1
|
Pracser N, Voglauer EM, Thalguter S, Pietzka A, Selberherr E, Wagner M, Rychli K. Exploring the occurrence of Listeria in biofilms and deciphering the bacterial community in a frozen vegetable producing environment. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1404002. [PMID: 39050638 PMCID: PMC11266072 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1404002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The establishment of Listeria (L.) monocytogenes within food processing environments constitutes a significant public health concern. This versatile bacterium demonstrates an exceptional capacity to endure challenging environmental conditions in the food processing environment, where contamination of food products regularly occurs. The diverse repertoire of stress resistance genes, the potential to colonize biofilms, and the support of a co-existing microbiota have been proposed as root causes for the survival of L. monocytogenes in food processing environments. In this study, 71 sites were sampled after cleaning and disinfection in a European frozen vegetable processing facility, where L. monocytogenes in-house clones persisted for years. L. monocytogenes and L. innocua were detected by a culture-dependent method at 14 sampling sites, primarily on conveyor belts and associated parts. The presence of biofilms, as determined by the quantification of bacterial load and the analysis of extracellular matrix components (carbohydrates, proteins, extracellular DNA) was confirmed at nine sites (12.7%). In two cases, L. innocua was detected in a biofilm. Furthermore, we explored the resident microbial community in the processing environment and on biofilm-positive sites, as well as the co-occurrence of bacterial taxa with Listeria by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Exiguobacterium dominated the microbial community of the processing environment. Using differential abundance analysis, amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) assigned to Enterobacterales (Enterobacter, Serratia, unclassified Enterobacteriaceae) and Carnobacterium were found to be significantly higher abundant in Listeria-positive samples. Several Pseudomonas ASVs were less abundant in Listeria-positive compared to Listeria-negative samples. Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium, Brevundimonas, and Exiguobacterium were key players in the microbial community in biofilms, and Exiguobacterium and Janthinobacterium were more relatively abundant in biofilms. Further, the microbial composition varied between the different areas and the surface materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Pracser
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Tulln, Austria
| | - Eva M. Voglauer
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Tulln, Austria
| | - Sarah Thalguter
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Tulln, Austria
| | - Ariane Pietzka
- Austrian National Reference Laboratory for Listeria monocytogenes, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Graz, Austria
| | - Evelyne Selberherr
- Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, Centre for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Wagner
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Tulln, Austria
- Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, Centre for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kathrin Rychli
- Clinical Department for Farm Animals and Food System Science, Centre for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
van de Merwe C, Simpson DJ, Qiao N, Otto SJG, Kovacevic J, Gänzle MG, McMullen LM. Is the persistence of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing facilities and its resistance to pathogen intervention linked to its phylogeny? Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0086124. [PMID: 38809044 PMCID: PMC11218633 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00861-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is differentiated into four distinct lineages which differ in their virulence. It remains unknown, however, whether the four lineages also differ with respect to their ability to persist in food processing facilities, their resistance to high pressure, a preservation method that is used commercially for Listeria control on ready-to-eat meats, and their ability to form biofilms. This study aimed to determine differences in the pressure resistance and biofilm formation of 59 isolates of L. monocytogenes representing lineages I and II. Furthermore, the genetic similarity of 9 isolates of L. monocytogenes that were obtained from a meat processing facility over a period of 1 year and of 20 isolates of L. monocytogenes from food processing facilities was analyzed to assess whether the ability of the lineages of L. monocytogenes to persist in these facilities differs. Analysis of 386 genomes with respect to the source of isolation revealed that genomes of lineage II are over-represented in meat isolates when compared with clinical isolates. Of the 38 strains of Lm. monocytogenes that persisted in food processing facilities (this study or published studies), 31 were assigned to lineage II. Isolates of lineage I were more resistant to treatments at 400 to 600 MPa. The thickness of biofilms did not differ between lineages. In conclusion, strains of lineage II are more likely to persist in food processing facilities while strains of lineage I are more resistant to high pressure.IMPORTANCEListeria monocytogenes substantially contributes to the mortality of foodborne disease in developed countries. The virulence of strains of four lineages of L. monocytogenes differs, indicating that risks associated with the presence of L. monocytogenes are lineage specific. Our study extends the current knowledge by documentation that the lineage-level phylogeny of L. monocytogenes plays a role in the source of isolation, in the persistence in food processing facilities, and in the resistance to pathogen intervention technologies. In short, the control of risks associated with the presence of L. monocytogenes in food is also lineage specific. Understanding the route of contamination L. monocytogenes is an important factor to consider when designing improved control measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chandré van de Merwe
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David J. Simpson
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nanzhen Qiao
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Simon J. G. Otto
- Human-Environment-Animal Transdisciplinary Antimicrobial Resistance (HEAT-AMR) Research Group, University of Alberta School of Public Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jovana Kovacevic
- Food Innovation Center, Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Michael G. Gänzle
