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Kanarek P, Bogiel T, Breza-Boruta B. Legionellosis risk-an overview of Legionella spp. habitats in Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:76532-76542. [PMID: 36161570 PMCID: PMC9511453 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22950-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
An increase in the number of reports of legionellosis in the European Union and the European Economic Area have been recorded in recent years. The increase in cases is significant: from 6947 reports in 2015 to 11,298 in 2019. This is alarming as genus Legionella, which comprises a large group of bacteria inhabiting various aquatic systems, poses a serious threat to human health and life, since more than 20 species can cause legionellosis, with L. pneumophila being responsible for the majority of cases. The ability to colonize diverse ecosystems makes the eradication of these microorganisms difficult. A detailed understanding of the Legionella habitat may be helpful in the effective control of this pathogen. This paper provides an overview of Legionella environments in Europe: natural (lakes, groundwater, rivers, compost, soil) and anthropogenic (fountains, air humidifiers, water supply systems), and the role of Legionella spp. in nosocomial infections, which are potentially fatal for children, the elderly and immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Kanarek
- Department of Microbiology and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 6 Bernardyńska Street, 85-029, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Tomasz Bogiel
- Department of Microbiology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 9 Skłodowska-Curie Street, 85-094, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Barbara Breza-Boruta
- Department of Microbiology and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 6 Bernardyńska Street, 85-029, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
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Schwake DO, Alum A, Abbaszadegan M. Legionella Occurrence beyond Cooling Towers and Premise Plumbing. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122543. [PMID: 34946143 PMCID: PMC8706379 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Legionella is an environmental pathogen that is responsible for respiratory disease and is a common causative agent of water-related outbreaks. Due to their ability to survive in a broad range of environments, transmission of legionellosis is possible from a variety of sources. Unfortunately, a disproportionate amount of research that is devoted to studying the occurrence of Legionella in environmental reservoirs is aimed toward cooling towers and premise plumbing. As confirmed transmission of Legionella has been linked to many other sources, an over-emphasis on the most common sources may be detrimental to increasing understanding of the spread of legionellosis. This review aims to address this issue by cataloguing studies which have examined the occurrence of Legionella in less commonly investigated environments. By summarizing and discussing reports of Legionella in fresh water, ground water, saltwater, and distribution system drinking water, future environmental and public health researchers will have a resource to aid in investigating these pathogens in relevant sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Otto Schwake
- Department of Natural Sciences, Middle Georgia State University, 100 University Pkwy, Macon, GA 31206, USA;
| | - Absar Alum
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA;
| | - Morteza Abbaszadegan
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-480-965-3868
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Zhang C, Struewing I, Mistry JH, Wahman DG, Pressman J, Lu J. Legionella and other opportunistic pathogens in full-scale chloraminated municipal drinking water distribution systems. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 205:117571. [PMID: 34628111 PMCID: PMC8629321 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Water-based opportunistic pathogens (OPs) are a leading cause of drinking-water-related disease outbreaks, especially in developed countries such as the United States (US). Physicochemical water quality parameters, especially disinfectant residuals, control the (re)growth, presence, colonization, and concentrations of OPs in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs), while the relationship between OPs and those parameters remain unclear. This study aimed to quantify how physicochemical parameters, mainly monochloramine residual concentration, hydraulic residence time (HRT), and seasonality, affected the occurrence and concentrations of four common OPs (Legionella, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Vermamoeba vermiformis) in four full-scale DWDSs in the US. Legionella as a dominant OP occurred in 93.8% of the 64 sampling events and had a mean density of 4.27 × 105 genome copies per liter. Legionella positively correlated with Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, and total bacteria. Multiple regression with data from the four DWDSs showed that Legionella had significant correlations with total chlorine residual level, free ammonia concentration, and trihalomethane concentration. Therefore, Legionella is a promising indicator of water-based OPs, reflecting microbial water quality in chloraminated DWDSs. The OP concentrations had strong seasonal variations and peaked in winter and/or spring possibly because of reduced water usage (i.e., increased water stagnation or HRT) during cold seasons. The OP concentrations generally increased with HRT presumably because of disinfectant residual decay, indicating the importance of well-maintaining disinfectant residuals in DWDSs for OP control. The concentrations of Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, and V. vermiformis were significantly associated with total chlorine residual concentration, free ammonia concentration, and pH and trihalomethane concentration, respectively. Overall, this study demonstrates how the significant spatiotemporal variations of OP concentrations in chloraminated DWDSs correlated with critical physicochemical water quality parameters such as disinfectant residual levels. This work also indicates that Legionella is a promising indicator of OPs and microbial water quality in chloraminated DWDSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiqian Zhang
