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Myintzaw P, Pennone V, McAuliffe O, Begley M, Callanan M. Association of Virulence, Biofilm, and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes with Specific Clonal Complex Types of Listeria monocytogenes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1603. [PMID: 37375105 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise classification of foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is a necessity in efficient foodborne disease surveillance, outbreak detection, and source tracking throughout the food chain. In this study, a total of 150 L. monocytogenes isolates from various food products, food processing environments, and clinical sources were investigated for variations in virulence, biofilm formation, and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes based on their Whole-Genome Sequences. Clonal complex (CC) determination based on Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) revealed twenty-eight CC-types including eight isolates representing novel CC-types. The eight isolates comprising the novel CC-types share the majority of the known (cold and acid) stress tolerance genes and are all genetic lineage II, serogroup 1/2a-3a. Pan-genome-wide association analysis by Scoary using Fisher's exact test identified eleven genes specifically associated with clinical isolates. Screening for the presence of antimicrobial and virulence genes using the ABRicate tool uncovered variations in the presence of Listeria Pathogenicity Islands (LIPIs) and other known virulence genes. Specifically, the distributions of actA, ecbA, inlF, inlJ, lapB, LIPI-3, and vip genes across isolates were found to be significantly CC-dependent while the presence of ami, inlF, inlJ, and LIPI-3 was associated with clinical isolates specifically. In addition, Roary-derived phylogenetic grouping based on Antimicrobial-Resistant Genes (AMRs) revealed that the thiol transferase (FosX) gene was present in all lineage I isolates, and the presence of the lincomycin resistance ABC-F-type ribosomal protection protein (lmo0919_fam) was also genetic-lineage-dependent. More importantly, the genes found to be specific to CC-type were consistent when a validation analysis was performed with fully assembled, high-quality complete L. monocytogenes genome sequences (n = 247) extracted from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) microbial genomes database. This work highlights the usefulness of MLST-based CC typing using the Whole-Genome Sequence as a tool in classifying isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Myintzaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland
| | - Vincenzo Pennone
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co., P61 C996 Cork, Ireland
| | - Olivia McAuliffe
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co., P61 C996 Cork, Ireland
| | - Máire Begley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland
| | - Michael Callanan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, T12 P928 Cork, Ireland
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Myintzaw P, Pennone V, McAuliffe O, Begley M, Callanan M. Correlation of organic acid tolerance and genotypic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes food and clinical isolates. Food Microbiol 2022; 104:104004. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2022.104004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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3
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Genetic diversity, virulence factors, and antimicrobial resistance of Listeria monocytogenes from food, livestock, and clinical samples between 2002 and 2019 in China. Int J Food Microbiol 2022; 366:109572. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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To Modulate Survival under Secondary Stress Conditions, Listeria monocytogenes 10403S Employs RsbX To Downregulate σB Activity in the Poststress Recovery Stage or Stationary Phase. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 82:1126-1135. [PMID: 26637594 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03218-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a saprophytic bacterium that thrives in diverse environments and causes listeriosis via ingestion of contaminated food. RsbX, a putative sigma B (σ(B)) regulator, is thought to maintain the ready state in the absence of stress and reset the bacterium to the initial state in the poststress stage in Bacillus subtilis. We wondered whether RsbX is functional in L. monocytogenes under different stress scenarios. Genetic deletion and complementation of the rsbX gene were combined with survival tests and transcriptional and translational analyses of σ(B) expression in response to stresses. We found that deletion of rsbX increased survival under secondary stress following recovery of growth after primary stress or following stationary-phase culturing. The ΔrsbX mutant had higher expression of σ(B) than its parent strain in the recovery stage following primary sodium stress and in stationary-phase cultures. Apparently, increased σ(B) expression had contributed to improved survival in the absence of RsbX. There were no significant differences in survival rates or σ(B) expression levels in response to primary stresses between the rsbX mutant and its parent strain during the exponential phase. Therefore, we provide clear evidence that RsbX is a negative regulator of L. monocytogenes σ(B) during the recovery period after a primary stress or in the stationary phase, thus affecting its survival under secondary stress.
