Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Foodborne Pathogenic Strains and Assessment of Their Adhesion Ability and Cytotoxic Effects in HCT-116 Cells.

is one of the high-threat pathogens equipped with a repertoire of virulence factors making it responsible for many infections in humans, including foodborne diseases. The present study aims to characterize antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in foodborne isolates, and to investigate their cytotoxic effects in human intestinal cells (HCT-116). Our results revealed methicillin resistance phenotypes (MRSA) along with the detection of A gene (20%) among tested foodborne strains. Furthermore, 40% of tested isolates showed a strong ability for adhesion and biofilm formation. A high rate of exoenzymes production by tested bacteria was also registered. Additionally, treatment with extracts leads to a significant decrease in HCT-116 cell viability, accompanied by a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), as a result of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Thereby, food poisoning remains daunting and needs particular concern to prevent foodborne illness.