A Novel Approach to Studying the Problem of Sapronoses (on the Listeria monocytogenes Model)

Abstract

Introduction: After a long period of non-recognition, sapronoses and saprozoonoses have taken their rightful place in the classification of infectious diseases, while the evolutionary features of these infections remain unclear. New facts related to the specifics of their circulation both in the external environment and in warm-blooded animals are revealed and the possibilities of their existence in hydrobionts and plants, as well as formation of uncultivated forms, etc., are being studied. However, recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of microorganisms to co-exist in certain consortia, interacting with other types of microorganisms of other species. In this regard, research on the issue of sapronosis remains sparse. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of saprotrophic bacteria isolated from soil and marine environment to form multicultural biofilms with Listeria monocytogenes, related to sapronoses, and to determine the nature of their interaction in model experiments. Materials and methods: The research was carried out in 2017–2019 using museum strains of different variants of Listeria monocytogenes from the collection of the the Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after G.P. Somov and saprophytic bacteria isolated from marine environment and soil. Biofilms were analyzed by spectrophotometry, and the number of viable cells was determined by the number of colony-forming units in 1 ml (CFU/ml). The results showed that the bacteria of a mixed microbial community living in a biofilm could interact with each other through competition or cooperation. Conclusion: Cooperation between different strains of microorganisms in the soil or marine environment may contribute to a better adaptation and survival of L. monocytogenes, thus posing a potential hazard to the population. This fact highlights the epidemiological significance of the marine and soil environments.