antipolis, France; (S.H.); (A.B.-B.); (A.G.)
| | - Rachelle Lanceleur
- Fougères Laboratory, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 35306 Fougères, France; (R.L.); (A.-L.B.); (V.F.)
| | - Salma Hachfi
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INRAE, ISA, 06903 Sophia-Antipolis, France; (S.H.); (A.B.-B.); (A.G.)
| | - Alexandra Brun-Barale
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INRAE, ISA, 06903 Sophia-Antipolis, France; (S.H.); (A.B.-B.); (A.G.)
| | - Anne-Louise Blier
- Fougères Laboratory, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 35306 Fougères, France; (R.L.); (A.-L.B.); (V.F.)
| | - Olivier Firmesse
- Laboratory for Food Safety, University Paris-Est, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.F.); (O.F.)
| | - Armel Gallet
- Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, INRAE, ISA, 06903 Sophia-Antipolis, France; (S.H.); (A.B.-B.); (A.G.)
| | - Valérie Fessard
- Fougères Laboratory, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 35306 Fougères, France; (R.L.); (A.-L.B.); (V.F.)
| | - Mathilde Bonis
- Laboratory for Food Safety, University Paris-Est, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.F.); (O.F.)
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Liang X, Dai N, Yang F, Zhu H, Zhang G, Wang Y. Molecular identification and safety assessment of the potential probiotic strain Bacillus paralicheniformis HMPM220325 isolated from artisanal fruit dairy products. Food Funct 2024; 15:747-765. [PMID: 38117188 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo04625g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus probiotics exhibit considerable economic potential owing to their heightened resilience to external stressors and relatively lower costs related to production and preservation. Although Bacillus paralicheniformis has been acknowledged as a plant-promoting bacterium for a long time, understanding its potential as a probiotic is still in its nascent stages. In this study, the safety and probiotic characteristics of a strain of HMPM220325, isolated from artisanal fruit dairy products, were examined through whole-genome sequencing and phenotypic analysis. The whole genome of HMPM220325 was analyzed for antimicrobial resistance genes, pathogenicity factors, and genes associated with probiotic traits including stress resistance, spore formation, gut adhesion, competitive exclusion of pathogens, bacteriocin expression, and carbohydrate metabolism related to prebiotic utilization. Also, wet lab experiments were conducted for the characterization of probiotics. The identification of the organism as B. paralicheniformis was verified. Its safety was assessed through in silico analysis, the haemolytic activity test, and the acute oral toxicity test. B. paralicheniformis HMPM220325 demonstrated its ability to survive in the pH range of 4-10 and bile salt concentrations of 0-0.9% (w/v), tolerate temperatures between 20 and 60 °C, and exhibit a robust antioxidant capacity. Moreover, B. paralicheniformis HMPM220325 demonstrated a moderate level of hydrophobicity, had the ability to form biofilms, achieved a self-aggregation rate of 51.77 ± 1.01% within 6 hours, and successfully colonized the mouse intestine for a duration of up to 17 days. Additionally, the genome of B. paralicheniformis HMPM220325 contains three gene clusters associated with the biosynthesis of bacteriocins and exhibits co-aggregation with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The findings of the genomic analysis align with those obtained from the experimental investigation, thereby substantiating the potential of B. paralicheniformis HMPM220325 as a probiotic suitable for incorporation in dairy functional foods and feed applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Liang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, China
| | - Nini Dai
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, China
| | - Haimei Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, China
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, China
| | - Yongzhong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Modern Biomanufacturing, Hefei, China
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3
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Bogaerts B, Fraiture MA, Huwaert A, Van Nieuwenhuysen T, Jacobs B, Van Hoorde K, De Keersmaecker SCJ, Roosens NHC, Vanneste K. Retrospective surveillance of viable Bacillus cereus group contaminations in commercial food and feed vitamin B 2 products sold on the Belgian market using whole-genome sequencing. