Toxigenic Genes, Pathogenic Potential and Antimicrobial Resistance of Bacillus cereus Group Isolated from Ice Cream and Characterized by Whole Genome Sequencing

Fraccalvieri, Rosa; Bianco, Angelica; Difato, Laura Maria; Capozzi, Loredana; Sambro, Laura Del; Simone, Domenico; Catanzariti, Roberta; Caruso, Marta; Galante, Domenico; Normanno, G.; Palazzo, Lucia; Tempesta, Maria; Parisi, Antonio

doi:10.3390/foods11162480

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Concerning the dissemination of toxigenic genes, our findings agree with the results confirmed by Tewari et al in India [ 43 ]. Moreover, the combination of nhe A and nhe C genes was noticed in all tested strains, which agrees with the results reported by Fraccalvieri et al in Italy [ 57 ]. In this work, all the obtained B. cereus strains inherited two or more enterotoxigenic genes, highlighting their public health significance as a causative agent of severe food poisoning in man, consistent with Owusu-Kwarteng et al [ 58 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Meat and meat products as potential sources of emerging MDR Bacillus cereus: groEL gene sequencing, toxigenic and antimicrobial resistance

Algammal,

Eid,

Alghamdi

et al. 2024

BMC Microbiol

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Background Bacillus cereus is implicated in severe foodborne infection in humans. This study intended to assess the occurrence, groEL gene sequencing, biofilm production, and resistance profiles of emerged multidrug resistant (MDR) B. cereus in meat and meat product samples. Moreover, this work highlights the virulence and toxigenic genes (hblABCD complex, nheABC complex, cytK, ces, and pc-plc) and antimicrobial resistance genes (bla1, tetA, bla2, tetB, and ermA). Methods Consequently, 200 samples (sausage, minced meat, luncheon, beef meat, and liver; n = 40 for each) were indiscriminately collected from commercial supermarkets in Port Said Province, Egypt, from March to May 2021. Subsequently, food samples were bacteriologically examined. The obtained isolates were tested for groEL gene sequence analysis, antibiotic susceptibility, biofilm production, and PCR screening of toxigenic and resistance genes. Results The overall prevalence of B. cereus among the inspected food samples was 21%, where the highest predominance was detected in minced meat (42.5%), followed by beef meat (30%). The phylogenetic analysis of the groEL gene exposed that the examined B. cereus strain disclosed a notable genetic identity with other strains from the USA and China. Moreover, the obtained B. cereus strains revealed β-hemolytic activity, and 88.1% of the recovered strains tested positive for biofilm production. PCR evidenced that the obtained B. cereus strains usually inherited the nhe complex genes (nheA and nheC: 100%, and nheB: 83.3%), followed by cytK (76.2%), hbl complex (hblC and hblD: 59.5%, hblB: 16.6%, and hblA: 11.9%), ces (54.7%), and pc-plc (30.9%) virulence genes. Likewise, 42.9% of the examined B. cereus strains were MDR to six antimicrobial classes and encoded bla1, bla2, ermA, and tetA genes. Conclusion In summary, this study highlights the presence of MDR B. cereus in meat and meat products, posing a significant public health risk. The contamination by B. cereus is common in minced meat and beef meat. The molecular assay is a reliable fundamental tool for screening emerging MDR B. cereus strains in meat and meat products.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Meat and meat products as potential sources of emerging MDR Bacillus cereus: groEL gene sequencing, toxigenic and antimicrobial resistance

Algammal,

Eid,

Alghamdi

et al. 2024

BMC Microbiol

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“…Notably, we did not find any genes linked to resistance against other antibiotics, such as tetracycline, vancomycin, or streptogramin, which have been reported for other members of the B. cereus s.l. group [ 52 , 53 , 54 ]. Genes related to beta-lactams and fosfomycin resistance are also observed in all 17 strains available with the full genome at NCBI, indicating that these genes are members of the core genes for the B. paranthracis .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Genomic Landscape of Bacillus paranthracis PUMB_17 as a Proficient Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C Producer

