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Nogueira R, Cabo ML, García-Sanmartín L, Sánchez-Ruiloba L, Rodríguez-Herrera JJ. Risk factor-based clustering of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing environments using principal component analysis. Food Res Int 2023; 170:112989. [PMID: 37316020 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes has a range of strategies that allow it to persist as biofilms in food processing environments (FPE), making it a pathogen of concern to the food industry. The properties of these biofilms are highly variable among strains, and this significantly affects the risk of food contamination. The present study therefore aims to conduct a proof-of-concept study to cluster strains of L. monocytogenes by risk potential using principal component analysis, a multivariate approach. A set of 22 strains, isolated from food processing environments, were typed by serogrouping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, showing a relatively high diversity. They were characterized in terms of several biofilm properties that might pose a potential risk of food contamination. The properties studied were tolerance to benzalkonium chloride (BAC), the structural parameters of biofilms (biomass, surface area, maximum and average thickness, surface to biovolume ratio and roughness coefficient) measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy and (3) transfer of biofilm cells to smoked salmon. The PCA correlation circle revealed that the tolerance of biofilms to BAC was positively correlated with roughness, but negatively with biomass parameters. On the contrary, cell transfers were not related to three-dimensional structural parameters, which suggests the role of other variables yet unexplored. Additionally, hierarchical clustering grouped strains into three different clusters. One of them included the strains with high tolerance to BAC and roughness. Another one consisted of strains with enhanced transfer ability, whereas the third cluster contained those that stood out for the thickness of biofilms. The present study represents a novel and effective way to classify L. monocytogenes strains according to biofilm properties that condition the potential risk of reaching the consumer through food contamination. It would thus allow the selection of strains representative of different worst-case scenarios for future studies in support of QMRA and decision-making analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Nogueira
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Marta López Cabo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Lucía García-Sanmartín
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Lucía Sánchez-Ruiloba
- Optical Microscopy and Image Analysis Facility, Scientific-Technical Support Unit, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain
| | - Juan José Rodríguez-Herrera
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Technology of Marine Products (MICROTEC), Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Eduardo Cabello 6, 36208 Vigo, Spain.
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Oremefetse D, Aijaz A, Sanelisiwe D, Mrudula P. Survival of Candida auris on environmental surface material and low-level resistance to disinfectant. J Hosp Infect 2023:S0195-6701(23)00120-2. [PMID: 37116661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida auris persist in the environment despite disinfection. The survival on various environmental surfaces and the effect of sub-lethal concentrations of disinfectants on C. auris has not been studied. AIM This study investigated the survival of C. auris on environmental surfaces and the effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of disinfectants. METHODS Surface material blocks were fabricated, artificially contaminated with C. auris, and for 3 weeks viable counts were assessed. In addition, C. auris cells were pulsed daily with disinfectants for 15 days and MICs were determined. Ergosterol quantities and efflux pump assays were also performed on disinfectant exposed strains using standard methods. RESULTS C. auris survived on all the surfaces for more than 3 weeks with the lowest count of 2.3 log cfu regardless of wet and dry conditions. Wet wood supported growth of C. auris with a one log increase in contrast to the dry condition which inhibited this organism (both p <0.01). In the biofilm form, C. auris flourished on all the surfaces. Although the MICs increased in sodium dichloroisocyanurate and benzalkonium chloride pulsed C. auris cells, only the benzalkonium chloride exposed cells showed decreased ergosterol content and an activated efflux pump. CONCLUSIONS Although C. auris survived on all the tested surfaces, survival on wet wood was remarkable. Benzalkonium chloride pulsed C. auris developed some degree of tolerance to disinfectant and showed efflux pump activation, suggesting the development of low-level resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dire Oremefetse
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Ahmad Aijaz
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Infection Control, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa
| | - Duze Sanelisiwe
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Patel Mrudula
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Infection Control, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital National Health Laboratory Service, South Africa.
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Sun Q, Cai S, Cheng J, Zhang Y, Lin R, Ye Q, Xue L, Zeng H, Lei T, Zhang S, Luo X, Wu K, Wu Q, Chen M, Zhang J. Distribution, contamination routes, and seasonal influence of persistent Listeria monocytogenes in a commercial fresh Hypsizigus marmoreus production facility. Food Control 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Characterisation of Listeria monocytogenes food-associated isolates to assess environmental fitness and virulence potential. Int J Food Microbiol 2021; 350:109247. [PMID: 34023680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The ability of Listeria monocytogenes isolates to survive within the food production environment (FPE), as well as virulence, varies greatly between strains. There are specific genetic determinants that have been identified which can strongly influence a strains ability to survive in the FPE and/or within human hosts. In this study, we assessed the FPE fitness and virulence potential, including efficacy of selected hygiene or treatment intervention, against 52 L. monocytogenes strains isolated from various food and food environment sources. Phenotypic tests were performed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of cadmium chloride and benzalkonium chloride and the sensitivities to five clinically relevant antibiotics. A genomic analysis was also performed to identify resistance genes correlating to the observed phenotypic resistance profiles, along with genetic determinants of interest which may elude to the FPE fitness and virulence potential. A transposon element containing a novel cadmium resistance gene, cadA7, a Tn916 variant insert in the hypervariable Listeria genomic island 1 region and an LGI2 variant were identified. Resistance to cadmium and disinfectants was prevalent among isolates in this study, although no resistance to clinically important antimicrobials was observed. Potential hypervirulent strains containing full length inlA, LIPI-1 and LIPI-3 were also identified in this study. Cumulatively, the results of this study show a vast array of FPE survival and pathogenicity potential among food production-associated isolates, which may be of concern for food processing operators and clinicians regarding L. monocytogenes strains colonising and persisting within the FPE, and subsequently contaminating food products then causing disease in at risk population groups.
