Emergent methods for inactivation of Cronobacter sakazakii in foods: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cronobacter sakazakii is a potentially pathogenic bacterium that is resistant to osmotic stress and low aw, and capable of persisting in a desiccated state in powdered infant milks. It is widespread in the environment and present in various products. Despite the low incidence of cases, its high mortality rates of 40 to 80 % amongst neonates make it a microorganism of public health interest. This current study performed a comparative assessment between current reduction methods applied for C. sakazakii in various food matrices, indicating tendencies and relevant parameters for process optimization. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, qualitatively identifying the main methods of inactivation and control, and quantitatively evaluating the effect of treatment factors on the reduction response. Hierarchical clustering dendrograms led to conclusions on the efficiency of each treatment. Review of recent research trend identified a focus on the potential use of alternative treatments, with most studies related to non-thermal methods and dairy products. Using random-effects meta-analysis, a summary effect-size of 4-log was estimated; however, thermal methods and treatments on dairy matrices displayed wider dispersions - of τ2 = 8.1, compared with τ2 = 4.5 for vegetal matrices and τ2 = 4.0 for biofilms. Meta-analytical models indicated that factors such as chemical concentration, energy applied, and treatment time had a more significant impact on reduction than the increase in temperature. Non-thermal treatments, synergically associated with heat, and treatments on dairy matrices were found to be the most efficient.

Rosa roxburghii Tratt Pomace Crude Extract Inactivates Cronobacter sakazakii Isolated from Powdered Infant Formula

Cronobacter sakazakii is an important foodborne pathogen in powder infant formula (PIF). The objective of this study was to evaluate the inactivation effect of Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace crude extract (RRPCE) on C. sakazakii isolated from PIF and to reveal the mechanism of action. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were used to evaluate the inhibitory activity of RRPCE against C. sakazakii. The inhibitory mechanism was revealed from the perspective of effects of RRPCE on intracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane potential, protein and nucleic acid leakage, and cell morphology of C. sakazakii. The inactivation effects of RRPCE on C. sakazakii in biofilms on stainless steel, tinplate, glass, silica gel, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene to evaluate its potential as a natural disinfectant. The results showed that the MIC and MBC of RRPCE against C. sakazakii were 7.5 and 15 mg/mL, respectively. After treatments with RRPCE, intracellular ATP content decreased significantly while intracellular ROS level increased significantly (p < 0.05). The cell membrane depolarization, large leakage of proteins and nucleic acids, and severely damaged cell morphology also occurred in C. sakazakii treated with RRPCE. In addition, a 20-minute treatment with 2 MIC (15 mg/mL) of RRPCE could inactivate all C. sakazakii (from 6.10 to 6.40 CFU/mL) in biofilms on all six contact surfaces. Our findings suggest that RRPCE is ideal for the inactivation of C. sakazakii and has the potential to be used as a natural disinfectant for the inactivation of PIF packaging materials and containers.

Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Polygonatum sibiricum Extract Against Bacillus cereus and Its Application in Pasteurized Milk

The purpose of this study was to reveal the antibacterial activity and mechanism of Polygonatum sibiricum extract (PSE) against Bacillus cereus and further analyze the application of PSE in pasteurized milk (PM). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values and growth curve analysis were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of PSE against B. cereus. The changes in contents of intracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), activities of β-galactosidase, adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), cell membrane potential, protein and nucleic acid leakage, and cell morphology were used to reveal the antibacterial mechanism. The effects of PSE on viable count and sensory evaluation of PM during storage were analyzed. The results showed that the MIC and MBC values of PSE against B. cereus were 2 and 4 mg/mL, respectively. Growth curve analysis showed that PSE with a concentration of 2 MIC could completely inhibit the growth of B. cereus. After treatments with PSE, the levels of intracellular ATP and ROS, and activities of β-galactosidase, ATPase and AKP of B. cereus were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Cell membrane was depolarized, amounts of protein and nucleic acid leakage were significantly increased (p < 0.05), and cell morphology was destroyed. Furthermore, PSE significantly reduced the viable count of B. cereus in PM and improved the sensory quality of PM during storage (p < 0.05). Together, our findings suggested that PSE had the desired effect as a natural preservative applied in PM.