Baev,

Iliev,

Stefanov

et al. 2024

CIMB

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Phospholipases find versatile applications across industries, including detergent production, food modification, pharmaceuticals (especially in drug delivery systems), and cell signaling research. In this study, we present a strain of Bacillus paranthracis for the first time, demonstrating significant potential in the production of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). The investigation thoroughly examines the B. paranthracis PUMB_17 strain, focusing on the activity of PC-PLC and its purification process. Notably, the PUMB_17 strain displays extracellular PC-PLC production with high specific activity during the late exponential growth phase. To unravel the genetic makeup of PUMB_17, we employed nanopore-based whole-genome sequencing and subsequently conducted a detailed genome annotation. The genome comprises a solitary circular chromosome spanning 5,250,970 bp, featuring a guanine–cytosine ratio of 35.49. Additionally, two plasmids of sizes 64,250 bp and 5845 bp were identified. The annotation analysis reveals the presence of 5328 genes, encompassing 5186 protein-coding sequences, and 142 RNA genes, including 39 rRNAs, 103 tRNAs, and 5 ncRNAs. The aim of this study was to make a comprehensive genomic exploration that promises to enhance our understanding of the previously understudied and recently documented capabilities of Bacillus paranthracis and to shed light on a potential use of the strain in the industrial production of PC-PLC.

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“…All isolates were predicted to be resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics due to the presence of the bla and bla2 genes. These genes are very common in B. cereus ( Bianco et al, 2021 ; Fraccalvieri et al, 2022 ), and resistance to these antibiotics is consequently widespread ( Fiedler et al, 2019 ). Most isolates were also predicted to be resistant to fosfomycin due to the presence of the fosB ( n = 30) and/or fosBx1 ( n = 2) genes, which are also widespread in B. cereus ( Fiedler et al, 2019 ; Bianco et al, 2021 ; Fraccalvieri et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These genes are very common in B. cereus ( Bianco et al, 2021 ; Fraccalvieri et al, 2022 ), and resistance to these antibiotics is consequently widespread ( Fiedler et al, 2019 ). Most isolates were also predicted to be resistant to fosfomycin due to the presence of the fosB ( n = 30) and/or fosBx1 ( n = 2) genes, which are also widespread in B. cereus ( Fiedler et al, 2019 ; Bianco et al, 2021 ; Fraccalvieri et al, 2022 ). Lastly, streptothricin resistance was predicted for eleven isolates that carried the satA gene.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retrospective surveillance of viable Bacillus cereus group contaminations in commercial food and feed vitamin B2 products sold on the Belgian market using whole-genome sequencing

et al. 2023

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Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium that occurs as a contaminant in food and feed, occasionally resulting in food poisoning through the production of various toxins. In this study, we retrospectively characterized viable B. cereus sensu lato (s.l.) isolates originating from commercial vitamin B2 feed and food additives collected between 2016 and 2022 by the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain from products sold on the Belgian market. In total, 75 collected product samples were cultured on a general medium and, in case of bacterial growth, two isolates per product sample were collected and characterized using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and subsequently characterized in terms of sequence type (ST), virulence gene profile, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene profile, plasmid content, and phylogenomic relationships. Viable B. cereus was identified in 18 of the 75 (24%) tested products, resulting in 36 WGS datasets, which were classified into eleven different STs, with ST165 (n = 10) and ST32 (n = 8) being the most common. All isolates carried multiple genes encoding virulence factors, including cytotoxin K-2 (52.78%) and cereulide (22.22%). Most isolates were predicted to be resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (100%) and fosfomycin (88.89%), and a subset was predicted to be resistant to streptothricin (30.56%). Phylogenomic analysis revealed that some isolates obtained from different products were closely related or even identical indicating a likely common origin, whereas for some products the two isolates obtained did not show any close relationship to each other or other isolates found in other products. This study reveals that potentially pathogenic and drug-resistant B. cereus s.l. can be present in food and feed vitamin B2 additives that are commercially available, and that more research is warranted to assess whether their presence in these types of products poses a threat to consumers.

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Toxigenic Genes, Pathogenic Potential and Antimicrobial Resistance of Bacillus cereus Group Isolated from Ice Cream and Characterized by Whole Genome Sequencing

Cited by 13 publications

References 57 publications

Meat and meat products as potential sources of emerging MDR Bacillus cereus: groEL gene sequencing, toxigenic and antimicrobial resistance

Meat and meat products as potential sources of emerging MDR Bacillus cereus: groEL gene sequencing, toxigenic and antimicrobial resistance

Exploring the Genomic Landscape of Bacillus paranthracis PUMB_17 as a Proficient Phosphatidylcholine-Specific Phospholipase C Producer

Retrospective surveillance of viable Bacillus cereus group contaminations in commercial food and feed vitamin B2 products sold on the Belgian market using whole-genome sequencing

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