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Chmielowska C, Korsak D, Szmulkowska B, Krop A, Lipka K, Krupińska M, Bartosik D. Genetic Carriers and Genomic Distribution of cadA6-A Novel Variant of a Cadmium Resistance Determinant Identified in Listeria spp. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8713. [PMID: 33218089 PMCID: PMC7698968 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen responsible for severe cases of food poisoning. Listeria spp. strains occurring in soil and water environments may serve as a reservoir of resistance determinants for pathogenic L. monocytogenes strains. A large collection of Listeria spp. strains (155) isolated from natural, agricultural, and urban areas was screened for resistance to heavy metals and metalloids, and the presence of resistance determinants and extrachromosomal replicons. Of the tested strains, 35% were resistant to cadmium and 17% to arsenic. Sequence analysis of resistance plasmids isolated from strains of Listeria seeligeri and Listeria ivanovii, and the chromosome of L. seeligeri strain Sr73, identified a novel variant of the cadAC cadmium resistance efflux system, cadA6, that was functional in L. monocytogenes cells. The cadA6 cassette was detected in four Listeria species, including strains of L. monocytogenes, isolated from various countries and sources-environmental, food-associated, and clinical samples. This resistance cassette is harbored by four novel composite or non-composite transposons, which increases its potential for horizontal transmission. Since some cadAC cassettes may influence virulence and biofilm formation, it is important to monitor their presence in Listeria spp. strains inhabiting different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora Chmielowska
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (C.C.); (B.S.); (K.L.); (M.K.)
| | - Dorota Korsak
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Barbara Szmulkowska
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (C.C.); (B.S.); (K.L.); (M.K.)
| | - Alicja Krop
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Kinga Lipka
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (C.C.); (B.S.); (K.L.); (M.K.)
| | - Martyna Krupińska
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (C.C.); (B.S.); (K.L.); (M.K.)
| | - Dariusz Bartosik
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (C.C.); (B.S.); (K.L.); (M.K.)
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Kaszoni-Rückerl I, Mustedanagic A, Muri-Klinger S, Brugger K, Wagner KH, Wagner M, Stessl B. Predominance of Distinct Listeria Innocua and Listeria Monocytogenes in Recurrent Contamination Events at Dairy Processing Facilities. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E234. [PMID: 32050536 PMCID: PMC7074772 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8020234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
: The genus Listeria now comprises up to now 21 recognized species and six subspecies, with L. monocytogenes and L. innocua as the most prevalent sensu stricto associated species. Reports focusing on the challenges in Listeria detection and confirmation are available, especially from food-associated environmental samples. L. innocua is more prevalent in the food processing environment (FPE) than L. monocytogenes and has been shown to have a growth advantage in selective enrichment and agar media. Until now, the adaptive nature of L. innocua in FPEs has not been fully elucidated and potential persistence in the FPE has not been observed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize L. innocua (n = 139) and L. monocytogenes (n = 81) isolated from FPEs and cheese products collected at five dairy processing facilities (A-E) at geno- and phenotypic levels. Biochemical profiling was conducted for all L. monocytogenes and the majority of L. innocua (n = 124) isolates and included a rhamnose positive reaction. L. monocytogenes isolates were most frequently confirmed as PCR-serogroups 1/2a, 3a (95%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)-typing, applying the restriction enzymes AscI, revealed 33 distinct Listeria PFGE profiles with a Simpson's Index of Diversity of 0.75. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) resulted in 27 STs with seven new L. innocua local STs (ST1595 to ST1601). L. innocua ST1597 and ST603 and L. monocytogenes ST121 and ST14 were the most abundant genotypes in dairy processing facilities A-E over time. Either SSI-1 (ST14) or SSI-2 (ST121, all L. innocua) were present in successfully FPE-adapted strains. We identified housekeeping genes common in Listeria isolates and L. monocytogenes genetic lineage III. Wherever there are long-term contamination events of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria species, subtyping methods are helpful tools to identify niches of high risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Kaszoni-Rückerl
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Department of Farm Animal and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (I.K.-R.); (S.M.-K.); (M.W.)
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Azra Mustedanagic
- Austrian Competence Center for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFOQSI), Technopark C, 3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Sonja Muri-Klinger
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Department of Farm Animal and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (I.K.-R.); (S.M.-K.); (M.W.)
| | - Katharina Brugger
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Department of Farm Animal and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Karl-Heinz Wagner
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Martin Wagner
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Department of Farm Animal and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (I.K.-R.); (S.M.-K.); (M.W.)
- Austrian Competence Center for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFOQSI), Technopark C, 3430 Tulln, Austria;
| | - Beatrix Stessl
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Department of Farm Animal and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (I.K.-R.); (S.M.-K.); (M.W.)
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