23 - Comparative Evaluation of Pathogenicity, Cytotoxicity at the Blood-Brain Barrier, and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles in Listeria monocytogenes from Food and Clinical Sources
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a facultative intracellular foodborne pathogen, particularly dangerous for high-risk populations such as neonates, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. It can cause severe conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, and abortion in pregnant women, with a high case fatality rate. Lm can translocate across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), however, the pathogenic mechanism is poorly understood. Here we compared the pathogenicity of various Lm strains isolated from food and clinical sources in invading the BBB. A total of 34 strains were analyzed through adhesion, invasion, and translocation assays using human brain endothelial cell (HBEC)-5i barrier. Cytotoxicity on HBEC-5i cells and antibiotic susceptibility was also evaluated for each strain. Clinical Lm strains were observed to have higher adhesion, invasion, and translocation capabilities when compared to food-origin isolates. Strains 19115, 171, and CAP-D05 exhibited the highest adhesion percentages, with ~26-27%. Most effective clinically invasive strains include F4264 and F4262. Clinical strain 171 was found to be the most efficient at translocation through HBEC-5i cells at 25%. 19115 and CHLR1 induced the most cytotoxic effects on HBEC-5i barriers, at 42 & 41% respectively. Both food and clinical Lm strains were most sensitive to amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, and vancomycin, while most resistive to ampicillin, oxacillin, and cefotaxime. Clinical Lm isolates appear to possess hypervirulent traits, facilitating efficient translocation across the BBB. Further research will investigate genetic differences between clinical hypervirulent and food hypovirulent isolates to understand their virulence factors better, crucial for combating severe Lm brain infections.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Rishi Drolia
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Department of Biological Sciences
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Microbiology | Pathogenic Microbiology
23 - Comparative Evaluation of Pathogenicity, Cytotoxicity at the Blood-Brain Barrier, and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles in Listeria monocytogenes from Food and Clinical Sources
Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a facultative intracellular foodborne pathogen, particularly dangerous for high-risk populations such as neonates, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. It can cause severe conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, and abortion in pregnant women, with a high case fatality rate. Lm can translocate across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), however, the pathogenic mechanism is poorly understood. Here we compared the pathogenicity of various Lm strains isolated from food and clinical sources in invading the BBB. A total of 34 strains were analyzed through adhesion, invasion, and translocation assays using human brain endothelial cell (HBEC)-5i barrier. Cytotoxicity on HBEC-5i cells and antibiotic susceptibility was also evaluated for each strain. Clinical Lm strains were observed to have higher adhesion, invasion, and translocation capabilities when compared to food-origin isolates. Strains 19115, 171, and CAP-D05 exhibited the highest adhesion percentages, with ~26-27%. Most effective clinically invasive strains include F4264 and F4262. Clinical strain 171 was found to be the most efficient at translocation through HBEC-5i cells at 25%. 19115 and CHLR1 induced the most cytotoxic effects on HBEC-5i barriers, at 42 & 41% respectively. Both food and clinical Lm strains were most sensitive to amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, and vancomycin, while most resistive to ampicillin, oxacillin, and cefotaxime. Clinical Lm isolates appear to possess hypervirulent traits, facilitating efficient translocation across the BBB. Further research will investigate genetic differences between clinical hypervirulent and food hypovirulent isolates to understand their virulence factors better, crucial for combating severe Lm brain infections.