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de Alexandre Sebastião F, Hansen JD, Soto E. Evaluation of Francisella orientalis ΔpdpA as a Live Attenuated Vaccine against Piscine Francisellosis in Nile Tilapia. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2022; 34:134-139. [PMID: 35997232 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Francisella orientalis is an important bacterial pathogen of marine and freshwater fish with worldwide distribution. Fish francisellosis is a severe subacute to chronic granulomatous disease, with high mortalities and high infectivity rates in cultured and wild fish. To date, there is no approved vaccine for this disease. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a defined F. orientalis pathogenicity determinant protein A (pdpA) mutant (ΔpdpA) as a live attenuated immersion vaccine against subsequent immersion challenge with the wild-type organism. Immunized Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were protected (45% relative percent survival) from the lethal challenges and presented significantly lower mortality than nonvaccinated and challenged treatments. Although serum IgM was significantly higher in immunized fish, similar bacterial loads were detected in vaccinated and nonvaccinated survivors. In conclusion, although the F. orientalis ΔpdpA is attenuated and effectively stimulated an adaptive immune response, the low relative percent survival and high bacterial persistence in survivors of immunized and challenged treatments indicates low suitability of ΔpdpA as a mucosal vaccine for tilapia under conditions used in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda de Alexandre Sebastião
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - John D Hansen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, Washington, 98115, USA
| | - Esteban Soto
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
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Zhang Y, Gu Y, Wu R, Zheng Y, Wang Y, Nie L, Qiao R, He Y. Exploring the relationship between the signal molecule AI-2 and the biofilm formation of Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis. Lebensm Wiss Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Kassinger SJ, van Hoek ML. Genetic Determinants of Antibiotic Resistance in Francisella. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:644855. [PMID: 34054749 PMCID: PMC8149597 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.644855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tularemia, caused by Francisella tularensis, is endemic to the northern hemisphere. This zoonotic organism has historically been developed into a biological weapon. For this Tier 1, Category A select agent, it is important to expand our understanding of its mechanisms of antibiotic resistance (AMR). Francisella is unlike many Gram-negative organisms in that it does not have significant plasmid mobility, and does not express AMR mechanisms on plasmids; thus plasmid-mediated resistance does not occur naturally. It is possible to artificially introduce plasmids with AMR markers for cloning and gene expression purposes. In this review, we survey both the experimental research on AMR in Francisella and bioinformatic databases which contain genomic and proteomic data. We explore both the genetic determinants of intrinsic AMR and naturally acquired or engineered antimicrobial resistance as well as phenotypic resistance in Francisella. Herein we survey resistance to beta-lactams, monobactams, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, tetracycline, polymyxins, macrolides, rifampin, fosmidomycin, and fluoroquinolones. We also highlight research about the phenotypic AMR difference between planktonic and biofilm Francisella. We discuss newly developed methods of testing antibiotics against Francisella which involve the intracellular nature of Francisella infection and may better reflect the eventual clinical outcomes for new antibiotic compounds. Understanding the genetically encoded determinants of AMR in Francisella is key to optimizing the treatment of patients and potentially developing new antimicrobials for this dangerous intracellular pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monique L. van Hoek
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
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Hennebique A, Boisset S, Maurin M. Tularemia as a waterborne disease: a review. Emerg Microbes Infect 2019; 8:1027-1042. [PMID: 31287787 PMCID: PMC6691783 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1638734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative, intracellular bacterium causing the zoonosis tularemia. This highly infectious microorganism is considered a potential biological threat agent. Humans are usually infected through direct contact with the animal reservoir and tick bites. However, tularemia cases also occur after contact with a contaminated hydro-telluric environment. Water-borne tularemia outbreaks and sporadic cases have occurred worldwide in the last decades, with specific clinical and epidemiological traits. These infections represent a major public health and military challenge. Human contaminations have occurred through consumption or use of F. tularensis-contaminated water, and various aquatic activities such as swimming, canyoning and fishing. In addition, in Sweden and Finland, mosquitoes are primary vectors of tularemia due to infection of mosquito larvae in contaminated aquatic environments. The mechanisms of F. tularensis survival in water may include the formation of biofilms, interactions with free-living amoebae, and the transition to a 'viable but nonculturable' state, but the relative contribution of these possible mechanisms remains unknown. Many new aquatic species of Francisella have been characterized in recent years. F. tularensis likely shares with these species an ability of long-term survival in the aquatic environment, which has to be considered in terms of tularemia surveillance and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Hennebique
