Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation
Enterococci have gained significance as the cause of nosocomial infections, they occur as food contaminants and have also been linked to dental diseases. E. faecalis has a great potential to spread virulence as well as antibiotic resistance genes via horizontal gene transfer. The integration of food...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.01534/full |
| _version_ | 1811231633269850112 |
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| author | Annette Carola Anderson Daniel eJonas Ingrid eHuber Lamprini eKarygianni Johan eWölber Elmar eHellwig Nicole eArweiler Kirstin eVach Annette eWittmer Ali eAl-Ahmad |
| author_facet | Annette Carola Anderson Daniel eJonas Ingrid eHuber Lamprini eKarygianni Johan eWölber Elmar eHellwig Nicole eArweiler Kirstin eVach Annette eWittmer Ali eAl-Ahmad |
| author_sort | Annette Carola Anderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Enterococci have gained significance as the cause of nosocomial infections, they occur as food contaminants and have also been linked to dental diseases. E. faecalis has a great potential to spread virulence as well as antibiotic resistance genes via horizontal gene transfer. The integration of food-borne enterococci into the oral biofilm in-vivo has been observed. Therefore we investigated the virulence determinants and antibiotic resistance of 97 E. faecalis isolates from the oral cavity, food and clinical specimens. In addition, phenotypic expression of gelatinase and cytolysin were tested, in-vitro biofilm formation was quantified and isolates were compared for strain relatedness via pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Each isolate was found to possess two or more virulence genes, most frequently gelE, efaA and asa1. Notably, plaque/saliva isolates possessed the highest abundance of virulence genes, the highest levels of phenotypic gelatinase and hemolysin activity and concurrently a high ability to form biofilm. The presence of asa1 was associated with biofilm formation. The biofilm formation capacity of clinical and plaque/saliva isolates was considerably higher than that of food isolates and they also showed similar antibiotic resistance patterns. These results indicate that the oral cavity can constitute a reservoir for virulent E. faecalis strains possessing antibiotic resistance traits and at the same time distinct biofilm formation capabilities facilitating exchange of genetic material. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:48:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c047c9f5489e4a54a5376a5de46b530a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:48:25Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c047c9f5489e4a54a5376a5de46b530a2022-12-22T03:36:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2016-01-01610.3389/fmicb.2015.01534169340Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formationAnnette Carola Anderson0Daniel eJonas1Ingrid eHuber2Lamprini eKarygianni3Johan eWölber4Elmar eHellwig5Nicole eArweiler6Kirstin eVach7Annette eWittmer8Ali eAl-Ahmad9Medical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgMedical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgBavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, OberschleißheimMedical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgMedical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgMedical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgPhilipps-University of Marburg, MarburgMedical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgMedical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgMedical Center, University of Freiburg, FreiburgEnterococci have gained significance as the cause of nosocomial infections, they occur as food contaminants and have also been linked to dental diseases. E. faecalis has a great potential to spread virulence as well as antibiotic resistance genes via horizontal gene transfer. The integration of food-borne enterococci into the oral biofilm in-vivo has been observed. Therefore we investigated the virulence determinants and antibiotic resistance of 97 E. faecalis isolates from the oral cavity, food and clinical specimens. In addition, phenotypic expression of gelatinase and cytolysin were tested, in-vitro biofilm formation was quantified and isolates were compared for strain relatedness via pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Each isolate was found to possess two or more virulence genes, most frequently gelE, efaA and asa1. Notably, plaque/saliva isolates possessed the highest abundance of virulence genes, the highest levels of phenotypic gelatinase and hemolysin activity and concurrently a high ability to form biofilm. The presence of asa1 was associated with biofilm formation. The biofilm formation capacity of clinical and plaque/saliva isolates was considerably higher than that of food isolates and they also showed similar antibiotic resistance patterns. These results indicate that the oral cavity can constitute a reservoir for virulent E. faecalis strains possessing antibiotic resistance traits and at the same time distinct biofilm formation capabilities facilitating exchange of genetic material.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.01534/fullVirulence Factorsantibiotic susceptibilityEnterococciPFGEBiofilm formationoral cavity |
| spellingShingle | Annette Carola Anderson Daniel eJonas Ingrid eHuber Lamprini eKarygianni Johan eWölber Elmar eHellwig Nicole eArweiler Kirstin eVach Annette eWittmer Ali eAl-Ahmad Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation Frontiers in Microbiology Virulence Factors antibiotic susceptibility Enterococci PFGE Biofilm formation oral cavity |
| title | Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation |
| title_full | Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation |
| title_fullStr | Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation |
| title_short | Enterococcus faecalis from food, clinical specimens and oral sites: Prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation |
| title_sort | enterococcus faecalis from food clinical specimens and oral sites prevalence of virulence factors in association with biofilm formation |
| topic | Virulence Factors antibiotic susceptibility Enterococci PFGE Biofilm formation oral cavity |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2015.01534/full |
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