title: Genotypic and phenotypic features of Arcobacter butzleri pathogenicity.
abstract: Even though Arcobacter butzleri has been implicated in some human disease as diarrhoea and bacteraemia, much of its pathogenesis and virulence factors remain unclear. In this work we have compared pathogenic and genotypic properties of six A. butzleri isolates from human and non-human sources. The tested isolates showed to be susceptible to tetracyclines and aminoglycosides, however non-human isolates were all resistant to quinolones. The ability to form biofilms was variable among the tested strains, and all of them showed a weak haemolytic activity. The presence of nine putative virulence genes was determined, with cadF, ciaB, cj1349, mviN, pldA, tlyA being detected in all strains, while irgA (3/6), hecA (5/6), hecB (4/6) were detected only in some strains. High levels of adhesion were observed for A. butzleri on Caco-2 cells, with pre-existing inflammation showing no significant effect on the adherence ability; yet variable levels of invasion were observed. A. butzleri isolates were able to survive intracellularly in Caco-2 cells and to induce a significant up-regulation of interleukin-8 secretion and structural cell rearrangements. These data brings new insights on A. butzleri virulence and highlights its pathogenic potential.
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: João A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oleastro
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: fdomingues@ubi.pt.
authors.forename: Fernanda C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Domingues
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016209:Interleukin-8; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Adhesion; Arcobacter butzleri; Inflammation; Intracellular survival; Invasion; Virulence