title: Virulence traits in Cronobacter species isolated from different sources.
abstract: Cronobacter spp. ( Enterobacter sakazakii ) includes gram-negative opportunistic foodborne pathogens known as rare but important causes of life-threatening neonatal infections. However, the pathogenic mechanism is not yet clear. In this study, 43 isolates of Cronobacter, from human and nonhuman sources, were analyzed. A total of four clusters were identified and 32 DNA pulsotypes were observed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. In addition, 86% of the Cronobacter isolates were able to adhere to HEp-2 cells and 35% were invasive, Cronobacter sakazakii isolates being the most efficient. Twenty-six percent of Cronobacter isolates were able to form biofilms, mainly those from nonhuman sources, such as Cronobacter dublinensis and Cronobacter malonaticus . Three putative virulence genes (siderophore-interacting protein (sip), type III hemolysin (hly), and plasminogen activator (cpa)) were identified by bioinformatic analysis and then detected by PCR. The sip gene was the most frequently detected (60%; 26/43), followed by the hly gene (37%; 16/43) and the cpa gene (28%; 12/43). The three genes were identified primarily in C. sakazakii. Our data show that Cronobacter species harbor different virulence traits.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina-Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México D.F.
authors.forename: Ariadnna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xicohtencatl-Cortes
authors.forename: Bertha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: González-Pedrajo
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bobadilla
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eslava
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosas
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D059126:Cronobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017262:Siderophores / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017262:Siderophores; D037521:Virulence Factors