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lynn M. McMullen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kiskinis K, Mantzios T, Economou V, Petridou E, Tsitsos A, Patsias A, Apostolou I, Papadopoulos GA, Giannenas I, Fortomaris P, Tsiouris V. The In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Phytogenic and Acid-Based Eubiotics against Major Foodborne Zoonotic Poultry Pathogens. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1611. [PMID: 38891658 PMCID: PMC11171102 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate in vitro the antibacterial activity of 8 commercial drinking water additives against major zoonotic poultry pathogens (Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria spp.). We tested two essential oil-based phytogenics (Phyto CSC Liquide B, AEN 350 B Liquid), two acid-based eubiotics (Salgard® liquid, Intesti-Flora), and four blends of essential oils and organic acids (ProPhorceTM SA Exclusive, Herbal acid, Rigosol-N and Eubisan 3000). The antibacterial activity was determined by estimating the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using a microdilution method. The MICs of the products against Campylobacter spp. ranged from 0.071% to 0.568% v/v, in which Herbal acid, a blend rich in lactic and phosphoric acids, also containing thyme and oregano oils, exhibited the highest efficacy (MIC: 0.071% v/v) against all the tested strains. The MICs of the tested products against Escherichia coli ranged between 0.071% and 1.894% v/v. Specifically, the MIC of Rigosol-N, a blend of high concentrations of lactic and acetic acid, was 0.142% v/v for both tested strains, whereas the MICs of Intesti-Flora, a mixture rich in lactic and propionic acid, ranged from 0.284% to 0.568% v/v. The MICs of the products against Salmonella Typhimurium were between 0.095% and 1.894% v/v. Specifically, the MIC of Eubisan 3000, a blend rich in oregano oil, was 0.284% v/v. The MICs against Staphylococcus aureus were between 0.142% and 9.090% v/v. The MICs of Phyto CSC Liquide B, which is rich in trans-cinnamaldehyde, were between 3.030% and 9.090% v/v, showing the highest MIC values of all tested products. Finally, the MIC values of the tested commercial products against Listeria spp. were 0.095% to 3.030% v/v. The MICs of ProPhorceTM SA Exclusive, a highly concentrated blend of formic acid and its salts, were 0.095-0.142% v/v against Listeria spp., while the MICs of AEN 350 B Liquid were between 0.284% and 1.894% exhibiting high Listeria spp. strain variability. In conclusion, all the selected commercial products exhibited more or less antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria and, thus, can be promising alternatives to antibiotics for the control of zoonotic poultry pathogens and the restriction of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Kiskinis
- Unit of Avian Medicine, Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (T.M.); (V.T.)
| | - Tilemachos Mantzios
- Unit of Avian Medicine, Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (T.M.); (V.T.)
| | - Vangelis Economou
- Laboratory of Food Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.E.); (A.T.)
| | - Evanthia Petridou
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Anestis Tsitsos
- Laboratory of Food Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (V.E.); (A.T.)
| | - Apostolos Patsias
- Agricultural Poultry Cooperation of Ioannina “PINDOS”, Rodotopi, 45500 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Ioanna Apostolou
- National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Campylobacter, Veterinary Laboratory of Ioannina, 45221 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Georgios A. Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.A.P.); (P.F.)
| | - Ilias Giannenas
- Laboratory of Nutrition, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Paschalis Fortomaris
- Laboratory of Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.A.P.); (P.F.)
| | - Vasilios Tsiouris
- Unit of Avian Medicine, Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece; (T.M.); (V.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pan X, Shen J, Hong Y, Wu Y, Guo D, Zhao L, Bu X, Ben L, Wang X. Comparative Analysis of Growth, Survival, and Virulence Characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Imported Meat. Microorganisms 2024; 12:345. [PMID: 38399749 PMCID: PMC10891628 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020345] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen with worldwide prevalence. Understanding the variability in the potential pathogenicity among strains of different subtypes is crucial for risk assessment. In this study, the growth, survival, and virulence characteristics of 16 L. monocytogenes strains isolated from imported meat in China (2018-2020) were investigated. The maximum specific growth rate (μmax) and lag phase (λ) were evaluated using the time-to-detection (TTD) method and the Baranyi model at different temperatures (25, 30, and 37 °C). Survival characteristics were determined by D-values and population reduction after exposure to heat (60, 62.5, and 65 °C) and acid (HCl, pH = 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5). The potential virulence was evaluated via adhesion and invasion to Caco-2 cells, motility, and lethality to Galleria mellonella. The potential pathogenicity was compared among strains of different lineages and subtypes. The results indicate that the lineage I strains exhibited a higher growth rate than the lineage II strains at three growth temperatures, particularly serotype 4b within lineage I. At all temperatures tested, serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b consistently demonstrated higher heat resistance than the other subtypes. No significant differences in the log reduction were observed between the lineage I and lineage II strains at pH 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5. However, the serotype 1/2c strains exhibited significantly low acid resistance at pH 2.5. In terms of virulence, the lineage I strains outperformed the lineage II strains. The invasion rate to Caco-2 cells and lethality to G. mellonella exhibited by the serotype 4b strains were higher than those observed in the other serotypes. This study provides meaningful insights into the growth, survival, and virulence of L. monocytogenes, offering valuable information for understanding the correlation between the pathogenicity and subtypes of L. monocytogenes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinye Pan
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.P.); (Y.H.); (X.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Jinling Shen
- Technology Center for Animal Plant and Food Inspection and Quarantine of Shanghai Customs, Shanghai 200135, China; (J.S.); (D.G.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yi Hong
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.P.); (Y.H.); (X.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Yufan Wu
- Centre of Analysis and Test, School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China;
| | - Dehua Guo
- Technology Center for Animal Plant and Food Inspection and Quarantine of Shanghai Customs, Shanghai 200135, China; (J.S.); (D.G.); (L.Z.)
| | - Lina Zhao
- Technology Center for Animal Plant and Food Inspection and Quarantine of Shanghai Customs, Shanghai 200135, China; (J.S.); (D.G.); (L.Z.)
| | - Xiangfeng Bu
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.P.); (Y.H.); (X.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Leijie Ben
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.P.); (Y.H.); (X.B.); (L.B.)
