Genomic diversity of Cronobacter sakazakii across the food system to consumers at the global scale
Abstract
Understanding how foodborne pathogens adapt to changing environments is essential for improving food safety monitoring and control. Cronobacter sakazakii, a persistent opportunistic pathogen associated with powdered infant formula outbreaks, poses critical health risks to neonates and other vulnerable populations. This study tested the hypothesis that genetic variation in C. sakazakii correlates with specific isolation sources and geographic origins across the global food system. We conducted a pangenomics meta-analysis of C. sakazakii derived from food, environmental, and clinical sources spanning North America, Asia, and Europe. A robust fine-tuned Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) model was developed to standardize the categorization of isolate metadata descriptors. C. sakazakii genome assemblies (n = 748) were used to build and annotate the pangenome, and genome size and accessory gene profiles were found to be significantly associated with source type and continent of origin. Isolates from powdered foods, compared to those sourced from alternative foods, had larger genomes and were enriched in functions annotated to Clusters of Orthologous Genes (COG) category L for DNA replication, recombination and repair (e.g., transposase, integrase), among other features. Random forest models using both accessory genes and the subset of virulence factor homologs accurately predicted source attributions, identifying type VI secretion system and heavy metal response genes as…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 748 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Understanding the factors influencing fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) damage in African smallholder maize fields and quantifying its impact on yield. A case study in Eastern Zimbabwe
- Alarming situation of emerging H5 and H7 avian influenza and effective control strategies
- Livestock and food security: vulnerability to population growth and climate change
- Atmosphere–ocean oxygen and productivity dynamics during early animal radiations
- Characterization of the global distribution and diversified plasmid reservoirs of the colistin resistance gene mcr-9
- The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.