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1173594. [PMID: 37415815 PMCID: PMC10321352 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1173594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium that occurs as a contaminant in food and feed, occasionally resulting in food poisoning through the production of various toxins. In this study, we retrospectively characterized viable B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.) isolates originating from commercial vitamin B2 feed and food additives collected between 2016 and 2022 by the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain from products sold on the Belgian market. In total, 75 collected product samples were cultured on a general medium and, in case of bacterial growth, two isolates per product sample were collected and characterized using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and subsequently characterized in terms of sequence type (ST), virulence gene profile, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene profile, plasmid content, and phylogenomic relationships. Viable B. cereus was identified in 18 of the 75 (24%) tested products, resulting in 36 WGS datasets, which were classified into eleven different STs, with ST165 (n = 10) and ST32 (n = 8) being the most common. All isolates carried multiple genes encoding virulence factors, including cytotoxin K-2 (52.78%) and cereulide (22.22%). Most isolates were predicted to be resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (100%) and fosfomycin (88.89%), and a subset was predicted to be resistant to streptothricin (30.56%). Phylogenomic analysis revealed that some isolates obtained from different products were closely related or even identical indicating a likely common origin, whereas for some products the two isolates obtained did not show any close relationship to each other or other isolates found in other products. This study reveals that potentially pathogenic and drug-resistant B. cereus s.l. can be present in food and feed vitamin B2 additives that are commercially available, and that more research is warranted to assess whether their presence in these types of products poses a threat to consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Bogaerts
- Transversal activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Bram Jacobs
- Foodborne Pathogens, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Preservation, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Earth and Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Kevin Vanneste
- Transversal activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
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Sarkar D, Hunt I, Macdonald C, Wang B, Bowman JP, Tamplin ML. Modelling growth of Bacillus cereus in paneer by one-step parameter estimation. Food Microbiol 2023; 112:104231. [PMID: 36906319 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104231] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bacillus cereus phylogenetic group III and IV strains are commonly associated with food products and cause toxin mediated foodborne diseases. These pathogenic strains have been identified from milk and dairy products, such as reconstituted infant formula and several cheeses. Paneer is a fresh, soft cheese originating from India that is prone to foodborne pathogen contamination, such as by Bacillus cereus. However, there are no reported studies of B. cereus toxin formation in paneer or predictive models quantifying growth of the pathogen in paneer under different environmental conditions. This study assessed enterotoxin-producing potential of B. cereus group III and IV strains, isolated from dairy farm environments, in fresh paneer. Growth of a four-strain cocktail of toxin-producing B. cereus strains was measured in freshly prepared paneer incubated at 5-55 °C and modelled using a one-step parameter estimation combined with bootstrap re-sampling to generate confidence intervals for model parameters. The pathogen grew in paneer between 10 and 50 °C and the developed model fit the observed data well (R2 = 0.972, RMSE = 0.321 log10 CFU/g). The cardinal parameters for B. cereus growth in paneer along with the 95% confidence intervals were: μopt 0.812 log10 CFU/g/h (0.742, 0.917); Topt is 44.177 °C (43.16, 45.49); Tmin is 4.405 °C (3.973, 4.829); Tmax is 50.676 °C (50.367, 51.144). The model developed can be used in food safety management plans and risk assessments to improve safety of paneer while also adding to limited information on B. cereus growth kinetics in dairy products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipon Sarkar
- Centre of Food Safety & Innovation, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 54, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005, Australia.
| | - Ian Hunt
- Centre of Food Safety & Innovation, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 54, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005, Australia.
| | - Cameron Macdonald
- Centre of Food Safety & Innovation, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 54, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005, Australia.
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1901 N 21st St, Lincoln, NE, 68588, United States.
| | - John P Bowman
- Centre of Food Safety & Innovation, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 54, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005, Australia.
| | - Mark L Tamplin
- Centre of Food Safety & Innovation, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 54, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 7005, Australia.
