Characterization and Genetic Diversity of Strains Isolated from Baby Wipes.

, a ubiquitous environmental microorganism known to cause foodborne illness, was isolated from samples taken from imported baby wipes from two different countries. These strains were characterized using a comprehensive molecular approach involving endpoint PCR, whole genome sequencing (WGS), comparative genomics, and biochemical analyses. A multiplex endpoint PCR assay was used to identify the enterotoxins: hemolysin BL, nonhemolytic enterotoxin, cytotoxin K, and enterotoxin FM toxin genes.

Characterization of Strains Originating from Plant-Origin Foods Using Comparative Genomic Analyses and Zebrafish Infectivity Studies.

continues to be isolated from ready-to-eat fresh and frozen produce, flours, dairy powders, cereals, nuts, and spices, in addition to the conventional sources of powdered infant formulae (PIF) and PIF production environments. To understand the sequence diversity, phylogenetic relationship, and virulence of originating from plant-origin foods, comparative molecular and genomic analyses, and zebrafish infection (ZI) studies were applied to 88 strains. Whole genome sequences of the strains were generated for detailed bioinformatic analysis.

Virulence, antimicrobial susceptibility and phylogenetic analysis of Cronobacter sakazakii isolates of food origins from Jordan.

Aims: The aim was to characterize a collection of Cronobacter sakazakii isolates collected from various origins in Jordan.

Methods And Results: The isolates were characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing, DNA microarray, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), O-serotyping, virulence gene identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The identities and phylogenetic relatedness revealed that C.

Environmental risk factors associated with the survival, persistence, and thermal tolerance of during the manufacture of powdered infant formula.

is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen of concern for foods having low water activity such as powdered infant formula (PIF). Its survival under desiccated stress can be attributed to its ability to adapt effectively to many different environmental stresses. Due to the high risk to neonates and its sporadic outbreaks in PIF, received great attention among the scientific community, food industry and health care providers.

A 16S rRNA Sequencing Study Describing the Environmental Microbiota of Two Powdered Infant Formula Built Facilities.

Microbial safety is critically important for powdered infant formula (PIF) fed to neonates, with under-developed immune systems. The quality and safety of food products are dictated by those microorganisms found in both raw materials and the built production environment. In this study, a 2-year monitoring program of a production environment was carried out in two PIF factories located in the Republic of Ireland, and the environmental microbiome in different care areas of these sites was studied by using a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based sequencing technique.

Phylogenomic Analysis of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Bovismorbificans from Clinical and Food Samples Using Whole Genome Wide Core Genes and kmer Binning Methods to Identify Two Distinct Polyphyletic Genome Pathotypes.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Bovismorbificans has caused multiple outbreaks involving the consumption of produce, hummus, and processed meat products worldwide. To elucidate the intra-serovar genomic structure of S.

Complete genome sequences and genomic characterization of five plasmids harbored by environmentally persistent Cronobacter sakazakii strains ST83 H322 and ST64 GK1025B obtained from powdered infant formula manufacturing facilities.

Background: Cronobacter sakazakii is a foodborne pathogen that causes septicemia, meningitis, and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates and infants. The current research details the full genome sequences of two extremely persistent C. sakazakii strains (H322 and GK1025B) isolated from powdered infant formula (PIF) manufacturing settings.

Analysis of the Molecular Diversity Among Species Isolated From Filth Flies Using Targeted PCR, Pan Genomic DNA Microarray, and Whole Genome Sequencing Analyses.

species are opportunistic pathogens capable of causing life-threatening infections in humans, with serious complications arising in neonates, infants, immuno-compromised individuals, and elderly adults. The genus is comprised of seven species: , and . Despite a multiplicity of genomic data for the genus, little is known about likely transmission vectors.

Prevalence of Cronobacter spp. and Salmonella in Milk Powder Manufacturing Facilities in the United States.

Abstract: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a sampling assignment in 2014 to ascertain the prevalence of Cronobacter spp.

Prevalence, Distribution, and Phylogeny of Type Two Toxin-Antitoxin Genes Possessed by Species where Homologs Follow Sequence Type Lineages.

species are a group of foodborne pathogenic bacteria that cause both intestinal and systemic human disease in individuals of all age groups. Little is known about the mechanisms that employ to survive and persist in foods and other environments. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) genes are thought to play a role in bacterial stress physiology, as well as in the stabilization of horizontally-acquired re-combinatorial elements such as plasmids, phage, and transposons.

Draft genomes of strains isolated from dried spices bring unique insights into the diversity of plant-associated strains.

is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that causes life- threatening infantile infections, such as meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis, as well as pneumonia, septicemia, and urinary tract and wound infections in adults. Here, we report 26 draft genome sequences of , which were obtained from dried spices from the USA, the Middle East, China, and the Republic of Korea. The average genome size of the genomes was 4393 kb, with an average of 4055 protein coding genes, and an average genome G + C content of 56.

RNA Sequencing-Based Transcriptional Overview of Xerotolerance in Cronobacter sakazakii SP291.

is a xerotolerant neonatal pathogen epidemiologically linked to powdered infant food formula, often resulting in high mortality rates. Here, we used transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to provide transcriptional insights into the survival of in desiccated conditions. Our RNA-seq data show that about 22% of the total genes were significantly upregulated and 9% were downregulated during desiccation survival.