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Cheng C, Wang X, Dong Z, Shao C, Yang Y, Fang W, Fang C, Wang H, Yang M, Jiang L, Zhou X, Song H. Aminopeptidase T of M29 Family Acts as A Novel Intracellular Virulence Factor for Listeria monocytogenes Infection. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17370. [PMID: 26610705 PMCID: PMC4661694 DOI: 10.1038/srep17370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes employs a number of virulence determinants including metalloproteases to infect hosts. Here for the first time, we identified an M29 family aminopeptidase T (encoded by lmo1603) from L. monocytogenes that possesses a typical feature to catalyze the cleavage of amino acids from peptide substrates, with a preference for arginine. The purified recombinant Lmo1603 was activated by Fe3+, Zn2+ and Mn2+, but strongly stimulated by Co2+, indicating that Lmo1603 is a cobalt-dependent aminopeptidase. Single mutation at any of the Glu216, Glu281, His308, Tyr315, His327, and Asp329 completely abolished the enzymatic activity of Lmo1603. More importantly, we showed that Lmo1603 was mainly involved in Listeria infection, but not required for growth in rich laboratory medium and minimal defined medium. Disruption of Lmo1603 resulted in almost complete attenuation of Listeria virulence in a mouse infection model. In addition, we demonstrated that Lmo1603 was mainly localized in the bacterial cytosol and required for invasion and survival inside human epithelial cells and murine macrophages. We conclude that Lmo1603 encodes a functional aminopeptidase T of M29 family, which acts as a novel intracellular virulence factor essential in the successful establishment of L. monocytogenes infections in a mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyong Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
| | - Xiaowen Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
| | - Zhimei Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
| | - Chunyan Shao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
| | - Yongchun Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
| | - Weihuan Fang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China.,Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China
| | - Chun Fang
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P. R. China
| | - Hang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
| | - Menghua Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
| | - Lingli Jiang
- Zhoushan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, 555 Haijing Road, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316000, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyang Zhou
- Zhoushan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, 555 Haijing Road, Zhoushan, Zhejiang 316000, P. R. China
| | - Houhui Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanchengbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, P. R. China
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Fang C, Shan Y, Cao T, Xia Y, Xin Y, Cheng C, Song H, Li X, Fang W. Prevalence and Virulence Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes in Chilled Pork in Zhejiang Province, China. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2015; 13:8-12. [PMID: 26393675 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2015.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that can grow in refrigeration temperature and causes severe human infections. The aims of this work were to estimate the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in chilled pork in Zhejiang, China and to examine the virulence features of the isolates. Of 331 meat samples, 196 were positive for Listeria spp., with L. innocua accounting for 54.4%, L. monocytogenes for 11.5%, and L. welshimeri for 4.2%. The most prevalent L. monocytogenes serotype was 1/2c (60.5%), followed by serotypes 1/2a (28.9%), 1/2b (7.9%), and 4b (2.6%). All L. monocytogenes isolates contained virulence-associated genes examined. Adhesion and invasion ability of serotype 1/2c isolates was much lower than those of other serotypes. Only one isolate was defective in cell-to-cell spread. These findings are important for risk assessment of chilled pork as a source of potential transmission of L. monocytogenes to other food products, particularly to ready-to-eat food products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Fang
- 1 Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Shan
- 1 Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tong Cao
- 1 Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ye Xia
- 1 Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongping Xin
- 1 Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Changyong Cheng
- 2 College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University , Lin'an, Zhejiang, China
| | - Houhui Song
- 2 College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University , Lin'an, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoliang Li
- 1 Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weihuan Fang
- 1 Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine , Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China .,2 College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University , Lin'an, Zhejiang, China
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7