| | - Xiang Wang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China; (X.P.); (Y.H.); (X.B.); (L.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pracser N, Zaiser A, Ying HMK, Pietzka A, Wagner M, Rychli K. Diverse Listeria monocytogenes in-house clones are present in a dynamic frozen vegetable processing environment. Int J Food Microbiol 2024; 410:110479. [PMID: 37977080 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Listeria (L.) monocytogenes is of global concern for food safety as the listeriosis-causing pathogen is widely distributed in the food processing environments, where it can survive for a long time. Frozen vegetables contaminated with L. monocytogenes were recently identified as the source of two large listeriosis outbreaks in the EU and US. So far, only a few studies have investigated the occurrence and behavior of Listeria in frozen vegetables and the associated processing environment. This study investigates the occurrence of L. monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. in a frozen vegetable processing environment and in frozen vegetable products. Using whole genome sequencing (WGS), the distribution of sequence types (MLST-STs) and core genome sequence types (cgMLST-CT) of L. monocytogenes were assessed, and in-house clones were identified. Comparative genomic analyses and phenotypical characterization of the different MLST-STs and isolates were performed, including growth ability under low temperatures, as well as survival of freeze-thaw cycles. Listeria were widely disseminated in the processing environment and five in-house clones namely ST451-CT4117, ST20-CT3737, ST8-CT1349, ST8-CT6243, ST224-CT5623 were identified among L. monocytogenes isolates present in environmental swab samples. Subsequently, the identified in-house clones were also detected in product samples. Conveyor belts were a major source of contamination in the processing environment. A wide repertoire of stress resistance markers supported the colonization and survival of L. monocytogenes in the frozen vegetable processing facility. The presence of ArgB was significantly associated with in-house clones. Significant differences were also observed in the growth rate between different MLST-STs at low temperatures (4 °C and 10 °C), but not between in-house and non-in-house isolates. All isolates harbored major virulence genes such as full length InlA and InlB and LIPI-1, yet there were differences between MLST-STs in the genomic content. The results of this study demonstrate that WGS is a strong tool for tracing contamination sources and transmission routes, and for identifying in-house clones. Further research targeting the co-occurring microbiota and the presence of biofilms is needed to fully understand the mechanism of colonization and persistence in a food processing environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Pracser
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1D, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
| | - Andreas Zaiser
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute for Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Hui Min Katharina Ying
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute for Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ariane Pietzka
- Austrian National Reference Laboratory for Listeria monocytogenes, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Beethovenstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Martin Wagner
- FFoQSI GmbH-Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation, Technopark 1D, 3430 Tulln, Austria; Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute for Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Kathrin Rychli
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute for Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gmeiner A, Njage PMK, Hansen LT, Aarestrup FM, Leekitcharoenphon P. Predicting Listeria monocytogenes virulence potential using whole genome sequencing and machine learning. Int J Food Microbiol 2024; 410:110491. [PMID: 38000216 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Contamination with food-borne pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, remains a big concern for food safety. Hence, rigorous and continuous microbial surveillance is a standard procedure. At this point, however, the food industry and authorities only focus on detection of Listeria monocytogenes without characterization of individual strains into groups of more or less concern. As whole genome sequencing (WGS) gains increasing interest in the industry, this methodology presents an opportunity to obtain finer resolution of microbial traits such as virulence. Within this study, we therefore aimed to explore the use of WGS in combination with Machine Learning (ML) to predict L. monocytogenes virulence potential on a sub-species level. The WGS datasets used in this study for ML model training consisted of i) national surveillance isolates (n = 169, covering 38 MLST types) and ii) publicly available isolates acquired through the GenomeTrakr network (n = 2880, spanning 80 MLST types). We used the clinical frequency, i.e., ratio of the number of clinical isolates to total amount of isolates, as estimate for virulence potential. The predictive performance of input features from three different genomic levels (i.e., virulence genes, pan-genome genes, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) and six machine learning algorithms (i.e., Support Vector Machine with a linear kernel, Support Vector Machine with a radial kernel, Random Forrest, Neural Networks, LogitBoost, and Majority Voting) were compared. Our machine learning models predicted sub-species virulence potential with nested cross-validation F1-scores up to 0.88 for the majority voting classifier trained on national surveillance data and using pan-genome genes as input features. The validation of the pre-trained ML models based on 101 previously in vivo studied isolates resulted in F1-scores up to 0.76. Furthermore, we found that the more rapid and less computationally intensive raw read alignment yields comparably accurate models as de novo assembly. The results of our study suggest that a majority voting classifier trained on pan-genome genes is the best and most robust choice for the prediction of clinical frequency. Our study contributes to more rapid and precise characterization of L. monocytogenes virulence and its variation on a sub-species level. We further demonstrated a possible application of WGS data in the context of microbial hazard characterization for food safety. In the future, predictive models may assist case-specific microbial risk management in the food industry. The python code, pre-trained models, and prediction pipeline are deposited at (https://github.com/agmei/LmonoVirulenceML).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gmeiner
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Patrick Murigu Kamau Njage
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Research Group for Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Frank M Aarestrup
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pimlapas Leekitcharoenphon
