title: Incidence, Antibiotic Susceptibility, and Toxin Profiles of Bacillus cereus sensu lato Isolated from Korean Fermented Soybean Products.
abstract: Korean fermented soybean products, such as doenjang, kochujang, ssamjang, and cho-kochujang, can harbor foodborne pathogens such as Bacillus cereus sensu lato (B. cereus sensu lato). The aim of this study was to characterize the toxin gene profiles, biochemical characteristics, and antibiotic resistance patterns of B. cereus sensu lato strains isolated from Korean fermented soybean products. Eighty-eight samples of Korean fermented soybean products purchased from retails in Seoul were tested. Thirteen of 26 doenjang samples, 13 of 23 kochujang samples, 16 of 30 ssamjang samples, and 5 of 9 cho-kochujang samples were positive for B. cereus sensu lato strains. The contamination level of all positive samples did not exceed 4 log CFU/g of food (maximum levels of Korea Food Code). Eighty-seven B. cereus sensu lato strains were isolated from 47 positive samples, and all isolates carried at least one enterotoxin gene. The detection rates of hblCDA, nheABC, cytK, and entFM enterotoxin genes among all isolates were 34.5%, 98.9%, 57.5%, and 100%, respectively. Fifteen strains (17.2%) harbored the emetic toxin gene. Most strains tested positive for salicin fermentation (62.1%), starch hydrolysis (66.7%), hemolysis (98.9%), motility test (100%), and lecithinase production (96.6%). The B. cereus sensu lato strains were highly resistant to β-lactam antibiotics such as ampicillin, penicillin, cefepime, imipenem, and oxacillin. Although B. cereus sensu lato levels in Korean fermented soybean products did not exceed the maximum levels permitted in South Korea (<10(4) CFU/g), these results indicate that the bacterial isolates have the potential to cause diarrheal or emetic gastrointestinal diseases.
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk Univ, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk Univ, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Yeop
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Animal Science and Technology, Konkuk Univ., Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Whan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk Univ, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hyeon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk Univ, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk Univ, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Da-Som
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk Univ., Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk Univ, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kun-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D005285:Fermentation; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D005960:Glucosides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D056910:Republic of Korea; D045730:Soy Foods / Q000382:microbiology*; D013025:Glycine max / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D004768:Enterotoxins; D005960:Glucosides; C005696:salicin
keywords: Bacillus cereus sensu lato; emetic toxin; enterotoxin; fermented soybean product; food poisoning