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Fang C, Cao T, Cheng C, Xia Y, Shan Y, Xin Y, Guo N, Li X, Song H, Fang W. Activation of PrfA results in overexpression of virulence factors but does not rescue the pathogenicity of Listeria monocytogenes M7. J Med Microbiol 2015; 64:818-827. [PMID: 26055558 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes encodes a transcriptional activator, PrfA, to positively regulate the expression of virulence factors. Several mutations in PrfA (PrfA*) have been found to contribute to increased regulatory activity. Here, we describe a strain, M7, containing a PrfA*(G145S) that activates expression of virulence factors but with low pathogenicity. To study this contradictory relationship, we exchanged the prfA genes between strains EGDe and M7 (designated EGDe-prfA(M7) and M7-prfA(EGDe)). The phospholipase B (PlcB) and listeriolysin O (LLO) activities were significantly upregulated in the strain EGDe-prfA(M7) (PrfA*). Constitutive activation of PrfA potentiated virulence of the pathogenic strain EGDe, shown as increased adhesion and invasion as well as enhanced cell-to-cell spread in cultured cell lines. However, the strain M7, though PrfA-activated, had significant defects in these virulence-related phenotypes and low pathogenicity in the murine infection model, as compared with EGDe or EGDe-PrfA(M7). To further uncover the possible mechanisms, we analysed abundance and distributions of InlA, InlB, LLO and ActA proteins, all regulated by PrfA, in EGDe, M7 and their prfA mutants. Western blotting showed that the PrfA-regulated genes of constitutively activated PrfA strains were overexpressed in vitro, while different distributions were observed. In contrast to the virulent strain EGDe-prfA(M7), the majority of InlB in M7 was detected in the culture supernatant and not on the bacterial surface. We suppose that the low virulence of strain M7 is due to its defects in infecting host cells, possibly as a result of failed anchorage on the bacterial cells of surface proteins like InlB, a major protein involved in adhesion and invasion of pathogenic L. monocytogenes strains. Further research is warranted to address why InlB detaches from the bacterial cells of this particular strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Fang
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
| | - Tong Cao
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
| | - Changyong Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China
| | - Ye Xia
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
| | - Ying Shan
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
| | - Yongping Xin
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
| | - Ningning Guo
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
| | - Xiaoliang Li
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
| | - Houhui Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China
| | - Weihuan Fang
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China., College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A&F University, 88 Huanbei Road, Lin'an, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China., Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, PR China
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8
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Paul D, Steele C, Donaldson JR, Banes MM, Kumar R, Bridges SM, Arick M, Lawrence ML. Genome comparison of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4a strain HCC23 with selected lineage I and lineage II L. monocytogenes strains and other Listeria strains. GENOMICS DATA 2014; 2:219-25. [PMID: 26484097 PMCID: PMC4536003 DOI: 10.1016/j.gdata.2014.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Revised: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
More than 98% of reported human listeriosis cases are caused by specific serotypes within genetic lineages I and II. The genome sequence of Listeria monocytogenes lineage III strain HCC23 (serotype 4a) enables whole genomic comparisons across all three L. monocytogenes lineages. Protein cluster analysis indicated that strain HCC23 has the most unique protein pairs with nonpathogenic species Listeria innocua. Orthology analysis of the genome sequences of representative strains from the three L. monocytogenes genetic lineages and L. innocua (CLIP11262) identified 319 proteins unique to nonpathogenic strains HCC23 and CLIP11262 and 58 proteins unique to pathogenic strains F2365 and EGD-e. BLAST comparison of these proteins with all the sequenced L. monocytogenes and L. innocua revealed 126 proteins unique to serotype 4a and/or L. innocua; 14 proteins were only found in pathogenic serotypes. Some of the 58 proteins unique to pathogenic strains F2365 and EGD-e were previously published and are already known to contribute to listerial virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debarati Paul
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India
| | - Chelsea Steele
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Janet R Donaldson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Michelle M Banes
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Ranjit Kumar
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Susan M Bridges
- Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Mark Arick
- Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing, and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
| | - Mark L Lawrence
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
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Cheng C, Chen J, Fang C, Xia Y, Shan Y, Liu Y, Wen G, Song H, Fang W. Listeria monocytogenes aguA1, but not aguA2, encodes a functional agmatine deiminase: biochemical characterization of its catalytic properties and roles in acid tolerance. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:26606-15. [PMID: 23918931 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.477380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is adaptable to low pH environments and therefore crosses the intestinal barrier to establish systemic infections. L. monocytogenes aguA1 and aguA2 encode putative agmatine deiminases (AgDIs) AguA1 and AguA2. Transcription of aguA1 and aguA2 was significantly induced at pH 5.0. Deletion of aguA1 significantly impaired its survival both in gastric fluid at pH 2.5 and in mouse stomach, whereas aguA2 deletion did not show significant defect of survival in gastric fluid. With agmatine as the sole substrate, AguA1 expressed in Escherichia coli was optimal at 25 °C and over a wide range of pH from 3.5 to 10.5. Recombinant AguA2 showed no deiminase activity. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that all nine AguA1 mutants completely lost enzymatic activity. AguA2 acquired AgDI activity only when Cys-157 was mutated to glycine. AguA1 mutation at the same site, G157C, also inactivated the enzyme. Thus, we have discovered Gly-157 as a novel residue other than the known catalytic triad (Cys-His-Glu/Asp) in L. monocytogenes that is critical for enzyme activity. Of the two putative AgDIs, we conclude that only AguA1 functionally participates in the AgDI pathway and mediates acid tolerance in L. monocytogenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyong Cheng