Inhibition of Cronobacter sakazakii Biofilm Formation and Expression of Virulence Factors by Coenzyme Q0

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of coenzyme Q0 (CoQ0) on biofilm formation and the expression of virulence genes by Cronobacter sakazakii. We found that the minimum inhibitory concentration of CoQ0 against C. sakazakii strains ATCC29544 and ATCC29004 was 100 μg/mL, while growth curve assays showed that subinhibitory concentrations (SICs) of CoQ0 for both strains were 6.4, 3.2, 1.6 and 0.8 μg/mL. Assays exploring the inhibition of specific biofilm formation showed that SICs of CoQ0 inhibited biofilm formation by C. sakazakii in a dose-dependent manner, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy analyses. CoQ0 inhibited the swimming and swarming motility of C. sakazakii and reduced its ability to adhere to and invade HT-29 cells. In addition, CoQ0 impeded the ability of C. sakazakii to survive and replicate within RAW 264.7 cells. Finally, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed that nine C. sakazakii genes associated with biofilm formation and virulence were downregulated in response to CoQ0 treatment. Overall, our findings suggest that CoQ0 is a promising antibiofilm agent and provide new insights for the prevention and control of infections caused by C. sakazakii.

Fabrication of Co-Assembly from Berberine and Tannic Acid for Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Infection Treatment

Long-term antibiotic use induces drug resistance in bacteria. This has given rise to the challenge of refractory infections, which have become a global health threat. Berberine (BBR) and tannic acid (TA) from plants exhibit promising antibacterial activities and may overcome antibiotic resistance. However, poor solubility and/or low penetration capability have limited their application. Carrier-free co-assembled nanocomposites composed entirely of BBR and TA exhibit improved or new properties and produce improved efficacy. Herein, we demonstrated that an ordered nanostructure could be spontaneously co-assembled by the solvent evaporation method using the two natural products. These co-assembled berberine-tannic acid nanoparticles (BBR-TA NPs) exhibited the best antibacterial effect compared with the corresponding physical mixture, pristine BBR, and some first-line antibiotics (benzylpenicillin potassium-BP and ciprofloxacin-Cip) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Even if the concentration of BBR-TA NPs was as low as 15.63 μg/mL, the antibacterial rate against S. aureus and MRSA was more than 80%. In addition to the synergistic effect of the two compounds, the antibacterial mechanism underlying the nanostructures was that they strongly adhered to the surface of the bacterial cell wall, thereby inducing cell membrane damage and intracellular ATP leakage. Furthermore, the in vivo wound healing effect of BBR-TA NPs was verified using an MRSA wound infection mouse model. The BBR-TA NPs achieved the best efficacy compared with BP and Cip. Moreover, cytotoxic and histopathological evaluations of mice revealed that the nanodrug had good biological safety. This facile and green co-assembly strategy for preparing nanoparticles provides a feasible reference for the clinical treatment of bacterial infection.

Antibacterial Pattern of Rosa roxburghii Tratt Pomace Crude Extract Against Staphylococcus aureus and Its Application in Preservation of Cooked Beef

Staphylococcus aureus is a common foodborne pathogen and spoilage bacterium in meat products. To develop a natural preservative for meat products, this study revealed the antibacterial activity and mechanism of Rosa roxburghii Tratt pomace crude extract (RRPCE) against S. aureus, and applied RRPCE to the preservation of cooked beef. The diameter of inhibition zone, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericide concentration of RRPCE against S. aureus were 15.85 ± 0.35 to 16.21 ± 0.29 mm, 1.5 mg/mL, and 3 mg/mL, respectively. The growth curve of S. aureus was completely stalled by treatment with RRPCE at 2 MIC. RRPCE results in the decrease of intracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content, depolarization of cell membrane, leakage of cell fluid including nucleic acid and protein, and destruction of cell membrane integrity and cell morphology. During storage, RRPCE significantly reduced S. aureus viable counts, pH, and total volatile basic nitrogen of cooked beef compared with untreated samples (p < 0.05). In addition, RRPCE could significantly increase the redness (a*) value, decrease lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values, and slow down the color change of cooked beef (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that RRPCE can effectively inhibit S. aureus, and has the potential as a natural preservative for the preservation of cooked beef.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial mechanism of biogenic selenium nanoparticles against Pseudomonas fluorescens

