Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40414842›Full record

ArticleBMC microbiology2025

Pathogenic characterization and mechanism of sequence type 4 Cronobacter sakazakii derived from milk-based infant and baby foods.

Yuanyuan Zhang, Bin Zhang, Yunjiao Han, Baohua Zhao, Shijie Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

5 authors.

Yuanyuan ZhangHebei Normal University, Hebei, 050010, China.
Bin ZhangShijiazhuang University, Hebei, 050035, China.
Yunjiao HanShijiazhuang University, Hebei, 050035, China.
Baohua ZhaoHebei Normal University, Hebei, 050010, China. zhaobaohua@mail.hebtu.edu.cn.
Shijie WangChina Shijiazhuang Junlebao Dairy Co. Ltd, Hebei, 050221, China. wangshijie@jlbry.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCronobacter sakazakii can cause severe infections in premature infants and neonates through the consumption of contaminated milk-based foods. However, the pathogenesis of sequence type 4 (ST4) C. sakazakii remains to be fully elucidated.

resultsIn this study, four ST4 C. sakazakii strains were investigated via comparative toxicity, genomic, and transcriptomic analyses to elucidate their pathogenic characteristics and mechanisms. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) indicated that ST4 C. sakazakii was frequently identified among 36 Cronobacter spp. isolates recovered from milk-based infant and baby foods, and 13 novel STs were also detected. Compared with other ST isolates, ST4 C. sakazakii displayed a higher gut weight to carcass weight ratio (GW/CW), stronger abilities to invade and translocate, and increased secretion of TNF-α, IL-1, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and human U251 glioma cells (U251). Moreover, ST4 C. sakazakii strains with a higher GW/CW ratio significantly disrupted routine blood indices, promoted the secretion of inflammatory factors, and induced severe histopathological changes in the liver, brain, spleen, kidney, and intestine of suckling mice. Although differences in genome composition and known virulence factors were observed among these ST4 C. sakazakii strains with varying pathogenic phenotypes, comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed that the expression of numerous virulence factors and pathways, including ompA, ompW, luxS, rpoS, the Sec secretion system, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and assembly, and flagellar assembly, greatly contributed to the high pathogenicity of ST4 C. sakazakii.

conclusionOur findings suggest that foodborne ST4 C. sakazakii isolates represent a significant potential threat to food safety and public health, particularly for premature and immunocompromised infants.

Indexed as

Cronobacter sakazakiiEnterobacteriaceae InfectionsFood MicrobiologyInfant FoodMilkAnimalsHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMiceMultilocus Sequence TypingVirulenceVirulence FactorsVirulence FactorsComparative toxicity analysisComparative transcriptome analysisCronobacter sakazakiiMilk-based foodsPathogenicity

Identifiers

PMID40414842
PMCPMC12105349

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.