- From the Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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10
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Liu D. Molecular approaches to the identification of pathogenic and nonpathogenic listeriae. Microbiol Insights 2013; 6:59-69. [PMID: 24826075 PMCID: PMC3987759 DOI: 10.4137/mbi.s10880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Listeria consists of a closely related group of Gram-positive bacteria that commonly occur in the environment and demonstrate varied pathogenic potential. Of the 10 species identified to date, L. monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen of both humans and animals, L. ivanovii mainly infects ungulates (eg., sheep and cattle), while other species (L. innocua, L. seeligeri, L. welshimeri, L. grayi, L. marthii, L. rocourtiae, L. fleischmannii and L. weihenstephanensis) are essentially saprophytes. Within the species of L. monocytogenes, several serovars (e.g., 4b, 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c) are highly pathogenic and account for a majority of clinical isolations. Due to their close morphological, biological, biochemical and genetic similarities, laboratory identification of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria organisms is technically challenging. With the development and application of various molecular approaches, accurate and rapid discrimination of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria organisms, as well as pathogenic and nonpathogenic L. monocytogenes strains, has become possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyou Liu
- Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Biosecurity Quality Assurance Programs, NSW, Australia
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11
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Cheng C, Chen J, Shan Y, Fang C, Liu Y, Xia Y, Song H, Fang W. Listeria monocytogenes ArcA contributes to acid tolerance. J Med Microbiol 2013; 62:813-821. [PMID: 23518652 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.055145-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is able to colonize the human and animal intestinal tracts and subsequently crosses the intestinal barrier, causing systemic infection. For successful establishment of infection, L. monocytogenes must survive and adapt to the low pH environment of the stomach. Gene sequence analysis indicates that lmo0043, an orthologue of arcA, encodes a protein containing conserved motifs and critical active amino acids characteristic of arginine deiminase that mediates an arginine deimination reaction. We attempted to characterize the role of ArcA in acid tolerance in vitro and in mice models. Transcription of arcA was significantly increased in L. monocytogenes culture subjected to acid stress at pH 4.8, as compared with that at pH 7.0. Deletion of arcA impaired growth of L. monocytogenes under mild acidic conditions at pH 5.5, and reduced its survival in synthetic human gastric fluid at pH 2.5 and in the murine stomach. Bacterial load in the spleen of mice intraperitoneally inoculated with an arcA deletion mutant was significantly lower than that of the wild-type strain. These phenotypic changes were recoverable by genetic complementation. Thus, we conclude that L. monocytogenes arcA not only mediates acid tolerance in vitro but also participates in gastric survival and virulence in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyong Cheng
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Jianshun Chen
- Zhejiang Aquatic Disease Prevention and Quarantine Center, 20 Yile Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, PR China
| | - Ying Shan
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Chun Fang
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Ye Xia
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Houhui Song
- Zhejiang A&F University College of Animal Science & Technology, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, PR China
| | - Weihuan Fang
- Zhejiang A&F University College of Animal Science & Technology, Lin'an, Zhejiang 311300, PR China.,Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
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12
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Smith JL, Liu Y, Paoli GC. How does Listeria monocytogenes combat acid conditions? Can J Microbiol 2012; 59:141-52. [PMID: 23540331 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2012-0392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes, a major foodborne pathogen, possesses a number of mechanisms that enable it to combat the challenges posed by acidic environments, such as that of acidic foods and the gastrointestinal tract. One mechanism employed by L. monocytogenes for survival at low pH is the adaptive acid tolerance response (ATR) in which a short adaptive period at a nonlethal pH induces metabolic changes that allow the organism to survive a lethal pH. Overcoming acid conditions by L. monocytogenes involves a variety of regulatory responses, including the LisRK 2-component regulatory system, the SOS response, components of the σ(B) regulon, changes in membrane fluidity, the F0F1-ATPase proton pump, and at least 2 enzymatic systems that regulate internal hydrogen ion concentration (glutamate decarboxylase and arginine deiminase). It is not clear if these mechanisms exert their protective effects separately or in concert, but it is probable that these mechanisms overlap. Studies using mutants indicate that the glutamate decarboxylase system can protect L. monocytogenes when the organism is present in acidic juices, yogurt, salad dressing, mayonnaise, and modified CO2 atmospheres. The glutamate decarboxylase system also has a role in protecting L. monocytogenes against the acidic environment of the stomach. There is a need to study other acid resistance mechanisms of L. monocytogenes to determine their effectiveness in protecting the organism in acidic foods or during transit through the acid stomach.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Smith
- Molecular Characterization of Foodborne Pathogens Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038-8598, USA.