- Pegasus Technical Services, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ian Struewing
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jatin H Mistry
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - David G Wahman
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jonathan Pressman
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jingrang Lu
- Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
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Assaidi A, Soummane A, Ellouali M, Latrache H, Timinouni M, Zahir H, Mliji EM. Environmental surveillance of Legionella pneumophila in hot water systems of hotels in Morocco. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2021; 19:855-863. [PMID: 34665777 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Environmental monitoring of Legionella in hot water systems of hotels in Morocco was performed during the period from January 2016 to April 2018. A total of 149 water samples from 118 different hotels were analyzed. METHODS A total of 149 water samples from 118 different hotels were analyzed. Possible risk factors were prospectively recorded, and data were analyzed in connection with building and plumbing systems characteristics. Data about building and risk factors were collected through a questionnaire survey. RESULTS Out of the 149 samples, 77(51.7%) were positive for L. pneumophila. Serological typing of the isolates revealed that 54 (70.1%) are L. pneumophila serogroup 2-15 and 23 (29.9%) are L. pneumophila serogroup 1. 56.8% of all buildings were colonized by L. pneumophila. Counts were over 1,000 CFU/L in 44%. Contamination was strongly correlated with temperature in the circulation, the age of the premise plumbing and the size of the building. CONCLUSIONS The results showed a relevant exposure to L. pneumophila in the community and the identified risk factors can serve as indicators for risk assessment and relevant actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelwahid Assaidi
- Laboratory of Bioprocess and Biointerfaces, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco; Laboratory of Water Microbiology and Environmental Hygiene, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco E-mail:
| | - Afaf Soummane
- Laboratory of Water Microbiology and Environmental Hygiene, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco E-mail:
| | - Mostafa Ellouali
- Laboratory of Bioprocess and Biointerfaces, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - Hassan Latrache
- Laboratory of Bioprocess and Biointerfaces, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Timinouni
- Laboratory of Water Microbiology and Environmental Hygiene, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco E-mail:
| | - Hafida Zahir
- Laboratory of Bioprocess and Biointerfaces, Faculty of Sciences and Technics, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
| | - El Mostafa Mliji
- Laboratory of Water Microbiology and Environmental Hygiene, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco E-mail:
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Lesnik R, Brettar I, Höfle MG. Legionella species diversity and dynamics from surface reservoir to tap water: from cold adaptation to thermophily. THE ISME JOURNAL 2016; 10:1064-80. [PMID: 26528838 PMCID: PMC5029207 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Water samples of the Drinking Water Supply System (DWSS) of the city of Braunschweig were analysed for its Legionella species composition using genus-specific PCR amplicons and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) fingerprint analyses based on 16S rRNA genes. These analyses comprised the whole supply chain including raw water, treatment process and large-scale storage, and a seasonal study of finished drinking water sampled monthly from cold and hot tap water. Treatment of raw water had a major impact on Legionella species by reducing their diversity and abundances. The Legionella species composition of the tap water was highly distinct from that of both source waters. In cold water, 8-14 different phylotypes of Legionella (PTLs) were observed per sample with relative abundances ranging from >1% to 53%. In hot water, L. pneumophila was present during all seasons at high relative abundances (8-40%) accompanied by 5-14 other PTLs of which 6 PTLs were in common with cold water. This thermophilic Legionella community, including L. pneumophila, was able to grow in the hot water above 50 °C. Such thermophilic Legionella populations are of general relevance for drinking water management and public health, but also for the ecology and evolution of the genus Legionella.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Lesnik
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ingrid Brettar
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Manfred G Höfle
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
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Abstract
