scholarly journals Novel Cadmium Resistance Determinant in Listeria monocytogenes

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Parsons ◽  
Sangmi Lee ◽  
Victor Jayeola ◽  
Sophia Kathariou

ABSTRACT Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe disease (listeriosis) in susceptible individuals. It is ubiquitous in the environment and often exhibits resistance to heavy metals. One of the determinants that enables Listeria to tolerate exposure to cadmium is the cadAC efflux system, with CadA being a P-type ATPase. Three different cadA genes (designated cadA1 to cadA3) were previously characterized in L. monocytogenes. A novel putative cadmium resistance gene (cadA4) was recently identified through whole-genome sequencing, but experimental confirmation for its involvement in cadmium resistance is lacking. In this study, we characterized cadA4 in L. monocytogenes strain F8027, a cadmium-resistant strain of serotype 4b. By screening a mariner-based transposon library of this strain, we identified a mutant with reduced tolerance to cadmium and that harbored a single transposon insertion in cadA4. The tolerance to cadmium was restored by genetic complementation with the cadmium resistance cassette (cadA4C), and enhanced cadmium tolerance was conferred to two unrelated cadmium-sensitive strains via heterologous complementation with cadA4C. Cadmium exposure induced cadA4 expression, even at noninhibitory levels. Virulence assessments in the Galleria mellonella model suggested that a functional cadA4 suppressed virulence, potentially promoting commensal colonization of the insect larvae. Biofilm assays suggested that cadA4 inactivation reduced biofilm formation. These data not only confirm cadA4 as a novel cadmium resistance determinant in L. monocytogenes but also provide evidence for roles in virulence and biofilm formation. IMPORTANCE Listeria monocytogenes is an intracellular foodborne pathogen causing the disease listeriosis, which is responsible for numerous hospitalizations and deaths every year. Among the adaptations that enable the survival of Listeria in the environment are the abilities to persist in biofilms, grow in the cold, and tolerate toxic compounds, such as heavy metals. Here, we characterized a novel determinant that was recently identified on a larger mobile genetic island through whole-genome sequencing. This gene (cadA4) was found to be responsible for cadmium detoxification and to be a divergent member of the Cad family of cadmium efflux pumps. Virulence assessments in a Galleria mellonella model suggested that cadA4 may suppress virulence. Additionally, cadA4 may be involved in the ability of Listeria to form biofilms. Beyond the role in cadmium detoxification, the involvement of cadA4 in other cellular functions potentially explains its retention and wide distribution in L. monocytogenes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhong Liu ◽  
Aixia Xu ◽  
Pina M. Fratamico ◽  
Christopher H. Sommers ◽  
Luca Rotundo ◽  
...  

Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of seven L. monocytogenes strains isolated from food, environmental, and clinical sources.


2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Judith Marcos-Zambrano ◽  
Mireia Puig-Asensio ◽  
Felipe Pérez-García ◽  
Pilar Escribano ◽  
Carlos Sánchez-Carrillo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The objectives of our study were to describe the characteristics of patients with Candida guilliermondii candidemia and to perform an in-depth microbiological characterization of isolates and compare them with those of patients with C. albicans candidemia. We described the risk factors and outcomes of 22 patients with candidemia caused by the C. guilliermondii complex. Incident isolates were identified using molecular techniques, and susceptibility to fluconazole, anidulafungin, and micafungin was studied. Biofilm formation was measured using the crystal violet assay (biomass production) and the XTT reduction assay (metabolic activity), and virulence was studied using the Galleria mellonella model. Biofilm formation was compared with that observed for C. albicans. The main conditions predisposing to infection were malignancy (68%), immunosuppressive therapy (59%), and neutropenia (18%). Clinical presentation of candidemia was less severe in patients infected by the C. guilliermondii complex than in patients infected by C. albicans, and 30-day mortality was lower in C. guilliermondii patients (13.6% versus 33.9%, respectively; P = 0.049). Isolates were identified as C. guilliermondii sensu stricto (n = 17) and Candida fermentati (n = 5). The isolates produced biofilms with low metabolic activity and moderate biomass. The G. mellonella model showed that C. guilliermondii was less virulent than C. albicans (mean of 6 days versus 1 day of survival, respectively; P < 0.001). Patients with candidemia caused by the C. guilliermondii complex had severe and debilitating underlying conditions. Overall, the isolates showed diminished susceptibility to fluconazole and echinocandins, although poor biofilm formation and the low virulence were associated with a favorable outcome.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (49) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor W. Bailey ◽  
Naila C. do Nascimento ◽  
Arun K. Bhunia

