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Insights into the Emergent Bacterial Pathogen Cronobacter spp., Generated by Multilocus Sequence Typing and Analysis

Susan Joseph1, Stephen J Forsythe

  • 1Pathogen Research Group, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, UK.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|November 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) advances Cronobacter spp. identification, aiding in the recognition of new species and understanding disease links. This DNA-based method improves detection of this pathogen, crucial for protecting infant health.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) is a significant bacterial pathogen, particularly dangerous to neonates and infants through contaminated infant formula.
  • Accurate detection and identification methods are crucial due to the pathogen's importance and regulatory oversight.
  • Understanding Cronobacter diversity is essential for developing effective control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) for characterizing Cronobacter spp.
  • To leverage MLST for improved understanding of Cronobacter diversity, species delineation, and pathogen-host associations.
  • To highlight the advantages of DNA-based typing over traditional methods for emerging bacterial pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analyzing seven housekeeping genes (atpD, fusA, glnS, gltB, gyrB, infB, ppsA) with a total length of 3036 base pairs.
  • Employed multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) to interpret the sequence data and assess genetic relationships within the Cronobacter genus.
  • Leveraged the curated and publicly accessible MLST database (http://www.pubMLST.org/cronobacter) for data analysis and comparison.

Main Results:

  • MLST and MLSA facilitated the description of Cronobacter diversity and the formal recognition of new species, including C. universalis and C. condimenti.
  • The study revealed a high degree of clonality among Cronobacter strains.
  • A significant association was identified between clonal complex 4 and neonatal meningitis cases.

Conclusions:

  • MLST provides a reliable and objective DNA-based approach for bacterial typing, surpassing subjective phenotyping methods.
  • MLST has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of the Cronobacter genus and its pathogenic potential.
  • The application of MLST contributes to improved control measures for protecting neonatal health against Cronobacter infections.

Keywords:
CronobacterMLSAMLSTST4sequence typing

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