A relatively short list of reference viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens appears adequate to assess microbial risks and inform a system-based management of drinking waters. Nonetheless, there are data gaps, e.g. human enteric viruses resulting in endemic infection levels if poorly performing disinfection and/or distribution systems are used, and the risks from fungi. Where disinfection is the only treatment and/or filtration is poor, cryptosporidiosis is the most likely enteric disease to be identified during waterborne outbreaks, but generally non-human-infectious genotypes are present in the absence of human or calf fecal contamination. Enteric bacteria may dominate risks during major fecal contamination events that are ineffectively managed. Reliance on culture-based methods exaggerates treatment efficacy and reduces our ability to identify pathogens/indicators; however, next-generation sequencing and polymerase chain reaction approaches are on the cusp of changing that. Overall, water-based Legionella and non-tuberculous mycobacteria probably dominate health burden at exposure points following the various societal uses of drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Ashbolt
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Room 3-57D, South Academic Building, Alberta, T6G 2G7 Canada
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7
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Pearce MM, Theodoropoulos N, Mandel MJ, Brown E, Reed KD, Cianciotto NP. Legionella cardiaca sp. nov., isolated from a case of native valve endocarditis in a human heart. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2012; 62:2946-2954. [PMID: 22286905 PMCID: PMC4080749 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.039248-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated H63(T), was isolated from aortic valve tissue of a patient with native valve endocarditis. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that H63(T) belongs to the genus Legionella, with its closest neighbours being the type strains of Legionella brunensis (98.8% similarity), L. londiniensis (97.0%), L. jordanis (96.8%), L. erythra (96.2%), L. dresdenensis (96.0%) and L. rubrilucens, L. feeleii, L. pneumophila and L. birminghamensis (95.7%). DNA-DNA hybridization studies yielded values of <70% relatedness between strain H63(T) and its nearest neighbours in terms of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, indicating that the strain represents a novel species. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA, macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) and RNase P (rnpB) genes confirmed that H63(T) represents a distinct species, with L. brunensis being its closest sister taxon. Fatty acid composition and biochemical traits, such as the inability to ferment glucose and reduce nitrate, supported the affiliation of H63(T) to the genus Legionella. H63(T) was distinguishable from its neighbours based on it being positive for hippurate hydrolysis. H63(T) was further differentiated by its inability to grow on BCYE agar at 17 °C, its poor growth on low-iron medium and the absence of sliding motility. Also, H63(T) did not react with antisera generated from type strains of Legionella species. H63(T) replicated within macrophages. It also grew in mouse lungs, inducing histopathological evidence of pneumonia and dissemination to the spleen. Together, these results confirm that H63(T) represents a novel, pathogenic Legionella species, for which the name Legionella cardiaca sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H63(T) ( = ATCC BAA-2315(T) = DSM 25049(T) = JCM 17854(T)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan M Pearce
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Mark J Mandel
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ellen Brown
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Office of Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kurt D Reed
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Paveenkittiporn W, Dejsirilert S, Kalambaheti T. Genetic speciation of environmental Legionella isolates in Thailand. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2012; 12:1368-76. [PMID: 22504352 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2012] [Revised: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Legionella-like organisms were isolated during 2003-2007 from various water resources by culturing on selective media of Wadowsky-Yee-Okuda agar. The 256 isolates were identified as belonging to the Legionella genus based on detection of 108 bp PCR product of the 5S rRNA gene, while the inclusion as Legionella pneumophila were confirmed by PCR detection of a specific mip gene region of 168 bp. The 50 isolates, identified as non-pneumophila, were then subjected to DNA tree analysis, based on mip gene of ~650 bp and rnpB genes product ranged from 304 to 354 bp. Phylogenetic tree was constructed to predict their species in relative to the available database. The isolates of which their speciation, based on those two genes were inconclusive, were then investigated for the almost full-length of 16S rRNA sequences. The isolates were assigned as 16 known Legionella species, and proposed seven novel species based on their unique 16S rRNA sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wantana Paveenkittiporn