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5
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Pereira JAM, Berenguer CV, Câmara JS. Delving into Agri-Food Waste Composition for Antibacterial Phytochemicals. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13050634. [PMID: 37233675 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13050634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The overuse of antibiotics in the healthcare, veterinary, and agricultural industries has led to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), resulting in significant economic losses worldwide and a growing healthcare problem that urgently needs to be solved. Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites, making them an area of interest in the search for new phytochemicals to cope with AMR. A great part of agri-food waste is of plant origin, constituting a promising source of valuable compounds with different bioactivities, including those against antimicrobial resistance. Many types of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids, tocopherols, glucosinolates, and phenolic compounds, are widely present in plant by-products, such as citrus peels, tomato waste, and wine pomace. Unveiling these and other bioactive compounds is therefore very relevant and could be an important and sustainable form of agri-food waste valorisation, adding profit for local economies and mitigating the negative impact of these wastes' decomposition on the environment. This review will focus on the potential of agri-food waste from a plant origin as a source of phytochemicals with antibacterial activity for global health benefits against AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A M Pereira
- CQM-Centro de Química da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
| | - Cristina V Berenguer
- CQM-Centro de Química da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
| | - José S Câmara
- CQM-Centro de Química da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências Exatas e da Engenharia, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
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6
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Liu Y, Tang Y, Ren S, Chen L. Antibacterial Components and Modes of the Methanol-Phase Extract from Commelina communis Linn. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:890. [PMID: 36840240 PMCID: PMC9966474 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria severely threaten human health. Traditional Chinese herbs are potential sources of new or alternative medicine. In this study, we analyzed for the first time antibacterial substances in the methanol-phase extract from a traditional Chinese herb-Commelina communis Linn-which showed an inhibition rate of 58.33% against 24 species of common pathogenic bacteria. The extract was further purified using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (Prep-HPLC), which generated four single fragments (Fragments 1 to 4). The results revealed that Fragment 1 significantly increased bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity and membrane permeability and decreased membrane fluidity, showing disruptive effects on cell integrity of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica subsp., compared to the control groups (p < 0.05). In sum, 65 compounds with known functions in Fragment 1 were identified using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS), of which quercetin-3-o-glucuronide was predominant (19.35%). Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed multiple altered metabolic pathways mediated by Fragment 1, such as inhibited ABC transporters, ribosome, citrate cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, and upregulated nitrogen metabolism and purine metabolism, thereby resulting in the repressed bacterial growth and even death (p < 0.05). Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that Fragment 1 from C. communis Linn is a promising candidate against common pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai 201306, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yingping Tang
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai 201306, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Shunlin Ren
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University/McGuire VA Medical Centre, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Lanming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Shanghai 201306, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
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Zhao X, Zervas A, Hendriks M, Rajkovic A, van Overbeek L, Hendriksen NB, Uyttendaele M. Identification and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis and other Bacillus cereus group isolates from spinach by whole genome sequencing. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1030921. [PMID: 36569082 PMCID: PMC9771606 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1030921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), used as a biological control agent (BCA), can persist on plants, and from there can be introduced into the final food product. In routine food safety diagnostics, these Bt residues cannot be distinguished from natural populations of Bacillus cereus present in plants and all are enumerated as "presumptive B. cereus." In this study, information on eventual use of Bt biopesticides, brand, application times and intervals provided by three food processing companies in Belgium, were integrated with quantitative data on presumptive B. cereus measured from fresh to frozen food products. This information together with data on genomic similarity obtained