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Tsouggou N, Oikonomou A, Papadimitriou K, Skandamis PN. 16S and 18S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing Analysis of Aesthetically Problematic Microbial Mats on the Walls of the Petralona Cave: The Use of Essential Oils as a Cleaning Method. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2681. [PMID: 38004693 PMCID: PMC10673238 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of microbial communities on cave walls and speleothems is an issue that requires attention. Traditional cleaning methods using water, brushes, and steam can spread the infection and cause damage to the cave structures, while chemical agents can lead to the formation of toxic compounds and damage the cave walls. Essential oils (EOs) have shown promising results in disrupting the cell membrane of bacteria and affecting their membrane permeability. In this study, we identified the microorganisms forming unwanted microbial communities on the walls and speleothems of Petralona Cave using 16S and 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing approaches and evaluated the efficacy of EOs in reducing the ATP levels of these ecosystems. The samples exhibited a variety of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, the SAR supergroup, Opisthokonta, Excavata, Archaeplastida, and Amoebozoa. These phyla are often found in various habitats, including caves, and contribute to the ecological intricacy of cave ecosystems. In terms of the order and genus taxonomy, the identified biota showed abundances that varied significantly among the samples. Functional predictions were also conducted to estimate the differences in expressed genes among the samples. Oregano EO was found to reduce ATP levels by 87% and 46% for black and green spots, respectively. Consecutive spraying with cinnamon EO further reduced ATP levels, with reductions of 89% for black and 88% for green spots. The application of a mixture solution caused a significant reduction up to 96% in ATP levels of both areas. Our results indicate that EOs could be a promising solution for the treatment of microbial communities on cave walls and speleothems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Tsouggou
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control & Hygiene, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (N.T.); (P.N.S.)
| | - Alexandra Oikonomou
- Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology, Hellenic Republic Ministry of Culture and Sports, Ardittou 34b, 11636 Athens, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Papadimitriou
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control & Hygiene, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (N.T.); (P.N.S.)
| | - Panagiotis N. Skandamis
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control & Hygiene, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (N.T.); (P.N.S.)
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Onen H, Luzala MM, Kigozi S, Sikumbili RM, Muanga CJK, Zola EN, Wendji SN, Buya AB, Balciunaitiene A, Viškelis J, Kaddumukasa MA, Memvanga PB. Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Their Control Strategies: An Overview Focused on Green Synthesized Plant-Based Metallic Nanoparticles. INSECTS 2023; 14:221. [PMID: 36975906 PMCID: PMC10059804 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes act as vectors of pathogens that cause most life-threatening diseases, such as malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow fever, Zika, West Nile, Lymphatic filariasis, etc. To reduce the transmission of these mosquito-borne diseases in humans, several chemical, biological, mechanical, and pharmaceutical methods of control are used. However, these different strategies are facing important and timely challenges that include the rapid spread of highly invasive mosquitoes worldwide, the development of resistance in several mosquito species, and the recent outbreaks of novel arthropod-borne viruses (e.g., Dengue, Rift Valley fever, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile, yellow fever, etc.). Therefore, the development of novel and effective methods of control is urgently needed to manage mosquito vectors. Adapting the principles of nanobiotechnology to mosquito vector control is one of the current approaches. As a single-step, eco-friendly, and biodegradable method that does not require the use of toxic chemicals, the green synthesis of nanoparticles using active toxic agents from plant extracts available since ancient times exhibits antagonistic responses and broad-spectrum target-specific activities against different species of vector mosquitoes. In this article, the current state of knowledge on the different mosquito control strategies in general, and on repellent and mosquitocidal plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles in particular, has been reviewed. By doing so, this review may open new doors for research on mosquito-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hudson Onen
