1
|
Shrestha A, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Li J, Navarro M, Uzal FA, McClane BA. The biology and pathogenicity of Clostridium perfringens type F: a common human enteropathogen with a new(ish) name. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024:e0014023. [PMID: 38864615 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00140-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYIn the 2018-revised Clostridium perfringens typing classification system, isolates carrying the enterotoxin (cpe) and alpha toxin genes but no other typing toxin genes are now designated as type F. Type F isolates cause food poisoning and nonfoodborne human gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, which most commonly involve type F isolates carrying, respectivefooly, a chromosomal or plasmid-borne cpe gene. Compared to spores of other C. perfringens isolates, spores of type F chromosomal cpe isolates often exhibit greater resistance to food environment stresses, likely facilitating their survival in improperly prepared or stored foods. Multiple factors contribute to this spore resistance phenotype, including the production of a variant small acid-soluble protein-4. The pathogenicity of type F isolates involves sporulation-dependent C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) production. C. perfringens sporulation is initiated by orphan histidine kinases and sporulation-associated sigma factors that drive cpe transcription. CPE-induced cytotoxicity starts when CPE binds to claudin receptors to form a small complex (which also includes nonreceptor claudins). Approximately six small complexes oligomerize on the host cell plasma membrane surface to form a prepore. CPE molecules in that prepore apparently extend β-hairpin loops to form a β-barrel pore, allowing a Ca2+ influx that activates calpain. With low-dose CPE treatment, caspase-3-dependent apoptosis develops, while high-CPE dose treatment induces necroptosis. Those effects cause histologic damage along with fluid and electrolyte losses from the colon and small intestine. Sialidases likely contribute to type F disease by enhancing CPE action and, for NanI-producing nonfoodborne human GI disease isolates, increasing intestinal growth and colonization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Archana Shrestha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jihong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mauricio Navarro
- Instituto de Patologia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Bruce A McClane
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kakese Mukosa R, Thibodeau A, Morris Fairbrother J, Thériault W, Gaucher ML. Addressing Current Challenges in Poultry Meat Safety: Development of a Cultivation and Colony Hybridization Approach to Recover Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens from Broiler Chicken Carcasses. Pathogens 2023; 13:30. [PMID: 38251337 PMCID: PMC10820424 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010030] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens is one of the main causes of foodborne illness in Canada. The use of a conventional bacterial culture approach to isolate enterotoxigenic C. perfringens from poultry meat is common. This approach is based on the phenotype attributable to a double hemolysis phenomenon, whereas few enterotoxigenic strains of C. perfringens produce it, which further complicates the study of the reservoirs of this important pathogen. The objectives of the current study were to validate the ability of a digoxigenin-labeled probe to detect the C. perfringens cpe gene and to validate the use of either a filtration or a direct plating approach, combined with colony hybridization to detect enterotoxigenic C. perfringens. Pure DNA and pure colonies of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens and broiler chicken carcass rinsate samples were subjected to colony hybridization. The results showed that the synthesized DNA probe can detect the cpe gene from both DNA and pure colonies of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens, and from colonies grown from carcass rinsates artificially contaminated with enterotoxigenic C. perfringens. Our study suggests that this isolation method is a promising tool for a better understanding of the epidemiology of this zoonotic pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosette Kakese Mukosa
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
| | - Alexandre Thibodeau
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - John Morris Fairbrother
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - William Thériault
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Specific Isolation of Clostridium botulinum Group I Cells by Phage Lysin Cell Wall Binding Domain with the Aid of S-Layer Disruption. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158391. [PMID: 35955526 PMCID: PMC9368847 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum is a notorious pathogen that raises health and food safety concerns by producing the potent botulinum neurotoxin and causing botulism, a potentially fatal neuroparalytic disease in humans and animals. Efficient methods for the identification and isolation of C. botulinum are warranted for laboratory diagnostics of botulism and for food safety risk assessment. The cell wall binding domains (CBD) of phage lysins are recognized by their high specificity and affinity to distinct types of bacteria, which makes them promising for the development of diagnostic tools. We previously identified CBO1751, which is the first antibotulinal phage lysin showing a lytic activity against C. botulinum Group I. In this work, we assessed the host specificity of the CBD of CBO1751 and tested its feasibility as a probe for the specific isolation of C. botulinum Group I strains. We show that the CBO1751 CBD specifically binds to C. botulinum Group I sensu lato (including C. sporogenes) strains. We also demonstrate that some C. botulinum Group I strains possess an S-layer, the disruption of which by an acid glycine treatment is required for efficient binding of the CBO1751 CBD to the cells of these strains. We further developed CBO1751 CBD-based methods using flow cytometry and magnetic separation to specifically isolate viable cells of C. botulinum Group I. These methods present potential for applications in diagnostics and risk assessment in order to control the botulism hazard.