via whole genome sequencing (WGS) and cry gene profiling using a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay, confirmed that six out of 11 Bt isolates originated from the applied Bt biocontrol products. These identified Bt strains were shown to carry enterotoxin genes (nhe, hbl, cytK-2) and express Hbl enterotoxin in vitro. It was also noted that these Bt biopesticide strains showed no growth at standard refrigeration temperatures and a low or moderate biofilm-forming ability and cytotoxic activity. Our results also showed that the use of Bt as a BCA on spinach plants in the field led to higher residual counts of Bt in spinach (fresh or frozen) in the food supply chain, but the residual counts exceeding at present commonly assumed safety limit of 105 CFU/g was only found in one fresh spinach sample. It is therefore recommended to establish a pre-harvest interval for Bt biopesticide application in the field to lower the likelihood of noncompliance to the generic B. cereus safety limit. Furthermore, WGS was found to be the best way to identify Bt biopesticide isolates at the strain level for foodborne outbreaks and clinical surveillance. The developed qPCR assay for screening on the presence of cry genes in presumptive B. cereus can be applied as a rapid routine test as an amendment to the already existing test on Bt crystal proteins determined via phase-contrast microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingchen Zhao
- Food Microbiology and Food Preservation Research Unit, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium,*Correspondence: Xingchen Zhao,
| | - Athanasios Zervas
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Marc Hendriks
- Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Andreja Rajkovic
- Food Microbiology and Food Preservation Research Unit, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Leo van Overbeek
- Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Mieke Uyttendaele
- Food Microbiology and Food Preservation Research Unit, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Chen J, Zhang J, Zhan L, Chen H, Zhang Z, Huang C, Yue M. Prevalence and antimicrobial-resistant characterization of Bacillus cereus isolated from ready-to-eat rice products in Eastern China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:964823. [PMID: 35928146 PMCID: PMC9344136 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.964823] [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: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is a major food-borne bacterial pathogen in the world, which can cause diarrhea and emetic syndrome. This study aimed to reveal the quantitative prevalence of B. cereus in ready-to-eat (RTE) rice products in Eastern China and to gain essential information on the characteristics of B. cereus isolates. A total of 91 out of the 1071 samples were positive for B. cereus. The contamination level of B. cereus in 0.5 % of RTE rice product samples outnumbered 103 CFU/g. The number of B. cereus attained 105−106 CFU/g in one sample. The distribution patterns of virulence genes in B. cereus isolates were identified. 84.6% of the B. cereus isolates had at least one enterotoxin or emetic toxin gene. The predominant pattern was XXV. 9.9% of isolates belonged to it and possessed one enterotoxin gene entFM. The occurrence rate of hblACD and nheABC was 36.3% and 47.3%, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed a high resistance rate toward penicillin, and 23.1% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. B. cereus isolates were genotyped by using ERIC-PCR. 89 genotypes were determined. The Hunter Gaston Discriminatory Index (HGDI) attained 0.9995. Relationships analysis revealed that Group A B. cereus isolates tended to carry hblA, hblC, hblD, nheA, nheB, and show resistance to penicillin/trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. This study was useful for updating the knowledge of the contamination status of B. cereus in RTE rice products in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancai Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junyan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhan
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Honghu Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Microbiology, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Cheng Huang,
| | - Min Yue
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Sciences and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University College of Animal Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Min Yue,
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9
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Dorotíková K, Kameník J, Bogdanovičová K, Křepelová S, Strejček J, Haruštiaková D. Microbial contamination and occurrence of Bacillus cereus sensu lato, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli on food handlers’ hands in mass catering: Comparison of the glove juice and swab methods. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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10