- Department of Entomology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Plot 51/59 Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe P.O. Box 49, Uganda
| | - Miryam M. Luzala
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Technologique en Environnement et en Sciences de la Santé (CRITESS), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Stephen Kigozi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kyambogo University, Kampala P.O. Box 1, Uganda
| | - Rebecca M. Sikumbili
- Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Technologique en Environnement et en Sciences de la Santé (CRITESS), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 190, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Claude-Josué K. Muanga
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Technologique en Environnement et en Sciences de la Santé (CRITESS), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Eunice N. Zola
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Technologique en Environnement et en Sciences de la Santé (CRITESS), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Sébastien N. Wendji
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Technologique en Environnement et en Sciences de la Santé (CRITESS), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Aristote B. Buya
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Technologique en Environnement et en Sciences de la Santé (CRITESS), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Aiste Balciunaitiene
- Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, 54333 Babtai, Lithuania
| | - Jonas Viškelis
- Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, 54333 Babtai, Lithuania
| | - Martha A. Kaddumukasa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kyambogo University, Kampala P.O. Box 1, Uganda
| | - Patrick B. Memvanga
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Phytopharmaceutical Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation Technologique en Environnement et en Sciences de la Santé (CRITESS), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa B.P. 212, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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CmeABC Multidrug Efflux Pump Contributes to Antibiotic Resistance and Promotes Campylobacter jejuni Survival and Multiplication in Acanthamoeba polyphaga. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.01600-17. [PMID: 28916560 PMCID: PMC5666138 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01600-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a foodborne pathogen that is recognized as the leading cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis. The widespread use of antibiotics in medicine and in animal husbandry has led to an increased incidence of antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter In addition to a role in multidrug resistance (MDR), the Campylobacter CmeABC resistance-nodulation-division (RND)-type efflux pump may be involved in virulence. As a vehicle for pathogenic microorganisms, the protozoan Acanthamoeba is a good model for investigations of bacterial survival in the environment and the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity. The interaction between C. jejuni 81-176 and Acanthamoeba polyphaga was investigated in this study by using a modified gentamicin protection assay. In addition, a possible role for the CmeABC MDR pump in this interaction was explored. Here we report that this MDR pump is beneficial for the intracellular survival and multiplication of C. jejuni in A. polyphaga but is dispensable for biofilm formation and motility.IMPORTANCE The endosymbiotic relationship between amoebae and microbial pathogens may contribute to persistence and spreading of the latter in the environment, which has significant implications for human health. In this study, we found that Campylobacter jejuni was able to survive and to multiply inside Acanthamoeba polyphaga; since these microorganisms can coexist in the same environment (e.g., on poultry farms), the latter may increase the risk of infection with Campylobacter Our data suggest that, in addition to its role in antibiotic resistance, the CmeABC MDR efflux pump plays a role in bacterial survival within amoebae. Furthermore, we demonstrated synergistic effects of the CmeABC MDR efflux pump and TetO on bacterial resistance to tetracycline. Due to its role in both the antibiotic resistance and the virulence of C. jejuni, the CmeABC MDR efflux pump could be considered a good target for the development of antibacterial drugs against this pathogen.
