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Multiple-locus sequence typing and analysis of toxin genes in Bacillus cereus food-borne isolates

Barbara Cardazzo1, Enrico Negrisolo, Lisa Carraro

  • 1Department of Public Health, Comparative Pathology and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. barbara.cardazzo@unipd.it

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|December 18, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) significantly shapes the evolution and population structure of Bacillus cereus food-borne isolates. Most isolates belong to lineage I, with HGT playing a key role in toxin gene evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Bacillus cereus is a significant food-borne pathogen.
  • Understanding its population structure and evolution is crucial for public health.
  • Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a powerful tool for bacterial population genetics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize food-borne Bacillus cereus isolates using MLST.
  • To analyze the population structure and evolutionary history of B. cereus.
  • To investigate the role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the evolution of toxin-encoding genes.

Main Methods:

  • Characterization of 47 food-borne Bacillus cereus isolates.
  • Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for genetic analysis.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of a dataset including 296 B. cereus strains.
  • Statistical analysis to assess horizontal gene transfer (HGT).

Main Results:

  • Identification of three main lineages (I, II, III) within the B. cereus complex.
  • Most food-borne isolates were found in lineage I.
  • Evidence of widespread horizontal gene transfer (HGT) within B. cereus.
  • HGT plays a pivotal role in the evolution of toxin-encoding genes.

Conclusions:

  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major driver shaping the population structure of the B. cereus complex.
  • HGT significantly influences the evolution of toxin-encoding genes.
  • The study provides strong evidence for reticulate evolution within B. cereus.

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