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zakrzewski AJ, Gajewska J, Chajęcka-Wierzchowska W, Załuski D, Zadernowska A. Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria species in fish, fish products and fish processing environment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167912. [PMID: 37866612 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Fish and seafood products are one of the most common causes of listeriosis in humans. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using scientific literature to summarize available data on the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria sp. in fish, fish products and fish processing environment. Meta-analysis models were used to estimate the mean prevalence of the pathogen and to compare prevalence among the most popular fishes. Data from a total of 14,496 samples were analysed. Pooled prevalence of L. monocytogenes and Listeria sp. in raw fish was 5.8 % (95 % CI: 4.7-6.9) and 12.2 % (95 % CI: 8.9-15.5) respectively. Significantly higher results were observed for ready-to-eat products, occurrence of L. monocytogenes and Listeria sp. was 14.5 % (95 % CI: 11.1-18.0) and 21.7 % (95 % CI: 11.8-31.6) respectively. Moreover, meta-regression was performed to investigate changes in L. monocytogenes and Listeria sp. occurrence over the years and it shows a downward trend for both raw fish and RTE products. The results of the present study provide useful epidemiological information about the contamination level and distribution of Listeria sp. and L. monocytogenes among raw fish, fish products and fish processing environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arkadiusz Józef Zakrzewski
- Department of Industrial and Food Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Cieszyński 1, 10-726 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Joanna Gajewska
- Department of Industrial and Food Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Cieszyński 1, 10-726 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Wioleta Chajęcka-Wierzchowska
- Department of Industrial and Food Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Cieszyński 1, 10-726 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Dariusz Załuski
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, ul. Oczapowskiego 8, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Anna Zadernowska
- Department of Industrial and Food Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Plac Cieszyński 1, 10-726 Olsztyn, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Bolton D, Bover‐Cid S, Chemaly M, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Nonno R, Peixe L, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Fox E, Gosling R(B, Gil BM, Møretrø T, Stessl B, da Silva Felício MT, Messens W, Simon AC, Alvarez‐Ordóñez A. Persistence of microbiological hazards in food and feed production and processing environments. EFSA J 2024; 22:e8521. [PMID: 38250499 PMCID: PMC10797485 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes (in the meat, fish and seafood, dairy and fruit and vegetable sectors), Salmonella enterica (in the feed, meat, egg and low moisture food sectors) and Cronobacter sakazakii (in the low moisture food sector) were identified as the bacterial food safety hazards most relevant to public health that are associated with persistence in the food and feed processing environment (FFPE). There is a wide range of subtypes of these hazards involved in persistence in the FFPE. While some specific subtypes are more commonly reported as persistent, it is currently not possible to identify universal markers (i.e. genetic determinants) for this trait. Common risk factors for persistence in the FFPE are inadequate zoning and hygiene barriers; lack of hygienic design of equipment and machines; and inadequate cleaning and disinfection. A well-designed environmental sampling and testing programme is the most effective strategy to identify contamination sources and detect potentially persistent hazards. The establishment of hygienic barriers and measures within the food safety management system, during implementation of hazard analysis and critical control points, is key to prevent and/or control bacterial persistence in the FFPE. Once persistence is suspected in a plant, a 'seek-and-destroy' approach is frequently recommended, including intensified monitoring, the introduction of control measures and the continuation of the intensified monitoring. Successful actions triggered by persistence of L. monocytogenes are described, as well as interventions with direct bactericidal activity. These interventions could be efficient if properly validated, correctly applied and verified under industrial conditions. Perspectives are provided for performing a risk assessment for relevant combinations of hazard and food sector to assess the relative public health risk that can be associated with persistence, based on bottom-up and top-down approaches. Knowledge gaps related to bacterial food safety hazards associated with persistence in the FFPE and priorities for future research are provided.
Collapse
|
9
|
Mao P, Wang Y, Gan L, Liu L, Chen J, Li L, Sun H, Luo X, Ye C. Large-scale genetic analysis and biological traits of two SigB factors in Listeria monocytogenes: lineage correlations and differential functions. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1268709. [PMID: 38029172 PMCID: PMC10679752 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1268709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Listeria monocytogenes is a globally distributed bacterium that exhibits genetic diversity and trait heterogeneity. The alternative sigma factor SigB serves as a crucial transcriptional regulator essential for responding to environmental stress conditions and facilitating host infection. Method We employed a comprehensive genetic analysis of sigB in a dataset comprising 46,921 L. monocytogenes genomes. The functional attributes of SigB were evaluated by phenotypic experiments. Results Our study revealed the presence of two predominant SigB factors (SigBT1 and SigBT2) in L. monocytogenes, with a robust correlation between SigBT1 and lineages I and III, as well as SigBT2 and lineage II. Furthermore, SigBT1 exhibits superior performance in promoting cellular invasion, cytotoxicity and enhancing biofilm formation and cold tolerance abilities under minimally defined media conditions compared to SigBT2. Discussion The functional characteristics of SigBT1 suggest a potential association with the epidemiology of lineages I and III strains in both human hosts and the natural environment. Our findings highlight the important role of distinct SigB factors in influencing the biological traits of L. monocytogenes of different lineages, thus highlighting its distinct pathogenic and adaptive attributes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Mao
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Gan
- Department of Bacteriology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyun Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jinni Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lingling Li
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Luo
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Changyun Ye
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Arnaboldi S, Benincà E, Evers EG. Improvement of quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) methodology through integration with gaenetic data. EFSA J 2023; 21:e211003. [PMID: 38047129 PMCID: PMC10687759 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.e211003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) methodology aims to estimate and describe the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms from animals and food to humans. In microbiological literature, the availability of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data is rapidly increasing, and incorporating this data into QMRA has the potential to enhance the reliability of risk estimates. This study provides insight into which are the key pathogen properties for incorporating WGS data to enhance risk estimation, through examination of example risk assessments for important foodborne pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), Salmonella, Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. By investigating the relationship between phenotypic pathogen properties and genetic traits, a better understanding was gained regarding their impact on risk assessment. Virulence of Lm was identified as a promising property for associating different symptoms observed in humans with specific genotypes. Data from a genome-wide association study were used to correlate lineages, serotypes, sequence types, clonal complexes and the presence or absence of virulence genes of each strain with patient's symptoms. We also investigated the effect of incorporating WGS data into a QMRA model including relevant genomic traits of Lm, focusing on the dose-response phase of the risk assessment model, as described with the case/exposure ratio. The results highlighted that WGS studies which include phenotypic information must be encouraged, so as to enhance the accuracy of QMRA models. This study also underscores the importance of executing more risk assessments that consider the ongoing advancements in OMICS technologies, thus allowing for a closer investigation of different bacterial subtypes relevant to human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Arnaboldi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna (IZSLER)Italy
