Are Bacillus thuringiensis strains like any other Bacillus cereus strains? Phenotypic-based tools to locate Bacillus thuringiensis in the diversity of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group.

Some Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains are used as pesticide agent. This species belongs to Bacillus cereus (Bc) group which contains many species with a high phenotypic diversity, and could be pathogenic like B. cereus. The aim of this study was to characterize the phenotype of 90 strains belonging to Bc group, half of which were Bt. Knowing that Bt strains belong to different phylogenetic Bc groups, do Bt strains have the same phenotype than other Bc group strains? Five phenotypic parameters were estimated for 90 strains in the Bc group, of which 43 were Bt strains: minimal, maximal and optimal growth temperature, cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells, heat resistance of spores. The dataset was processed by principal component analysis, showing that 53% of the variance of the profiles corresponded to factors linked to growth, heat resistance and cytotoxicity. The phenotype followed the phylogenetic groups based on panC. Bt strains showed similar behavior to other strains in the Bc group, in our experimental conditions. Commercial bio-insecticide strains were mesophilic with low heat resistance.

Suboptimal Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus weihenstephanensis Spore Incubation Conditions Increase Heterogeneity of Spore Outgrowth Time.

Changes with time of a population of Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4 and Bacillus licheniformis AD978 dormant spores into germinated spores and vegetative cells were followed by flow cytometry, at pH ranges of 4.7 to 7.4 and temperatures of 10°C to 37°C for B. weihenstephanensis and 18°C to 59°C for B. licheniformis Incubation conditions lower than optimal temperatures or pH led to lower proportions of dormant spores able to germinate and extended time of germination, a lower proportion of germinated spores able to outgrow, an extension of their times of outgrowth, and an increase of the heterogeneity of spore outgrowth time. A model based on the strain growth limits was proposed to quantify the impact of incubation temperature and pH on the passage through each physiological stage. The heat treatment temperature or time acted independently on spore recovery. Indeed, a treatment at 85°C for 12 min or at 95°C for 2 min did not have the same impact on spore germination and outgrowth kinetics of B. weihenstephanensis despite the fact that they both led to a 10-fold reduction of the population. Moreover, acidic sporulation pH increased the time of outgrowth 1.2-fold and lowered the proportion of spores able to germinate and outgrow 1.4-fold. Interestingly, we showed by proteomic analysis that some proteins involved in germination and outgrowth were detected at a lower abundance in spores produced at pH 5.5 than in those produced at pH 7.0, maybe at the origin of germination and outgrowth behavior of spores produced at suboptimal pH.IMPORTANCE Sporulation and incubation conditions have an impact on the numbers of spores able to recover after exposure to sublethal heat treatment. Using flow cytometry, we were able to follow at a single-cell level the changes in the physiological states of heat-stressed spores of Bacillus spp. and to discriminate between dormant spores, germinated spores, and outgrowing vegetative cells. We developed original mathematical models that describe (i) the changes with time of the proportion of cells in their different states during germination and outgrowth and (ii) the influence of temperature and pH on the kinetics of spore recovery using the growth limits of the tested strains as model parameters. We think that these models better predict spore recovery after a sublethal heat treatment, a common situation in food processing and a concern for food preservation and safety.

Effect of incubation temperature and pH on the recovery of Bacillus weihenstephanensis spores after exposure to a peracetic acid-based disinfectant or to pulsed light.

The recovery at a range of incubation temperatures and pH of spores of Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4 exposed to a peracetic acid-based disinfectant (PABD) or to pulsed light was estimated. Spores of B. weihenstephanensis were produced at 30 °C and pH 7.00, at 30 °C and pH 5.50, or at 12 °C and pH 7.00. The spores were treated with a commercial peracetic acid-based disinfectant at 80 mg·mL-1 for 0 to 200 min at 18 °C or by pulsed light at fluences ranging between 0.4 and 2.3 J·cm-2 for pulsed light treatment. After each treatment, the spores were incubated on nutrient agar at 12 °C, 30 °C or 37 °C, or at pH 5.10, 6.00 or 7.40. Incubation temperature during recovery had a significant impact only near the recovery limits, beyond which surviving spores previously exposed to a PABD or to pulsed light were not able to form colonies. In contrast, a decrease in pH of the recovery nutrient agar had a progressive impact on the ability of spores to form colonies. The time to first log reduction after PABD treatment was 29.5 ±â€¯0.7 min with recovery at pH 7.40, and was tremendously shortened 5.1 ±â€¯0.2 min with recovery at pH 5.10. Concerning the fluence necessary for the first log reduction, it was 1.5 times higher when the spores were recovered at pH 6.00 compared to a recovery at pH 5.10. The impact of recovery temperature and pH can be described with a mathematical model using cardinal temperature and pH as parameters. These effects of temperature and pH on recovery of Bacillus weihenstephanensis spores exposed to a disinfectant combining peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, or pulsed light are similar, although these treatments are of different natures. Sporulation temperature or pH did not impact resistance to the peracetic acid-based disinfectant or pulsed light.

