Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile and Whole-Genome Analysis of a Strong Biofilm-Forming Bacillus Sp. B87 Strain Isolated from Food

Abstract

Members of the Bacillus cereus group are considered to be foodborne pathogens commonly associated with diarrheal and emetic gastrointestinal syndromes. Biofilm formation is a major virulence determinant of various pathogenic bacteria, including the B. cereus strains, since it can protect the bacteria against antimicrobial agents and the host immune response. Moreover, a biofilm allows the exchange of genetic material, such as antimicrobial resistance genes, among the different bacterial strains inside the matrix. The aim of the current study was to genotypically and phenotypically characterize Bacillus sp. B87, a strain that was isolated from food and which exhibited strong biofilm-forming capacity. Based on the analysis of the phylogenetic relationship, the isolate was phylogenetically mapped close to Bacillus pacificus. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the isolate was resistant to tetracycline and β-lactam antimicrobial agents, which corresponded with the genotypic characterization using the whole-genome analysis. The genome of Bacillus sp. B87 carried the three-component non-hemolytic enterotoxin (NHE), which is a type of enterotoxin that causes diarrheal symptoms. In addition, the genome also contained several genes that participate in biofilm formation, including the pelDEADAFG operon. These findings expand our understanding of antimicrobial resistance and virulence in Bacillus species based on the link between genotypic and phenotypic characterization.

Newly Emerging MDR B. cereus in Mugil seheli as the First Report Commonly Harbor nhe, hbl, cytK, and pc-plc Virulence Genes and bla1, bla2, tetA, and ermA Resistance Genes

“…Moreover, several previous studies emphasized the resistance of B. cereus to β-Lactam -β-lactamase-inhibitor combination. 19,89,90 In contrast to our findings, Chen 91 reported an impairment of bla1 transcription in B. cereus group that harbored bla promoter-lacZ transcriptional fusions and attributed that to the betagalactosidase activity of the group.…”

Characterization of Potential Virulence, Resistance to Antibiotics and Heavy Metals, and Biofilm-Forming Capabilities of Soil Lignocellulolytic Bacteria

“…MKAL5 displayed moderate ability. Many investigators revealed the biofilm-forming ability of these bacteria species [Esteban and García-Coca, 2018;Kim et al, 2020;Bostanghadiri et al, 2021;Sornchuer et al, 2022]. Bacillus sp.…”

Characterization and molecular identification of bacteria from mackerel bekasam in Sorong City, Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia

“…Bacillus species can also be used as a bacterial concentrate to reduce odors and kill pathogenic bacteria, as well as potential as probiotics (Łubkowska et al 2023). However, Bacillus cereus is also considered a foodborne pathogen that commonly causes gastrointestinal diarrhea and emetics (Sornchuer et al 2022). Bacillus cereus originating from soil can cause food poisoning because this bacterium is an enteropathogenic strain that produces enterotoxins in the intestine (Jessberger et al 2020).…”