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Schön K, Schornsteiner E, Dzieciol M, Wagner M, Müller M, Schmitz-Esser S. Microbial communities in dairy processing environment floor-drains are dominated by product-associated bacteria and yeasts. Food Control 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Chavatte N, Lambrecht E, Van Damme I, Sabbe K, Houf K. Free-living protozoa in the gastrointestinal tract and feces of pigs: Exploration of an unknown world and towards a protocol for the recovery of free-living protozoa. Vet Parasitol 2016; 225:91-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Trigui H, Paquet VE, Charette SJ, Faucher SP. Packaging of Campylobacter jejuni into Multilamellar Bodies by the Ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:2783-90. [PMID: 26921427 PMCID: PMC4836424 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03921-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuniis the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Transmission to humans occurs through consumption of contaminated food or water. The conditions affecting the persistence of C. jejuniin the environment are poorly understood. Some protozoa package and excrete bacteria into multilamellar bodies (MLBs). Packaged bacteria are protected from deleterious conditions, which increases their survival. We hypothesized that C. jejuni could be packaged under aerobic conditions by the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii or the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis, both of which are able to package other pathogenic bacteria.A. castellanii did not produce MLBs containing C. jejuni In contrast, when incubated with T. pyriformis,C. jejuni was ingested, packaged in MLBs, and then expelled into the milieu. The viability of the bacteria inside MLBs was confirmed by microscopic analyses. The kinetics of C. jejuni culturability showed that packaging increased the survival of C. jejuniup to 60 h, in contrast to the strong survival defect seen in ciliate-free culture. This study suggests that T. pyriformis may increase the risk of persistence of C. jejuniin the environment and its possible transmission between different reservoirs in food and potable water through packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Trigui
- McGill University, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Valérie E Paquet
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (Hôpital Laval), Quebec City, QC, Canada Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie, et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Steve J Charette
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (Hôpital Laval), Quebec City, QC, Canada Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie, et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Sébastien P Faucher
- McGill University, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
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Chavatte N, Lambrecht E, Van Damme I, Sabbe K, Houf K. Abundance, diversity and community composition of free-living protozoa on vegetable sprouts. Food Microbiol 2015; 55:55-63. [PMID: 26742616 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2015.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Interactions with free-living protozoa (FLP) have been implicated in the persistence of pathogenic bacteria on food products. In order to assess the potential involvement of FLP in this contamination, detailed knowledge on their occurrence, abundance and diversity on food products is required. In the present study, enrichment and cultivation methods were used to inventory and quantify FLP on eight types of commercial vegetable sprouts (alfalfa, beetroot, cress, green pea, leek, mung bean, red cabbage and rosabi). In parallel, total aerobic bacteria and Escherichia coli counts were performed. The vegetable sprouts harbored diverse communities of FLP, with Tetrahymena (ciliate), Bodo saltans and cercomonads (flagellates), and Acanthamoeba and Vannella (amoebae) as the dominant taxa. Protozoan community composition and abundance significantly differed between the sprout types. Beetroot harbored the most abundant and diverse FLP communities, with many unique species such as Korotnevella sp., Vannella sp., Chilodonella sp., Podophrya sp. and Sphaerophrya sp. In contrast, mung bean sprouts were species-poor and had low FLP numbers. Sampling month and company had no significant influence, suggesting that seasonal and local factors are of minor importance. Likewise, no significant relationship between protozoan community composition and bacterial load was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Chavatte
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - E Lambrecht
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - I Van Damme
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - K Sabbe
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - K Houf
