Microorganisms

Editorial

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5 pages, 199 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

New Insights into Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions: Evolving Research and Discoveries

by Anja Klančnik and Maja Abram

Microorganisms 2024, 12(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12010078 - 30 Dec 2023

Viewed by 870

Abstract

Given the growing concern about foodborne diseases, intensive research and the development of new approaches are crucial [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

Research

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15 pages, 2403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vaccines Using Clostridium perfringens Sporulation Proteins Reduce Necrotic Enteritis in Chickens

by Ying Fu, Mohit Bansal, Tahrir Alenezi, Ayidh Almansour, Hong Wang and Xiaolun Sun

Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10061110 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1755

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens is the prevalent enteric pathogen in humans and animals including chickens, and it remains largely elusive on the mechanism of C. perfringens-induced enteritis because of limited animal models available. In this study, we investigated the role of C. perfringens sporulation [...] Read more.

Clostridium perfringens is the prevalent enteric pathogen in humans and animals including chickens, and it remains largely elusive on the mechanism of C. perfringens-induced enteritis because of limited animal models available. In this study, we investigated the role of C. perfringens sporulation proteins as vaccine candidates in chickens to reduce necrotic enteritis (NE). C. perfringens soluble proteins of vegetative cells (CP-super1 and CP-super2) and spores (CP-spor-super1 and CP-spor-super2) were prepared, and cell and chicken experiments were conducted. We found that deoxycholic acid reduced C. perfringens invasion and sporulation using the Eimeria maxima and C. perfringens co-infection necrotic enteritis (NE) model. C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) was detected in the CP-spor-super1&2. CP-spor-super1 or 2 induced cell death in mouse epithelial CMT-93 and macrophage Raw 264.7 cells. CP-spor-super1 or 2 also induced inflammatory gene expression and necrosis in the Raw cells. Birds immunized with CP-spor-super1 or 2 were resistant to C. perfringens-induced severe clinical NE on histopathology and body weight gain loss. CP-spor-super1 vaccine reduced NE-induced proinflammatory Ifnγ gene expression as well as C. perfringens luminal colonization and tissue invasion in the small intestine. Together, this study showed that CP-spor-super vaccines reduced NE histopathology and productivity loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

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9 pages, 828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Strong Evidence Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis in Central Italy Linked to the Consumption of Contaminated Raw Sheep Milk Cheese

by Maira Napoleoni, Laura Villa, Lisa Barco, Luca Busani, Veronica Cibin, Claudia Lucarelli, Alessia Tiengo, Anna Maria Dionisi, Fabrizio Conti, Fernanda Rogeria Da Silva Nunes, Luana Tantucci, Monica Staffolani, Valentina Silenzi, Roberta Fraticelli, Benedetto Morandi, Giuliana Blasi, Elena Rocchegiani, Stefano Fisichella and on behalf of the Enter-Net and Enter-Vet Peripheral Laboratories Referents for Marche Region

Microorganisms 2021, 9(12), 2464; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122464 - 29 Nov 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3039

Abstract

Salmonellosis is the second most commonly reported gastrointestinal infection in humans after campylobacteriosis, and an important cause of foodborne outbreaks in the EU/EEA. The vast majority (72.4%) of the salmonellosis foodborne outbreaks reported in EU in 2019 were caused by Salmonella Enteritidis, even [...] Read more.

Salmonellosis is the second most commonly reported gastrointestinal infection in humans after campylobacteriosis, and an important cause of foodborne outbreaks in the EU/EEA. The vast majority (72.4%) of the salmonellosis foodborne outbreaks reported in EU in 2019 were caused by Salmonella Enteritidis, even if their total number due to this serovar decreased. In spring 2020, a foodborne outbreak of S. Enteritidis occurred in the Marche region (Central Italy), involving 85 people. The common exposure source was a cheese, pecorino “primo sale”, produced with raw sheep milk. The cheese batches were produced by two local dairies, with a livestock production facility, also including a sheep farm, being part of one dairy. Bacteriological analysis of samples collected allowed the detection of S. Enteritidis in animal faeces, environmental samples, raw-milk bulk tanks and milk taken from single animals. These data confirm that, despite the scarce scientific evidence, S. Enteritidis can infect sheep and be shed into the animals’ milk. Hence, this is a real risk for public health when unpasteurized milk is used in production of such cheese. The present paper describes the results of the investigations conducted to clarify this outbreak. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

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21 pages, 2239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Detection of Bifidobacterium longum Strains in Feces Using Strain-Specific Primers

by Yue Xiao, Chen Wang, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang, Wei Chen and Qixiao Zhai

Microorganisms 2021, 9(6), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9061159 - 28 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3772

Abstract

We adopted a bioinformatics-based technique to identify strain-specific markers, which were then used to quantify the abundances of three distinct B. longum sup. longum strains in fecal samples of humans and mice. A pangenome analysis of 205 B. longum sup. longum genomes revealed [...] Read more.