ABSTRACT Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic invasive foodborne pathogen. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing of L. monocytogenes strain F4244 (serotype 4b) using Illumina sequencing. The sequence showed 94.5% identity with strain F2365, serotype 4b, and 90.6% with EGD-e, serotype 1/2a.


2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (19) ◽  
pp. 6938-6945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shakir S. Ratani ◽  
Robin M. Siletzky ◽  
Vikrant Dutta ◽  
Suleyman Yildirim ◽  
Jason A. Osborne ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe persistence ofListeria monocytogenesin food processing plants and other ecosystems reflects its ability to adapt to numerous stresses. In this study, we investigated 138 isolates from foods and food processing plants for resistance to the quaternary ammonium disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BC) and to heavy metals (cadmium and arsenic). We also determined the prevalence of distinct cadmium resistance determinants (cadA1,cadA2, andcadA3) among cadmium-resistant isolates. Most BC-resistant isolates were resistant to cadmium as well. Arsenic resistance was encountered primarily in serotype 4b and was an attribute of most isolates of the serotype 4b epidemic clonal group ECIa. Prevalence of the known cadmium resistance determinants was serotype associated:cadA1was more common in isolates of serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b than 4b, whilecadA2was more common in those of serotype 4b. A subset (15/77 [19%]) of the cadmium-resistant isolates lacked the known cadmium resistance determinants. Most of these isolates were of serotype 4b and were also resistant to arsenic, suggesting novel determinants that may confer resistance to both cadmium and arsenic in these serotype 4b strains. The findings may reflect previously unrecognized components of the ecological history of different serotypes and clonal groups ofL. monocytogenes, including exposures to heavy metals and disinfectants.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (29) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunye Lu ◽  
Olivera Marjanovic ◽  
Christina Morales ◽  
David Kiang

ABSTRACT Listeria monocytogenes is an important foodborne pathogen. Here, we present the annotated whole genome of Listeria monocytogenes strains F14M01297-C2 and F14M01297-C4, isolated from nectarines distributed by a packing facility in California during an investigation of listeriosis associated with stone fruit in 2014.


2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (17) ◽  
pp. 5144-5152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Dongryeoul Bae ◽  
Chinling Wang

ABSTRACTThe temperature-dependent alteration of flagellar motility gene expression is critical for the foodborne pathogenListeria monocytogenesto respond to a changing environment. In this study, a genetic determinant,L. monocytogenesf2365_0220(lmof2365_0220), encoding a putative protein that is structurally similar to theBacillus cereusalkyl base DNA glycosylase (AlkD), was identified. This determinant was involved in the transcriptional repression of flagellar motility genes and was namedadlP(encoding anAlkD-likeprotein [AdlP]). Deletion ofadlPactivated the expression of flagellar motility genes at 37°C and disrupted the temperature-dependent inhibition ofL. monocytogenesmotility. TheadlPnull strains demonstrated decreased survival in murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells and less virulence in mice. Furthermore, the deletion ofadlPsignificantly decreased biofilm formation and impaired the survival of bacteria under several stress conditions, including the presence of a DNA alkylation compound (methyl methanesulfonate), an oxidative agent (H2O2), and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Our findings strongly suggest thatadlPmay encode a bifunctional protein that transcriptionally represses the expression of flagellar motility genes and influences stress responses through its DNA glycosylase activity.IMPORTANCEWe discovered a novel protein that we namedAlkD-likeprotein (AdlP). This protein affected flagellar motility, biofilm formation, and virulence. Our data suggest that AdlP may be a bifunctional protein that represses flagellar motility genes and influences stress responses through its DNA glycosylase activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jule Anna Horlbog ◽  
Hyein Jang ◽  
Gopal Gopinath ◽  
Roger Stephan ◽  
Claudia Guldimann

