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MSc Exit Seminar – Mathew Gene (Fittipaldi Lab)
April 6, 2021 @ 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Whole-Genome Sequencing Approach to Characterize the Population Structure of Bacillus cereus at a Human Milk Bank
Abstract
Stringent milk handling protocols including pasteurization are used at human milk banks serving critically-ill, preterm neonates. However, up to 30% of donated human milk is lost to contamination with the potentially neonatal pathogen Bacillus cereus, whose spores can resist pasteurization. Here, we used genomics to evaluate the population structure of a collection of B. cereus organisms recovered from pre- and post-pasteurized human milk donated to a human milk bank, from patients seeking care at that facility and from the hospital environment. Pangenome analysis revealed an unexpectedly high level of genetic diversity within the milk bank/hospital strain population. Phylogenetic analyses using core-genome polymorphisms did not permit identification of sources of human milk contamination by B. cereus. Genome-wide association studies revealed that variants of genes involved in sporulation are overrepresented among organisms recovered from post-pasteurized milk. The results may be used to improve milk banking protocols and research around the world.
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Join Zoom Meeting:
Tuesday, April 6th, 2021 @ 2:00pm
https://zoom.us/j/98043523563?pwd=K3ZYUGRuUWNxVTZaQnVXeEwrK3dxUT09
Meeting ID: 980 4352 3563
Host: Nahuel Fittipaldi (nahuel.fittipaldi@oahpp.ca)