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New insight into the transcarbamylase family: the structure of putrescine transcarbamylase, a key catalyst for fermentative utilization of agmatine. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31528. [PMID: 22363663 PMCID: PMC3282769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 01/09/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcarbamylases reversibly transfer a carbamyl group from carbamylphosphate (CP) to an amine. Although aspartate transcarbamylase and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) are well characterized, little was known about putrescine transcarbamylase (PTC), the enzyme that generates CP for ATP production in the fermentative catabolism of agmatine. We demonstrate that PTC (from Enterococcus faecalis), in addition to using putrescine, can utilize L-ornithine as a poor substrate. Crystal structures at 2.5 Å and 2.0 Å resolutions of PTC bound to its respective bisubstrate analog inhibitors for putrescine and ornithine use, N-(phosphonoacetyl)-putrescine and δ-N-(phosphonoacetyl)-L-ornithine, shed light on PTC preference for putrescine. Except for a highly prominent C-terminal helix that projects away and embraces an adjacent subunit, PTC closely resembles OTCs, suggesting recent divergence of the two enzymes. Since differences between the respective 230 and SMG loops of PTC and OTC appeared to account for the differential preference of these enzymes for putrescine and ornithine, we engineered the 230-loop of PTC to make it to resemble the SMG loop of OTCs, increasing the activity with ornithine and greatly decreasing the activity with putrescine. We also examined the role of the C-terminal helix that appears a constant and exclusive PTC trait. The enzyme lacking this helix remained active but the PTC trimer stability appeared decreased, since some of the enzyme eluted as monomers from a gel filtration column. In addition, truncated PTC tended to aggregate to hexamers, as shown both chromatographically and by X-ray crystallography. Therefore, the extra C-terminal helix plays a dual role: it stabilizes the PTC trimer and, by shielding helix 1 of an adjacent subunit, it prevents the supratrimeric oligomerizations of obscure significance observed with some OTCs. Guided by the structural data we identify signature traits that permit easy and unambiguous annotation of PTC sequences.
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LIU P, MIZUE H, FUJIHARA K, KOBAYASHI H, KAMIKADO H, TANAKA T, HONJOH KI, MIYAMOTO T. A New Rapid Real-Time PCR Method for Detection of Listeria monocytogenes Targeting the hlyA Gene. FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH 2012. [DOI: 10.3136/fstr.18.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Zhao H, Chen J, Fang C, Xia Y, Cheng C, Jiang L, Fang W. Deciphering the biodiversity of Listeria monocytogenes lineage III strains by polyphasic approaches. J Microbiol 2011; 49:759-67. [PMID: 22068492 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-011-1006-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen of humans and animals. The majority of human listeriosis cases are caused by strains of lineages I and II, while lineage III strains are rare and seldom implicated in human listeriosis. We revealed by 16S rRNA sequencing the special evolutionary status of L. monocytogenes lineage III, which falls between lineages I and II strains of L. monocytogenes and the non-pathogenic species L. innocua and L. marthii in the dendrogram. Thirteen lineage III strains were then characterized by polyphasic approaches. Biochemical reactions demonstrated 8 biotypes, internalin profiling identified 10 internal-in types clustered in 4 groups, and multilocus sequence typing differentiated 12 sequence types. These typing schemes show that lineage III strains represent the most diverse population of L. monocytogenes, and comprise at least four subpopulations IIIA-1, IIIA-2, HIB, and IIIC. The in vitro and in vivo virulence assessments showed that two lineage IIIA-2 strains had reduced pathogenicity, while the other lineage III strains had comparable virulence to lineages I and II. The HIB strains are phylogenetically distinct from other sub-populations, providing additional evidence that this sublineage represents a novel lineage. The two biochemical reactions L-rhamnose and L-lactate alkalinization, and 10 internalins were identified as potential markers for lineage III subpopulations. This study provides new insights into the biodiversity and population structure of lineage III strains, which are important for understanding the evolution of the L. mono-cytogenes-L. innocua clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxin Zhao
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310029, P. R. China