| | - Elisa Benincà
- Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)the Netherlands
| | - Eric G. Evers
- Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM)the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
D'Onofrio F, Schirone M, Krasteva I, Tittarelli M, Iannetti L, Pomilio F, Torresi M, Paparella A, D'Alterio N, Luciani M. A comprehensive investigation of protein expression profiles in L. monocytogenes exposed to thermal abuse, mild acid, and salt stress conditions. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1271787. [PMID: 37876777 PMCID: PMC10591339 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1271787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Preventing L. monocytogenes infection is crucial for food safety, considering its widespread presence in the environment and its association with contaminated RTE foods. The pathogen's ability to persist under adverse conditions, for example, in food processing facilities, is linked to virulence and resistance mechanisms, including biofilm formation. In this study, the protein expression patterns of two L. monocytogenes 1/2a strains, grown under environmental stressors (mild acidic pH, thermal abuse, and high concentration of NaCl), were investigated. Protein identification and prediction were performed by nLC-ESI-MS/MS and nine different bioinformatic software programs, respectively. Gene enrichment analysis was carried out by STRING v11.05. A total of 1,215 proteins were identified, of which 335 were non-cytosolic proteins and 265 were immunogenic proteins. Proteomic analysis revealed differences in protein expression between L. monocytogenes strains in stressful conditions. The two strains exhibited unique protein expression profiles linked to stress response, virulence, and pathogenesis. Studying the proteomic profiles of such microorganisms provides information about adaptation and potential treatments, highlighting their genetic diversity and demonstrating the utility of bioinformatics and proteomics for a broader analysis of pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica D'Onofrio
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Maria Schirone
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Ivanka Krasteva
- 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
| | - Luigi Iannetti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Francesco Pomilio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Marina Torresi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy
| | - Antonello Paparella
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Nicola D'Alterio
- 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
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Manyi-Loh CE, Lues R. A South African Perspective on the Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Meat: Plausible Public Health Implications. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2484. [PMID: 37894142 PMCID: PMC10608972 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Meat comprises proteins, fats, vitamins, and trace elements, essential nutrients for the growth and development of the body. The increased demand for meat necessitates the use of antibiotics in intensive farming to sustain and raise productivity. However, the high water activity, the neutral pH, and the high protein content of meat create a favourable milieu for the growth and the persistence of bacteria. Meat serves as a portal for the spread of foodborne diseases. This occurs because of contamination. This review presents information on animal farming in South Africa, the microbial and chemical contamination of meat, and the consequential effects on public health. In South Africa, the sales of meat can be operated both formally and informally. Meat becomes exposed to contamination with different categories of microbes, originating from varying sources during preparation, processing, packaging, storage, and serving to consumers. Apparently, meat harbours diverse pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic residues alongside the occurrence of drug resistance in zoonotic pathogens, due to the improper use of antibiotics during farming. Different findings obtained across the country showed variations in prevalence of bacteria and multidrug-resistant bacteria studied, which could be explained by the differences in the manufacturer practices, handling processes from producers to consumers, and the success of the hygienic measures employed during production. Furthermore, variation in the socioeconomic and political factors and differences in bacterial strains, geographical area, time, climatic factors, etc. could be responsible for the discrepancy in the level of antibiotic resistance between the provinces. Bacteria identified in meat including Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., etc. are incriminated as pathogenic agents causing serious infections in human and their drug-resistant counterparts can cause prolonged infection plus long hospital stays, increased mortality and morbidity as well as huge socioeconomic burden and even death. Therefore, uncooked meat or improperly cooked meat consumed by the population serves as a risk to human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christy E. Manyi-Loh
- Centre of Applied Food Sustainability and Biotechnology, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa;
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chen H, Cheng Y, Moraru CI. Blue 405 nm LED light effectively inactivates bacterial pathogens on substrates and packaging materials used in food processing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15472. [PMID: 37726297 PMCID: PMC10509141 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42347-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the antimicrobial effectiveness of 405 nm light emitting diodes (LEDs) against pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus, in thin liquid films (TLF) and on solid surfaces. Stainless steel (SS), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and borosilicate glass were used as materials typically encountered in food processing, food service, and clinical environments. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) coupons with nanoscale topography were used, to evaluate the effect of topography on inactivation. The impact of surface roughness, hydrophobicity, and reflectivity on inactivation was assessed. A 48 h exposure to 405 nm led to reductions ranging from 1.3 (E. coli) to 5.7 (S. aureus) log CFU in TLF and 3.1 to 6.3 log CFU on different solid contact surfaces and packaging materials. All inactivation curves were nonlinear and followed Weibull kinetics, with better inactivation predictions on surfaces (0.89 ≤ R2 ≤ 1.0) compared to TLF (0.76 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.99). The fastest inactivation rate was observed on small nanopore AAO coupons inoculated with L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, indicating inactivation enhancing potential of these surfaces. These results demonstrate significant promise of 405 nm LEDs for antimicrobial applications in food processing and handling and the healthcare industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanyu Chen
