Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40251489›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2025

Profiling the resistome and virulome of Bacillus strains used for probiotic-based sanitation: a multicenter WGS analysis.

Francesca Bini, Irene Soffritti, Maria D'Accolti, Eleonora Mazziga, Julio Diaz Caballero, Sophia David, Silvia Argimon, David M Aanensen, Antonella Volta, Matteo Bisi and 2 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Research Progress on the Effect ofCurrent issues in molecular biology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Francesca BiniSection of Microbiology, Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.
Irene SoffrittiSection of Microbiology, Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.
Maria D'AccoltiSection of Microbiology, Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.
Eleonora MazzigaSection of Microbiology, Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.
Julio Diaz CaballeroCentre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Sophia DavidCentre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Silvia ArgimonCentre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
David M AanensenCentre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Antonella VoltaCIAS Research Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44122, Italy.
Matteo BisiCIAS Research Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44122, Italy.
Sante MazzacaneCIAS Research Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44122, Italy.
Elisabetta CaselliSection of Microbiology, Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, and LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy. csb@unife.it.

Funding

Gates Foundation INV-004891
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by microbes that acquire antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent an increasing threat to human health worldwide. The high use of chemical disinfectants aimed at reducing the presence of pathogens in the hospital environment can simultaneously favor the selection of resistant strains, potentially worsening AMR concerns. In the search for sustainable ways to control bioburden without affecting this aspect, probiotic-based sanitation (PBS) using Bacillus spp. was proposed to achieve stable reduction of pathogens, AMR, and associated HAIs. Although Bacillus probiotics are classified as nonpathogenic, comprehensive data about the potential genetic alterations of these probiotics following prolonged contact with surrounding pathogens are not yet available. This study aimed to assess in depth the genetic content of PBS-Bacillus isolates to evaluate any eventual variations that occurred during their usage.

resultsWGS analysis was used for the precise identification of PBS-Bacillus species and detailed profiling of their SNPs, resistome, virulome, and mobilome. Analyses were conducted on both the original PBS detergent and 172 environmental isolates from eight hospitals sanitized with PBS over a 30-month period. The two species B. subtilis and B. velezensis were identified in both the original product and the hospital environment, and SNP analysis revealed the presence of two clusters in each species. No virulence/resistance genes or mobile conjugative plasmids were detected in either the original PBS-Bacillus strain or any of the analyzed environmental isolates, confirming their high genetic stability and their low/no tendency to be involved in horizontal gene transfer events.

conclusionsThe data obtained by metagenomic analysis revealed the absence of genetic sequences associated with PBS-Bacillus and the lack of alterations in all the environmental isolates analyzed, despite their continuous contact with surrounding pathogens. These results support the safety of the Bacillus species analyzed. Further metagenomic studies aimed at profiling the whole genomes of these and other species of Bacillus, possibly during longer periods and under stress conditions, would be of interest since they may provide further confirmation of their stability and safety.

Indexed as

BacillusDrug Resistance, BacterialGenome, BacterialProbioticsSanitationWhole Genome SequencingHumansPolymorphism, Single NucleotideBacillusProbioticsResistomeSanitationVirulomeWGS

Identifiers

PMID40251489
PMCPMC12007294

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.