Abstract
Certain human bacterial pathogens such as the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica are not proven to be plant pathogens yet. Nonetheless, under certain conditions they can survive on, penetrate into, and colonize internal plant tissues causing serious food borne disease outbreaks. In this review, we highlight current understanding on the molecular mechanisms of plant responses against human bacterial pathogens and discuss salient common and contrasting themes of plant interactions with phytopathogens or human pathogens.
Highlights
Bagged greens in the market are often labeled “pre-washed,” “triple-washed,” or “ready-to-eat,” and look shiny and clean
We have focused on human bacterial pathogens that are not recognized plant pathogens such as Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli (Barak and Schroeder, 2012; Meng et al, 2013), but yet are major threats to food safety and human health
CONCLUDING REMARKS The fundamental understanding of plant association with human bacterial pathogens that do not cause visual or macroscopic symptom in the plant, but yet are major food contaminants, are in its infancy. Both plant and bacterial factors are critical for these cross-kingdom interactions and emerging evidence suggests an overlap between plant molecular responses to human pathogens www.frontiersin.org and phytopathogens
Summary
Bagged greens in the market are often labeled “pre-washed,” “triple-washed,” or “ready-to-eat,” and look shiny and clean. Are they really “clean” of harmful microbes? Between 2000 and 2008, norovirus and Salmonella spp. contributed to 58 and 11% of forborne illnesses, respectively in the United States (Scallan et al, 2011). In those same years, non-typhoidal Salmonella alone was ranked as the topmost bacterial pathogen contributing to hospitalizations (35%) and deaths (28%) (Scallan et al, 2011). In 2007, 235 outbreaks were associated with a single food commodity; out of which 17% was associated with poultry, 16% with beef, and 14% with leafy vegetables that accounted for the most episodes of illnesses (CDC, 2010)
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