We adopted a bioinformatics-based technique to identify strain-specific markers, which were then used to quantify the abundances of three distinct B. longum sup. longum strains in fecal samples of humans and mice. A pangenome analysis of 205 B. longum sup. longum genomes revealed the accumulation of considerable strain-specific genes within this species; specifically, 28.7% of the total identified genes were strain-specific. We identified 32, 14, and 49 genes specific to B. longum sup. longum RG4-1, B. longum sup. longum M1-20-R01-3, and B. longum sup. longum FGSZY6M4, respectively. After performing an in silico validation of these strain-specific markers using a nucleotide BLAST against both the B. longum sup. longum genome database and an NR/NT database, RG4-1_01874 (1331 bp), M1-20-R01-3_00324 (1745 bp), and FGSZY6M4_01477 (1691 bp) were chosen as target genes for strain-specific quantification. The specificities of the qPCR primers were validated against 47 non-target microorganisms and fecal baseline microbiota to ensure that they produced no PCR amplification products. The performance of the qPCR primer-based analysis was further assessed using fecal samples. After oral administration, the target B. longum strains appeared to efficiently colonize both the human and mouse guts, with average population levels of >10⁸ CFU/g feces. The bioinformatics pipeline proposed here can be applied to the quantification of various bacterial species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

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17 pages, 2184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Survey of Pathogen-Lowering and Immuno-Modulatory Effects Upon Treatment of Campylobacter coli-Infected Secondary Abiotic IL-10^−/− Mice with the Probiotic Formulation Aviguard^®

by Dennis Weschka, Soraya Mousavi, Nina Biesemeier, Stefan Bereswill and Markus M. Heimesaat

Microorganisms 2021, 9(6), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9061127 - 23 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1806

Abstract

The prevalence of infections with the zoonotic enteritis pathogen Campylobacter coli is increasing. Probiotic formulations constitute promising antibiotic-independent approaches to reduce intestinal pathogen loads and modulate pathogen-induced immune responses in the infected human host, resulting in acute campylobacteriosis and post-infectious sequelae. Here, we [...] Read more.

The prevalence of infections with the zoonotic enteritis pathogen Campylobacter coli is increasing. Probiotic formulations constitute promising antibiotic-independent approaches to reduce intestinal pathogen loads and modulate pathogen-induced immune responses in the infected human host, resulting in acute campylobacteriosis and post-infectious sequelae. Here, we address potential antipathogenic and immuno-modulatory effects of the commercial product Aviguard^® during experimental campylobacteriosis. Secondary abiotic IL-10^−/− mice were infected with a C. coli patient isolate on days 0 and 1, followed by oral Aviguard^® treatment on days 2, 3 and 4. Until day 6 post-infection, Aviguard^® treatment could lower the pathogen burdens within the proximal but not the distal intestinal tract. In contrast, the probiotic bacteria had sufficiently established in the intestines with lower fecal loads of obligate anaerobic species in C. coli-infected as compared to uninfected mice following Aviguard^® treatment. Aviguard^® application did not result in alleviated clinical signs, histopathological or apoptotic changes in the colon of infected IL-10^−/− mice, whereas, however, Aviguard^® treatment could dampen pathogen-induced innate and adaptive immune responses in the colon, accompanied by less distinct intestinal proinflammatory cytokine secretion. In conclusion, Aviguard^® constitutes a promising probiotic compound to alleviate enteropathogen-induced proinflammatory immune responses during human campylobacteriosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

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18 pages, 4385 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Peroral Clove Essential Oil Treatment Ameliorates Acute Campylobacteriosis—Results from a Preclinical Murine Intervention Study

by Stefan Bereswill, Soraya Mousavi, Dennis Weschka, Agnes Buczkowski, Sebastian Schmidt and Markus M. Heimesaat

Microorganisms 2021, 9(4), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9040735 - 31 Mar 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2046

Abstract

Campylobacter (C.) jejuni infections pose progressively emerging threats to human health worldwide. Given the rise in antibiotic resistance, antibiotics-independent options are required to fight campylobacteriosis. Since the health-beneficial effects of clove have been known for long, we here analyzed the antimicrobial [...] Read more.