- Centre National de Référence des Francisella, Institut de Biologie et de Pathologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble, France
| | - Sandrine Boisset
- Centre National de Référence des Francisella, Institut de Biologie et de Pathologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble, France
| | - Max Maurin
- Centre National de Référence des Francisella, Institut de Biologie et de Pathologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble, France
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Assis GBN, de Oliveira TF, Gardner IA, Figueiredo HCP, Leal CAG. Sensitivity and specificity of real-time PCR and bacteriological culture for francisellosis in farm-raised Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2017; 40:785-795. [PMID: 27670740 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite the worldwide occurrence of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno) infection in farmed tilapia, sensitivity and specificity estimates of commonly used diagnostic tests have not been reported. This study aimed to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of bacteriological culture and qPCR to detect Fno infection. We tested 559 fish, sampled from four farms with different epidemiological scenarios: (i) healthy fish in a hatchery free of Fno; (ii) targeted sampling of diseased fish with suggestive external clinical signs of francisellosis during an outbreak; (iii) convenience sampling of diseased and clinically healthy fish during an outbreak; and (iv) sampling of healthy fish in a cage farm without a history of outbreaks, but with francisellosis reported in other farms in the same reservoir. The qPCR had higher median sensitivity (range, 48.8-99.5%) than culture (range, 1.6-74.4%). Culture had a substantially lower median sensitivity (1.6%) than qPCR (48.8%) to detect Fno in carrier tilapia (farm 4). Median specificity estimates for both tests were >99.2%. The qPCR is the superior test for use in surveillance and monitoring programmes for francisellosis in farmed Nile tilapia, but both tests have high sensitivity and specificity which make them fit for use in the diagnosis of Fno outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- G B N Assis
- AQUAVET, Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - T F de Oliveira
- AQUAVET, Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - I A Gardner
- Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - H C P Figueiredo
- AQUAVET, Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- AQUACEN - National Reference Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - C A G Leal
- AQUAVET, Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- AQUACEN - National Reference Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Isiaku AI, Sabri MY, Ina-Salwany MY, Hassan MD, Tanko PN, Bello MB. Biofilm is associated with chronic streptococcal meningoencephalitis in fish. Microb Pathog 2016; 102:59-68. [PMID: 27890651 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Biofilms are aggregates of attached microbial organisms whose existence on tissues is often recognised as a mechanism for the establishment of most chronic diseases. Herein we investigated the ability of piscine Streptococcus agalactiae, an important aquatic pathogen, for adaptation to this sessile lifestyle in vitro and in the brain of a tilapia fish model. Piscine S. agalactiae exhibited a weak attachment to polystyrene plates and expressed a low biofilm phenotype under the study conditions. Furthermore, fluorescent in situ hybridization and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed discrete aggregates of attached S. agalactiae within brain tissues and around meningeal surfaces. They were embedded in an exopolysaccharide containing matrix, intractable to inflammatory response and showed some level of resistance to penicillin despite proven susceptibility on sensitivity test. Intracellular bacterial aggregates were also observed, moreover, antibody mediated response was not demonstrated during infection. Nucleated erythrocytes appear to facilitate brain invasion possibly via the Trojan horse mechanism leading to a granulomatous inflammation. We have demonstrated that biofilm is associated with persistence of S. agalactiae and the development of chronic meningoencephalitis in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- A I Isiaku
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - M Y Sabri
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - M Y Ina-Salwany
- Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - M D Hassan
- Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - P N Tanko
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - M B Bello
- Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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