Project description:BackgroundThe genus Cronobacter (formerly called Enterobacter sakazakii) is composed of five species; C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis, C. muytjensii, and C. dublinensis. The genus includes opportunistic human pathogens, and the first three species have been associated with neonatal infections. The most severe diseases are caused in neonates and include fatal necrotizing enterocolitis and meningitis. The genetic basis of the diversity within the genus is unknown, and few virulence traits have been identified.Methodology/principal findingsWe report here the first sequence of a member of this genus, C. sakazakii strain BAA-894. The genome of Cronobacter sakazakii strain BAA-894 comprises a 4.4 Mb chromosome (57% GC content) and two plasmids; 31 kb (51% GC) and 131 kb (56% GC). The genome was used to construct a 387,000 probe oligonucleotide tiling DNA microarray covering the whole genome. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was undertaken on five other C. sakazakii strains, and representatives of the four other Cronobacter species. Among 4,382 annotated genes inspected in this study, about 55% of genes were common to all C. sakazakii strains and 43% were common to all Cronobacter strains, with 10-17% absence of genes.Conclusions/significanceCGH highlighted 15 clusters of genes in C. sakazakii BAA-894 that were divergent or absent in more than half of the tested strains; six of these are of probable prophage origin. Putative virulence factors were identified in these prophage and in other variable regions. A number of genes unique to Cronobacter species associated with neonatal infections (C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus and C. turicensis) were identified. These included a copper and silver resistance system known to be linked to invasion of the blood-brain barrier by neonatal meningitic strains of Escherichia coli. In addition, genes encoding for multidrug efflux pumps and adhesins were identified that were unique to C. sakazakii strains from outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units.

Project description:The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance has driven the search for virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria, which can serve as targets for the development of new antibiotics. Although whole-genome Tn5 transposon mutagenesis combined with phenotypic assays has been a widely used approach, its efficiency remains low due to labor-intensive processes. In this study, we aimed to identify specific genes and proteins associated with the virulence of Cronobacter sakazakii, a pathogenic bacterium known for causing severe infections, particularly in infants and immunocompromised individuals. By employing a combination of genetic screening, comparative proteomics, and in vivo validation using zebrafish and rat models, we rapidly screened highly virulent strains and identified two genes, rcsA and treR, as potential regulators of C. sakazakii toxicity toward zebrafish and rats. Proteomic profiling revealed upregulated proteins upon knockout of rcsA and treR, including FabH, GshA, GppA, GcvH, IhfB, RfaC, MsyB, and three unknown proteins. Knockout of their genes significantly weakened bacterial virulence, confirming their role as potential virulence factors. Our findings contribute to understanding the pathogenicity of C. sakazakii and provide insights into the development of targeted interventions and therapies against this bacterium.IMPORTANCEThe emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria has become a critical global health concern, necessitating the identification of virulence factors as potential targets for the development of new antibiotics. This study addresses the limitations of conventional approaches by employing a combination of genetic screening, comparative proteomics, and in vivo validation to rapidly identify specific genes and proteins associated with the virulence of Cronobacter sakazakii, a highly pathogenic bacterium responsible for severe infections in vulnerable populations. The identification of two genes, rcsA and treR, as potential regulators of C. sakazakii toxicity toward zebrafish and rats and the proteomic profiling upon knockout of rcsA and treR provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying bacterial virulence. The findings contribute to our understanding of C. sakazakii's pathogenicity, shed light on the regulatory pathways involved in bacterial virulence, and offer potential targets for the development of novel interventions against this highly virulent bacterium.