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Yifan Cheng
- Department of Food Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Carmen I Moraru
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Mao P, Wang Y, Li L, Ji S, Li P, Liu L, Chen J, Sun H, Luo X, Ye C. The Isolation, Genetic Analysis and Biofilm Characteristics of Listeria spp. from the Marine Environment in China. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2166. [PMID: 37764010 PMCID: PMC10535974 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092166] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is an important pathogen that can cause listeriosis. Despite the growing recognition of Listeria spp. as a foodborne and environmental pathogen, the understanding of its prevalence and characteristics of Listeria spp. in the marine environment remains unknown. In this study, we first investigated the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of Listeria species isolated in a coastal city in China. The findings revealed that the sequence type 87 (ST87) L. monocytogenes, a prevalent clinical and seafood strain in China, dominates in recreational beach sands and possesses a notable biofilm-forming capacity in seawater. The presence of ST87 L. monocytogenes in coastal environments indicates the potential health risks for both recreational activities and seafood consumption. Moreover, the ST121 isolates from sand had a versatile plasmid encoding multifunctional genes, including uvrX for UV resistance, gbuC for salt resistance, and npx for oxidative resistance and multiple transposases, which potentially aid in survival under natural environments. Black-headed gulls potentially facilitate the spread of L. monocytogenes, with similar ST35 strains found in gulls and beach sand. As a reservoir of microbes from marine environments and human/animal excrement, coastal sand would play an important role in the spread of L. monocytogenes and is an environmental risk for human listeriosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Changyun Ye
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (P.M.); (Y.W.); (L.L.); (S.J.); (P.L.); (L.L.); (J.C.); (H.S.); (X.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Angelidis AS, Grammenou AS, Kotzamanidis C, Giadinis ND, Zdragas AG, Sergelidis D. Prevalence, Serotypes, Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm-Forming Ability of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Bulk-Tank Bovine Milk in Northern Greece. Pathogens 2023; 12:837. [PMID: 37375527 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in bovine bulk-tank milk (BTM) in Greece has not been previously investigated. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in bovine BTM in Greece and to characterize the isolates in terms of carriage of genes encoding for pathogenic determinants, assess the isolates' biofilm-forming ability and determine their susceptibility against 12 antimicrobials. Samples (n = 138) of bovine BTM were obtained from farms located throughout Northern Greece and were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively for L. monocytogenes. Five samples (3.6%) tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The pathogen's populations in these positive samples were below 5 CFU/mL. Most isolates belonged to the molecular serogroup "1/2a, 3a". All isolates carried the virulence genes inlA, inlC, inlJ, iap, plcA and hlyA, but actA was detected in only three isolates. The isolates displayed weak to moderate biofilm-forming ability and distinct antimicrobial resistance profiles. All isolates were characterized as multidrug resistant, with resistance to penicillin and clindamycin being a common feature. Considering that L. monocytogenes constitutes a serious public health threat, the key findings of the study, related to the carriage of virulence genes and multidrug resistance, highlight the importance of continued monitoring of the pathogen in farm animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Apostolos S Angelidis
- Laboratory of Safety and Quality of Milk and Dairy Products, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Afroditi S Grammenou
- Laboratory of Hygiene of Foods of Animal Origin-Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Charalampos Kotzamanidis
- Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thermi, Greece
| | - Nektarios D Giadinis
- Clinic of Farm Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antonios G Zdragas
- Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, Veterinary Research Institute of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thermi, Greece
| | - Daniel Sergelidis
- Laboratory of Hygiene of Foods of Animal Origin-Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Manyi-Loh CE, Okoh AI, Lues R. Occurrence and Multidrug Resistance in Strains of Listeria monocytogenes Recovered from the Anaerobic Co-Digestion Sludge Contained in a Single Stage Steel Biodigester: Implications for Antimicrobial Stewardship. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030725. [PMID: 36985298 PMCID: PMC10056191 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
L. monocytogenes is a zoonotic foodborne pathogen with inherent adaptability to tolerate environmental and physiological stresses, thereby causing severe disease outbreaks. Antibiotic resistant foodborne pathogens are a challenge to the food industry. A total of 18 samples were pooled from a bio-digester co-digesting swine manure/pinewood sawdust, and evaluated for the occurrence of bacterium plus total viable counts using the spread plate method. The recovered bacterial isolates were presumptively identified by growth on selective medium and confirmed by biochemical characterisation, leading to the isolation of 43 L. monocytogenes. The isolates were characterized based on their susceptibility to antibiotics via the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique against a panel of 14 antibiotics. Equally, the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was calculated, and MAR phenotypes generated. The bacterial counts were between 102 and104 cfu/mL. Complete susceptibility (100%) was demonstrated to ampicillin, gentamicin and sulfamethoxazole, which are the drugs of choice in the treatment of listeriosis. In addition, intermediate sensitivity occurred at 25.58% to cefotaxime, and the highest resistance (51.16%) was exhibited against nalidixic acid. The MAR index ranged from 0 to 0.71. Overall, 41.86% of the Listeria isolates displayed multidrug resistance, with 18 different MAR phenotypes, demonstrating CIP, E, C, TET, AUG, S, CTX, NA, AML, NI as the greatest MAR phenotype. It can be concluded that the isolates yielding MAR > 0.2 originated from the farm, where antibiotics had been in routine use. Therefore, strict monitoring of antibiotics use in the farm is crucial to mitigate further increase in antibiotic resistance amongst these bacterial isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christy Echakachi Manyi-Loh
- Centre of Applied Food Sustainability and Biotechnology (CAFSaB), Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-738324268
| | - Anthony Ifeanyin Okoh
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa;
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ryk Lues
