Dataset Information

Spatial and Temporal Factors Associated with an Increased Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in Spinach Fields in New York State.

ABSTRACT: While rain and irrigation events have been associated with an increased prevalence of foodborne pathogens in produce production environments, quantitative data are needed to determine the effects of various spatial and temporal factors on the risk of produce contamination following these events. This study was performed to quantify these effects and to determine the impact of rain and irrigation events on the detection frequency and diversity of Listeria species (including L. monocytogenes) and L. monocytogenes in produce fields. Two spinach fields, with high and low predicted risks of L. monocytogenes isolation, were sampled 24, 48, 72, and 144 to 192 h following irrigation and rain events. Predicted risk was a function of the field's proximity to water and roads. Factors were evaluated for their association with Listeria species and L. monocytogenes isolation by using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). In total, 1,492 (1,092 soil, 334 leaf, 14 fecal, and 52 water) samples were collected. According to the GLMM, the likelihood of Listeria species and L. monocytogenes isolation from soil samples was highest during the 24 h immediately following an event (odds ratios [ORs] of 7.7 and 25, respectively). Additionally, Listeria species and L. monocytogenes isolates associated with irrigation events showed significantly lower sigB allele type diversity than did isolates associated with precipitation events (P = <0.001), suggesting that irrigation water may be a point source of L. monocytogenes contamination. Small changes in management practices (e.g., not irrigating fields before harvest) may therefore reduce the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination of fresh produce.

SUBMITTER: Weller D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4551256 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Spatial and Temporal Factors Associated with an Increased Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in Spinach Fields in New York State.

Weller Daniel D Wiedmann Martin M Strawn Laura K LK

Applied and environmental microbiology 20150626 17

While rain and irrigation events have been associated with an increased prevalence of foodborne pathogens in produce production environments, quantitative data are needed to determine the effects of various spatial and temporal factors on the risk of produce contamination following these events. This study was performed to quantify these effects and to determine the impact of rain and irrigation events on the detection frequency and diversity of Listeria species (including L. monocytogenes) and ...[more]

PMID: 26116668

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Project description:The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes experiences osmotic stress in many habitats, including foods and the gastrointestinal tract of the host. While osmotic stress induced changes in expression have been investigated for specific genes, identifying and understanding genome-wide temporal changes in the transcriptome due to salt stress will provide insights into how this pathogen adapts to and survives this stress, leading to development of new intervention strategies. To determine the short-term and long-term responses to salt stress, we exposed exponential phase cells of L. monocytogenes H7858 to 6% NaCl in Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth at 7°C and 37°C and extracted RNA after 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20% of lag phase and during exponential growth in BHI + 6% NaCl, and evaluated temporal changes in transcript levels with microarrays. The temperature dependent short-term response to salt stress included a significant increase in transcript levels of the alternative sigma factor σB, with maximum expression at 2.5-5% of lag phase at 37°C, and at 20% of lag phase at 7°C. Transcript levels of genes known to be regulated by σB, including inlAB, opuCA, glpFK, and gadBC, were significantly upregulated at the same relative time points as σB As indicated by significantly elevated transcript levels during exponential growth in BHI + 6% NaCl, genes encoding proteins involved in purine and pyrimidine synthesis and amino acid biosynthesis are part of the long-term response to salt stress at 37°C. Transcript levels of virulence genes plcA, mpl, actA, and plcB were also significantly upregulated during exponential growth under salt stress at 37°C. Genes encoding proteins involved in protein degradation and stability and cell membrane modifications are part of the long-term response to salt stress at 7°C. Overall, an initial alteration in the transcriptome occurs, decreasing transcript levels of genes encoding proteins involved in energy conversion and metabolism, while increasing transcript levels of those involved in the stress response controlled by σB, followed by a long-term response, including increased expression of genes encoding compatible solute transporters and general stress proteins, facilitating growth under salt stress.

Dataset Information

Spatial and Temporal Factors Associated with an Increased Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in Spinach Fields in New York State.

Publications

Spatial and Temporal Factors Associated with an Increased Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in Spinach Fields in New York State.

Similar Datasets

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