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Open AccessArticle
Multiplex Determination of K-Antigen and Colanic Acid Capsule Variants of Cronobacter sakazakii
by
Khaled M. Ibrahim
Khaled M. Ibrahim 1,*,
Abdlrhman M. Alsonosi
Abdlrhman M. Alsonosi 2,
Mahmoud B. Agena
Mahmoud B. Agena 3,
Bassam A. Elgamoudi
Bassam A. Elgamoudi 4,* and
Stephen J. Forsythe
Stephen J. Forsythe 5
1
Microbiology Department, Libyan Biotechnology Research Center, Tripoli P.O. Box 30313, Libya
2
Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sebah University, Sebha P.O. Box 1000, Libya
3
Libyan Medical Research Center, Zawia P.O. Box 20311, Libya
4
Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University, Southport 4215, Australia
5
Foodmicrobe.com Ltd., Nottingham NG12 5GY, UK
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Genes 2024, 15(10), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15101282 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 3 July 2024
/
Revised: 13 August 2024
/
Accepted: 27 September 2024
/
Published: 29 September 2024
Abstract
Cronobacter sakazakii is associated with the ingestion of contaminated reconstituted powdered infant formula (PIF), resulting in necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis and meningitis in neonatal infants. Potential virulence determinants include the variable capsular polysaccharides; K-antigen and colanic acid (CA). Strains encoding for the capsule variant K2:CA2 have been strongly associated with neonatal meningitis cases. This study aimed to develop and apply a multiplex PCR assay to determine C. sakazakii K-antigen and colanic acid types. Twenty-six strains of C. sakazakii which had previously been isolated from food and environmental sources were used. These cover 18 multilocus sequence types and four serotypes. Based on our research findings, we have identified two K-antigen types present. Specifically, the K1-antigen was observed in sequence types ST1, ST8, ST20, ST23, ST64, ST198, ST263, ST264 and ST406, while the K2-antigen was present in ST4, ST9, ST12, ST13, ST136, ST233, ST245 and ST405. Additionally, we detected colanic acid (CA) type 1 in sequence types ST1, ST8, ST9, ST20, ST245 and ST405, and colanic acid (CA) type 2 in ST4, ST12, ST13, ST23, and ST64. We compared the predicted K-antigen and colanic acid types with the entire genome sequences of the strains. The comparison showed complete agreement between the PCR amplification results and the genomic analysis of the K-antigen and colanic acid-encoding regions. This assay is a useful tool for rapid identification of C. sakazakii, K-antigen and colanic acid types, in routine diagnoses and foodborne investigations. In addition, it will contribute to our knowledge of virulence factors associated with life-threatening neonatal meningitis.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Ibrahim, K.M.; Alsonosi, A.M.; Agena, M.B.; Elgamoudi, B.A.; Forsythe, S.J.
Multiplex Determination of K-Antigen and Colanic Acid Capsule Variants of Cronobacter sakazakii. Genes 2024, 15, 1282.
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15101282
AMA Style
Ibrahim KM, Alsonosi AM, Agena MB, Elgamoudi BA, Forsythe SJ.
Multiplex Determination of K-Antigen and Colanic Acid Capsule Variants of Cronobacter sakazakii. Genes. 2024; 15(10):1282.
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15101282
Chicago/Turabian Style
Ibrahim, Khaled M., Abdlrhman M. Alsonosi, Mahmoud B. Agena, Bassam A. Elgamoudi, and Stephen J. Forsythe.
2024. "Multiplex Determination of K-Antigen and Colanic Acid Capsule Variants of Cronobacter sakazakii" Genes 15, no. 10: 1282.
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15101282
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