Lecture 11-Cronobacter Flashcards
Which Cronobacter species is the most common?
C.sakazakii and is one of the species that has been involved in neonatal infection
Cronobacter
- gram-negative, non-spore forming, straight, rod-shape bacteria
- flagella, nonhalophilic, and facultatively anaerobic
- grows from 6 to 45C
What is the most associated vehicle for transmission of Cronobacter?
-powdered infant formula
Is Cronobacter mortality high?
Yes but the incidence of disease is very low
Why would premature infants be more at risk of cronobacter?
Premature neonates secrete less gastric acid than older infants, and this may be important in the long term survival of Cronobacter
What are some symptoms seen in infants with cronobacter infections?
Necrotizing enterocolitis, speticemia, meningitis
Outer membrane PRO (OMP)
- cell-surface exposure and contribution in export of extracellular virulence factors
- anchores the structures that mediate adhesion and motility
- OmpA helpc cells adhere to GI epithelial cells
- involved in invasion of epithelial cells and BBB
Which OMP breech the blood brain barrier?
OmpA
OmpX
helps invasion on the apical side of GI epithelial cells, but also helps cronobacter survive on the basolateral side as well
Virulence Factor: Enterotoxin
Heat stable toxin
Virulence Factor: Outer membrane protease
provides protection from the immune system
-encoded by gene cpa: render serum resistance by cleaving complement components, activating plasminogen and inactivating plasmin inhibitor
Virulence Factor: Sialic acid utilization
confers in pathogenesis
-remain undigested in neonates and infants
Virulence Factor: Iron acquisition system
encodes iron-update system
Virulence Factor: Efflux system
Facilitates invasion of brain cells
Virulence Factor:Proteolytic enzymes
Deformation and rounding of cells
