Genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic evaluation of virulence aspects of Salmonella Infantis strains isolated from diverse sources in Brazil

• Grant number: 21/07365-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Grantee: Felipe Pinheiro Vilela
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/11427-7 - Transcriptomic analyses of Salmonella Infantis from Brazil under survival conditions related to human health and food safety, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Salmonellosis caused by non-typhoid serovars one of the most common bacterial foodborne diseases worldwide. Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) is a non-typhoid and ubiquitous serovar that is capable to infect a broad range of animal hosts besides humans and is among the most isolated serovars globally. However, despite its great clinical relevance and impact of its presence in food and the environment, there is a lack of studies characterizing an expressive number of strains from this serovar in Brazil. The aims of this project are to evaluate aspects related to the virulence of S. Infantis isolated from diverse sources in Brazil through genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses. A total of 80 S. Infantis strains isolated from food (n=27), the environment (n-24), humans (n=19), animals (n=7) and animal ration (n=3) between 2013 and 2018 in nine States of the country will be searched for the presence of virulence genes, pathogenicity islands, plasmids, prophage sequences, mobile genetic elements and resistance genes using whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. The phylogenetic analyses of whole genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (wgMLST), core genome MLST (cgMLST), average nucleotide identity (ANI), pan-genome and Gegenees will also be performed through WGS for 30 strains to be selected. In addition, these 30 strains will also be phenotypically evaluated for its motility, biofilm formation, survival under different temperatures, salinity, acid and oxidative stresses, Caco-2 epithelial cells invasion, survival in U937 human macrophages and in vivo survival in Galleria mellonella model. Lastly, three S. Infantis strains will be selected for the performing of transcriptome in one of the previous tested stress conditions. The results to be obtained will help to elucidate possible aspects related to the virulence of S. Infantis strains isolated in Brazil and will provide data that will allow a better understanding of the infection and disease caused by this serovar of great clinical and veterinary importance worldwide.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CAMPOS, ISABELA C.; VILELA, FELIPE PINHEIRO; SARAIVA, MAURO DE M. S.; JUNIOR, ANGELO BERCHIERI; FALCAO, JULIANA PFRIMER. Insights into the global genomic features of Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum. Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 135, n. 9, p. 11-pg., 2024-09-02. (21/07365-0, 22/07013-0)