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Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis

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A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (22 May 2023) | Viewed by 36394

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mónica Oleastro

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Guest Editor

Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: foodborne pathogen; molecular epidemiology; AMR; virulence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ana Botelho

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Guest Editor

National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Oeiras, Portugal
Interests: molecular microbiology; one health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Foodborne microorganisms have a major effect on food safety and cause a great number of human infectious diseases worldwide, with a significant impact on public health and the economy. Consumption of foodstuffs, mainly animal products contaminated with vegetative pathogens or their toxins, are the main source of illness, since most of these microbes are zoonotic. Food animals are major reservoirs of many foodborne zoonotic bacterial pathogens, and food products of animal origin are the main vehicles of transmission. Bacteria are the causative agents of two-thirds of human foodborne diseases worldwide, with a particularly high burden in developing countries. S. aureus, Salmonella species, Campylobacter species, L. monocytogenes, and E. coli are the major zoonotic bacterial pathogens, but viruses (e.g., Hepatitis A and Noroviruses, among others) and parasites (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spiralis) are also of relevance as foodborne diseases causative agents. Currently, the emergence of multidrug-resistant zoonotic bacteria associated with consumption of contaminated animal products is a great concern for public health.

This Special Issue aims to gather up-to-date research on the infection and pathogenesis of foodborne pathogens, and will cover the following topics:

Foodborne zoonotic bacterial pathogens ;
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of infection;
Virulence factors and their regulation in the host and in the environment;
Production of toxins in the outcome of foodborne infections;
Pathogenicity models;
Host–pathogen interaction;
The role of the immune system in the disease process;
The role of microbiota in the disease process;
Biofilm production and the outcome of foodborne infections;
Antimicrobial resistance, including novel mechanisms;
Foodborne parasites;
Viral foodborne agents;
Food safety: Control of foodborne pathogens.

This Special Issue is addressed to microbiology professionals, specifically to food microbiologists, clinical and veterinary microbiologists, as well as to researchers and academics involved in food microbiology- and food safety-related research or teaching.

Dr. Mónica Oleastro
Dr. Ana Botelho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

foodborne zoonotic bacterial pathogens
host-pathogen interaction
virulence
toxins
biofilms
gut microbioma
antimicrobial resistance
foodborne parasites
viral foodborne agents
Salmonella
Campylobacter
Listeria
food safety

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 197 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Editorial for Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis

by Mónica Oleastro and Ana Botelho

Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061544 - 10 Jun 2023

Viewed by 974

Abstract

Foodborne microorganisms substantially impact food safety and contribute considerably to the public health and economic burden of infectious diseases worldwide [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 1072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Coagulase Positive Staphylococci in Cured Raw Milk Cheese from Alentejo Region, Portugal

by Joana Praça, Rosália Furtado, Anabela Coelho, Cristina Belo Correia, Vítor Borges, João Paulo Gomes, Angela Pista and Rita Batista

Microorganisms 2023, 11(2), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11020322 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2760

Abstract

Traditional cheeses are part of the Portuguese gastronomic identity, and raw milk of autochthonous species is a common primary ingredient. Here, we investigated the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, Coagulase Positive Staphylococci (CPS) and pathogenic Escherichia coli, as well as of indicator microorganisms (E. coli and other Listeria spp.) in 96 cured raw milk cheeses from the Alentejo region. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of pathogenic E. coli and Listeria spp. as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) screening of E. coli isolates was also performed. L. monocytogenes, CPS > 10⁴ cfu/g and Extraintestinal E. coli were detected in 15.6%, 16.9% and 10.1% of the samples, respectively. Moreover, L. monocytogenes > 10² cfu/g and Staphylococcal enterotoxins were detected in 4.2% and 2.2% of the samples, respectively. AMR was observed in 27.3% of the E. coli isolates, six of which were multidrug resistant. WGS analysis unveiled clusters of high closely related isolates for both L. monocytogenes and L. innocua (often correlating with the cheese producer). This study can indicate poor hygiene practices during milk collection/preservation or during cheese-making procedures and handling, and highlights the need of more effective prevention and control measures and of multi-sectoral WGS data integration, in order to prevent and detect foodborne bacterial outbreaks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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14 pages, 5773 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Atmospheric Conditions on Pathogenic Phenotypes of Arcobacter butzleri

by Rodrigo Martins, Cristiana Mateus, Fernanda Domingues, Roland Bücker, Mónica Oleastro and Susana Ferreira

Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2409; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122409 - 06 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1623

Abstract

Arcobacter butzleri is an emergent gram-negative enteropathogenic bacterium widespread in different environments and hosts. During the colonization of the gastrointestinal tract, bacteria face a variety of environmental conditions to successfully establish infection in a new host. One of these challenges is the fluctuation of oxygen concentrations encountered not only throughout the host gastrointestinal tract and defences but also in the food industry. Oxygen fluctuations can lead to modulations in the virulence of the bacterium and possibly increase its pathogenic potential. In this sense, eight human isolates of A. butzleri were studied to evaluate the effects of microaerobic and aerobic atmospheric conditions in stressful host conditions, such as oxidative stress, acid survival, and human serum survival. In addition, the effects on the modulation of virulence traits, such as haemolytic activity, bacterial motility, biofilm formation ability, and adhesion and invasion of the Caco-2 cell line, were also investigated. Overall, aerobic conditions negatively affected the susceptibility to oxygen reactive species and biofilm formation ability but improved the isolates’ haemolytic ability and motility while other traits showed an isolate-dependent response. In summary, this work demonstrates for the first time that oxygen levels can modulate the potential pathogenicity of A. butzleri, although the response to stressful conditions was very heterogeneous among different strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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15 pages, 6549 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gene Regulatory Network of the Noncoding RNA Qrr5 Involved in the Cytotoxicity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus during Infection

by Fei Zha, Rui Pang, Shixuan Huang, Jumei Zhang, Juan Wang, Moutong Chen, Liang Xue, Qinghua Ye, Shi Wu, Meiyan Yang, Qihui Gu, Yu Ding, Hao Zhang and Qingping Wu

Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 2084; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10102084 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1533

Abstract

Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria are important regulatory molecules for controlling virulence. In Vibrio spp., Qrr sRNAs are critical for quorum-sensing pathways and regulating the release of some virulence factors. However, the detailed role of Qrr sRNAs in the virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a Vibrio sRNA Qrr5 that positively regulates cytotoxicity and adherence in Caco-2 cells by primarily regulating the T3SS1 gene cluster. A number of 185, 586, 355, and 74 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) detected at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h post-infection, respectively, were mainly associated with ABC transporters and two-component system pathways. The DEGs exhibited a dynamic change in expression at various time points post-infection owing to the deletion of Qrr5. Accordingly, 17 related genes were identified in the co-expression network, and their interaction with Qrr5 was determined based on weighted co-expression network analysis during infection. Taken together, our results provide a comprehensive transcriptome profile of V. parahaemolyticus during infection in Caco-2 cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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13 pages, 637 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Infection of L. monocytogenes and Toxoplasma gondii in a Sheep Flock Causing Abortion and Lamb Deaths

by Maria Elisabetta De Angelis, Camillo Martino, Alexandra Chiaverini, Chiara Di Pancrazio, Violeta Di Marzio, Serena Bosica, Daniela Malatesta, Stefania Salucci, Nadia Sulli, Vicdalia Aniela Acciari and Francesco Pomilio

Microorganisms 2022, 10(8), 1647; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10081647 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1727

Abstract

Abortion in livestock is a public health burden, and the cause of economic losses for farmers. Abortion can be multifactorial, and a deep diagnostic investigation is important to reduce the spread of zoonotic disease and public health prevention. In our study, a multidisciplinary investigation was conducted to address the cause of increased abortion and lamb mortality on a farm, which detected a co-infection of Listeria monocytogenes and Toxoplasma gondii. Hence, it was possible to conclude that this was the reason for a reduced flock health status and the cause of an increased abortion rate. Furthermore, the investigation work and identification of the L. monocytogenes infection root allowed the reduction of economic loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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10 pages, 1011 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hepatitis E Virus Detection in Hunted Wild Boar Liver and Muscle Tissues in Central Italy

by Gianluigi Ferri, Carlotta Lauteri, Anna Rita Festino, Andrea Piccinini, Alberto Olivastri and Alberto Vergara