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Ratchawithi Road, Rajthevee District, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Yang G, Benson RF, Ratcliff RM, Brown EW, Steigerwalt AG, Thacker WL, Daneshvar MI, Morey RE, Saito A, Fields BS. Legionella nagasakiensis sp. nov., isolated from water samples and from a patient with pneumonia. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2012; 62:284-288. [DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.027193-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel Legionella species was identified based on analysis of 16S rRNA and mip (macrophage infectivity potentiator) gene sequences, cellular fatty acids, isoprenoid quinones, biochemical reactions, antigens and quantitative DNA–DNA hybridization. Strain CDC-1796-JAP-ET was isolated from well water at the Nagasaki Municipal Medical Center, Japan. Two strains, CDC-3041-AUS-E and CDC-3558-AUS-E, were isolated from water samples during an outbreak of legionellosis in South Australia. Strain CDC-5427-OH-H was isolated from a 66-year-old female patient diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in the US. Cells from these four strains were Gram-negative, non-fluorescent, rod-shaped, and positive for alkaline phosphatase, esterase, leucine arylamidase, catalase, gelatinase, β-lactamase and tyrosine browning assay. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and mip genes revealed that the four strains formed a distinct cluster within the genus Legionella. The bacteria contained branched-chain fatty acids and quinones that are typical of members of the genus Legionella. Slide agglutination tests demonstrated no cross-reaction with 52 previously described members of the Legionellaceae. DNA–DNA hybridization studies indicated that DNAs from the four strains were highly related (78–84 %) but they showed 29 % relatedness to Legionella oakridgensis ATCC 33761T and less than 10 % to strains of other Legionella species tested. These characterizations suggest that the isolates represent a novel species, for which the name Legionella nagasakiensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is CDC-1796-JAP-ET ( = ATCC BAA-1557T = JCM 15315T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Genyan Yang
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Blood Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert F. Benson
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rodney M. Ratcliff
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, SA Pathology, and School of Molecular & Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ellen W. Brown
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Arnold G. Steigerwalt
- Division of Foodborne, Bacterial, and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - W. Lanier Thacker
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maryam I. Daneshvar
- Laboratory Science, Policy, and Practice Program Office; Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Roger E. Morey
- Division of Foodborne, Bacterial, and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Atsushi Saito
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Barry S. Fields
- Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Furuhata K, Edagawa A, Miyamoto H, Goto K, Yoshida SI, Fukuyama M. The first case of Legionella nagasakiensis isolation from hot spring water. Biocontrol Sci 2011; 16:171-6. [PMID: 22190440 DOI: 10.4265/bio.16.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
In August, 2010, strain HYMO-6 was isolated from a sample of hot spring water in Aomori, Japan. The 16S rDNA sequences (1,496bp) of this strain (accession number: AB597175) had a similarity of less than 96.6% to other Legionella species, prompting us to hypothesize that this strain might be a novel species belonging to the genus Legionella. However, in March of 2011, it was became clear that the HYMO-6 strain (=JCM 17450 =KCTC 23560 =DSM 24727) was Legionella nagasakiensis CDC-1796-JAP-E(T) (=ATCC BAA-1557(T) =JCM 15315(T)). When this strain was cultured on BCYEα agar at 36°C for 7 d, no long cells were observed. The dominant fatty acids of strain HYMO-6 were 16:1ω7c (32.4%), and the DNA G+C content was 42.0 mol%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsunori Furuhata
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
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Haroon A, Koide M, Higa F, Tateyama M, Fujita J. Identification of Legionella pneumophila serogroups and other Legionella species by mip gene sequencing. J Infect Chemother 2011; 18:276-81. [PMID: 22015397 DOI: 10.1007/s10156-011-0324-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Accepted: 09/29/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The virulence factor known as the macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) is responsible for the intracellular survival of Legionella species. In this study, we investigated the potential of the mip gene sequence to differentiate isolates of different species of Legionella and different serogroups of Legionella pneumophila. We used 35 clinical L. pneumophila isolates and one clinical isolate each of Legionella micdadei, Legionella longbeachae, and Legionella dumoffii (collected from hospitals all over Japan between 1980 and 2007). We used 19 environmental Legionella anisa isolates (collected in the Okinawa, Nara, Osaka, and Hyogo prefectures between 1987 and 2007) and two Legionella type strains. We extracted bacterial genomic DNA and amplified out the mip gene by PCR. PCR products were purified by agarose gel electrophoresis and the mip gene was then sequenced. The L. pneumophila isolates could be divided into two groups: one group was very similar to the type strain and was composed of serogroup (SG) 1 isolates only; the second group had more sequence variations and was composed of SG1 isolates as well as SG2, SG3, SG5, and SG10 isolates. Phylogenetic analysis displayed one cluster for L. anisa isolates, while other Legionella species were present at discrete levels. Our findings show that mip gene sequencing is an effective technique for differentiating L. pneumophila strains from other Legionella species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attiya Haroon
- Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (First Department of Internal Medicine), University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan
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12