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Lambrecht E, Baré J, Chavatte N, Bert W, Sabbe K, Houf K. Protozoan Cysts Act as a Survival Niche and Protective Shelter for Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:5604-12. [PMID: 26070667 PMCID: PMC4510183 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01031-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of cysts, an integral part of the life cycle of many free-living protozoa, allows these organisms to survive adverse environmental conditions. Given the prevalence of free-living protozoa in food-related environments, it is hypothesized that these organisms play an important yet currently underinvestigated role in the epidemiology of foodborne pathogenic bacteria. Intracystic bacterial survival is highly relevant, as this would allow bacteria to survive the stringent cleaning and disinfection measures applied in food-related environments. The present study shows that strains of widespread and important foodborne bacteria (Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Listeria monocytogenes) survive inside cysts of the ubiquitous amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii, even when exposed to either antibiotic treatment (100 μg/ml gentamicin) or highly acidic conditions (pH 0.2) and resume active growth in broth media following excystment. Strain- and species-specific differences in survival periods were observed, with Salmonella enterica surviving up to 3 weeks inside amoebal cysts. Up to 53% of the cysts were infected with pathogenic bacteria, which were located in the cyst cytosol. Our study suggests that the role of free-living protozoa and especially their cysts in the persistence and epidemiology of foodborne bacterial pathogens in food-related environments may be much more important than hitherto assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Lambrecht
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Julie Baré
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Natascha Chavatte
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Wim Bert
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Koen Sabbe
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kurt Houf
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Chavatte N, Baré J, Lambrecht E, Van Damme I, Vaerewijck M, Sabbe K, Houf K. Co-occurrence of free-living protozoa and foodborne pathogens on dishcloths: Implications for food safety. Int J Food Microbiol 2014; 191:89-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Vaerewijck MJ, Baré J, Lambrecht E, Sabbe K, Houf K. Interactions of Foodborne Pathogens with Free-living Protozoa: Potential Consequences for Food Safety. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Baré
- Dept. of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent Univ; Belgium
| | - Ellen Lambrecht
- Dept. of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent Univ; Belgium
| | - Koen Sabbe
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology; Dept. of Biology, Ghent Univ; Belgium
| | - Kurt Houf
- Dept. of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent Univ; Belgium
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Development of a modified gentamicin protection assay to investigate the interaction between Campylobacter jejuni and Acanthamoeba castellanii ATCC 30010. Exp Parasitol 2014; 140:39-43. [PMID: 24632191 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is one of the leading causes of diarrheal illness worldwide. It is persistent in the environment and on poultry despite its microaerophilic nature and sensitivity to dessication and pH. Studies have demonstrated that C. jejuni co-incubated with Acanthamoeba spp. may be protected from harmful environmental factors. Research in this area, however has included a range of different methodologies for co-incubation, recovery of bacteria and amoebae, and verification of internalization. In this study a modified gentamicin protection assay (mGPA) was developed with a standardized co-incubation procedure. The mGPA addresses limitations of the traditional GPA by providing quantification of the rate of internalization, or lack of internalization, of C. jejuni by Acanthamoeba castellanii. The mGPA described here utilizes tubes instead of cell culture plates allowing for determination of exact numbers of A. castellanii and C. jejuni to be co-incubated prior to addition to tubes. Additionally, the mGPA allows for the incorporation of C. jejuni-only controls to determine the fate of C. jejuni throughout the assay in the absence of A. castellanii. Using the mGPA it was determined that on average 1.6×10(5) C. jejuni (or 0.006% of initial 1×10(9) inoculum) survive the assay in the absence of A. castellanii. Additionally, results obtained with the mGPA demonstrated that while co-incubation with amoebae sometimes (56% of co-incubations) provided a protective effect for C. jejuni, in other cases it did not provide any protective effect (39% of co-incubations), and in at least one case there was a statistically significant higher recovery of C. jejuni in controls when compared to C. jejuni co-incubated with amoebae. The modified gentamicin protection assay described here allows better quantification of the rate and incidence of internalization of bacteria by amoebae. Use of the standardized mGPA developed here with varying environmental parameters and/or strains of bacteria and amoebae may provide insight into factors which are involved in the initiation of internalization of bacteria by amoebae.
