Abstract:

Cronobacter sakazakii is a gram-negative, sporeless enteric bacillus, and is one of the very important
opportunistic foodborne pathogens associated with meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates
and immunocompromised infants. However, information regarding the pathogenicity and pathogenic mechanism of
Cronobacter sakazakii is still limited and not well documented. In this paper, we reviewed the recent progress in the study
of the pathogenic mechanism of Cronobacter sakazakii with reference to outer membrane protein A, lipopolysaccharides,
biofilm, the host cell cytoskeleton, iron acquisition mechanism, the presence of trehalose, the presence of extended-spectrum
β-lactamases, and intercellular interaction.

Key words: Cronobacter sakazakii, pathogenicity, mechanism, progress