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Gastric Infection by Cronobacter sakazakii: An In Vitro Insight
Babak Pakbin1, Susanne U Mertens-Talcott1
1Department of Food Science and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Insights
Cronobacter sakazakii, a foodborne pathogen, can harm infant health. This study shows it reduces gastric cell viability and triggers inflammation, highlighting risks in infant formula.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathogen-host interactions
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen linked to severe neonatal infections, particularly through contaminated powdered infant formula.
- The interaction between C. sakazakii and gastric epithelial cells is not well understood, limiting knowledge of early infection mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the early host-pathogen responses of Cronobacter sakazakii in AGS gastric epithelial cells.
- To assess the impact of C. sakazakii infection on gastric cell viability and inflammatory gene expression.
Main Methods:
- In vitro study using AGS gastric epithelial cells exposed to C. sakazakii ATCC 29544 (multiplicity of infection of 100 for 2 hours).
- Assessed cytotoxicity using viability assays.
- Evaluated bacterial entry via gentamicin protection assay.
- Measured transcriptional responses using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for bacterial virulence and host inflammatory genes.
Main Results:
- C. sakazakii infection significantly reduced AGS cell viability (p < 0.001).
- Increased expression of bacterial virulence genes (ompA, hfq) and host inflammatory genes (IL-8, NF-ƙB) was observed (p < 0.001).
- Gentamicin protection assay suggested bacterial entry into AGS cells.
Conclusions:
- Cronobacter sakazakii (ATCC 29544) induces early cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects in gastric epithelial cells in vitro.
- These findings underscore the potential pathogenicity of C. sakazakii in the gastric environment.
- Further studies using more physiologically relevant gastric models are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.
Abstract:
Cronobacter sakazakii, an opportunistic foodborne pathogen associated with powdered infant formula, causes severe neonatal infections, yet its interaction with gastric epithelial cells remains poorly characterized. Here, we conducted a preliminary in vitro study to evaluate early host-pathogen responses of C. sakazakii in AGS gastric epithelial cells. AGS cells were exposed to C. sakazakii ATCC 29544 at a multiplicity of infection of 100 for 2 h, and cytotoxicity and transcriptional responses were assessed by viability assay, gentamicin protection assay, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Infection significantly reduced AGS cell viability and increased expression of bacterial virulence-associated genes (ompA and hfq) and host inflammatory genes (IL-8 and NF-ƙB) compared with mock-infected controls (p < 0.001). Gentamicin-protected recovery was consistent with bacterial entry into AGS cells, although confirmatory imaging-based analyses were not performed. These findings indicate that C. sakazakii (ATCC 29544) can elicit early cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory responses in AGS gastric epithelial cells under in vitro conditions, supporting the need for confirmatory studies in more physiologically relevant gastric study models.
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