Collapse
|
4
|
Jaakkola K, Virtanen K, Lahti P, Keto-Timonen R, Lindström M, Korkeala H. Comparative Genome Analysis and Spore Heat Resistance Assay Reveal a New Component to Population Structure and Genome Epidemiology Within Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin-Carrying Isolates. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:717176. [PMID: 34566921 PMCID: PMC8456093 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.717176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens causes a variety of human and animal enteric diseases including food poisoning, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and necrotic enteritis. Yet, the reservoirs of enteropathogenic enterotoxin-producing strains remain unknown. We conducted a genomic comparison of 290 strains and a heat resistance phenotyping of 30 C. perfringens strains to elucidate the population structure and ecology of this pathogen. C. perfringens genomes shared a conserved genetic backbone with more than half of the genes of an average genome conserved in >95% of strains. The cpe-carrying isolates were found to share genetic context: the cpe-carrying plasmids had different distribution patterns within the genetic lineages and the estimated pan genome of cpe-carrying isolates had a larger core genome and a smaller accessory genome compared to that of 290 strains. We characterize cpe-negative strains related to chromosomal cpe-carrying strains elucidating the origin of these strains and disclose two distinct groups of chromosomal cpe-carrying strains with different virulence characteristics, spore heat resistance properties, and, presumably, ecological niche. Finally, an antibiotic-associated diarrhea isolate carrying two copies of the enterotoxin cpe gene and the associated genetic lineage with the potential for the emergence of similar strains are outlined. With C. perfringens as an example, implications of input genome quality for pan genome analysis are discussed. Our study furthers the understanding of genome epidemiology and population structure of enteropathogenic C. perfringens and brings new insight into this important pathogen and its reservoirs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaisa Jaakkola
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kira Virtanen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Northern Finland Laboratory Centre NordLab, Oulu, Finland
| | - Päivi Lahti
- City of Helsinki, Unit of Environmental Services, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Keto-Timonen
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Miia Lindström
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Korkeala
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wakabayashi Y, Nariya H, Yasugi M, Kuwahara T, Sarker MR, Miyake M. An enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-based reporter assay for quantitative detection of sporulation in Clostridium perfringens SM101. Int J Food Microbiol 2018; 291:144-150. [PMID: 30500691 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens type F is a spore-forming anaerobe that causes bacterial food-borne illness in humans. The disease develops when ingested vegetative cells reach the intestinal tract and begin to form spores that produce the diarrheagenic C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). Given that CPE production is regulated by the master regulator of sporulation (transcription factor Spo0A), the identification of sporulation-inducing factors in the intestine is relevant to better understanding of the disease. To examine these factors, we established assays to quantify C. perfringens sporulation stage under microscopy by using two fluorescent reporters, namely, Evoglow-Bs2 and CpEGFP. When the reporter genes were placed under control of the cpe promoter, both protein products were expressed specifically during sporulation. However, the intensity of the anaerobic reporter Evoglow-Bs2 was weak and rapidly photobleached during microscopic observation. Alternatively, CpEGFP, a canonical green fluorescence protein with optimized codon usage for Clostridium species, was readily detectable in the mother-cell compartment of most bacteria at early stages of sporulation. Additionally, CpEGFP expression predicted final spore yield and was quantifiable in 96-well plates using fluorescence plate reader. These results indicate that CpEGFP can be used to analyze the sporulation of C. perfringens and has a potential application in the large-scale screening of sporulation-regulating biomolecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Wakabayashi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku Ourai Kita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Nariya
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Mayo Yasugi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku Ourai Kita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
| | - Tomomi Kuwahara
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Mahfuzur R Sarker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
| | - Masami Miyake
