Profiling of Virulence Determinants in Cronobacter sakazakii Isolates from Different Plant and Environmental Commodities

Curr Microbiol. 2017 May;74(5):560-565. doi: 10.1007/s00284-017-1219-9. Epub 2017 Mar 3.

Abstract

Cronobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen causing meningitis, sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates and immune-compromised adults. The present study describes the profiling of different virulence factors associated with C. sakazakii isolates derived from plant-based materials and environmental samples (soil, water, and vacuum dust). All the isolates exhibited β-hemolysis and chitinase activity, and were able to utilize inositol. Among the nine virulence-associated genes, hly gene coding for hemolysin was detected in all the isolates followed by ompA (outer membrane protein); however, plasmid-borne genes were detected at a level of 60% for both cpa (cronobacter plasminogen activator) and eitA (Ferric ion transporter protein) gene, respectively. Furthermore, the isolate C. sakazakii N81 showed cytotoxicity for Caco-2 cells. The presence of the virulence determinants investigated in this study indicates the pathogenic potential of C. sakazakii with their plausible connection with clinical manifestations.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cronobacter sakazakii / genetics
  • Cronobacter sakazakii / isolation & purification
  • Cronobacter sakazakii / pathogenicity*
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Environmental Microbiology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Plants / microbiology*
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable
  • Virulence Factors* / genetics

Substances

  • Virulence Factors