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can be biosynthesized by most Lactic acid bacteria thereby converting toxic sodium into SeNPs. However, few studies have reported the antimicrobial activity of biogenic SeNPs against Pseudomonas fluorescens which are the main species of psychrotrophic bacteria in raw milk. This study reported the synthesis and characterization of SeNPs from Lactobacillus casei ZK-AS 1.1482, and the antimicrobial mechanism against P. fluorescens ATCC 13525. The synthesized SeNPs were amorphous with sizes ranging from 52 to 103 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra showed the presence of proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids on the surface of particles, which evidently stabilized the SeNPs structure and morphology. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed that the nanoparticles contained selenium. In addition, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SeNPs against P. fluorescens ATCC 13525 was 0.1 mg ml^-1 and the biofilm inhibition rate was 43.52 ± 0.26%. SeNPs decreased the number of living bacteria observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Meanwhile, after SeNPs treatment, the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and antioxidant enzyme activity decreased, the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased, and lipid peroxidation intensified. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay showed that the expression of flgA, luxR, lapD, MCP, cheA, c-di-GMP, phoB, and pstC gene were down-regulated after SeNPs treatment. The rfbC and DegT/DnrJ/EryC1/StrS gene were significantly up-regulated, indicating that SeNPs could destroy the integrity of cell membrane and thus play an antimicrobial role. Biogenic SeNPs are expected to be developed as an efficient and novel antimicrobial agent for application in the food industry.

Respiratory Depression as Antibacterial Mechanism of Linalool against Pseudomonas fragi Based on Metabolomics

Linalool showed a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect, but few studies have elucidated the antibacterial mechanism of linalool on Pseudomonas fragi (P. fragi) to date. The present study aimed to uncover the antimicrobial activity and potential mechanism of linalool against P. fragi by determining key enzyme activities and metabolites combined with a high-throughput method and metabolomic pathway analysis. As a result, linalool had excellent inhibitory activity against P. fragi with MIC of 1.5 mL/L. In addition, the presence of linalool significantly altered the intracellular metabolic profile and a total of 346 differential metabolites were identified, of which 201 were up-regulated and 145 were down-regulated. The highlight pathways included beta-alanine metabolism, pantothenic acid and CoA metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Overall, linalool could cause metabolic disorders in cells, and the main metabolic pathways involved energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and nucleic acid metabolism. In particular, the results of intracellular ATP content and related enzymatic activities (ATPase, SDH, and GOT) also highlighted that energy limitation and amino acid disturbance occurred intracellularly. Together, these findings provided new insights into the mechanism by which linalool inhibited P. fragi and theoretical guidance for its development as a natural preservative.

Interactions of chlorogenic acid and isochlorogenic acid A with model lipid bilayer membranes: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations

Because of the negative side-effects of synthetic preservatives, the naturally-occurring polyphenols aroused intense interest of researchers. It has been suggested that chlorogenic acid (CA) and isochlorogenic acid A (iso-CAA) were good candidates to replace the synthetic preservatives. Moreover, the bactericidal activity of iso-CAA was stronger than CA, and the anti-bacterial activities of iso-CAA and CA were highly membrane-dependent. However, the mechanisms were still unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of the interactions between the two polyphenols and lipid bilayers through molecular dynamics simulations. The results revealed that iso-CAA could be inserted much deeper into POPG lipid bilayer than CA. We also found that hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds both contributed to the insertion of iso-CAA into the POPG lipid bilayer, and the quinic acid moiety was the key structure in iso-CAA to form hydrogen bonds with POPG lipid bilayer. We believed that these findings would provide more useful information to explain the stronger bactericidal activity of iso-CAA than CA at the atomic level.

