Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Identification of Antibacterial Immunity Proteins in Escherichia coli using MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS and Top-Down Proteomic Analysis
09:26

Identification of Antibacterial Immunity Proteins in Escherichia coli using MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS and Top-Down Proteomic Analysis

Published on: May 23, 2021

3.8K

Toxin Profile, Biofilm Formation, and Molecular Characterization of Emetic Toxin-Producing Bacillus cereus Group

Su Kyung Oh1, Hyun-Joo Chang2, Sung-Wook Choi2

  • 11 Research Group of Gut Microbiome, Korea Food Research Institute , Gyeonggi, Korea.

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
|August 20, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Emetic Bacillus cereus strains were found in 0.07% of Korean food poisoning cases. These strains produced NHE enterotoxin but lacked hemolysin BL toxin, with no link found between toxin production and biofilm formation.

Area of Science:

  • Food Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Bacillus cereus group species producing emetic toxins pose a significant risk, particularly in Korea where rice is a staple food.
  • Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of emetic B. cereus is crucial for food safety.
  • Sporadic food poisoning cases provide a valuable source for identifying foodborne pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of emetic Bacillus cereus in sporadic food poisoning cases in Korea.
  • To investigate the toxin gene profile, toxin production, and biofilm-forming ability of emetic B. cereus isolates.
  • To assess the intraspecific biodiversity of emetic B. cereus using repetitive element sequence polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) fingerprints.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 36,745 stool samples from Korean food poisoning cases between 2007 and 2008.
  • Detection of toxin genes (nheABC, entFM) and assessment of NHE enterotoxin and hemolysin BL production.
  • Evaluation of biofilm-forming ability in emetic B. cereus isolates.
  • rep-PCR fingerprinting to analyze genetic diversity and discriminate between emetic and non-emetic isolates.

Main Results:

  • Emetic B. cereus was identified in 24 out of 129 isolates (0.07% of cases).
  • All identified emetic isolates possessed nheABC and entFM genes and produced NHE enterotoxin, but not hemolysin BL toxin.
  • No significant relationship was observed between biofilm formation and toxin production.
  • rep-PCR assay showed discrimination between emetic and non-emetic isolates, though not perfectly.

Conclusions:

  • Emetic B. cereus is a relevant pathogen in Korean food poisoning outbreaks, primarily associated with NHE enterotoxin production.
  • Biofilm formation does not appear to be directly correlated with emetic toxin production in these isolates.
  • The rep-PCR assay demonstrates potential for subtyping emetic B. cereus, but further studies with diverse isolates are needed for improved discrimination.

More Related Videos

Characterization of a Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain Derived from Oreochromis spp. Farms Using Whole-Genome Sequencing09:44

Characterization of a Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain Derived from Oreochromis spp. Farms Using Whole-Genome Sequencing

Published on: December 23, 2022

3.1K
Bile Salt-induced Biofilm Formation in Enteric Pathogens: Techniques for Identification and Quantification10:05

Bile Salt-induced Biofilm Formation in Enteric Pathogens: Techniques for Identification and Quantification

Published on: May 6, 2018

13.5K

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid...
48
Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
54
Cholera01:25

Cholera

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
72
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy01:20

Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...
660