Characterization of Emetic and Diarrheal Bacillus cereus Strains From a 2016 Foodborne Outbreak Using Whole-Genome Sequencing: Addressing the Microbiological, Epidemiological, and Bioinformatic Challenges

AbstractThe Bacillus cereus group comprises multiple species capable of causing emetic or diarrheal foodborne illness. Despite being responsible for tens of thousands of illnesses each year in the U.S. alone, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has not been routinely employed to characterize B. cereus group isolates from foodborne outbreaks. Here, we describe the first WGS-based characterization of isolates linked to an outbreak caused by members of the B. cereus group. In conjunction with a 2016 outbreak traced to a supplier of refried beans served by a fast food restaurant chain in upstate New York, a total of 33 B. cereus group strains were obtained from human cases (n =7) and food samples (n = 26). Emetic (n = 30) and diarrheal (n = 3) isolates were most closely related to B. paranthracis (clade III) and B. cereus sensu stricto (clade IV), respectively. WGS indicated that the 30 emetic isolates (24 and 6 from food and humans, respectively) were closely-related and formed a well-supported clade relative to publicly-available emetic clade III genomes with an identical sequence type (ST 26). When compared to publicly-available emetic clade III ST 26 B. cereus group genomes, the 30 emetic clade III isolates from this outbreak differed from each other by a mean of 8.3 to 11.9 core single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), while differing from publicly-available genomes by a mean of 301.7 to 528.0 core SNPs, depending on the SNP calling methodology used. Using a WST-1 cell proliferation assay, the strains isolated from this outbreak had only mild detrimental effects on HeLa cell metabolic activity compared to reference diarrheal strain B. cereus ATCC 14579. Based on both WGS and epidemiological data, we hypothesize that the outbreak was a single source outbreak caused by emetic clade III B. cereus belonging to the B. paranthracis species. In addition to showcasing how WGS can be used to characterize B. cereus group strains linked to a foodborne outbreak, we also discuss potential microbiological and epidemiological challenges presented by B. cereus group outbreaks, and we offer recommendations for analyzing WGS data from the isolates associated with them.

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Characterization of Bacillus cereus Group Isolates From Human Bacteremia by Whole-Genome Sequencing

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2020.599524 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Angelica Bianco ◽

Loredana Capozzi ◽

Maria Rosa Monno ◽

Laura Del Sambro ◽

Viviana Manzulli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Cereus ◽

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Gene Cluster ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Draft Genome ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Potential Hazard ◽

Phylogenetic Groups

Members of the Bacillus cereus group are spore-forming organisms commonly associated with food poisoning and intestinal infections. Moreover, some strains of the group (i.e., B. cereus sensu stricto and Bacillus thuringiensis) can cause bacteremia in humans, mainly in immunocompromised individuals. Here we performed the genetic characterization of 17 human clinical strains belonging to B. cereus group isolated from blood culture. The whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that the isolates were closely related to B. cereus sensu stricto and B. thuringiensis–type strain. Multilocus sequence typing analysis performed on the draft genome revealed the genetic diversity of our isolates, which were assigned to different sequence types. Based on panC nucleotide sequence, the isolates were grouped in the phylogenetic groups III and IV. The NHE, cer, and inhA gene cluster, entA, entFM, plcA, and plcB, were the most commonly detected virulence genes. Although we did not assess the ability to generate biofilm by phenotypic tests, we verified the prevalence of biofilm associated genes using an in silico approach. A high prevalence of pur gene cluster, xerC, clpY, codY, tasA, sipW, sinI, and sigB genes, was found. Genes related to the resistance to penicillin, trimethoprim, and ceftriaxone were identified in most of the isolates. Intriguingly, the majority of these virulence and AMR genes appeared to be evenly distributed among B. cereus s.s. isolates, as well as closely related to B. thuringiensis isolates. We showed the WGS represents a good approach to rapidly characterize B. cereus group strains, being able to give useful information about genetic epidemiology, the presence of virulence and antimicrobial genes, and finally about the potential hazard related to this underestimated risk.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Characterization of uterine leiomyomas by whole-genome sequencing.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.718021966.793479049 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Hiroshi Ishikawa