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Chen J, Cheng C, Xia Y, Zhao H, Fang C, Shan Y, Wu B, Fang W. Lmo0036, an ornithine and putrescine carbamoyltransferase in Listeria monocytogenes, participates in arginine deiminase and agmatine deiminase pathways and mediates acid tolerance. Microbiology (Reading) 2011; 157:3150-3161. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.049619-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen causing listeriosis. Acid is one of the stresses that foodborne pathogens encounter most frequently. The ability to survive and proliferate in acidic environments is a prerequisite for infection. However, there is limited knowledge about the molecular basis of adaptation of L. monocytogenes to acid. Arginine deiminase (ADI) and agmatine deiminase (AgDI) systems are implicated in bacterial tolerance to acidic environments. Homologues of ADI and AgDI systems have been found in L. monocytogenes lineages I and II strains. Sequence analysis indicated that lmo0036 encodes a putative carbamoyltransferase containing conserved motifs and residues important for substrate binding. Lmo0036 acted as an ornithine carbamoyltransferase and putrescine carbamoyltransferase, representing the first example, to our knowledge, that catalyses reversible ornithine and putrescine carbamoyltransfer reactions. Catabolic ornithine and putrescine carbamoyltransfer reactions constitute the second step of ADI and AgDI pathways. However, the equilibrium of in vitro carbamoyltransfer reactions was overwhelmingly towards the anabolic direction, suggesting that catabolic carbamoyltransferase was probably the limiting step of the pathways. lmo0036 was induced at the transcriptional level when L. monocytogenes was subjected to low-pH stress. Its expression product in Escherichia coli exhibited higher catabolic carbamoyltransfer activities under acidic conditions. Consistently, absence of this enzyme impaired the growth of Listeria under mild acidic conditions (pH 4.8) and reduced its survival in synthetic human gastric fluid (pH 2.5), and corresponded to a loss in ammonia production, indicating that Lmo0036 was responsible for acid tolerance at both sublethal and lethal pH levels. Furthermore, Lmo0036 played a possible role in Listeria virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianshun Chen
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Changyong Cheng
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Ye Xia
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Hanxin Zhao
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Chun Fang
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Ying Shan
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
| | - Beibei Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 630 Xincheng Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, PR China
| | - Weihuan Fang
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, PR China
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Soni KA, Nannapaneni R, Tasara T. The contribution of transcriptomic and proteomic analysis in elucidating stress adaptation responses of Listeria monocytogenes. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2011; 8:843-52. [PMID: 21495855 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2010.0746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The foodborne transmission of Listeria monocytogenes requires physiological adaptation to various conditions, including the cold, osmotic, heat, acid, alkaline, and oxidative stresses, associated with food hygiene, processing, and preservation measures. We review the current knowledge on the molecular stress adaptation responses in L. monocytogenes cells as revealed through transcriptome, proteome, genetic, and physiological analysis. The adaptation of L. monocytogenes to stress exposure is achieved through global expression changes in a large number of cellular components. In addition, the cross-protection of L. monocytogenes exposed to different stress environments might be conferred through various cellular machineries that seem to be commonly activated by the different stresses. To assist in designing L. monocytogenes mitigation strategies for ready-to-eat food products, further experiments are warranted to specifically evaluate the effects of food composition, additives, preservatives, and processing technologies on the modulation of L. monocytogenes cellular components in response to specific stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamlesh A Soni
- Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, USA