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku Ourai Kita, Izumisano, Osaka 598-8531, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gaucher ML, Thibodeau A, Fravalo P, Archambault M, Arsenault J, Fournaise S, Letellier A, Quessy S. Broiler chicken carcasses and their associated abattoirs as a source of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens: Prevalence and critical steps for contamination. AIMS Microbiol 2018; 4:439-454. [PMID: 31294226 PMCID: PMC6604940 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.3.439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens ranks among the three most frequent bacterial pathogens causing human foodborne diseases in Canada, and poultry meat products are identified as a source of infection for humans. The objective of the current study was to estimate the proportion of broiler chicken flocks, carcasses and various environmental samples from critical locations of the slaughter plant positive for the presence of C. perfringens enterotoxin encoding gene (cpe). From the 16 visits conducted, 25% of the 79 flocks sampled, 10% of the 379 carcasses sampled and 5% of the 217 environmental samples collected were found positive for cpe. The proportion of cpe-positive carcasses was statistically different between surveyed plants, with 17.0% for one abattoir and 2.2% for the other. For the most contaminated plant, cpe-positive carcasses were identified at each step of the processing line, with prevalence varying between 10.0% and 25.0%, whereas this prevalence varied between 0% and 25.0% for the environmental surfaces sampled. Based on the results obtained, enterotoxigenic C. perfringens strains could potentially represent a risk for the consumer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexandre Thibodeau
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Fravalo
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie Archambault
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Julie Arsenault
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Fournaise
- Olymel S.E.C./L.P., Québec, Canada, 2200 Avenue Léon-Pratte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Ann Letellier
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Quessy
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yagi H, Nakayama-Imaohji H, Nariya H, Tada A, Yamasaki H, Ugai H, Elahi M, Ono T, Kuwahara T. Ethanolamine utilization supports Clostridium perfringens growth in infected tissues. Microb Pathog 2018; 119:200-207. [PMID: 29654901 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens possesses the ethanolamine (EA) utilization (eut) system encoded within the eut operon, which utilizes the EA as a carbon, nitrogen and energy source. To determine the role of the eut system in C. perfringens growth, an in-frame deletion of the eutABC genes was made in strain HN13 to generate the eutABC-deleted mutant strain HY1701. Comparison of HN13 and HY1701 growth in media supplemented with 1.0% glucose and/or 1.0% EA showed that glucose enhanced the growth of both strains, whereas EA enhanced HN13 growth, but not that of HY1701, indicating that the eut system is necessary for C. perfringens to utilize EA. The two-component regulatory system EutVW is needed to induce eut gene expression in response to EA whereas the global virulence regulator VirRS differentially controlled eut gene expression depending on glucose and EA availability. To assess the role of the eut system in vivo, an equal number of HN13 and HY1701 cells were injected into the right thigh muscles of mice. Mice infected with HY1701 showed fewer symptoms than those injected with HN13. The mortality rate of mice infected with HY1701 tended to be lower than for mice infected with HN13. In addition, in infected tissues from mice injected with a mixture of HN13 and HY1701, HN13 outnumbered HY1701. PCR screening demonstrated that C. perfringens isolated from gas gangrene and sporadic diarrhea cases carried both eut genes and the perfringolysin O gene (pfoA) as well as the phospholipase C gene (plc). However, pfoA was not detected in isolates from food poisoning patients and healthy volunteers. Culture supernatants prepared from HN13 grown in media containing 7.5% sheep red blood cells induced significantly higher eutB expression levels compared to those from plc- and/or pfoA-deletion mutants. Together, these results indicate that the eut system plays a nutritional role for C. perfringens during histolytic infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Yagi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Haruyuki Nakayama-Imaohji
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Nariya
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan
| | - Ayano Tada
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Hisashi Yamasaki
- Division of Biology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Mukogawa, Nishinomiya, 663-8501, Japan
| | - Hideyo Ugai
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Miad Elahi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Tsuneko Ono
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Health Biosciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Tomomi Kuwahara
