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Microbiology Spectrum May 2019The group includes several species with closely related phylogeny. The most well-studied members of the group, , , and , are known for their pathogenic potential.... (Review)
Review
The group includes several species with closely related phylogeny. The most well-studied members of the group, , , and , are known for their pathogenic potential. Here, we present the historical rationale for speciation and discuss shared and unique features of these bacteria. Aspects of cell morphology and physiology, and genome sequence similarity and gene synteny support close evolutionary relationships for these three species. For many strains, distinct differences in virulence factor synthesis provide facile means for species assignment. is the causative agent of anthrax. Some strains are commonly recognized as food poisoning agents, but strains can also cause localized wound and eye infections as well as systemic disease. Certain strains are entomopathogens and have been commercialized for use as biopesticides, while some strains have been reported to cause infection in immunocompromised individuals. In this article we compare and contrast , , and , including ecology, cell structure and development, virulence attributes, gene regulation and genetic exchange systems, and experimental models of disease.
Topics: Animals; Anthrax; Anthrax Vaccines; Bacillus; Bacillus anthracis; Bacillus cereus; Bacillus thuringiensis; Bacterial Toxins; Bacterial Vaccines; Biological Control Agents; DNA, Bacterial; Disease Models, Animal; Ecology; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Genes, Bacterial; Genome, Bacterial; Humans; Infections; Invertebrates; Phylogeny; Species Specificity; Spores, Bacterial; Virulence
PubMed: 31111815
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.GPP3-0032-2018 -
Toxins Jan 2021is a ubiquitous soil bacterium responsible for two types of food-associated gastrointestinal diseases. While the emetic type, a food intoxication, manifests in nausea... (Review)
Review
is a ubiquitous soil bacterium responsible for two types of food-associated gastrointestinal diseases. While the emetic type, a food intoxication, manifests in nausea and vomiting, food infections with enteropathogenic strains cause diarrhea and abdominal pain. Causative toxins are the cyclic dodecadepsipeptide cereulide, and the proteinaceous enterotoxins hemolysin BL (Hbl), nonhemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe) and cytotoxin K (CytK), respectively. This review covers the current knowledge on distribution and genetic organization of the toxin genes, as well as mechanisms of enterotoxin gene regulation and toxin secretion. In this context, the exceptionally high variability of toxin production between single strains is highlighted. In addition, the mode of action of the pore-forming enterotoxins and their effect on target cells is described in detail. The main focus of this review are the two tripartite enterotoxin complexes Hbl and Nhe, but the latest findings on cereulide and CytK are also presented, as well as methods for toxin detection, and the contribution of further putative virulence factors to the diarrheal disease.
Topics: Animals; Bacillus cereus; Bacterial Proteins; Depsipeptides; Diarrhea; Enterotoxins; Foodborne Diseases; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Hemolysin Proteins; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Virulence; Vomiting
PubMed: 33525722
DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020098 -
Toxins Apr 2021is an important pathogen causing food poisoning, as well as extraintestinal diseases [...].
is an important pathogen causing food poisoning, as well as extraintestinal diseases [...].
Topics: Bacillus cereus; Enterotoxins; Foodborne Diseases; Humans
PubMed: 33919248
DOI: 10.3390/toxins13050295 -
Neurology India 2023
Topics: Humans; Bacillus cereus; Meningoencephalitis
PubMed: 37635561
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.383861 -
Experimental Eye Research Apr 2020Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) endophthalmitis is a devastating intraocular infection primarily associated with post-traumatic injuries. The majority of these infections... (Review)
Review
Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) endophthalmitis is a devastating intraocular infection primarily associated with post-traumatic injuries. The majority of these infections result in substantial vision loss, if not loss of the eye itself, within 12-48 h. Multifactorial mechanisms that lead to the innate intraocular inflammatory response during this disease include the combination of robust bacterial replication, migration of the organism throughout the eye, and toxin production by the organism. Therefore, the window of therapeutic intervention in B. cereus endophthalmitis is quite narrow compared to that of other pathogens which cause this disease. Understanding the interaction of bacterial and host factors is critical in understanding the disease and formulating more rational therapeutics for salvaging vision. In this review, we will discuss clinical and research findings related to B. cereus endophthalmitis in terms of the organism's virulence and inflammogenic potential, and strategies for improving of current therapeutic regimens for this blinding disease.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacillus cereus; Endophthalmitis; Eye Infections, Bacterial; Humans
PubMed: 32032628
DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.107959 -
WMJ : Official Publication of the State... Jul 2021has been found within the gastrointestinal flora. Due to its ubiquity, is usually considered a contaminant. However, it can cause serious infections in certain...
INTRODUCTION
has been found within the gastrointestinal flora. Due to its ubiquity, is usually considered a contaminant. However, it can cause serious infections in certain populations.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 39-year-old woman with refractory gastroparesis requiring gastric pacemaker with a jejunostomy tube and cervical cancer status post chemotherapy presented with fever and fatigue. Initial and repeat blood cultures (from peripheral and port-a-cath access) grew and the port-a-cath was removed. She was treated with appropriate antibiotics and bacteremia resolved.