Microorganisms 2022, 10(8), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10081628 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1327

Abstract

In different European countries, including Italy, hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been recognized as an emerging public health concern. Humans are infected through the orofecal route by the ingestion of contaminated uncooked or undercooked animal-origin foodstuffs. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) have gained a crucial role as viral reservoirs. HEV-3 is the most frequently identified genotype from hunted wild boar liver and muscle tissues. The Marche region, more specifically Ascoli Piceno province, is characterized by a rooted hunting tradition and related product consumption. In this research study, 312 liver and 296 muscle specimens were screened using biomolecular assays, and HEV RNA was detected from 5.45% and 1.35% of liver and muscle samples, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that positive animals were infected by genotype 3 subtype c. Based on the environmental pathogen characteristics, HEV has also evolved to guarantee its survival in a wild environment. Therefore, wild boars and ruminants have a key role in its persistence. Epidemiological data regarding HEV circulation have resulted as necessary, and biomolecular analysis represents an important means of monitoring and establishing preventive measures. A multidisciplinary approach could provide a wide perspective regarding HEV and infectious implications on human, animal, and environmental health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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8 pages, 883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CAMPYAIR, a New Selective, Differential Medium for Campylobacter spp. Isolation without the Need for Microaerobic Atmosphere

by Arturo Levican and Arthur Hinton, Jr.

Microorganisms 2022, 10(7), 1403; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071403 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3850

Abstract

Campylobacter spp. are considered the most frequent bacterial cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Although the diarrhea produced by these bacteria is self-limiting, the pathogen has been associated with severe long-term sequelae following acute signs and symptoms of the illness. However, research on Campylobacter is hampered by costs and technical requirements for isolating and culturing the bacterium, especially in low and middle-income countries. Therefore, attempts have been made to simplify these culture methods and to reduce costs associated with conducting research on Campylobacter. Recently, a liquid medium which allows selective enrichment of Campylobacter using aerobic incubation has been described. However, a solid medium is also needed for the isolation of pure colonies, enumeration of bacterial populations, and other studies on the pathogen. Therefore, a new medium (CAMPYAIR) was developed, based on the formulation of the liquid medium. CAMPYAIR is a solid chromogenic medium that supports the growth of Campylobacter isolates within 48 h of incubation in aerobic atmospheres. Moreover, CAMPYAIR contains antibiotic supplements with an enhanced ability to recover Campylobacter from environmental samples that may also contain non-campylobacter bacteria. The addition of the indicator 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) to the medium differentiates Campylobacter from other bacteria growing on the media. The findings from studies on CAMPYAIR suggest that the utilization of the new selective, differential medium could help to reduce the costs, equipment, and technical training required for Campylobacter isolation from clinical and environmental samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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17 pages, 1660 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Diversity and Relationships of Listeria monocytogenes Serogroup IIa Isolated in Poland

by Beata Lachtara, Kinga Wieczorek and Jacek Osek

Microorganisms 2022, 10(3), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10030532 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2783

Abstract

In the present study, 100 L. monocytogenes isolates of serogroup IIa from food and food production environments in Poland were characterized towards the presence of virulence, resistance, and stress response genes using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The strains were also molecularly typed and compared with multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core genome MLST analyses. The present isolates were grouped into 6 sublineages (SLs), with the most prevalent SL155 (33 isolates), SL121 (32 isolates), and SL8 (28 isolates) and classified into six clonal complexes, with the most prevalent CC155 (33 strains), CC121 (32 isolates), and CC8 (28 strains). Furthermore, the strains were grouped to eight sequence types, with the most prevalent ST155 (33 strains), ST121 (30 isolates), and ST8 (28; strains) followed by 60 cgMLST types (CTs). WGS data showed the presence of several virulence genes or putative molecular markers playing a role in pathogenesis of listeriosis and involved in survival of L. monocytogenes in adverse environmental conditions. Some of the present strains were molecularly closely related to L. monocytogenes previously isolated in Poland. The results of the study showed that food and food production environments may be a source of L. monocytogenes of serogroup IIa with pathogenic potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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Review

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17 pages, 1250 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Use of Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understand the Biology of Campylobacter jejuni

by Paulina A. Dzianach, Francisco J. Pérez-Reche, Norval J. C. Strachan, Ken J. Forbes and Gary A. Dykes

Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2498; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122498 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1685

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is a bacterial pathogen recognised as a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide. While Campylobacter jejuni generally does not grow outside its host, it can survive outside of the host long enough to pose a health concern. This review presents an up-to-date description and evaluation of biological, mathematical, and statistical approaches used to understand the behaviour of this foodborne pathogen and suggests future avenues which can be explored. Specifically, the incorporation of mathematical modelling may aid the understanding of C. jejuni biofilm formation both outside and inside the host. Predictive studies may be improved by the introduction of more standardised protocols for assessments of disinfection methods and by assessment of novel physical disinfection strategies as well as assessment of the efficiency of plant extracts on C. jejuni eradication. A full description of the metabolic pathways of C. jejuni, which is needed for the successful application of metabolic models, is yet to be achieved. Finally, a shift from animal models (except for those that are a source of human campylobacteriosis) to human-specific data may be made possible due to recent technological advancements, and this may lead to more accurate predictions of human infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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18 pages, 1390 KiB

Open AccessReview

Campylobacter jejuni in Poultry: Pathogenesis and Control Strategies

by Walid Ghazi Al Hakeem, Shahna Fathima, Revathi Shanmugasundaram and Ramesh K. Selvaraj

Microorganisms 2022, 10(11), 2134; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10112134 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 7528

Abstract

C. jejuni is the leading cause of human foodborne illness associated with poultry, beef, and pork consumption. C. jejuni is highly prevalent in commercial poultry farms, where horizontal transmission from the environment is considered to be the primary source of C. jejuni. As an enteric pathogen, C. jejuni expresses virulence factors regulated by a two-component system that mediates C. jejuni’s ability to survive in the host. C. jejuni survives and reproduces in the avian intestinal mucus. The avian intestinal mucus is highly sulfated and sialylated compared with the human mucus modulating C. jejuni pathogenicity into a near commensal bacteria in poultry. Birds are usually infected from two to four weeks of age and remain colonized until they reach market age. A small dose of C. jejuni (around 35 CFU/mL) is sufficient for successful bird colonization. In the U.S., where chickens are raised under antibiotic-free environments, additional strategies are required to reduce C. jejuni prevalence on broilers farms. Strict biosecurity measures can decrease C. jejuni prevalence by more than 50% in broilers at market age. Vaccination and probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, organic acids, bacteriophages, bacteriocins, and quorum sensing inhibitors supplementation can improve gut health and competitively exclude C. jejuni load in broilers. Most of the mentioned strategies showed promising results; however, they are not fully implemented in poultry production. Current knowledge on C. jejuni’s morphology, source of transmission, pathogenesis in poultry, and available preharvest strategies to decrease C. jejuni colonization in broilers are addressed in this review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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26 pages, 2525 KiB

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Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenesis: The Role of Stress Adaptation

by Thulani Sibanda and Elna M. Buys

Microorganisms 2022, 10(8), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10081522 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 8335

Abstract

Adaptive stress tolerance responses are the driving force behind the survival ability of Listeria monocytogenes in different environmental niches, within foods, and ultimately, the ability to cause human infections. Although the bacterial stress adaptive responses are primarily a necessity for survival in foods and the environment, some aspects of the stress responses are linked to bacterial pathogenesis. Food stress-induced adaptive tolerance responses to acid and osmotic stresses can protect the pathogen against similar stresses in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and, thus, directly aid its virulence potential. Moreover, once in the GIT, the reprogramming of gene expression from the stress survival-related genes to virulence-related genes allows L. monocytogenes to switch from an avirulent to a virulent state. This transition is controlled by two overlapping and interlinked transcriptional networks for general stress response (regulated by Sigma factor B, (SigB)) and virulence (regulated by the positive regulatory factor A (PrfA)). This review explores the current knowledge on the molecular basis of the connection between stress tolerance responses and the pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes. The review gives a detailed background on the currently known mechanisms of pathogenesis and stress adaptation. Furthermore, the paper looks at the current literature and theories on the overlaps and connections between the regulatory networks for SigB and PrfA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Foodborne Pathogens: Infections and Pathogenesis)

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