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Van Waeyenberghe L, Baré J, Pasmans F, Claeys M, Bert W, Haesebrouck F, Houf K, Martel A. Interaction of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia with Acanthamoeba castellanii parallels macrophage-fungus interactions. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2013; 5:819-824. [PMID: 24249290 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus and free-living amoebae are common inhabitants of soil. Mechanisms of A. fumigatus to circumvent the amoeba's digestion may facilitate overcoming the vertebrate macrophage defence mechanisms. We performed co-culture experiments using A. fumigatus conidia and the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. Approximately 25% of the amoebae ingested A. fumigatus conidia after 1 h of contact. During intra-amoebal passage, part of the ingested conidia was able to escape the food vacuole and to germinate inside the cytoplasm of A. castellanii. Fungal release into the extra-protozoan environment by exocytosis of conidia or by germination was observed with light and transmission electron microscopy. These processes resulted in structural changes in A. castellanii, leading to amoebal permeabilization without cell lysis. In conclusion, A. castellanii internalizes A. fumigatus conidia, resulting in fungal intracellular germination and subsequent amoebal death. As such, this interaction highly resembles that of A. fumigatus with mammalian and avian macrophages. This suggests that A. fumigatus virulence mechanisms to evade macrophage killing may be acquired by co-evolutionary interactions among A. fumigatus and environmental amoebae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieven Van Waeyenberghe
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Lambrecht E, Baré J, Van Damme I, Bert W, Sabbe K, Houf K. Behavior of Yersinia enterocolitica in the presence of the bacterivorous Acanthamoeba castellanii. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:6407-13. [PMID: 23934496 PMCID: PMC3811209 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01915-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living protozoa play an important role in the ecology and epidemiology of human-pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, the interaction between Yersinia enterocolitica, an important food-borne pathogen, and the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii was studied. Several cocultivation assays were set up to assess the resistance of Y. enterocolitica to A. castellanii predation and the impact of environmental factors and bacterial strain-specific characteristics. Results showed that all Y. enterocolitica strains persist in association with A. castellanii for at least 14 days, and associations with A. castellanii enhanced survival of Yersinia under nutrient-rich conditions at 25°C and under nutrient-poor conditions at 37°C. Amoebae cultivated in the supernatant of one Yersinia strain showed temperature- and time-dependent permeabilization. Intraprotozoan survival of Y. enterocolitica depended on nutrient availability and temperature, with up to 2.8 log CFU/ml bacteria displaying intracellular survival at 7°C for at least 4 days in nutrient-rich medium. Transmission electron microscopy was performed to locate the Yersinia cells inside the amoebae. As Yersinia and Acanthamoeba share similar ecological niches, this interaction identifies a role of free-living protozoa in the ecology and epidemiology of Y. enterocolitica.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Lambrecht
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - J. Baré
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - I. Van Damme
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - W. Bert
- Nematology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - K. Sabbe
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - K. Houf
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Gomes Neto NJ, Lucena Pessoa RM, Barbosa Nunes Queiroga IM, Magnani M, de Sousa Freitas FI, de Souza EL, Maciel JF. Bacterial counts and the occurrence of parasites in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) from different cropping systems in Brazil. Food Control 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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15
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Bui XT, Qvortrup K, Wolff A, Bang DD, Creuzenet C. Effect of environmental stress factors on the uptake and survival of Campylobacter jejuni in Acanthamoeba castellanii. BMC Microbiol 2012; 12:232. [PMID: 23051891 PMCID: PMC3538707 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-12-232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 10/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of bacterial food-borne illness in Europe and North America. The mechanisms allowing survival in the environment and transmission to new hosts are not well understood. Environmental free-living protozoa may facilitate both processes. Pre-exposure to heat, starvation, oxidative or osmotic stresses encountered in the environment may affect the subsequent interaction of C. jejuni with free-living protozoa. To test this hypothesis, we examined the impact of environmental stress on expression of virulence-associated genes (ciaB, dnaJ, and htrA) of C. jejuni and on its uptake by and intracellular survival within Acanthamoeba castellanii. Results Heat, starvation and osmotic stress reduced the survival of C. jejuni significantly, whereas oxidative stress had no effect. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments showed that the transcription of virulence genes was slightly up-regulated under heat and oxidative stresses but down-regulated under starvation and osmotic stresses, the htrA gene showing the largest down-regulation in response to osmotic stress. Pre-exposure of bacteria to low nutrient or osmotic stress reduced bacterial uptake by amoeba, but no effect of heat or oxidative stress was observed. Finally, C. jejuni rapidly lost viability within amoeba cells and pre-exposure to oxidative stress had no significant effect on intracellular survival. However, the numbers of intracellular bacteria recovered 5 h post-gentamicin treatment were lower with starved, heat treated or osmotically stressed bacteria than with control bacteria. Also, while ~1.5 × 103 colony forming unit/ml internalized bacteria could typically be recovered 24 h post-gentamicin treatment with control bacteria, no starved, heat treated or osmotically stressed bacteria could be recovered at this time point. Overall, pre-exposure of C. jejuni to environmental stresses did not promote intracellular survival in A. castellanii. Conclusions Together, these findings suggest that the stress response in C. jejuni and its interaction with A. castellanii are complex and multifactorial, but that pre-exposure to various stresses does not prime C. jejuni for survival within A. castellanii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Thanh Bui