Antibacterial Mechanism of Liangguoan against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

This study examined the antibacterial activity of the biological pesticide Liangguoan against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as a potential replacement for chemical pesticide use in the fruit and vegetable industry. We measured the minimum inhibitory concentration and observed the changes in bacterial morphology, mortality, conductivity, nucleic acid content, and ATP content in response to the bactericide. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Liangguoan was 20 mg/mL for S. aureus and 40 mg/mL for E. coli. After treatment with Liangguoan, the mortality rates of S. aureus and E. coli reached 78.3% and 63.7%, respectively. We observed that the cells were scattered and that the cell morphology was altered in that the cells shortened. The interconnection effect and ATP content decreased, whereas cell conductivity and the nucleic acid content increased. In summary, Liangguoan inhibited S. aureus and E. coli by destroying their cell structure and disrupting their metabolism.

Antibacterial Activity of Chrysanthemum buds Crude Extract Against Cronobacter sakazakii and Its Application as a Natural Disinfectant

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic food-borne pathogen that endangers the health of neonates and infants. This study aims to elucidate the antibacterial activity and mechanism of Chrysanthemum buds crude extract (CBCE) against C. sakazakii and its application as a natural disinfectant. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by the determination of the diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericide concentration (MBC). The antibacterial mechanism was explored based on the changes of growth curve assay, intracellular ATP concentration, membrane potential, intracellular pH (pH_in), content of soluble protein and nucleic acid, and cell morphology. Finally, the inactivation effects of CBCE against C. sakazakii in biofilm on stainless steel tube, tinplate, glass, and polystyrene were evaluated. The results showed that the DIZ, MIC, and MBC of CBCE against C. sakazakii were 14.55 ± 0.44–14.84 ± 0.38 mm, 10 mg/mL, and 20 mg/mL, respectively. In the process of CBCE acting on C. sakazakii, the logarithmic growth phase of the tested bacteria disappeared, and the concentrations of intracellular ATP, pH_in, bacterial protein, and nucleic acid were reduced. Meanwhile, CBCE caused the cell membrane depolarization and leakage of cytoplasm of C. sakazakii. In addition, about 6.5 log CFU/mL of viable C. sakazakii in biofilm on stainless steel tube, tinplate, glass, and polystyrene could be inactivated after treatment with 1 MIC of CBCE for 30 min at 25°C. These findings reveal the antibacterial activity and mechanism of CBCE against C. sakazakii and provide a possibility of using a natural disinfectant to kill C. sakazakii in the production environment, packaging materials, and utensils.

Natural Polyphenols as Targeted Modulators in Colon Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Applications

Colon cancer commonly develops from long-term chronic inflammation in the intestine and seriously threatens human health. Natural polyphenols have been valued as a crucial regulator of nutrient metabolism and metabolic diseases, owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions and the ability to maintain a balance between gut microbes and their hosts. Notably, experimental and clinical evidence has shown that natural polyphenols could act as a targeted modulator to play a key role in the prevention or treatment of colon cancer. Thus, in this review, we summarized recent advances in the possible regulatory mechanism and the potential application of natural polyphenols in colon cancer, which might be regarded as a novel platform for the colon cancer management.

An high-throughput sequencing approach to the preliminary analysis of bacterial communities associated with changes in amino acid nitrogen, organic acid and reducing sugar contents during soy sauce fermentation

Soy sauce is a traditional fermented soy food for enhancing the umami taste in Asian cuisines. In this study, 16S rRNA gene throughput sequencing analysis showed the bacterial communities and the changes in soy sauce during fermentation. Weissella, Bacillus and Lactococcus were the most abundant at genus level. The uncultured bacterium Weissella and Lactococcus had relatively high abundance at species level. Alpha diversity analysis indicated the bacterial community diversity increased at fermentation initiation, while decreased as fermentation progressed. Based on beta-diversity analysis, four clusters including cluster I (time point A-F), cluster II (G,H), cluster III (I,J) and cluster IV(K) were distinctly separated, indicating the fermentation time significantly affected bacterial community diversity. Also, close associations were found between the bacterial communities in soy sauce and its amino acid nitrogen, organic acid and reducing sugar contents during fermentation. Therefore, it will provide important information for optimization of the soy sauce production process.