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Ionescu MI, Neagoe DȘ, Crăciun AM, Moldovan OT. The Gram-Negative Bacilli Isolated from Caves- Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Hafnia alvei and a Review of Their Involvement in Human Infections. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042324. [PMID: 35206510 PMCID: PMC8872274 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The opportunistic infections with Gram-negative bacilli are frequently reported. The clinical studies are focused on the course of human infectious and very often the source of infection remain unclear. We aim to see if the Gram-negative bacilli isolated from a non-contaminated environment—the caves—are reported in human infections. Eleven samples were collected from six Romanian caves. We used the standard procedure used in our clinical laboratory for bacterial identification and for antibiotic susceptibility testing of the cave isolates. Out of the 14 bacterial strains, three isolates are Gram-negative bacilli—one isolate belong to Hafnia alvei and two strains belong to Sphingomonas paucimobilis. We screened for the published studies—full-text original articles or review articles—that reported human infections with S. paucimobilis and H. alvei. Data sources—PubMed and Cochrane library. We retrieved 447 cases from 49 references—262 cases (58.61%) are S. paucimobilis infections and 185 cases (41.39%) are H. alvei infections. The types of infections are diverse but there are some infections more frequent; there are 116 cases (44.27%) and many infections of the bloodstream with S. paucimobilius (116 cases) and 121 cases (65.41%) are urinary tract infections with H. alvei. The acquired source of the bloodstream infections is reported for 93 of S. paucimobilis bloodstream infections—50 cases (43%) are hospital-acquired, and 40 cases (37%) are community-acquired. Most of the infections are reported in patients with different underlying conditions. There are 80 cases (17.9%) are reported of previously healthy persons. Out of the 72 cases of pediatric infections, 62 cases (86.11%) are caused by S. paucimobilis. There are ten death casualties—three are H. alvei infections, and seven are S. paucimobilis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Ileana Ionescu
- Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 6 Louis Pasteur, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Department of Microbiology, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Correspondence:
| | - Dan Ștefan Neagoe
- Department of Microbiology, County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | | | - Oana Teodora Moldovan
- Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Cluj-Napoca Department, Clinicilor 5, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Saturn 24-26, 400504 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Dervyn R, Kavanaugh DW, Cormontagne D, Glasset B, Ramarao N. Identification of a New Pathogenicity Island Within the Large pAH187_270 Plasmid Involved in Bacillus cereus Virulence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:788757. [PMID: 35127556 PMCID: PMC8811155 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.788757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Bacillus cereus is responsible for food poisoning and rare but severe clinical infections. The pathogenicity of B. cereus strains varies from harmless to lethal strains. The objective of this study was to characterize three B. cereus isolates isolated from the same patient and identify their virulence potentials. Methods Three isolates of B. cereus were isolated from various blood samples from a patient who developed sepsis following a central venous catheter infection. The three isolates were compared by WGS, genotyping and SNP analysis. Furthermore, the isolates were compared by phenotypical analysis including bacterial growth, morphology, germination efficacy, toxin production, antibiotic susceptibility and virulence in an insect model of infection. Results According to WGS and genotyping, the 3 isolates were shown to be identical strains. However, the last recovered strain had lost the mega pAH187_270 plasmid. This last strain showed different phenotypes compared to the first isolated strain, such as germination delay, different antibiotic susceptibility and a decreased virulence capacity towards insects. A 50- kbp region of pAH187_270 plasmid was involved in the virulence potential and could thus be defined as a new pathogenicity island of B. cereus. Conclusions These new findings help in the understanding of B. cereus pathogenic potential and complexity and provide further hints into the role of large plasmids in the virulence of B. cereus strains. This may provide tools for a better assessment of the risks associated with B. cereus hospital contamination to improve hygiene procedure and patient health.
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Kavanaugh DW, Porrini C, Dervyn R, Ramarao N. The pathogenic biomarker alcohol dehydrogenase protein is involved in Bacillus cereus virulence and survival against host innate defence. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0259386. [PMID: 34982789 PMCID: PMC8726459 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus cereus is a spore forming bacteria recognized among the leading agents responsible for foodborne outbreaks in Europe. B. cereus is also gaining notoriety as an opportunistic human pathogen inducing local and systemic infections. The real incidence of such infection is likely underestimated and information on genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the incriminated strains is generally scarce. We have recently analyzed a large strain collection of varying pathogenic potential. Screening for biomarkers to differentiate among clinical and non-clinical strains, a gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase-like protein was identified among the leading candidates. This family of proteins has been demonstrated to be involved in the virulence of several bacterial species. The relevant gene was knocked out to elucidate its function with regards to resistance to host innate immune response, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate that the adhB gene plays a significant role in resistance to nitric oxide and oxidative stress in vitro, as well as its pathogenic ability with regards to in vivo toxicity. These properties may explain the pathogenic potential of strains carrying this newly identified virulence factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon W. Kavanaugh
