Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. konkukian (Serotype H34) Superinfection: Case Report and Experimental Evidence of Pathogenicity in Immunosuppressed Mice

Abstract

We present a case of severe war wounds infected by Bacillus thuringiensis serotype H34 and describe the experimental protocol used to demonstrate its ability to infect mice after cutaneous inoculation. This case is interesting because B. thuringiensis is considered to be a contaminant in laboratories and receives inadequate attention.

Bacillus thuringiensis serotype H34 isolated from human and insecticidal strains serotypes 3a3b and H14 can lead to death of immunocompetent mice after pulmonary infection

“…konkukian (serotype H34) from soft tissue necrosis following severe war wounds caused by a land mine explosion. The ability of this strain to induce myonecrosis in immunosuppressed mice after cutaneous infection has been previously described [1]. Since B. thuringiensis spores and its parasporal body are commonly used as aerosolised biopesticides [3], the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential pathogenicity of this strain and of the insecticidal serotypes 3a3b and H14 for immunocompetent mice after pulmonary experimental infection.…”

“…Infection in humans is unusual, and apart from gastrointestinal tract infections or those following laboratory contamination, there are only two clinical reports of B. thuringiensis infection [1,2]. In 1995, we isolated a strain of B. thuringiensis var.…”

Sympatric soil communities ofBacillus cereus sensu lato: population structure and potential plasmid dynamics of pXO1- and pXO2-like elements

“…Bacillus cereus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes food poisoning, leading to diarrhoeal or emetic syndromes. Bacillus thuringiensis is an insect pathogen commonly used as a biopesticide, which is generally considered to be safe for humans, although some exceptions might exist (Jackson et al, 1995;Damgaard et al, 1997;Hernandez et al, 1998). Bacillus anthracis has become notorious as a potential bioweapon because of its ability to cause lethal inhalation anthrax.…”

The InhA1 metalloprotease allows spores of the B. cereus group to escape macrophages

“…B. thuringiensis strains have insecticidal properties (Schnepf et al ., 1998), and B. thuringiensis and B. cereus are responsible of food poisoning characterized by gastroenteritis (Hansen and Salamitou, 2000). They are also opportunistic human pathogens associated with local and systemic infections (Damgaard et al ., 1997;Hernandez et al ., 1998;Dancer et al ., 2002;Frankard et al ., 2004). Some B. cereus isolates have been implicated in lethal infections similar in clinical presentation to B. anthracis , posing a potential public health problem (Miller et al ., 1997;Hoffmaster et al ., 2004).…”