Natural Compounds With Antibacterial Activity Against Cronobacter spp. in Powdered Infant Formula: A Review

Bacteria from the genus Cronobacter are opportunistic foodborne pathogens capable of causing severe infections in neonates, the elderly and immunocompromised adults. The majority of neonatal infections have been linked epidemiologically to dehydrated powdered infant formulas (PIFs), the majority of which are manufactured using processes that do not ensure commercial sterility. Unfortunately, the osmotolerance, desiccation resistance, mild thermotolerance and wide-ranging minimum, optimum and maximum growth temperatures of Cronobacter spp. are conducive to survival and/or growth during the processing, reconstitution and storage of reconstituted PIFs. Consequently, considerable research has been directed at the development of alternative strategies for the control of Cronobacter spp. in PIFs, including approaches that employ antimicrobial compounds derived from natural sources. The latter include a range of phytochemicals ranging from crude extracts or essential oils derived from various plants (e.g., thyme, cinnamon, clove, marjoram, cumin, mint, fennel), to complex polyphenolic extracts (e.g., muscadine seed, pomegranate peel, olive oil, and cocoa powder extracts), purified simple phenolic compounds (e.g., carvacrol, citral, thymol, eugenol, diacetyl, vanillin, cinnamic acid, trans-cinnamaldehyde, ferulic acid), and medium chain fatty acids (monocaprylin, caprylic acid). Antimicrobials derived from microbial sources (e.g., nisin, other antibacterial peptides, organic acids, coenzyme Q0) and animal sources (e.g., chitosan, lactoferrin, antibacterial peptides from milk) have also been shown to exhibit antibacterial activity against the species. The selection of antimicrobials for the control of Cronobacter spp. requires an understanding of activity at different temperatures, knowledge about their mode of action, and careful consideration for toxicological and nutritional effects on neonates. Consequently, the purpose of the present review is to provide a comprehensive summary of currently available data pertaining to the antibacterial effects of natural antimicrobial compounds against Cronobacter spp. with a view to provide information needed to inform the selection of compounds suitable for control of the pathogen during the manufacture or preparation of PIFs by end users.

Mutual influence of polyphenols and Lactobacillus spp. bacteria in food: a review

This paper presents the effect of polyphenols on microorganisms inhabiting the human gastrointestinal tract (mainly bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus genus) and pathogenic microorganisms classified as the most common food contaminants. Plant secondary metabolites have the ability to modulate the growth of many microorganisms. Due to the metabolic changes induced by their presence in the environment, many pathogenic microorganisms are unable to grow, which in turn cause a significant reduction in their pathogenic potential. These processes include primarily the induction of ruptures in the cell membrane and disturbance of cell respiration. Often, the lack of integrity of cell membranes also leads to the disturbance of intracellular homeostasis and leakage of cellular components, such as proteins, ATP molecules or intracellular ions. Autoxidizing polyphenols also act as pro-oxidative substances. Hydrogen peroxide formed in the process of oxidation of polyphenolic compounds acts as a bactericidal substance (by induction of DNA breaks). With regard to intestinal microbiota, polyphenols are considered prebiotic substances that increase the number of commensal bacteria. They can positively influence the growth of Lactobacillus bacteria, which have the ability to metabolize undigested antioxidants in the digestive tract of humans and animals. Depending on the pH of the environment and the presence of ions, plant polyphenols in the human digestive tract can act as substances with antioxidant potential or become pro-oxidants. Thus, combining functional food with polyphenols and Lactobacillus bacteria not only protects food products against the development of undesirable and pathogenic microbiota, but also has a positive effect on human health. The paper also describes the possibility of changes in the genome of Lactobacillus bacteria (under the influence of polyphenols) and the influence of Lactobacillus spp. bacteria on the antimicrobial properties of polyphenols. The enzymatic abilities of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus, which influence the transformation of polyphenolic compounds, were also described.