- National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Aarhus NDK-8200, Denmark
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Vaerewijck MJM, Sabbe K, Baré J, Spengler HP, Favoreel HW, Houf K. Assessment of the efficacy of benzalkonium chloride and sodium hypochlorite against Acanthamoeba polyphaga and Tetrahymena spp. J Food Prot 2012; 75:541-6. [PMID: 22410229 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-11-359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of benzalkonium chloride and sodium hypochlorite against Acanthamoeba polyphaga and two Tetrahymena spp. was determined based on the European Standard EN 1276:2009 suspension test. Trophozoite viability was assessed by determination of the membrane integrity using flow cytometry as a fast screening technique. Bovine serum albumin was added to simulate clean (0.3 g/liter) and dirty (3 g/liter) conditions. Benzalkonium chloride caused cell lysis at concentrations above 50 mg/liter under clean and dirty conditions. A concentration of 50 mg of free chlorine per liter had a strong biocidal effect on acanthamoebae and tetrahymenae after 15 min under clean and dirty conditions. Our results suggest that benzalkonium chloride and sodium hypochlorite were effective against the three microorganisms at concentrations commonly applied in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J M Vaerewijck
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Vaerewijck MJM, Sabbe K, Baré J, Houf K. Occurrence and diversity of free-living protozoa on butterhead lettuce. Int J Food Microbiol 2011; 147:105-11. [PMID: 21513995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2010] [Revised: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 03/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence and diversity of free-living protozoa (FLP) on butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was investigated using four different sampling techniques (washing, swabbing, homogenization, and excising). FLP were recovered from all leaf samples (n=64), and cultures were FLP-positive after 1 week. Identification of FLP was performed by light microscopy and sequencing of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)-separated 18S rRNA gene fragments. Bodo saltans, Spumella (-like) spp. and Cercozoa were the most common heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Amoebae belonged mainly to the Vannellida and Tubulinida. Colpoda steinii and Cyclidium glaucoma were the most common ciliates. The total number of FLP on middle leaves estimated by the Most Probable Number method ranged from 9.3 × 10(2)MPN/g to 2.4 × 10(5)MPN/g leaf, with flagellates (92 MPN/g to 2.4 ×10(5)MPN/g) being more abundant than amoebae (<3 MPN/g to 9.3 × 10(3)MPN/g) and ciliates (<3 MPN/g to 9.3 × 10(2)MPN/g). Washing or rinsing leaves followed by spin-drying in a household salad spinner reduced the protozoan number with maximum one log unit. Our survey shows that FLP on lettuce leaves are a common and diverse but largely unexplored group of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario J M Vaerewijck
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent University, Salisburylaan, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Persistence of free-living protozoan communities across rearing cycles in commercial poultry houses. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:1763-9. [PMID: 21239551 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01756-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The introduction and survival of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in poultry farming have been linked to bacterial association with free-living protozoa. To date, however, no information is available on the persistence of protozoan communities in these environments across consecutive rearing cycles and how it is affected by farm- and habitat-specific characteristics and management strategies. We therefore investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of free-living protozoa in three habitats (pipeline, water, and miscellaneous samples) in three commercial poultry houses across three rearing cycles by using the molecular fingerprinting technique denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Our study provides strong evidence for the long-term (ca. 6-month) persistence of protozoa in broiler houses across consecutive rearing cycles. Various free-living protozoa (flagellates, ciliates, and amoebae), including known vectors of bacterial pathogens, were observed during the down periods in between rearing cycles. In addition, multivariate analysis and variation partitioning showed that the protozoan community structure in the broiler houses showed almost no change across rearing cycles and remained highly habitat and farm specific. Unlike in natural environments, protozoan communities inside broiler houses are therefore not seasonal. Our results imply that currently used biosecurity measures (cleaning and disinfection) applied during the down periods are not effective against many protozoans and therefore cannot prevent potential cross-contamination of bacterial pathogens via free-living protozoa between rearing cycles.