Here, we report the whole-genome sequences of six Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from meat and milk products in Switzerland. All of these strains carry premature stop codons or amino acid deletions in inlA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria López-Alonso ◽  
Sagrario Ortiz ◽  
Joaquín V. Martínez-Suárez

Here, we present the draft genome sequences of seven Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated during three independent studies carried out in three stages of a poultry meat production chain. The genome sequences of these strains obtained from different stages can help to understand the possible transmission of L. monocytogenes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (17) ◽  
pp. 6024-6037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Stasiewicz ◽  
Haley F. Oliver ◽  
Martin Wiedmann ◽  
Henk C. den Bakker

ABSTRACTWhile the food-borne pathogenListeria monocytogenescan persist in food associated environments, there are no whole-genome sequence (WGS) based methods to differentiate persistent from sporadic strains. Whole-genome sequencing of 188 isolates from a longitudinal study ofL. monocytogenesin retail delis was used to (i) apply single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based phylogenetics for subtyping ofL. monocytogenes, (ii) use SNP counts to differentiate persistent from repeatedly reintroduced strains, and (iii) identify genetic determinants ofL. monocytogenespersistence. WGS analysis revealed three prophage regions that explained differences between three pairs of phylogenetically similar populations with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types that differed by ≤3 bands. WGS-SNP-based phylogenetics found that putatively persistentL. monocytogenesrepresent SNP patterns (i) unique to a single retail deli, supporting persistence within the deli (11 clades), (ii) unique to a single state, supporting clonal spread within a state (7 clades), or (iii) spanning multiple states (5 clades). Isolates that formed one of 11 deli-specific clades differed by a median of 10 SNPs or fewer. Isolates from 12 putative persistence events had significantly fewer SNPs (median, 2 to 22 SNPs) than between isolates of the same subtype from other delis (median up to 77 SNPs), supporting persistence of the strain. In 13 events, nearly indistinguishable isolates (0 to 1 SNP) were found across multiple delis. No individual genes were enriched among persistent isolates compared to sporadic isolates. Our data show that WGS analysis improves food-borne pathogen subtyping and identification of persistent bacterial pathogens in food associated environments.


2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecily R. Wood ◽  
Emily J. Ohneck ◽  
Richard E. Edelmann ◽  
Luis A. Actis

ABSTRACTTranscriptional analyses ofAcinetobacter baumanniiATCC 17978 showed that the expression of A1S_2091 was enhanced in cells cultured in darkness at 24°C through a process that depended on the BlsA photoreceptor. Disruption of A1S_2091, a component of the A1S_2088-A1S_2091 polycistronic operon predicted to code for a type I chaperone/usher pilus assembly system, abolished surface motility and pellicle formation but significantly enhanced biofilm formation on plastic by bacteria cultured in darkness. Based on these observations, the A1S_2088-A1S_2091 operon was named thephotoregulatedpilus ABCD (prpABCD) operon, with A1S_2091 coding for the PrpA pilin subunit. Unexpectedly, comparative analyses of ATCC 17978 andprpAisogenic mutant cells cultured at 37°C showed the expression of light-regulated biofilm biogenesis and motility functions under a temperature condition that drastically affects BlsA production and its light-sensing activity. These assays also suggest that ATCC 17978 cells produce alternative light-regulated adhesins and/or pilus systems that enhance bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation at both 24°C and 37°C on plastic as well as on the surface of polarized A549 alveolar epithelial cells, where the formation of bacterial filaments and cell chains was significantly enhanced. The inactivation ofprpAalso resulted in a significant reduction in virulence when tested by using theGalleria mellonellavirulence model. All these observations provide strong evidence showing the capacity ofA. baumanniito sense light and interact with biotic and abiotic surfaces using undetermined alternative sensing and regulatory systems as well as alternative adherence and motility cellular functions that allow this pathogen to persist in different ecological niches.


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