Acrobeloides buetschlii as a potential vector for enteric pathogens

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess if Acrobeloides buetschlii, an opportunistic species common across many soils, can be employed as a suitable model for interactions between free-living soil nematodes and enteric human pathogens. Acrobeloides buetschlii was exposed to mCherry-tagged Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and its vector potential was assessed. Salmonella cells were more readily ingested by the nematodes compared to E. coli 0157:H7. Adult nematodes ingested more bacteria compared to juveniles. Salmonella survived internally for at least 7 days without affecting the viability of nematodes. Bacterial ingestion by A. buetschlii did not vary for three tested Salmonella serovars but was significantly lower for E. coli 0157:H7. Considering the ubiquitous nature of pathogen and vector, these findings suggest that A. buetschlii can serve as a relevant model for studying nematode-Salmonella interactions in an agricultural setting and as potential transport for food-borne pathogens from soil to crops.

Bacillus strain BX77: a potential biocontrol agent for use against foodborne pathogens in alfalfa sprouts

“…The Salmonella strains used in this study included STm SL1344 that is resistant to streptomycin (Gruzdev et al, 2012); STm SL1344 tagged with mCherry (Kroupitski et al, 2015); S. enterica serovars Infantis (Lublin et al, 2015), Enteritidis, Virchow, and Hadar (Kroupitski et al, 2009); and E. coli O55:H7 (Weiss-Muszkat et al, 2010). Bacterial strains were grown overnight in Difco ™ LB, Lennox (BD, Sparks, MD, USA) broth at 37°C with agitation (150 rpm) and then kept as 40% glycerol stocks at -80°C.…”

Legionella pneumophila and Free-Living Nematodes: Environmental Co-Occurrence and Trophic Link

“…Nematode infection with L. pneumophila includes a shortened lifespan, extrusion of viscera through the vulva and intestinal and anal distensions [ 37 ]. Generally, free-living nematodes are known to ingest, harbor and disseminate bacteria, that survive the gut passage, including human pathogens such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria welshimeri , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella enterica and Serratia marcescens [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Accordingly, the role of nematodes as vectors for human pathogens has long been recognized [ 41 , 42 ].…”