Amaranthus tricolor crude extract inhibits Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from powdered infant formula

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the antibacterial activity and possible mechanism of action of Amaranthus tricolor crude extract (ATCE) against Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from powdered infant formula (PIF). The antibacterial activity of ATCE was assessed by measuring the diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The possible mechanism of action of ATCE was revealed by analyzing the effects of ATCE on growth curves and changes in cell membrane potential, intracellular pH, content of bacterial protein and genomic DNA, and cell morphology. Finally, ATCE was applied to the disinfection of C. sakazakii in biofilm on stainless steel tube. The results showed that the DIZ, MIC, and MBC of ATCE against C. sakazakii strains were from 14.35 ± 0.67 to 14.84 ± 0.67 mm, 20 mg/mL, and 40 mg/mL, respectively. Treatment with ATCE ended the logarithmic growth phase of C. sakazakii, and led to depolarization of the cell membranes, reducing intracellular pH and bacterial protein and genomic DNA contents, and resulting in cytoplasmic leakage and deformation. In addition, ATCE effectively inactivated C. sakazakii in biofilm, reducing viable bacteria by approximately 6.5 log cfu/mL bacterial count after treatment with 1 MIC (1 MIC = 20 mg/mL) of ATCE for 20 min at 25°C. Our findings showed that ATCE inactivated C. sakazakii strains isolated from PIF and has potential as a natural disinfectant to reduce the contamination of PIF by C. sakazakii.

Action mode of cranberry anthocyanin on physiological and morphological properties of Staphylococcus aureus and its application in cooked meat

This study researched the action mode of cranberry anthocyanin (CA) against Staphylococcus aureus and the effect of CA on the counts of S. aureus and the quantity of cooked meat during storage. The antibacterial effect was assessed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and survival populations of S. aureus strains after CA treatments. The changes in intracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) concentration, cell membrane potential, content of bacterial protein and cell morphology were analyzed to reveal possible action mode. Application potentials of CA as antimicrobial agent were assessed during storage of cooked pork and beef. The result showed that the MIC of CA against S. aureus strains was 5 mg/mL. Approximately 8 log CFU/mL of S. aureus strains can be completely inhibited after treatment with 2.0 MIC of CA for 0.5 h. Treatments of CA resulted in lower intracellular ATP and soluble protein levels, damaged membrane structure and leakage of cytoplasmic. Application of CA on cooked pork and beef caused a significant decrease in S. aureus counts and pH values, and color-darkening compared with control samples. These findings demonstrated that CA played an effective antimicrobial against S. aureus and had a potential as natural preservative to inhibit the growth of food pathogens.

Antibacterial Activity of Olive Oil Polyphenol Extract Against Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus: Possible Mechanisms

Polyphenols are a group of active ingredients in olive oil, and have been reported to exhibit antioxidant activity. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella Typhimurium) and Staphylococcus aureus are common foodborne pathogens causing serious infections and food poisoning in humans. This study was conducted to analyze the antibacterial activity of olive oil polyphenol extract (OOPE) against Salmonella Typhimurium and S. aureus, and reveal the possible antibacterial mechanism. The antibacterial activity was estimated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and bacterial survival rates when treated with OOPE. The antibacterial mechanism was revealed through determinations of changes in intracellular ATP concentration and cell membrane potential, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The results showed the MICs of OOPE against Salmonella Typhimurium and S. aureus were 0.625 and 0.625-1.25 mg/mL, respectively. The growth of Salmonella Typhimurium and S. aureus (∼8 log CFU/mL) was completely inhibited after treatments with 0.625 mg/mL of OOPE for 3 h and 0.625-1.25 mg/mL for 5 h, respectively. When Salmonella Typhimurium and S. aureus were exposed to OOPE, the physiological functions associated with cell activity were destroyed, as manifested by reduction of intracellular ATP concentrations, cell membrane depolarization, lower bacterial protein content, and leakage of cytoplasm. These findings suggested a strong antibacterial effect of OOPE against Salmonella Typhimurium and S. aureus, and provided a possible strategy of controlling contamination by these two pathogens in food products.

