Helicobacter pullorum isolated from fresh chicken meat: antibiotic resistance and genomic traits of an emerging...

Area of Science:

• Food microbiology
• Bacterial genetics
• Zoonotic pathogens

Background:

• Meat products are significant sources of human intestinal infections.
• Emerging bacterial pathogens pose a growing public health concern.
• Helicobacter pullorum is an understudied zoonotic bacterium.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize Helicobacter pullorum from chicken meat.
• To investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles of isolated H. pullorum strains.
• To explore the genomic diversity and potential virulence factors of H. pullorum.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of bacteria from chicken meat using a membrane filter method.
• Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for antibiotic resistance.
• Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics of isolated strains.

Main Results:

• Helicobacter pullorum strains were isolated from 4 out of 17 chicken meat samples.
• All four strains displayed acquired resistance to ciprofloxacin; some were also resistant to erythromycin and tetracycline.
• Genomic analysis revealed highly polymorphic genes, plasmids, prophages, and a complete type VI secretion system (T6SS) in three strains.

Conclusions:

• Chicken meat is a potential transmission route for Helicobacter pullorum to humans.
• The identified genetic traits, including T6SS, contribute to H. pullorum's pathogenicity, adaptation, and virulence.
• This study enhances understanding of H. pullorum's genetic diversity and public health implications.