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.

Bacillus cereus strains were isolated from dried foods, which included international brands of spices from South East Asia, Mexico and India purchased from several retail stores, samples of powdered infant formula (PIF), medicated fish feed and dietary supplements. The genetic diversity of 64 strains from spices and PIF was determined using a multiplex endpoint PCR assay designed to identify hemolysin BL, nonhemolytic enterotoxin, cytotoxin K, and enterotoxin FM toxin genes. Thirteen different B.

Whole-Genome Sequences of Cronobacter sakazakii Isolates Obtained from Foods of Plant Origin and Dried-Food Manufacturing Environments.

Here, we present draft genome sequences of 29 isolates obtained from foods of plant origin and dried-food manufacturing facilities. Assemblies and annotations resulted in genome sizes ranging from 4.3 to 4.

Genomic characterization of malonate positive serotype O:2, sequence type 64 strains, isolated from clinical, food, and environment samples.

Background: Malonate utilization, an important differential trait, well recognized as being possessed by six of the seven species is thought to be largely absent in (Csak). The current study provides experimental evidence that confirms the presence of a malonate utilization operon in 24 strains of sequence type (ST) 64, obtained from Europe, Middle East, China, and USA; it offers explanations regarding the genomic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness among these strains, and that of other strains.

Results: In this study, the presence of a malonate utilization operon in these strains was initially identified by DNA microarray analysis (MA) out of a pool of 347 strains obtained from various surveillance studies involving clinical, spices, milk powder sources and powdered infant formula production facilities in Ireland and Germany, and dried dairy powder manufacturing facilities in the USA.

Draft Genome Sequence of GP1999, Sequence Type 145, an Epiphytic Isolate Obtained from the Tomato's Rhizoplane/Rhizosphere Continuum.

We present here the draft genome of GP1999, a sequence type 145 strain isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato plants. Assembly and annotation of the genome resulted in a genome of 4,504,670 bp in size, with 4,148 coding sequences, and a GC content of 56.8%.

serovar Infantis from Food and Human Infections, Switzerland, 2010-2015: Poultry-Related Multidrug Resistant Clones and an Emerging ESBL Producing Clonal Lineage.

The aim of this study was to characterize a collection of 520 serovar Infantis strains isolated from food (poultry meat), human infections and environmental sources from the years 2010, 2013 and 2015 in Switzerland. We performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis on all 520 . Infantis isolates, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) on 32 selected isolates.

Comparative Genomic Characterization of the Highly Persistent and Potentially Virulent ST83, CC65 Strain H322 and Other ST83 Strains.

() is an opportunistic pathogen and has been associated with serious infections with high mortality rates predominantly in pre-term, low-birth weight and/or immune compromised neonates and infants. Infections have been epidemiologically linked to consumption of intrinsically and extrinsically contaminated lots of reconstituted powdered infant formula (PIF), thus contamination of such products is a challenging task for the PIF producing industry. We present the draft genome of H322, a highly persistent sequence type (ST) 83, clonal complex (CC) 65, serotype O:7 strain obtained from a batch of non-released contaminated PIF product.

Use of a Pan-Genomic DNA Microarray in Determination of the Phylogenetic Relatedness among Cronobacter spp. and Its Use as a Data Mining Tool to Understand Cronobacter Biology.

(previously known as ) is a genus of Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, rod-shaped bacteria of the family . These organisms cause a variety of illnesses such as meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and septicemia in neonates and infants, and urinary tract, wound, abscesses or surgical site infections, septicemia, and pneumonia in adults. The total gene content of 379 strains of spp.

Analysis and Characterization of Proteins Associated with Outer Membrane Vesicles Secreted by spp.

Little is known about secretion of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) by . In this study, OMVs isolated from , and were examined by electron microscopy (EM) and their associated outer membrane proteins (OMP) and genes were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, protein sequencing, BLAST, PCR, and DNA microarray. EM of stained cells revealed that the OMVs are secreted as pleomorphic micro-vesicles which cascade from the cell's surface.

Draft Genome Sequences of Enterotoxigenic Strains Obtained from Powdered Infant Formula.

We introduce the draft genome sequences of five enterotoxigenic strains: Bc 12, Bc 67, Bc 111, Bc 112, and Bc 113, which were obtained from powdered infant formula. The genome sizes of the strains ranged from 5.5 to 5.

Increased secretion of exopolysaccharide and virulence potential of a mucoid variant of Salmonella enterica serovar Montevideo under environmental stress.

During an investigation to increase the recovery of Salmonella enterica from Oregano, an increased expression of exopolysaccharide was induced in Salmonella serovar Montevideo. The atypical mucoid (SAL242S) and the non-mucoid (SAL242) strains of Montevideo were compared and characterized using various methods. Serotyping analysis demonstrated that both strains are the same serovar Montevideo.

Purification and Characterization of a Rabbit Serum Factor That Kills Listeria Species and Other Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens.

In an in-vitro assay, rabbit serum, but not human serum, killed Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen. The aim of our study was to purify and partially characterize this killing factor. Listericidin was purified from rabbit serum by a single-step ion-exchange chromatography with DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and its antimicrobial activity was assessed by a microdilution method.