Campylobacter (C.) jejuni infections pose progressively emerging threats to human health worldwide. Given the rise in antibiotic resistance, antibiotics-independent options are required to fight campylobacteriosis. Since the health-beneficial effects of clove have been known for long, we here analyzed the antimicrobial and immune-modulatory effects of clove essential oil (EO) during acute experimental campylobacteriosis. Therefore, microbiota-depleted interleukin-10 deficient (IL-10^−/−) mice were perorally infected with C. jejuni and treated with clove EO via drinking water starting on day 2 post-infection. On day 6 post-infection, lower small- and large-intestinal pathogen loads could be assessed in clove EO as compared to placebo treated mice. Although placebo mice suffered from severe campylobacteriosis as indicated by wasting and bloody diarrhea, clove EO treatment resulted in a better clinical outcome and in less severe colonic histopathological and apoptotic cell responses in C. jejuni infected mice. Furthermore, lower colonic numbers of macrophages, monocytes, and T lymphocytes were detected in mice from the verum versus the placebo cohort that were accompanied by lower intestinal, extra-intestinal, and even systemic proinflammatory cytokine concentrations. In conclusion, our preclinical intervention study provides first evidence that the natural compound clove EO constitutes a promising antibiotics-independent treatment option of acute campylobacteriosis in humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

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Review

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14 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessReview

Role of Marine Bacterial Contaminants in Histamine Formation in Seafood Products: A Review

by Adnorita Fandah Oktariani, Yan Ramona, Putu Eka Sudaryatma, Ida Ayu Mirah Meliana Dewi and Kalidas Shetty

Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10061197 - 11 Jun 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3892

Abstract

Histamine is a toxic biogenic amine commonly found in seafood products or their derivatives. This metabolite is produced by histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) such as Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, E. cloacae, Serratia fonticola, S. liquefaciens, Citrobacter [...] Read more.

Histamine is a toxic biogenic amine commonly found in seafood products or their derivatives. This metabolite is produced by histamine-producing bacteria (HPB) such as Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, E. cloacae, Serratia fonticola, S. liquefaciens, Citrobacter freundii, C. braakii, Clostridium spp., Raoultella planticola, R. ornithinolytica, Vibrio alginolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. olivaceus, Acinetobacter lowffi, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Pseudomonas putida, P. fluorescens, Aeromonas spp., Photobacterium damselae, P. phosphoreum, P. leiognathi, P. iliopiscarium, P. kishitanii, and P. aquimaris. In this review, the role of these bacteria in histamine production in fish and seafood products with consequences for human food poisoning following consumption are discussed. In addition, methods to control their activity in countering histamine production are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

28 pages, 4376 KiB

Open AccessReview

Development of Antibiofilm Therapeutics Strategies to Overcome Antimicrobial Drug Resistance

by Sahaya Nadar, Tabassum Khan, Simon G. Patching and Abdelwahab Omri

Microorganisms 2022, 10(2), 303; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10020303 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 6046

Abstract

A biofilm is a community of stable microorganisms encapsulated in an extracellular matrix produced by themselves. Many types of microorganisms that are found on living hosts or in the environment can form biofilms. These include pathogenic bacteria that can serve as a reservoir [...] Read more.

A biofilm is a community of stable microorganisms encapsulated in an extracellular matrix produced by themselves. Many types of microorganisms that are found on living hosts or in the environment can form biofilms. These include pathogenic bacteria that can serve as a reservoir for persistent infections, and are culpable for leading to a broad spectrum of chronic illnesses and emergence of antibiotic resistance making them difficult to be treated. The absence of biofilm-targeting antibiotics in the drug discovery pipeline indicates an unmet opportunity for designing new biofilm inhibitors as antimicrobial agents using various strategies and targeting distinct stages of biofilm formation. The strategies available to control biofilm formation include targeting the enzymes and proteins specific to the microorganism and those involved in the adhesion pathways leading to formation of resistant biofilms. This review primarily focuses on the recent strategies and advances responsible for identifying a myriad of antibiofilm agents and their mechanism of biofilm inhibition, including extracellular polymeric substance synthesis inhibitors, adhesion inhibitors, quorum sensing inhibitors, efflux pump inhibitors, and cyclic diguanylate inhibitors. Furthermore, we present the structure–activity relationships (SAR) of these agents, including recently discovered biofilm inhibitors, nature-derived bioactive scaffolds, synthetic small molecules, antimicrobial peptides, bioactive compounds isolated from fungi, non-proteinogenic amino acids and antibiotics. We hope to fuel interest and focus research efforts on the development of agents targeting the uniquely complex, physical and chemical heterogeneous biofilms through a multipronged approach and combinatorial therapeutics for a more effective control and management of biofilms across diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Bacteria–Host Interactions)

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