Project description:The genus Cronobacter (formerly called Enterobacter sakazakii) is composed of five species; C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis, C. muytjensii, and C. dublinensis. The genus includes opportunistic human pathogens, and the first three species have been associated with neonatal infections. The most severe diseases are caused in neonates and include fatal necrotizing enterocolitis and meningitis. The genetic basis of the diversity within the genus is unknown, and few virulence traits have been identified. We report here the first sequence of a member of this genus, C. sakazakii strain BAA-894. The genome of Cronobacter sakazakii strain BAA-894 comprises a 4.4 Mb chromosome (57% GC content) and two plasmids; 31 Kb (51% GC) and 131 Kb (56% GC). The genome was used to construct a 385,000 probe oligonucleotide tiling DNA microarray covering the whole genome. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was undertaken on five other C. sakazakii strains, and representatives of the four other Cronobacter species. Among 4,382 annotated genes inspected in this study, about 55% of genes were common to all C. sakazakii strains and 43% were common to all Cronobacter strains, with 10 - 17% absence of genes. CGH highlighted 15 clusters of genes in C. sakazakii BAA-894 that were divergent or absent in more than half of the tested strains; six of these are of probable prophage origin. Putative virulence factors were identified in these prophage and in other variable regions. A number of genes unique to Cronobacter species associated with neonatal infections (C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus and C. turicensis) were identified. These included a copper and silver resistance system known to be linked to invasion of the blood-brain barrier by neonatal meningitic strains of Escherichia coli. In addition, genes encoding for multidrug efflux pumps and adhesins were identified that were unique to C. sakazakii strains from outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units. Comparative genomic hybridization highlighted 15 clusters of genes in C. sakazakii BAA-894 that were divergent or absent in more than half of the tested strains; six of these are of probable prophage origin. Putative virulence factors were identified in these prophage and in other variable regions. A number of genes unique to Cronobacter species associated with neonatal infections (C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus and C. turicensis) were identified. These included a copper and silver resistance system known to be linked to invasion of the blood-brain barrier by neonatal meningitic strains of Escherichia coli. In addition, genes encoding for multidrug efflux pumps and adhesins were identified that were unique to C. sakazakii strains from outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units.

Project description:The genus Cronobacter (formerly called Enterobacter sakazakii) is composed of five species; C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus, C. turicensis, C. muytjensii, and C. dublinensis. The genus includes opportunistic human pathogens, and the first three species have been associated with neonatal infections. The most severe diseases are caused in neonates and include fatal necrotizing enterocolitis and meningitis. The genetic basis of the diversity within the genus is unknown, and few virulence traits have been identified. We report here the first sequence of a member of this genus, C. sakazakii strain BAA-894. The genome of Cronobacter sakazakii strain BAA-894 comprises a 4.4 Mb chromosome (57% GC content) and two plasmids; 31 Kb (51% GC) and 131 Kb (56% GC). The genome was used to construct a 385,000 probe oligonucleotide tiling DNA microarray covering the whole genome. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was undertaken on five other C. sakazakii strains, and representatives of the four other Cronobacter species. Among 4,382 annotated genes inspected in this study, about 55% of genes were common to all C. sakazakii strains and 43% were common to all Cronobacter strains, with 10 - 17% absence of genes. CGH highlighted 15 clusters of genes in C. sakazakii BAA-894 that were divergent or absent in more than half of the tested strains; six of these are of probable prophage origin. Putative virulence factors were identified in these prophage and in other variable regions. A number of genes unique to Cronobacter species associated with neonatal infections (C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus and C. turicensis) were identified. These included a copper and silver resistance system known to be linked to invasion of the blood-brain barrier by neonatal meningitic strains of Escherichia coli. In addition, genes encoding for multidrug efflux pumps and adhesins were identified that were unique to C. sakazakii strains from outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units. Comparative genomic hybridization highlighted 15 clusters of genes in C. sakazakii BAA-894 that were divergent or absent in more than half of the tested strains; six of these are of probable prophage origin. Putative virulence factors were identified in these prophage and in other variable regions. A number of genes unique to Cronobacter species associated with neonatal infections (C. sakazakii, C. malonaticus and C. turicensis) were identified. These included a copper and silver resistance system known to be linked to invasion of the blood-brain barrier by neonatal meningitic strains of Escherichia coli. In addition, genes encoding for multidrug efflux pumps and adhesins were identified that were unique to C. sakazakii strains from outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units. Ten Cronobacter samples were analyzed, including total genomic DNA of six C. sakazakii strains, one C. malonaticus strain, one C. muytjensii strain, one C. dublinensis strain and one C. turicensis strain.

Dataset Information

Genomic Analysis of Putative Virulence Factors Affecting Cytotoxicity of Cronobacter.

Publications

Genomic Analysis of Putative Virulence Factors Affecting Cytotoxicity of <i>Cronobacter</i>.

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