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1 Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Serroni A, Magistrali CF, Pezzotti G, Bano L, Pellegrini M, Severi G, Di Pancrazio C, Luciani M, Tittarelli M, Tofani S, De Giuseppe A. Expression of deleted, atoxic atypical recombinant beta2 toxin in a baculovirus system and production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Microb Cell Fact 2017; 16:94. [PMID: 28545467 PMCID: PMC5445335 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-017-0707-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium perfringens is an important animal and human pathogen that can produce more than 16 different major and minor toxins. The beta-2 minor toxin (CPB2), comprising atypical and consensus variants, appears to be involved in both human and animal enterotoxaemia syndrome. The exact role of CPB2 in pathogenesis is poorly investigated, and its mechanism of action at the molecular level is still unknown because of the lack of specific reagents such as monoclonal antibodies against the CPB2 protein and/or the availability of a highly purified antigen. Previous studies have reported that purified wild-type or recombinant CPB2 toxin, expressed in a heterologous system, presented cytotoxic effects on human intestinal cell lines. Undoubtedly, for this reason, to date, these purified proteins have not yet been used for the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Recently, monoclonal antibodies against CPB2 were generated using peptides designed on predicted antigenic epitopes of this toxin. Results In this paper we report, for the first time, the expression in a baculovirus system of a deleted recombinant C-terminal 6xHis-tagged atypical CPB2 toxin (rCPB2Δ1–25-His6) lacking the 25 amino acids (aa) of the N-terminal putative signal sequence. A high level of purified recombinant rCPB2Δ1–25-His6 was obtained after purification by Ni2+ affinity chromatography. The purified product showed no in vitro and in vivo toxicity. Polyclonal antibodies and twenty hybridoma-secreting Mabs were generated using purified rCPB2Δ1–25-His6. Finally, the reactivity and specificity of the new antibodies were tested against both recombinant and wild-type CPB2 toxins. Conclusions The high-throughput of purified atoxic recombinant CPB2 produced in insect cells, allowed to obtain monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The availability of these molecules could contribute to develop immunoenzymatic methods and/or to perform studies about the biological activity of CPB2 toxin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Serroni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy.,Scuola di Specializzazione "Biochimica Clinica" G. d'Annunzio, University Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Pezzotti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luca Bano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Vicolo Mazzini 4, Villorba Di Treviso, Italy
| | - Martina Pellegrini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulio Severi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Pancrazio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", Teramo, Italy
| | - Mirella Luciani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", Teramo, Italy
| | - Manuela Tittarelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G.Caporale", Teramo, Italy
| | - Silvia Tofani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Antonio De Giuseppe
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abbona CC, Stagnitta PV. Clostridium perfringens: Comparative effects of heat and osmotic stress on non-enterotoxigenic and enterotoxigenic strains. Anaerobe 2016; 39:105-13. [PMID: 27012900 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens isolates associated with food poisoning carries a chromosomal cpe gene, while non-foodborne human gastrointestinal disease isolates carry a plasmid cpe gene. The enterotoxigenic strains tested produced vegetative cells and spores with significantly higher resistance than non-enterotoxigenic strains. These results suggest that the vegetative cells and spores have a competitive advantage over non-enterotoxigenic strains. However, no explanation has been provided for the significant associations between chromosomal cpe genotypes with the high resistance, which could explain the strong relationship between chromosomal cpe isolates and C. perfringens type A food poisoning. Here, we analyse the action of physical and chemical agent on non-enterotoxigenic and enterotoxigenic regional strains. And this study tested the relationship between the sensitivities of spores and their levels SASPs (small acid soluble proteins) production in the same strains examined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cinthia Carolina Abbona
- IBAM-CONICET and Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
| | - Patricia Virginia Stagnitta