Modeling the recovery of heat-treated Bacillus licheniformis Ad978 and Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4 spores at suboptimal temperature and pH using growth limits.

The apparent heat resistance of spores of Bacillus weihenstephanensis and Bacillus licheniformis was measured and expressed as the time to first decimal reduction (δ value) at a given recovery temperature and pH. Spores of B. weihenstephanensis were produced at 30°C and 12°C, and spores of B. licheniformis were produced at 45°C and 20°C. B. weihenstephanensis spores were then heat treated at 85°C, 90°C, and 95°C, and B. licheniformis spores were heat treated at 95°C, 100°C, and 105°C. Heat-treated spores were grown on nutrient agar at a range of temperatures (4°C to 40°C for B. weihenstephanensis and 15°C to 60°C for B. licheniformis) or a range of pHs (between pH 4.5 and pH 9.5 for both strains). The recovery temperature had a slight effect on the apparent heat resistance, except very near recovery boundaries. In contrast, a decrease in the recovery pH had a progressive impact on apparent heat resistance. A model describing the heat resistance and the ability to recover according to the sporulation temperature, temperature of treatment, and recovery temperature and pH was proposed. This model derived from secondary mathematical models for growth prediction. Previously published cardinal temperature and pH values were used as input parameters. The fitting of the model with apparent heat resistance data obtained for a wide range of spore treatment and recovery conditions was highly satisfactory.

Comparison of three Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strains growth behaviour and evaluation of the spoilage risk during bread shelf-life.

This study aims at the characterisation of growth behaviour of three strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, isolated from ropy bread (ATCC8473), wheat grain (ISPA-S109.3) and semolina (ISPA-N9.1) to estimate rope spoilage risk in pan bread during shelf-life using the Sym'Previus tool. Cardinal values and growth/no growth boundaries were determined in broth, while artificial spore inoculations were performed in dough for various pan bread recipes to compare experimental counts with in silico growth simulations. Finally, two storage scenarios were tested to determine the probability to reach a spoilage threshold during bread shelf-life. Similarly to the safety criteria fixed for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in foodstuff complying with EC regulation, a potential rope spoilage threshold was arbitrary fixed at 5 log CFU/g for B. amyloliquefaciens. This study further underlines a higher rope spoilage potential of the ISPA strains as compared to the ATCC strain, thus emphasizing the interest to characterise both wild strains and reference strain to account for biological variability. In conclusion, this study showed that available decision making tools which are largely recognized to predict behaviour of pathogenic strains, shall also be used with spoilage strains to help maintain food quality and extend shelf-life.

Development and application of a predictive model of Aspergillus candidus growth as a tool to improve shelf life of bakery products.

Molds are responsible for spoilage of bakery products during storage. A modeling approach to predict the effect of water activity (aw) and temperature on the appearance time of Aspergillus candidus was developed and validated on cakes. The gamma concept of Zwietering was adapted to model fungal growth, taking into account the impact of temperature and aw. We hypothesized that the same model could be used to calculate the time for mycelium to become visible (tv), by substituting the matrix parameter by tv. Cardinal values of A. candidus were determined on potato dextrose agar, and predicted tv were further validated by challenge-tests run on 51 pastries. Taking into account the aw dynamics recorded in pastries during reasonable conditions of storage, high correlation was shown between predicted and observed tv when the aw at equilibrium (after 14 days of storage) was used for modeling (Af = 1.072, Bf = 0.979). Validation studies on industrial cakes confirmed the experimental results and demonstrated the suitability of the model to predict tv in food as a function of aw and temperature.

Sensitivity of Bacillus weihenstephanensis to acidic changes of the medium is not dependant on physiological state.

This study aims to quantify the effect of salt and acid preliminary exposure on acid resistance of vegetative cells of Bacillus weihenstephanensis. The psychrotolerant strain KBAB4 was cultured until the mid-exponentially phase (i) in BHI, (ii) in BHI supplemented with 2.5% salt or (iii) in BHI acidified at pH 5.5 with HCl. The growing cells were subsequently inactivated in lethal acid conditions ranging from 4.45 to 4.70. Based on statistical criteria, a primary mixed-Weibull model was used to fit the acid inactivation kinetics. The acid resistance was enhanced for acid-adapted cells and decreased for salt-adapted cells. The secondary modelling of the bacterial resistance allowed the quantification of the change in pH leading to a ten folds variation of the bacterial resistance, i.e. cells sensitivity (zpH). This sensitivity was not significantly affected whatever the preliminary mild exposure and the presence of sub-populations with different acid resistances. These results highlighted that pre-incubation conditions influence bacterial acid resistance without affecting the sensitivity to acidic modifications, with a 10 fold reduction of Bacillus acid resistance observed for a reduction of 0.37 pH unit. Quantification of such adaptive stress response might be instrumental in quantitative risk assessment more particularly in food formulation, particularly for low-acid minimally processed foods.