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Edelstein PH, Edelstein MA, Shephard LJ, Ward KW, Ratcliff RM. Legionella steelei sp. nov., isolated from human respiratory specimens in California, USA, and South Australia. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2011; 62:1766-1771. [PMID: 21948093 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.035709-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Legionella-like bacteria were isolated from the respiratory tract of two patients in California, USA, and South Australia, but were not thought to cause disease. These bacteria, strains F2632 and IMVS-3376(T), were found to have identical Legionella macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) gene sequences and were therefore further characterized to determine their genetic and phenotypic relatedness and properties. Both of these Gram-negative-staining bacterial strains grew on buffered charcoal yeast extract medium, were cysteine auxotrophs and made a characteristic diffusible bright yellow fluorescent pigment, with one strain making a late appearing colony-bound blue-white fluorescent pigment. The optimal in vitro growth temperature was 35 °C, with very poor growth at 37 °C in broth or on solid media. There was no growth in human A549 cells at either 35 or 37 °C, but excellent growth in Acanthamoeba castellani at 30 °C and poorer growth at 35 °C. Phylogenetic analysis of these bacteria was performed by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, mip, ribonuclease P, ribosomal polymerase B and zinc metalloprotease genes. These studies confirmed that the new strains represented a single novel species of the genus Legionella for which the name Legionella steelei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMVS-3376(T) ( = IMVS 3113(T) = ATCC BAA-2169(T)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul H Edelstein
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Martha A Edelstein
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lisa J Shephard
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kevin W Ward
- UCLA Health System Clinical Laboratories-Microbiology, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rodney M Ratcliff
- School of Biomedical Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
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14
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Lcl of Legionella pneumophila is an immunogenic GAG binding adhesin that promotes interactions with lung epithelial cells and plays a crucial role in biofilm formation. Infect Immun 2011; 79:2168-81. [PMID: 21422183 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01304-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Legionellosis is mostly caused by Legionella pneumophila and is defined by a severe respiratory illness with a case fatality rate ranging from 5 to 80%. In vitro and in vivo, interactions of L. pneumophila with lung epithelial cells are mediated by the sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the host extracellular matrix. In this study, we have identified several Legionella heparin binding proteins. We have shown that one of these proteins, designated Lcl, is a polymorphic adhesin of L. pneumophila that is produced during legionellosis. Homologues of Lcl are ubiquitous in L. pneumophila serogroups but are undetected in other Legionella species. Recombinant Lcl binds to GAGs, and a Δlpg2644 mutant demonstrated reduced binding to GAGs and human lung epithelial cells. Importantly, we showed that the Δlpg2644 strain is dramatically impaired in biofilm formation. These data delineate the role of Lcl in the GAG binding properties of L. pneumophila and provide molecular evidence regarding its role in L. pneumophila adherence and biofilm formation.
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Specific real-time PCR for simultaneous detection and identification of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in water and clinical samples. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 77:1708-17. [PMID: 21193672 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02261-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila, a bacterium that replicates within aquatic amoebae and persists in the environment as a free-living microbe, is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease. Among the many Legionella species described, L. pneumophila is associated with 90% of human disease, and within the 15 serogroups (Sg), L. pneumophila Sg1 causes more than 84% of Legionnaires' disease worldwide. Thus, rapid and specific identification of L. pneumophila Sg1 is of the utmost importance for evaluation of the contamination of collective water systems and the risk posed. Previously we had shown that about 20 kb of the 33-kb locus carrying the genes coding for the proteins involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis (LPS gene cluster) by L. pneumophila was highly specific for Sg1 strains and that three genes (lpp0831, wzm, and wzt) may serve as genetic markers. Here we report the sequencing and comparative analyses of this specific region of the LPS gene cluster in L. pneumophila Sg6, -10, -12, -13, and -14. Indeed, the wzm and wzt genes were present only in the Sg1 LPS gene cluster, which showed a very specific gene content with respect to the other five serogroups investigated. Based on this observation, we designed primers and developed a classical and a real-time PCR method for the detection and simultaneous identification of L. pneumophila Sg1 in clinical and environmental isolates. Evaluation of the selected primers with 454 Legionella and 38 non-Legionella strains demonstrated 100% specificity. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were further evaluated with 209 DNA extracts from water samples of hospital water supply systems and with 96 respiratory specimens. The results showed that the newly developed quantitative Sg1-specific PCR method is a highly specific and efficient tool for the surveillance and rapid detection of high-risk L. pneumophila Sg1 in water and clinical samples.
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