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Douillard FP, Derman Y, Jian C, Korpela K, Saxén H, Salonen A, de Vos WM, Korkeala H, Lindström M. Case report: Aberrant fecal microbiota composition of an infant diagnosed with prolonged intestinal botulism. Gut Pathog 2024; 16:20. [PMID: 38581020 PMCID: PMC10996148 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-024-00614-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intestinal botulism is primarily reported in small babies as a condition known as infant botulism. The condition results from the ingestion of environmental or foodborne spores of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) producing Clostridia, usually Clostridium botulinum, and subsequent spore germination into active botulinum neurotoxinogenic cultures in the gut. It is generally considered that small babies are susceptible to C. botulinum colonization because of their immature gut microbiota. Yet, it is poorly understood which host factors contribute to the clinical outcome of intestinal botulism. We previously reported a case of infant botulism where the infant recovered clinically in six weeks but continued to secrete C. botulinum cells and/or BoNT in the feces for seven months. CASE PRESENTATION To further understand the microbial ecology behind this exceptionally long-lasting botulinum neurotoxinogenic colonization, we characterized the infant fecal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing over the course of disease and recovery. C. botulinum could be detected in the infant fecal samples at low levels through the acute phase of the disease and three months after recovery. Overall, we observed a temporal delay in the maturation of the infant fecal microbiota associated with a persistently high-level bifidobacterial population and a low level of Lachnospiraceae, Bacteroidaceae and Ruminococcaceae compared to healthy infants over time. CONCLUSION This study brings novel insights into the infant fecal composition associated with intestinal botulism and provides a basis for a more systematic analysis of the gut microbiota of infants diagnosed with botulism. A better understanding of the gut microbial ecology associated with infant botulism may support the development of prophylactic strategies against this life-threatening disease in small babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- François P Douillard
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Yağmur Derman
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ching Jian
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katri Korpela
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Harri Saxén
- New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Salonen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Willem M de Vos
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hannu Korkeala
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Miia Lindström
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Douillard FP, Portinha IM, Derman Y, Woudstra C, Mäklin T, Dorner MB, Korkeala H, Henriques AO, Lindström M. A Novel Prophage-like Insertion Element within yabG Triggers Early Entry into Sporulation in Clostridium botulinum. Viruses 2023; 15:2431. [PMID: 38140671 PMCID: PMC10747680 DOI: 10.3390/v15122431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporulation is a finely regulated morphogenetic program important in the ecology and epidemiology of Clostridium botulinum. Exogenous elements disrupting sporulation-associated genes contribute to sporulation regulation and introduce diversity in the generally conserved sporulation programs of endospore formers. We identified a novel prophage-like DNA segment, termed the yin element, inserted within yabG, encoding a sporulation-specific cysteine protease, in an environmental isolate of C. botulinum. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the genetic structure of the yin element resembles previously reported mobile intervening elements associated with sporulation genes. Within a pure C. botulinum culture, we observed two subpopulations of cells with the yin element either integrated into the yabG locus or excised as a circular DNA molecule. The dynamics between the two observed conformations of the yin element was growth-phase dependent and likely mediated by recombination events. The yin element was not required for sporulation by C. botulinum but triggered an earlier entry into sporulation than in a related isolate lacking this element. So far, the yin element has not been found in any other C. botulinum strains or other endospore-forming species. It remains to be demonstrated what kind of competitive edge it provides for C. botulinum survival and persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- François P. Douillard
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00350 Helsinki, Finland; (F.P.D.); (I.M.P.); (Y.D.); (C.W.); (H.K.)
| | - Inês Martins Portinha
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00350 Helsinki, Finland; (F.P.D.); (I.M.P.); (Y.D.); (C.W.); (H.K.)
| | - Yağmur Derman
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00350 Helsinki, Finland; (F.P.D.); (I.M.P.); (Y.D.); (C.W.); (H.K.)
| | - Cédric Woudstra
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00350 Helsinki, Finland; (F.P.D.); (I.M.P.); (Y.D.); (C.W.); (H.K.)
| | - Tommi Mäklin
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00560 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Martin B. Dorner
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, ZBS3—Biological Toxins, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Hannu Korkeala
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00350 Helsinki, Finland; (F.P.D.); (I.M.P.); (Y.D.); (C.W.); (H.K.)
| | - Adriano O. Henriques
- Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal;
| | - Miia Lindström
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00350 Helsinki, Finland; (F.P.D.); (I.M.P.); (Y.D.); (C.W.); (H.K.)
