Cronobacter Flashcards
What was the original genus of Cronobacter
Enterobacter
How many recognized species of cronobacter are there
11
What are the only species of cronobacter to be involved in neonatal infection
C. sakazakii, C. turicensis, and C. malonaticus
What temperature does cronobacter grow at
6-45C
How are cronobacter coliforms described
As yellow-pigmented
What was cronobacter linked to in the 1990s
Powdered infant formula
What are some risk factors for infants fed PIF and being exposed to cronobacter
Being less an 1 yr old
Immunocompromised and neonates younger than 28 days (greatest risk)
Low birth weight
Premature infants
What is different about a premature infant being infected with cronobacter
They secrete less gastric acid than older infants, and this is important for the long term survival of the pathogen
What is cronobacter infection in infants commonly diagnosed as
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Infants infected with cronobacter suffer from…
Necrotizing enterocolitis
Septicemia
Meningitis
What are some food that can carry cronobacter
Milk powder, cheese, herbs, spices and rice
OmpA: cronobacter
Helps cells adhere to GI epithelial cells
What cronobacter species are able to cross the BBB
Only those that are OmpA positive
OmpX: cronobacter
Helps invasion on the apical side of the GI epithelial cells
Helps the pathogen survive on the basolateral side
cpa: cronobacter
Outer membrane protease
Causes serum resistance by cleaving complement components, activating plasminogen and inactivating a plasmin inhibitor
What does the pESA3 plasmid in cronobacter encode for
cpa, a T6SS and some adhesion factors
Why do neonates have high levels of sialic acid in the intestinal microvilli
Because sialic acid in the form of sialyloligosaccharides are undigested
How does increased sialic acid in neonates intestines help cronobacter, and what species does it help
C. sakazakii, because it has the nanAKT gene cluster that encodes for sialic acid utilization (it has a lot of food)
What are some ways to prevent cronobacter growth in PIF
Refrigerate after preparation, prepare only small volumes at a time, use chilled water, use within 4 weeks of opening, sterilize bottles
