title: Cronobacter sakazakii: stress survival and virulence potential in an opportunistic foodborne pathogen.
abstract: A characteristic feature of the opportunistic foodborne pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii is its ability to survive in extremely arid environments, such as powdered infant formula, making it a dangerous opportunistic pathogen of individuals of all age groups, especially infants and neonates. Herein, we provide a brief overview of the pathogen; clinical manifestations, environmental reservoirs and our current understanding of stress response mechanisms and virulence factors which allow it to cause disease.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biological Sciences; Cork Institute of Technology ; Bishopstown , Cork , Ireland.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feeney
authors.forename: Kai A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kropp
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Roy D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sleator
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044083:Cronobacter sakazakii / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D014774:Virulence
keywords: Cronobacter sakazakii; osmotolerance; reservoirs; stress; virulence