Prediction of Bacillus weihenstephanensis acid resistance: the use of gene expression patterns to select potential biomarkers.

Exposure to mild stress conditions can activate stress adaptation mechanisms and provide cross-resistance towards otherwise lethal stresses. In this study, an approach was followed to select molecular biomarkers (quantitative gene expressions) to predict induced acid resistance after exposure to various mild stresses, i.e. exposure to sublethal concentrations of salt, acid and hydrogen peroxide during 5 min to 60 min. Gene expression patterns of unstressed and mildly stressed cells of Bacillus weihenstephanensis were correlated to their acid resistance (3D value) which was estimated after exposure to lethal acid conditions. Among the twenty-nine candidate biomarkers, 12 genes showed expression patterns that were correlated either linearly or non-linearly to acid resistance, while for the 17 other genes the correlation remains to be determined. The selected genes represented two types of biomarkers, (i) four direct biomarker genes (lexA, spxA, narL, bkdR) for which expression patterns upon mild stress treatment were linearly correlated to induced acid resistance; and (ii) nine long-acting biomarker genes (spxA, BcerKBAB4_0325, katA, trxB, codY, lacI, BcerKBAB4_1716, BcerKBAB4_2108, relA) which were transiently up-regulated during mild stress exposure and correlated to increased acid resistance over time. Our results highlight that mild stress induced transcripts can be linearly or non-linearly correlated to induced acid resistance and both approaches can be used to find relevant biomarkers. This quantitative and systematic approach opens avenues to select cellular biomarkers that could be incremented in mathematical models to predict microbial behaviour.

The wet-heat resistance of Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4 spores produced in a two-step sporulation process depends on sporulation temperature but not on previous cell history.

While bacterial spores are mostly produced in a continuous process, this study reports a two-step sporulation methodology. Even though spore heat resistance of numerous spore-forming bacteria is known to be dependent on sporulation conditions, this approach enables the distinction between the vegetative cell growth phase in nutrient broth and the sporulation phase in specific buffer. This study aims at investigating whether the conditions of growth of the vegetative cells, prior to sporulation, could affect spore heat resistance. For that purpose, wet-heat resistance of Bacillus weihenstephanensis KBAB4 spores, produced via a two-step sporulation process, was determined from vegetative cells harvested at four different stages of the growth kinetics, i.e. early exponential phase, late exponential phase, transition phase or early stationary phase. To assess the impact of the temperature on spore heat resistance, sporulation was performed at 10 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C from cells grown during a continuous or a discontinuous temperature process, differentiating or not the growth and sporulation temperatures. Induction of sporulation seems possible for a large range of growth stages. Final spore concentration was not significantly affected by the vegetative cell growth stage while it was by the temperature during growing and sporulation steps. The sporulation temperature influences the heat resistance of B. weihenstephanensis KBAB4 spores much more than growth temperature prior to sporulation. Spores produced at 10 °C were up to 3 times less heat resistant than spores produced at 30 °C.

Interactive forces between co-aggregating and non-co-aggregating oral bacterial pairs.

The temporo-spatial development of plaque is governed by adhesive interactions between different co-aggregating bacterial strains and species. Physico-chemically, these interactions are due to attractive Lifshitz-Van der Waals and acid-base forces, and occur despite electrostatic repulsion and with a critical influence of temperature. The forces between co-aggregating and non-co-aggregating pairs have never been measured, however. The aim here, thus, is to investigate, by atomic force microscopy, whether there is a difference in interactive forces between co-aggregating and non-co-aggregating bacterial pairs at 10 degrees C, 22 degrees C, and 40 degrees C. Actinomyces naeslundii 147 was immobilized on poly-L-lysine-coated tipless AFM cantilevers, while streptococci were immobilized on poly-L-lysine-coated glass surfaces. Upon approach, a repulsive force was measured, regardless of whether a co-aggregating or non-co-aggregating pair was involved. However, upon retraction, the co-aggregating pair exhibited larger adhesive forces and energies than did the non-co-aggregating pair. Adhesive interactions between the co-aggregating pair were smallest at 40 degrees C.