- Micalis Institute, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Constance Porrini
- Micalis Institute, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Rozenn Dervyn
- Micalis Institute, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Nalini Ramarao
- Micalis Institute, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Kavanaugh DW, Glasset B, Dervyn R, Guérin C, Plancade S, Herbin S, Brisabois A, Nicolas P, Ramarao N. New genetic biomarkers to differentiate non-pathogenic from clinically relevant Bacillus cereus strains. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 28:137.e1-137.e8. [PMID: 34111580 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bacillus cereus is responsible for food poisoning and rare but severe clinical infections. The pathogenicity of strains varies from harmless to lethal strains. However, there are currently no markers, either alone or in combination, to differentiate pathogenic from non-pathogenic strains. The objective of the study was to identify new genetic biomarkers to differentiate non-pathogenic from clinically relevant B. cereus strains. METHODS A first set of 15 B. cereus strains were compared by RNAseq. A logistic regression model with lasso penalty was applied to define combination of genes whose expression was associated with strain pathogenicity. The identified markers were checked for their presence/absence in a collection of 95 B. cereus strains with varying pathogenic potential (food-borne outbreaks, clinical and non-pathogenic). Receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) analysis was used to determine the combination of biomarkers, which best differentiate between the "disease" versus "non-disease" groups. RESULTS Seven genes were identified during the RNAseq analysis with a prediction to differentiate between pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. The validation of the presence/absence of these genes in a larger collection of strains coupled with AUC prediction showed that a combination of four biomarkers was sufficient to accurately discern clinical strains from harmless strains, with an AUC of 0.955, sensitivity of 0.9 and specificity of 0.86. CONCLUSIONS These new findings help in the understanding of B. cereus pathogenic potential and complexity and may provide tools for a better assessment of the risks associated with B. cereus contamination to improve patient health and food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rozenn Dervyn
- INRAE, Micalis, University Paris-Sacly, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Cyprien Guérin
- INRAE, MaIAGE, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sandra Plancade
- INRAE, MaIAGE, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sabine Herbin
- ANSES, Universtité Paris-Est, Laboratory of Food Safety, Maisons-Alfrot, France
| | - Anne Brisabois
- ANSES, Universtité Paris-Est, Laboratory of Food Safety, Maisons-Alfrot, France
| | - Pierre Nicolas
- INRAE, MaIAGE, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Nalini Ramarao
- INRAE, Micalis, University Paris-Sacly, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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Porrini C, Guérin C, Tran SL, Dervyn R, Nicolas P, Ramarao N. Implication of a Key Region of Six Bacillus cereus Genes Involved in Siroheme Synthesis, Nitrite Reductase Production and Iron Cluster Repair in the Bacterial Response to Nitric Oxide Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105079. [PMID: 34064887 PMCID: PMC8151001 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial response to nitric oxide (NO) is of major importance for bacterial survival. NO stress is a main actor of the eukaryotic immune response and several pathogenic bacteria have developed means for detoxification and repair of the damages caused by NO. However, bacterial mechanisms of NO resistance by Gram-positive bacteria are poorly described. In the opportunistic foodborne pathogen Bacillus cereus, genome sequence analyses did not identify homologs to known NO reductases and transcriptional regulators, such as NsrR, which orchestrate the response to NO of other pathogenic or non-pathogenic bacteria. Using a transcriptomic approach, we investigated the adaptation of B. cereus to NO stress. A cluster of 6 genes was identified to be strongly up-regulated in the early phase of the response. This cluster contains an iron-sulfur cluster repair enzyme, a nitrite reductase and three enzymes involved in siroheme biosynthesis. The expression pattern and close genetic localization suggest a functional link between these genes, which may play a pivotal role in the resistance of B. cereus to NO stress during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance Porrini
- Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (C.P.); (S.-L.T.); (R.D.)
| | - Cyprien Guérin
- MaIAGE, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (C.G.); (P.N.)
| | - Seav-Ly Tran
- Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (C.P.); (S.-L.T.); (R.D.)
| | - Rozenn Dervyn
- Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (C.P.); (S.-L.T.); (R.D.)
| | - Pierre Nicolas
- MaIAGE, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (C.G.); (P.N.)
| | - Nalini Ramarao
- Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; (C.P.); (S.-L.T.); (R.D.)
- Correspondence:
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