Keyword(s):

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Uterine Leiomyomas ◽

Whole Genome

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Characterization of Shiga Toxin‐Producing Escherichia coli Isolated From Cattle and Sheep in Xinjiang Province, China, Using Whole‐Genome Sequencing

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases ◽

10.1111/tbed.13999 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yingyu Liu ◽

Huoming Li ◽

Xuhua Chen ◽

Panpan Tong ◽

Yan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Cattle And Sheep

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SureSelect targeted enrichment, a new cost effective method for the whole genome sequencing of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-55144-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Weili Cai ◽

Schyler Nunziata ◽

John Rascoe ◽

Michael J. Stulberg

Keyword(s):

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Whole Genome Sequence ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Genome Coverage ◽

Metagenomic Sample ◽

Liberibacter Asiaticus

AbstractHuanglongbing (HLB) is a worldwide deadly citrus disease caused by the phloem-limited bacteria ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) vectored by Asian citrus psyllids. In order to effectively manage this disease, it is crucial to understand the relationship among the bacterial isolates from different geographical locations. Whole genome sequencing approaches will provide more precise molecular characterization of the diversity among populations. Due to the lack of in vitro culture, obtaining the whole genome sequence of CLas is still a challenge, especially for medium to low titer samples. Hundreds of millions of sequencing reads are needed to get good coverage of CLas from an HLB positive citrus sample. In order to overcome this limitation, we present here a new method, Agilent SureSelect XT HS target enrichment, which can specifically enrich CLas from a metagenomic sample while greatly reducing cost and increasing whole genome coverage of the pathogen. In this study, the CLas genome was successfully sequenced with 99.3% genome coverage and over 72X sequencing coverage from low titer tissue samples (equivalent to 28.52 Cq using Li 16 S qPCR). More importantly, this method also effectively captures regions of diversity in the CLas genome, which provides precise molecular characterization of different strains.

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Analysis of enterotoxigenic Bacillus cereus strains from dried foods using whole genome sequencing, multi-locus sequence analysis and toxin gene prevalence and distribution using endpoint PCR analysis

International Journal of Food Microbiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2018.06.016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 284 ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Laurenda Carter ◽

Hannah R. Chase ◽

Charles M. Gieseker ◽

Nicholas R. Hasbrouck ◽

Cynthia B. Stine ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sequence Analysis ◽

Bacillus Cereus ◽

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Toxin Gene ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Dried Foods

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Advances in foodborne outbreak investigation and source tracking using whole genome sequencing

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/333/1/012010 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 333 ◽

pp. 012010

Author(s):

W Ruppitsch ◽

A Pietzka ◽

A Cabal ◽

A Chakeri ◽

D Schmid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Outbreak Investigation ◽

Source Tracking ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Foodborne Outbreak

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First isolation and characterization of Brucella suis from yak

Genome ◽

10.1139/gen-2019-0101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (8) ◽

pp. 397-405

Author(s):

Xiaowen Yang ◽

Ning Wang ◽

Xiaofang Cao ◽

Pengfei Bie ◽

Zhifeng Xing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Whole Genome Sequencing ◽

Genome Sequencing ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Host Cells ◽

Whole Genome ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Qinghai Province ◽

Isolation And Characterization ◽

Smooth Strain

Brucella spp., facultative intracellular pathogens that can persistently colonize animal host cells and cause zoonosis, affect public health and safety. A Brucella strain was isolated from yak in Qinghai Province. To detect whether this isolate could cause an outbreak of brucellosis and to reveal its genetic characteristics, several typing and whole-genome sequencing methods were applied to identify its species and genetic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis based on MLVA and whole-genome sequencing revealed the genetic characteristics of the isolated strain. The results showed that the isolated strain is a B. suis biovar 1 smooth strain, and this isolate was named B. suis QH05. The results of comparative genomics and MLVA showed that B. suis QH05 is not a vaccine strain. Comparison with other B. suis strains isolated from humans and animals indicated that B. suis QH05 may be linked to specific animal and human sources. In conclusion, B. suis QH05 does not belong to the Brucella epidemic species in China, and as the first isolation of B. suis from yak, this strain expands the host range of B. suis.

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