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Axelsson-Olsson D, Olofsson J, Svensson L, Griekspoor P, Waldenström J, Ellström P, Olsen B. Amoebae and algae can prolong the survival of Campylobacter species in co-culture. Exp Parasitol 2010; 126:59-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Revised: 12/21/2009] [Accepted: 12/28/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Baré J, Sabbe K, Huws S, Vercauteren D, Braeckmans K, Van Gremberghe I, Favoreel H, Houf K. Influence of temperature, oxygen and bacterial strain identity on the association of Campylobacter jejuni with Acanthamoeba castellanii. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2010; 74:371-81. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00955.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Vaerewijck MJM, Sabbe K, Van Hende J, Baré J, Houf K. Sampling strategy, occurrence and diversity of free-living protozoa in domestic refrigerators. J Appl Microbiol 2010; 109:1566-78. [PMID: 20569273 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04783.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Evaluation of a sampling method to recover free-living protozoa (FLP) from plastic surfaces. Application of the method on different areas inside domestic refrigerators. METHODS AND RESULTS Plastic coupons seeded with representatives of FLP were swabbed with cotton wools. The recovery efficiency was the highest for Chilomonas paramecium, followed by Tetrahymena pyriformis and the lowest for Acanthamoeba polyphaga. From 43 refrigerators, 19 and 26 were considered FLP positive when sample cultures were incubated at 7°C and 20°C, respectively. The number of FLP-positive cultures was the highest in samples taken from vegetable trays followed by discharge gutters, whereas interior walls were rarely FLP positive. Higher numbers of taxa were observed in enrichment cultures incubated at 20°C instead of 7°C. The combination of microscopy and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that discharge gutters occasionally were contaminated with a persistent protozoan population of flagellates (Cercozoa) and amoebae (Tubulinea). The FLP-positive status of refrigerator surfaces was correlated with a high aerobic plate count. CONCLUSIONS The cotton wool sampling method is useful to sample FLP from plastic surfaces. FLP are part of the microbial communities in domestic refrigerators. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Knowledge on the occurrence of FLP in food-related indoor environments is scarce. For the first time, a high protozoan diversity in domestic refrigerators is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J M Vaerewijck
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Increase in acid tolerance of Campylobacter jejuni through coincubation with amoebae. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 76:4194-200. [PMID: 20453130 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01219-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a recognized and common gastrointestinal pathogen in most parts of the world. Human infections are often food borne, and the bacterium is frequent among poultry and other food animals. However, much less is known about the epidemiology of C. jejuni in the environment and what mechanisms the bacterium depends on to tolerate low pH. The sensitive nature of C. jejuni stands in contrast to the fact that it is difficult to eradicate from poultry production, and even more contradictory is the fact that the bacterium is able to survive the acidic passage through the human stomach. Here we expand the knowledge on C. jejuni acid tolerance by looking at protozoa as a potential epidemiological pathway of infection. Our results showed that when C. jejuni cells were coincubated with Acanthamoeba polyphaga in acidified phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or tap water, the bacteria could tolerate pHs far below those in their normal range, even surviving at pH 4 for 20 h and at pH 2 for 5 h. Interestingly, moderately acidic conditions (pH 4 and 5) were shown to trigger C. jejuni motility as well as to increase adhesion/internalization of bacteria into A. polyphaga. Taken together, the results suggest that protozoa may act as protective hosts against harsh conditions and might be a potential risk factor for C. jejuni infections. These findings may be important for our understanding of C. jejuni passage through the gastrointestinal tract and for hygiene practices used in poultry settings.
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