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Jiang J, Chen J, Cheng C, Hu H, Bai F, Chen N, Yan G, Fang W. Disruption of InlC2 enhances the internalization of Listeria monocytogenes by epithelial cells. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-011-0681-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Chen J, Chen Q, Jiang L, Cheng C, Bai F, Wang J, Mo F, Fang W. Internalin profiling and multilocus sequence typing suggest four Listeria innocua subgroups with different evolutionary distances from Listeria monocytogenes. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10:97. [PMID: 20356375 PMCID: PMC2867954 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2009] [Accepted: 03/31/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ecological, biochemical and genetic resemblance as well as clear differences of virulence between L. monocytogenes and L. innocua make this bacterial clade attractive as a model to examine evolution of pathogenicity. This study was attempted to examine the population structure of L. innocua and the microevolution in the L. innocua-L. monocytogenes clade via profiling of 37 internalin genes and multilocus sequence typing based on the sequences of 9 unlinked genes gyrB, sigB, dapE, hisJ, ribC, purM, gap, tuf and betL. RESULTS L. innocua was genetically monophyletic compared to L. monocytogenes, and comprised four subgroups. Subgroups A and B correlated with internalin types 1 and 3 (except the strain 0063 belonging to subgroup C) and internalin types 2 and 4 respectively. The majority of L. innocua strains belonged to these two subgroups. Subgroup A harbored a whole set of L. monocytogenes-L. innocua common and L. innocua-specific internalin genes, and displayed higher recombination rates than those of subgroup B, including the relative frequency of occurrence of recombination versus mutation (rho/theta) and the relative effect of recombination versus point mutation (r/m). Subgroup A also exhibited a significantly smaller exterior/interior branch length ratio than expected under the coalescent model, suggesting a recent expansion of its population size. The phylogram based on the analysis with correction for recombination revealed that the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of L. innocua subgroups A and B were similar. Additionally, subgroup D, which correlated with internalin type 5, branched off from the other three subgroups. All L. innocua strains lacked seventeen virulence genes found in L. monocytogenes (except for the subgroup D strain L43 harboring inlJ and two subgroup B strains bearing bsh) and were nonpathogenic to mice. CONCLUSIONS L. innocua represents a young species descending from L. monocytogenes and comprises four subgroups: two major subgroups A and B, and one atypical subgroup D serving as a link between L. monocytogenes and L. innocua in the evolutionary chain. Although subgroups A and B appeared at approximately the same time, subgroup A seems to have experienced a recent expansion of the population size with higher recombination frequency and effect than those of subgroup B, and might represent the possible evolutionary direction towards adaptation to environments. The evolutionary history in the L. monocytogenes-L. innocua clade represents a rare example of evolution towards reduced virulence of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianshun Chen
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevent Veterinary Medicine, Hangzhou, PR China
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Chen J, Chen Q, Jiang J, Hu H, Ye J, Fang W. Serovar 4b complex predominates among Listeria monocytogenes isolates from imported aquatic products in China. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2010; 7:31-41. [PMID: 19735205 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2009.0353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes, the causative organism of listeriosis, is primarily transmitted to humans through contaminated food. In this study, we examined 1275 batches of aquatic products imported from 29 countries and found that 36 batches from 8 countries were contaminated by Listeria (2.8%), with L. monocytogenes accounting for 2.6% (33/1275) and L. innocua for 0.2% (3/1275). Of the 23 selected L. monocytogenes isolates (from the 33 identified), 15 (65.2%) were of serovar 4b complex (4b, 4d, or 4e), three (13.0%) of 1/2a or 3a, four (17.4%) of 1/2b or 3b, and one (4.4%) of 1/2c or 3c. Notably, four of the 23 isolates belonged to epidemic clone I (ECI) and another four were associated with epidemic clone II (ECII), two highly clonal 4b clusters responsible for most of the documented listeriosis outbreaks. In the multilocus sequence typing scheme based on the concatenated genes gyrB-dapE-hisJ-sigB-ribC-purM-betL-gap-tuf, serovar 4b complex isolates from imported aquatic products exhibited significant genetic diversity. While the four ECI isolates were genetically related to those from Chinese diseased animals, both lacking one proline-rich repeat of ActA, the four ECII isolates were located between 1/2b or 3b strains. As the L. monocytogenes isolates from imported aquatic products possessed a nearly complete set of major infection-related genes, they demonstrated virulence potential in mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianshun Chen
- Zhejiang University Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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