- Departamento de Química Biológica Facultad de Química Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Jaakkola K, Somervuo P, Korkeala H. Comparative Genomic Hybridization Analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Identifies Genetic Traits to Elucidate Their Different Ecologies. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:760494. [PMID: 26605338 PMCID: PMC4641178 DOI: 10.1155/2015/760494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis are both etiological agents for intestinal infection known as yersiniosis, but their epidemiology and ecology bear many differences. Swine are the only known reservoir for Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 strains, which are the most common cause of human disease, while Y. pseudotuberculosis has been isolated from a variety of sources, including vegetables and wild animals. Infections caused by Y. enterocolitica mainly originate from swine, but fresh produce has been the source for widespread Y. pseudotuberculosis outbreaks within recent decades. A comparative genomic hybridization analysis with a DNA microarray based on three Yersinia enterocolitica and four Yersinia pseudotuberculosis genomes was conducted to shed light on the genomic differences between enteropathogenic Yersinia. The hybridization results identified Y. pseudotuberculosis strains to carry operons linked with the uptake and utilization of substances not found in living animal tissues but present in soil, plants, and rotting flesh. Y. pseudotuberculosis also harbors a selection of type VI secretion systems targeting other bacteria and eukaryotic cells. These genetic traits are not found in Y. enterocolitica, and it appears that while Y. pseudotuberculosis has many tools beneficial for survival in varied environments, the Y. enterocolitica genome is more streamlined and adapted to their preferred animal reservoir.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaisa Jaakkola
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Panu Somervuo
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Korkeala
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Fluorescence-based bioassays for the detection and evaluation of food materials. SENSORS 2015; 15:25831-67. [PMID: 26473869 PMCID: PMC4634490 DOI: 10.3390/s151025831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We summarize here the recent progress in fluorescence-based bioassays for the detection and evaluation of food materials by focusing on fluorescent dyes used in bioassays and applications of these assays for food safety, quality and efficacy. Fluorescent dyes have been used in various bioassays, such as biosensing, cell assay, energy transfer-based assay, probing, protein/immunological assay and microarray/biochip assay. Among the arrays used in microarray/biochip assay, fluorescence-based microarrays/biochips, such as antibody/protein microarrays, bead/suspension arrays, capillary/sensor arrays, DNA microarrays/polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based arrays, glycan/lectin arrays, immunoassay/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based arrays, microfluidic chips and tissue arrays, have been developed and used for the assessment of allergy/poisoning/toxicity, contamination and efficacy/mechanism, and quality control/safety. DNA microarray assays have been used widely for food safety and quality as well as searches for active components. DNA microarray-based gene expression profiling may be useful for such purposes due to its advantages in the evaluation of pathway-based intracellular signaling in response to food materials.
Collapse
|
12
|
Xiao Y, Wagendorp A, Abee T, Wells-Bennik MHJ. Differential outgrowth potential of Clostridium perfringens food-borne isolates with various cpe-genotypes in vacuum-packed ground beef during storage at 12°C. Int J Food Microbiol 2015; 194:40-5. [PMID: 25461607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the current study, the outgrowth of spores of 15 different food isolates of Clostridium perfringens was evaluated in vacuum-packed ground beef during storage at 12°C and 25°C. This included enterotoxic strains carrying the gene encoding the CPE enterotoxin on the chromosome (C-cpe), on a plasmid (P-cpe) and cpe-negative strains. The 15 strains were selected from a larger group of strains that were first evaluated for their ability to sporulate in modified Duncan-Strong sporulating medium. Sporulation ability varied greatly between strains but was not associated with a particular cpe genotype. In line with previous studies, the tested C-cpe strains produced spores with significantly higher heat resistance than the cpe-negative and P-cpe strains (both IS1151 and IS1470-like) with the exception of strain VWA009. Following inoculation of vacuum-packed cooked ground beef with spores, the heat-resistant C-cpe strains showed lower outgrowth potential in this model food stored at 12°C than the P-cpe and cpe-negative strains, while no significant differences were observed at 25°C. These results suggest that the latter strains may have a competitive advantage over C-cpe strains at reduced temperatures during storage of foods that support the growth of C. perfringens. While spores of P-cpe strains are readily inactivated by heat processing, post-processing contamination by food handlers who may carry P-cpe strains that have a better growth potential at lower temperatures must be avoided. The varying responses of C. perfringens spores to heat and the differences in outgrowth capacity at different temperatures are factors to be considered in strain selection for challenge tests, and for predictive modelling of C. perfringens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yinghua Xiao