- Centre of Applied Food Sustainability and Biotechnology (CAFSaB), Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wu J, McAuliffe O, O'Byrne CP. Trehalose transport occurs via TreB in Listeria monocytogenes and it influences biofilm development and acid resistance. Int J Food Microbiol 2023; 394:110165. [PMID: 36933360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that can inhabit a diverse range of environmental niches. This is largely attributed to the high proportion of carbohydrate-specific phosphotransferase system (PTS) genes in its genome. Carbohydrates can be assimilated as sources of energy but additionally they can serve as niche-specific cues for L. monocytogenes to shape its global gene expression, in order to cope with anticipated stresses. To examine carbon source utilization among wild L. monocytogenes isolates and to understand underlying molecular mechanisms, a diverse collection of L. monocytogenes strains (n = 168) with whole genome sequence (WGS) data available was screened for the ability to grow in chemically defined media with different carbon sources. The majority of the strains grew in glucose, mannose, fructose, cellobiose, glycerol, trehalose, and sucrose. Maltose, lactose, and rhamnose supported slower growth while ribose did not support any growth. In contrast to other strains, strain1386, which belonged to clonal complex 5 (CC5), was unable to grow on trehalose as a sole carbon source. WGS data revealed that it carried a substitution (N352K) in a putative PTS EIIBC trehalose transporter, TreB, while this asparagine residue is conserved in other strains in this collection. Spontaneous mutants of strain 1386 that could grow in trehalose were found to harbour a reversion of the substitution in TreB. These results provide genetic evidence that TreB is responsible for trehalose uptake and that the N352 residue is essential for TreB activity. Moreover, reversion mutants also restored other unusual phenotypes that strain 1386 displayed, i.e. altered colony morphology, impaired biofilm development, and reduced acid resistance. Transcriptional analysis at stationary phase with buffered BHI media revealed that trehalose metabolism positively influences the transcription of genes encoding amino acid-based acid resistance mechanisms. In summary, our results demonstrated that N352 is key to the function of the sole trehalose transporter TreB in L. monocytogenes and suggest that trehalose metabolism alters physiology to favour biofilm development and acid stress resistance. Moreover, since strain 1386 is among the strains recommended by the European Union Reference Laboratory for conducting food challenge studies in order to determine whether or not L. monocytogenes can grow in food, these findings have important implications for food safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialun Wu
- Bacterial Stress Response Group, Microbiology, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
| | | | - Conor P O'Byrne
- Bacterial Stress Response Group, Microbiology, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Domínguez AV, Ledesma MC, Domínguez CI, Cisneros JM, Lepe JA, Smani Y. In Vitro and In Vivo Virulence Study of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from the Andalusian Outbreak in 2019. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8010058. [PMID: 36668965 PMCID: PMC9861481 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8010058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2019, the biggest listeriosis outbreak by Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in the South of Spain was reported, resulting in the death of three patients from 207 confirmed cases. One strain, belonging to clonal complex 388 (Lm CC388), has been isolated. We aimed to determine the Lm CC388 virulence in comparison with other highly virulent clones such as Lm CC1 and Lm CC4, in vitro and in vivo. Four L. monocytogenes strains (Lm CC388, Lm CC1, Lm CC4 and ATCC 19115) were used. Attachment to human lung epithelial cells (A549 cells) by these strains was characterized by adherence and invasion assays. Their cytotoxicities to A549 cells were evaluated by determining the cells viability. Their hemolysis activity was determined also. A murine intravenous infection model using these was performed to determine the concentration of bacteria in tissues and blood. Lm CC388 interaction with A549 cells is non-significantly higher than that of ATCC 19115 and Lm CC1, and lower than that of Lm CC4. Lm CC388 cytotoxicity is higher than that of ATCC 19115 and Lm CC1, and lower than that of Lm CC4. Moreover, Lm CC388 hemolysis activity is lower than that of the Lm CC4 strain, and higher than that of Lm CC1. Finally, in the murine intravenous infection model by Lm CC388, higher bacterial loads in tissues and at similar levels of Lm CC4 were observed. Although a lower rate of mortality of patients during the listeriosis outbreak in Spain in 2019 has been reported, the Lm CC388 strain has shown a greater or similar pathogenicity level in vitro and in an animal model, like Lm CC1 and Lm CC4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vila Domínguez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Clinical Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Parasitology, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Marta Carretero Ledesma
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Clinical Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Parasitology, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Carmen Infante Domínguez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Clinical Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Parasitology, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Miguel Cisneros
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Clinical Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Parasitology, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose A. Lepe
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Clinical Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Parasitology, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-955923100
| | - Younes Smani
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBiS, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, Andalusian Center of Developmental Biology, CSIC, University of Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Muchaamba F, von Ah U, Stephan R, Stevens MJA, Tasara T. Deciphering the global roles of Cold shock proteins in Listeria monocytogenes nutrient metabolism and stress tolerance. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1057754. [PMID: 36605504 PMCID: PMC9808409 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1057754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) accounts for serious public health and food safety problems owing to its stress resilience and pathogenicity. Based on their regulatory involvement in global gene expression events, cold-shock domain family proteins (Csps) are crucial in expression of various stress fitness and virulence phenotypes in bacteria. Lm possesses three Csps (CspA, CspB, and CspD) whose regulatory roles in the context of the genetic diversity of this bacterium are not yet fully understood. We examined the impacts of Csps deficiency on Lm nutrient metabolism and stress tolerance using a set of csp deletion mutants generated in different genetic backgrounds. Phenotype microarrays (PM) analysis showed that the absence of Csps in ∆cspABD reduces carbon (C-) source utilization capacity and increases Lm sensitivity to osmotic, pH, various chemical, and antimicrobial stress conditions. Single and double csp deletion mutants in different Lm genetic backgrounds were used to further dissect the roles of individual Csps in these phenotypes. Selected PM-based observations were further corroborated through targeted phenotypic assays, confirming that Csps are crucial in Lm for optimal utilization of various C-sources including rhamnose and glucose as well as tolerance against NaCl, β-phenyethylamine (PEA), and food relevant detergent stress conditions. Strain and genetic lineage background-based differences, division of labour, epistasis, and functional redundancies among the Csps were uncovered with respect to their roles in various processes including C-source utilization, cold, and PEA stress resistance. Finally, targeted transcriptome analysis was performed, revealing the activation of csp gene expression under defined stress conditions and the impact of Csps on expression regulation of selected rhamnose utilization genes. Overall, our study shows that Csps play important roles in nutrient utilization and stress responses in Lm strains, contributing to traits that are central to the public health and food safety impacts of this pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francis Muchaamba