Antimicrobial Activity and Action Approach of the Olive Oil Polyphenol Extract Against Listeria monocytogenes

Olive oil polyphenol extract (OOPE) has been reported to have antibacterial activity; however, its effect on Listeria monocytogenes is less studied so far. This study, thus, aimed to reveal its antimicrobial activity and action approach against L. monocytogenes via evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as well as the changes of intracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) concentration, cell membrane potential, bacterial protein, DNA, and cell morphology. The results showed that OOPE could inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes with a measured MIC of 1.25 mg/ml. L. monocytogenes cells treated by OOPE showed significant reduction in intracellular ATP concentrations, bacterial protein, or DNA (p < 0.05), in comparison with those without any treatment. In addition, OOPE was observed to depolarize strain cells and alter cell morphology, resulting in damaged cell membrane and, thereby, leakage of cell fluid. These findings demonstrated that OOPE had inhibition on L. monocytogenes via its action on cells, suggesting its potential as a natural preservative.

Transcriptomic responses of Caco-2 cells to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus plantarum J26 against oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is the basic reason for aging and age-related diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of 2 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and L. plantarum J26, against oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells, and gave an overview of the mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria antioxidant activity using digital gene expression profiling. The 2 LAB strains provided significant protection against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced reduction in superoxide dismutase activity and increase in glutathione peroxidase activity in Caco-2 cells. However, inactive bacteria had little effect on alleviating oxidation stress in Caco-2 cells. Eight genes related to oxidative stress-FOSB, TNF, PPP1R15A, NUAK2, ATF3, TNFAIP3, EGR2, and FBN2-were significantly upregulated in H₂O₂-induced Caco-2 cells compared with untreated Caco-2 cells. After incubation of the H₂O₂-induced Caco-2 cells with L. rhamnosus GG and L. plantarum J26, 5 genes (TNF, EGR2, NUAK2, FBN2, and TNFAIP3) and 2 genes (NUAK2 and FBN2) were downregulated, respectively. In addition, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes indicated that some signaling pathways associated with inflammation, immune response, and apoptosis, such as Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak-STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-κB, and tumor necrosis factor, were all negatively modulated by the 2 strains, especially L. rhamnosus GG. In this paper, we reveal the mechanism of LAB in relieving oxidative stress and provide a theoretical basis for the rapid screening and evaluation of new LAB resources.

Immunogold Nanoparticles for Rapid Plasmonic Detection of C. sakazakii

Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen that can cause a rare, septicemia, life-threatening meningitis, and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants. In general, standard methods for pathogen detection rely on culture, plating, colony counting and polymerase chain reaction DNA-sequencing for identification, which are time, equipment and skill demanding. Recently, nanoparticle- and surface-based immunoassays have increasingly been explored for pathogen detection. We investigate the functionalization of gold nanoparticles optimized for irreversible and specific binding to C. sakazakii and their use for spectroscopic detection of the pathogen. We demonstrate how 40-nm gold nanoparticles grafted with a poly(ethylene glycol) brush and functionalized with polyclonal antibodies raised against C. sakazakii can be used to specifically target C. sakazakii. The strong extinction peak of the Au nanoparticle plasmon polariton resonance in the optical range is used as a label for detection of the pathogens. Individual binding of the nanoparticles to the C. sakazakii surface is also verified by transmission electron microscopy. We show that a high degree of surface functionalization with anti-C. sakazakii optimizes the detection and leads to a detection limit as low as 10 CFU/mL within 2 h using a simple cuvette-based UV-Vis spectrometric readout that has great potential for further optimization.

Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Cronobacter sakazakii Isolates from Powdered Infant Formula Collected from Chinese Retail Markets

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe infections in neonates and infants through contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF). Therefore, the aim of this study was a large-scale study on determine the prevalence, molecular characterization and antibiotic susceptibility of C. sakazakii isolates from PIF purchased from Chinese retail markets. Two thousand and twenty PIF samples were collected from different institutions. Fifty-six C. sakazakii strains were isolated, and identified using fusA sequencing analysis, giving a contamination rate of 2.8%. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was more discriminatory than other genotyping methods. The C. sakazakii isolates were divided into 14 sequence types (STs) by MLST, compared with only seven clusters by ompA and rpoB sequence analysis, and four C. sakazakii serotypes by PCR-based O-antigen serotyping. C. sakazakii ST4 (19/56, 33.9%), ST1 (12/56, 21.4%), and ST64 (11/56, 16.1%) were the dominant sequence types isolated. C. sakazakii serotype O2 (34/56, 60.7%) was the primary serotype, along with ompA6 and rpoB1 as the main allele profiles, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated that all C. sakazakii isolates were susceptible to ampicillin-sulbactam, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, tetracycline, piperacillin-tazobactam, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The majority of C. sakazakii strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol and gentamicin (87.5 and 92.9%, respectively). In contrast, 55.4% C. sakazakii strains were resistant to cephalothin. In conclusion, this large-scale study revealed the prevalence and characteristics of C. sakazakii from PIF in Chinese retail markets, demonstrating a potential risk for neonates and infants, and provide a guided to effective control the contamination of C. sakazakii in production process.

Antibiotic and Desiccation Resistance of Cronobacter sakazakii and C. malonaticus Isolates from Powdered Infant Formula and Processing Environments

This study evaluated the antimicrobial and desiccation resistance of Cronobacter sakazakii and Cronobacter malonaticus isolates from powdered infant formula and processing environments. The antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that the 70 Cronobacter strains, representing 19 sequence types, were susceptible to the most of the antibiotics except for amoxicillin-clavulanate, ampicillin, and cefazolin. Furthermore, the growth of six C. sakazakii and two C. malonaticus strains from different sequence types (STs) in hyperosmotic media was measured. The growth of the two C. sakazakii strains (CE1 and CE13) from the neonatal pathovars ST4 and ST8, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of other strains. C. malonaticus strain CM35 (ST201) was the slowest grower in all strains, and most could not grow in more than 8% NaCl solution. Also the survival of these strains under desiccation conditions was followed for 1 year. The viable count of Cronobacter spp. under desiccation conditions was reduced on average by 3.02 log cycles during 1 year, with CE13 (ST8) being the most desiccation resistant strain. These results will improve our understanding of the persistence of the two closely related species C. sakazakii and C. malonaticus which are of concern for neonatal and adult health.

Antimicrobial Activity and Possible Mechanism of Action of Citral against Cronobacter sakazakii

Citral is a flavor component that is commonly used in food, beverage and fragrance industries. Cronobacter sakazakii is a food-borne pathogen associated with severe illness and high mortality in neonates and infants. The objective of the present study was to evaluate antimicrobial effect of citral against C. sakazakii strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of citral against C. sakazakii was determined via agar dilution method, then Gompertz models were used to quantitate the effect of citral on microbial growth kinetics. Changes in intracellular pH (pH_in), membrane potential, intracellular ATP concentration, and membrane integrity were measured to elucidate the possible antimicrobial mechanism. Cell morphology changes were also examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope. The MICs of citral against C. sakazakii strains ranged from 0.27 to 0.54 mg/mL, and citral resulted in a longer lag phase and lower growth rate of C. sakazakii compared to the control. Citral affected the cell membrane of C. sakazakii, as evidenced by decreased intracellular ATP concentration, reduced pH_in, and cell membrane hyperpolarization. Scanning electron microscopy analysis further confirmed that C. sakazakii cell membranes were damaged by citral. These findings suggest that citral exhibits antimicrobial effect against C. sakazakii strains and could be potentially used to control C. sakazakii in foods. However, how it works in food systems where many other components may interfere with its efficacy should be tested in future research before its real application.