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Douillard FP, Derman Y, Woudstra C, Selby K, Mäklin T, Honkela A, Korkeala H, Lindström M. A longitudinal genomic and functional analysis of Clostridium botulinum isolated from an infant botulism case. Toxicon 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.11.374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Douillard F, Derman Y, Woudstra C, Salonen A, de Vos WM, Korkeala H, Lindström M. Novel aspects of intestinal botulism. Toxicon 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.11.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Söderholm H, Derman Y, Lindström M, Korkeala H. Functional csdA is needed for effective adaptation and initiation of growth of Clostridium botulinum ATCC 3502 at suboptimal temperature. Int J Food Microbiol 2015; 208:51-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Derman Y, Söderholm H, Lindström M, Korkeala H. Role of csp genes in NaCl, pH, and ethanol stress response and motility in Clostridium botulinum ATCC 3502. Food Microbiol 2014; 46:463-470. [PMID: 25475316 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Revised: 08/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum is a notable food pathogen and responsible for botulism due to production of botulinum neurotoxin. Strains of C. botulinum can adapt to and survive in stress conditions and food processing. The cold shock protein coding genes (csp) are involved in growth at low temperature, but they may also possess other functions. In this mutational analysis we show that cspB and cspC, but not cspA, are important for NaCl, pH and ethanol stress responses and for motility of C. botulinum ATCC 3502. In all NaCl concentrations tested, the cspB mutant had lower maximum growth rate and, together with the cspC mutant, a longer lag phase compared to the wild-type strain. At low pH, the cspB and cspC mutants showed either lower maximum growth rates or longer lag phases compared to the wild type. In all ethanol concentrations tested, the cspB mutant had lower maximum growth rates and the cspC mutant had a longer lag phase than the wild-type strain. Motility was reduced in cspA and cspC mutants, and flagella formation was affected. The results suggest that cspB plays a universal role in stress response and cspC aids C. botulinum in NaCl, pH and ethanol stress in C. botulinum ATCC 3502.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yağmur Derman
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014 Helsinki University, Finland.
| | - Henna Söderholm
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014 Helsinki University, Finland.
| | - Miia Lindström
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014 Helsinki University, Finland.
| | - Hannu Korkeala
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014 Helsinki University, Finland.
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Derman Y, Isokallio M, Lindström M, Korkeala H. The two-component system CBO2306/CBO2307 is important for cold adaptation of Clostridium botulinum ATCC 3502. Int J Food Microbiol 2013; 167:87-91. [PMID: 23810493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2013.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Revised: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium botulinum is a notorious foodborne pathogen. Its ability to adapt to and grow at low temperatures is of interest for food safety. Two-component systems (TCSs) have been reported to be involved in cold-shock and growth at low temperatures. Here we show the importance of TCS CBO2306/CBO2307 in the cold-shock response of C. botulinum ATCC 3502. The relative expression levels of the cbo2306 and cbo2307 were up to 4.4-fold induced in the cold-shocked cultures but negatively regulated in the late-log and stationary growth phase in relation to early logarithmic growth phase in non-shocked cultures. Importance of the CBO2306/CBO2307 in the cold stress was further demonstrated by impaired growth of insertional cbo2306 or cbo2307 knockout mutants in relation to the wild-type strain ATCC 3502. The results suggest that the TCS CBO2306/CBO2307 is important for cold-shock response and adaptation of C. botulinum ATCC 3502 to low temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yağmur Derman
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, The Centre of Excellence in Microbial Food Safety Research, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Jalava K, Selby K, Pihlajasaari A, Kolho E, Dahlsten E, Forss N, Bäcklund T, Korkeala H, Honkanen-Buzalski T, Hulkko T, Derman Y, Järvinen A, Kotilainen H, Kultanen L, Ruutu P, Lyytikaïnen O, Lindström M. Two cases of food-borne botulism in Finland caused by conserved olives, October 2011. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 16:20034. [PMID: 22172330 DOI: 10.2807/ese.16.49.20034-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In October 2011 in Finland, two persons fell ill with symptoms compatible with botulism after having eaten conserved olives stuffed with almonds. One of these two died. Clostridium botulinum type B and its neurotoxin were detected in the implicated olives by PCR and mouse bioassay, respectively. The olives were traced back to an Italian manufacturer and withdrawn from the market. The public and other European countries were informed through media and Europe-wide notifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Jalava
- Department of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
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Abstract
The minimum and maximum growth temperatures and the maximum growth rates at 10, 30, 37, and 40°C were determined for 24 group II Clostridium botulinum strains. Genetic diversity of the strains was revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. The minimum growth temperatures ranged from 6.2 to 8.6°C, and the maximum growth temperatures ranged from 34.7 to 39.9°C. The mean maximum growth temperatures and mean maximum growth rates of type E strains at 37°C were significantly higher than those of type B and type F strains. A significant correlation between maximum growth rates at 37°C and maximum growth temperatures was found for all strains. Some type E strains with a high minimum growth temperature also had a higher maximum growth rate at 37°C than at 30°C, which suggests that some group II C. botulinum strains are more mesophilic in their growth properties than others. We found relatively small differences between AFLP clusters, indicating that diverse genetic background among the strains was not reflected in the growth properties. The growth characteristics of group II C. botulinum and some type E strains with mesophilic growth properties may have an impact on inoculation studies and predictive modeling for assessing the safety of foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yağmur Derman
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 66 (Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2), 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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