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Francis Muchaamba,
| | | | - Roger Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marc J. A. Stevens
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Taurai Tasara
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Rodríguez-Melcón C, Esteves A, Panera-Martínez S, Capita R, Alonso-Calleja C. Quantification of Total and Viable Cells and Determination of Serogroups and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Listeria monocytogenes in Chicken Meat from the North-Western Iberian Peninsula. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11121828. [PMID: 36551484 PMCID: PMC9774191 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11121828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty samples of minced chicken meat procured from butcher’s shops in León (Spain; 10 samples) and Vila Real (Portugal; 10 samples) were analyzed. Microbial concentrations (log10 cfu/g) of 7.53 ± 1.02 (viable aerobic microbiota), 7.13 ± 1.07 (psychrotrophic microorganisms), and 4.23 ± 0.88 (enterobacteria) were found. The detection method described in the UNE-EN ISO 11290-1 standard (based on isolation from the chromogenic medium OCLA) with confirmation by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR; lmo1030) (OCLA−PCR), revealed Listeria monocytogenes in 14 samples (70.0% of the total), nine of Spanish origin and five of Portuguese (p > 0.05). The levels of viable and inactivated L. monocytogenes in the samples were determined with a q-PCR using propidium monoazide (PMAxx) as a viability marker. Seven samples tested positive both with the OCLA−PCR and with the q-PCR, with estimated concentrations of viable cells varying between 2.15 log10 cfu/g (detection limit) and 2.94 log10 cfu/g. Three samples tested negative both with the OCLA−PCR and with the q-PCR. Seven samples were positive with the OCLA−PCR, but negative with the q-PCR, and three samples tested negative with the OCLA−PCR and positive with the q-PCR. The percentage of viable cells relative to the total ranged between 2.4% and 86.0%. Seventy isolates of L. monocytogenes (five from each positive sample) were classified in PCR serogroups with a multiplex PCR assay. L. monocytogenes isolates belonged to serogroups IIa (52 isolates; 74.3%), IIc (7; 10.0%), IVa (2; 2.9%), and IVb (9; 12.9%). The susceptibility of the 70 isolates to 15 antibiotics of clinical interest was tested. The strains presented resistance to between three and eight antibiotics. The average number of resistances was greater (p < 0.001) among strains isolated from Spanish samples (6.20 ± 1.08), than in those from Portugal (5.00 ± 1.08). In both groups of strains, a prevalence of resistance higher than 95% was observed for oxacillin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, and cefepime. The need to handle minced chicken meat correctly, taking care to cook it sufficiently and to avoid cross-contamination, so as to reduce the danger of listeriosis, is emphasized. A combination of culture-dependent and culture-independent methods offers complementary routes for the detection in food of the cells of L. monocytogenes in various different physiological states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Rodríguez-Melcón
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
| | - Alexandra Esteves
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Sarah Panera-Martínez
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
| | - Rosa Capita
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
| | - Carlos Alonso-Calleja
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of León, E-24071 León, Spain
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Varsaki A, Ortiz S, Santorum P, López P, López-Alonso V, Hernández M, Abad D, Rodríguez-Grande J, Ocampo-Sosa AA, Martínez-Suárez JV. Prevalence and Population Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Dairy Cattle Farms in the Cantabria Region of Spain. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182477. [PMID: 36139336 PMCID: PMC9495194 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The origin and prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes was studied in dairy cattle farms in order to examine its diversity and determine its possible persistence in manure. The utilization of manure for agricultural purposes is common in many countries. While properly treated and managed manure is an effective and safe fertilizer, foodborne illness outbreaks can occur, as many of the most prominent foodborne pathogens are carried by healthy livestock. It is, therefore, necessary to study the origin and persistence of zoonotic agents in general and of L. monocytogenes in particular, in order to avoid recirculation in farms and reduce risk for human populations. Abstract Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that is widely distributed in the environment. Here we show the prevalence and transmission of L. monocytogenes in dairy farms in the Cantabria region, on the northern coast of Spain. A total of 424 samples was collected from 14 dairy farms (5 organic and 9 conventional) and 211 L. monocytogenes isolates were recovered following conventional microbiological methods. There were no statistically significant differences in antimicrobial resistance ratios between organic and conventional farms. A clonal relationship among the isolates was assessed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis and 64 different pulsotypes were obtained. Most isolates (89%, n = 187) were classified as PCR serogroup IVb by using a multiplex PCR assay. In this case, 45 isolates of PCR serogroup IVb were whole genome-sequenced to perform a further analysis at genomic level. In silico MLST analysis showed the presence of 12 sequence types (ST), of which ST1, ST54 and ST666 were the most common. Our data indicate that the environment of cattle farms retains a high incidence of L. monocytogenes, including subtypes involved in human listeriosis reports and outbreaks. This pathogen is shed in the feces and could easily colonize dairy products, as a result of fecal contamination. Effective herd and manure management are needed in order to prevent possible outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Athanasia Varsaki
- Centro de Investigación y Formación Agrarias (CIFA), 39600 Muriedas, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (J.V.M.-S.)
| | - Sagrario Ortiz
- National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Santorum
- Centro de Investigación y Formación Agrarias (CIFA), 39600 Muriedas, Spain
| | - Pilar López
- National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Marta Hernández
- Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL), 47071 Valladolid, Spain
| | - David Abad
- Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL), 47071 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Jorge Rodríguez-Grande
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Alain A. Ocampo-Sosa
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Joaquín V. Martínez-Suárez
- National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.V.); (J.V.M.-S.)
| |
Collapse
|