- NIZO Food Research, PO Box 20, Ede 6710 BA, The Netherlands; Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), PO Box 557, Wageningen 6700 AN, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 17, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tjakko Abee
- Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), PO Box 557, Wageningen 6700 AN, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 17, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands
| | - Marjon H J Wells-Bennik
- NIZO Food Research, PO Box 20, Ede 6710 BA, The Netherlands; Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN), PO Box 557, Wageningen 6700 AN, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fafangel M, Učakar V, Vudrag M, Berce I, Kraigher A. A Five Site Clostridium Perfringens Food-Borne Outbreak: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Zdr Varst 2014; 54:51-7. [PMID: 27646622 PMCID: PMC4820149 DOI: 10.1515/sjph-2015-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In May of 2012, we investigated a food-borne Clostridium perfringens outbreak in Slovenia involving a single kitchen and five venues, with 477 exposed persons. Methods In order to identify the causative agent, vehicle of infection and source of contamination, we conducted microbiological and environmental investigations and an analytical cohort study (n = 138). Results The case definition in the outbreak was met by 104 persons. Predominant symptoms were diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal cramps. Median incubation time and duration of illness were 12 and 22.5 hours respectively. Stool samples were collected from 18 persons and in 13 C. perfringens spores were present; enterotoxin was detected in 9 persons. PCR and PFGE analysis of isolates from a cook with earlier onset time, who did not consume the implicated food, and cases from four venues showed the same strain of C. perfringens type A (with cpe-gene), indistinguishable by PFGE analysis. No food samples could be obtained. An analytical study showed that one food item (French salad) was the most likely vehicle of infection (RR: 6.35; 95% CI: 1.62–24.90). Conclusions This was the largest C. perfringens outbreak in Slovenia to date. Proper analytical study in combination with detailed laboratory investigation with genotypisation enabled us to identify a causative agent, vehicle of infection and possible source of contamination. Fast response and interdisciplinary collaboration led to timely implementation of control measures. These have led to the kitchen acquiring new equipment and improving staff knowledge of risks and processes, thus reducing the likelihood of future reoccurrences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Fafangel
- National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Nova Gorica, Vipavska cesta 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Veronika Učakar
- National Institute of Public Health, Communicable Diseases Centre, Zaloška 29, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Vudrag
- National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Nova Gorica, Vipavska cesta 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Ingrid Berce
- National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Prvomajska 1, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Kraigher
- National Institute of Public Health, Communicable Diseases Centre, Zaloška 29, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
In both humans and animals, Clostridium perfringens is an important cause of histotoxic infections and diseases originating in the intestines, such as enteritis and enterotoxemia. The virulence of this Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium is heavily dependent upon its prolific toxin-producing ability. Many of the ∼16 toxins produced by C. perfringens are encoded by large plasmids that range in size from ∼45 kb to ∼140 kb. These plasmid-encoded toxins are often closely associated with mobile elements. A C. perfringens strain can carry up to three different toxin plasmids, with a single plasmid carrying up to three distinct toxin genes. Molecular Koch's postulate analyses have established the importance of several plasmid-encoded toxins when C. perfringens disease strains cause enteritis or enterotoxemias. Many toxin plasmids are closely related, suggesting a common evolutionary origin. In particular, most toxin plasmids and some antibiotic resistance plasmids of C. perfringens share an ∼35-kb region containing a Tn916-related conjugation locus named tcp (transfer of clostridial plasmids). This tcp locus can mediate highly efficient conjugative transfer of these toxin or resistance plasmids. For example, conjugative transfer of a toxin plasmid from an infecting strain to C. perfringens normal intestinal flora strains may help to amplify and prolong an infection. Therefore, the presence of toxin genes on conjugative plasmids, particularly in association with insertion sequences that may mobilize these toxin genes, likely provides C. perfringens with considerable virulence plasticity and adaptability when it causes diseases originating in the gastrointestinal tract.
Collapse
|