DISCUSSION
is often associated with toxin-mediated emetic or diarrheal gastroenteritis. However, in patients with prosthetic devices or intravenous (IV) drug users, can cause serious infection. Biofilms produced by B cereus attach to indwelling catheters, allowing persistent infection until catheter removal.
CONCLUSION
In patients with prosthetic devices or IV drug use, should be treated with appropriated antibiotics and any indwelling catheters should be removed.
Topics: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacillus cereus; Bacteremia; Female; Gastroenteritis; Humans
PubMed: 34255956
DOI: No ID Found -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) May 2020is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen causing food intoxication and infectious diseases. Different toxins and pathogenic factors are responsible for diarrheal... (Review)
Review
is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen causing food intoxication and infectious diseases. Different toxins and pathogenic factors are responsible for diarrheal syndrome, like nonhemolytic enterotoxin Nhe, hemolytic enterotoxin Hbl, enterotoxin FM and cytotoxin K, while emetic syndrome is caused by the depsipeptide cereulide toxin. The traditional method of detection is based on the bacterial culturing onto selective agars and cells enumeration. In addition, molecular and chemical methods are proposed for toxin gene profiling, toxin quantification and strain screening for defined virulence factors. Finally, some advanced biosensors such as phage-based, cell-based, immunosensors and DNA biosensors have been elaborated to enable affordable, sensitive, user-friendly and rapid detection of specific strains. This review intends to both illustrate the state of the diagnostic field and to highlight additional research that is still at the development level.
Topics: Bacillus cereus; Enterotoxins; Food Microbiology; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 32392794
DOI: 10.3390/s20092667 -
Microbiology (Reading, England) May 2021is recognized as a causative agent of gastrointestinal syndromes, but can also cause a devastating form of intraocular infection known as endophthalmitis. We have...
is recognized as a causative agent of gastrointestinal syndromes, but can also cause a devastating form of intraocular infection known as endophthalmitis. We have previously reported that the PlcR/PapR master virulence factor regulator system regulates intraocular virulence, and that the S-layer protein (SlpA) contributes to the severity of endophthalmitis. To better understand the role of other virulence genes in endophthalmitis, expression of a subset of factors was measured at the midpoint of disease progression in a murine model of endophthalmitis by RNA-Seq. Several cytolytic toxins were expressed at significantly higher levels than in BHI. The virulence regulators , , and were also expressed . However, at this timepoint, / was not detectable, although we previously reported that a mutant deficient in PlcR was attenuated in the eye. The motility-related genes , , and , and the chemotaxis-related gene were detected during infection. We have shown previously that motility and chemotaxis phenotypes are important in endophthalmitis. The variant of manganese superoxide dismutase was the most highly expressed gene . Expression of the surface layer protein gene, , an activator of Toll-like receptors (TLR)-2 and -4, was also detected during infection, albeit at low levels. Genes expressed in a mouse model of endophthalmitis might play crucial roles in the unique virulence of endophthalmitis, and serve as candidates for novel therapies designed to attenuate the severity of this often blinding infection.
Topics: Animals; Bacillus cereus; Bacterial Proteins; Endophthalmitis; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Virulence
PubMed: 34032564
DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001057 -
Journal of Food Protection Sep 2020Bacillus cereus has been reported as a foodborne pathogen worldwide. Although food processing technologies to inactivate the pathogen have been developed for decades,... (Review)
Review
ABSTRACT
Bacillus cereus has been reported as a foodborne pathogen worldwide. Although food processing technologies to inactivate the pathogen have been developed for decades, foodborne outbreaks related to B. cereus have occurred. In the present review, foodborne outbreaks, germination, inactivation, and detection of B. cereus are discussed, along with inactivation mechanisms. B. cereus outbreaks from 2003 to 2016 are reported based on food commodity, number of cases, and consequent illnesses. Germination before sporicidal treatments is highlighted as an effective way to inactivate B. cereus, because the resistance of the pathogen increases significantly following sporulation. Several germinants used for B. cereus are listed, and their efficacies are compared. Finally, recently used interventions with sporicidal mechanisms are identified, and rapid detection methods that have been developed are discussed. Combining two or more interventions, known as the hurdle technology concept, is suggested to maximize the sporicidal effect. Further study is needed to ensure food safety and to understand germination mechanisms and sporicidal resistance of B. cereus.
Topics: Bacillus cereus; Disease Outbreaks; Food Microbiology; Food Safety; Spores, Bacterial
PubMed: 32822494
DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-19-429 -
Toxins Jul 2020is a common and ubiquitous foodborne pathogen with an increasing prevalence rate in dairy products in China. High and unmet demands for such products, particularly... (Review)
Review
is a common and ubiquitous foodborne pathogen with an increasing prevalence rate in dairy products in China. High and unmet demands for such products, particularly milk, raise the risk of associated contamination. The presence of and its virulence factors in dairy products may cause food poisoning and other illnesses. Thus, this review first summarizes the epidemiological characteristics and analytical assays of from dairy products in China, providing insights into the implementation of intervention strategies. In addition, the recent achievements on the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of are also presented to shed light on the therapeutic options for associated infections.
Topics: Animals; Bacillus cereus; China; Consumer Product Safety; Dairy Products; Food Microbiology; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Prevalence; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Virulence
PubMed: 32674390
DOI: 10.3390/toxins12070454