scholarly journals Modulation of AggR levels reveals features of virulence regulation in enteroaggregative E. coli

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Prieto ◽  
Manuel Bernabeu ◽  
José Francisco Sánchez-Herrero ◽  
Anna Pérez-Bosque ◽  
Lluïsa Miró ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Virulence Plasmid ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Structural Alterations ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Transcript Stability ◽  
Virulence Regulation

AbstractEnteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains are one of the diarrheagenic pathotypes. EAEC strains harbor a virulence plasmid (pAA2) that encodes, among other virulence determinants, the aggR gene. The expression of the AggR protein leads to the expression of several virulence determinants in both plasmids and chromosomes. In this work, we describe a novel mechanism that influences AggR expression. Because of the absence of a Rho-independent terminator in the 3′UTR, aggR transcripts extend far beyond the aggR ORF. These transcripts are prone to PNPase-mediated degradation. Structural alterations in the 3′UTR result in increased aggR transcript stability, leading to increased AggR levels. We therefore investigated the effect of increased AggR levels on EAEC virulence. Upon finding the previously described AggR-dependent virulence factors, we detected novel AggR-regulated genes that may play relevant roles in EAEC virulence. Mutants exhibiting high AggR levels because of structural alterations in the aggR 3′UTR show increased mobility and increased pAA2 conjugation frequency. Furthermore, among the genes exhibiting increased fold change values, we could identify those of metabolic pathways that promote increased degradation of arginine, fatty acids and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. In this paper, we discuss how the AggR-dependent increase in specific metabolic pathways activity may contribute to EAEC virulence.

scholarly journals Plasmids from Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains with Rare Enterohemolysin Gene (ehxA) Subtypes Reveal Pathogenicity Potential and Display a Novel Evolutionary Path

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (21) ◽  
pp. 6367-6377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra C. Lorenz ◽  
Steven R. Monday ◽  
Maria Hoffmann ◽  
Markus Fischer ◽  
Julie A. Kase
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Virulence Plasmid ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Subtype B ◽  
Evolutionary Relatedness

ABSTRACTMost Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) strains associated with severe disease, such as hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), carry large enterohemolysin-encoding (ehxA) plasmids, e.g., pO157 and pO103, that contribute to STEC clinical manifestations. SixehxAsubtypes (A through F) exist that phylogenetically cluster intoeae-positive (B, C, F), a mix ofeae-positive (E) andeae-negative (A), and a third, more distantly related, cluster ofeae-negative (D) STEC strains. While subtype B, C, and F plasmids share a number of virulence traits that are distinct from those of subtype A, sequence data have not been available for subtype D and E plasmids. Here, we determined and compared the genetic composition of four subtype D and two subtype E plasmids to establish their evolutionary relatedness amongehxAsubtypes and define their potential role in pathogenicity. We found that subtype D strains carry one exceptionally large plasmid (>200 kbp) that carries a variety of virulence genes that are associated with enterotoxigenic and enterohemorrhagicE. coli, which, quite possibly, enables these strains to cause disease despite being food isolates. Our data offer further support for the hypothesis that this subtype D plasmid represents a novel virulence plasmid, sharing very few genetic features with other plasmids; we conclude that these plasmids have evolved from a different evolutionary lineage than the plasmids carrying the otherehxAsubtypes. In contrast, the 50-kbp plasmids of subtype E (pO145), although isolated from HUS outbreak strains, carried only few virulence-associated determinants, suggesting that the clinical presentation of subtype E strains is largely a result of chromosomally encoded virulence factors.IMPORTANCEBacterial plasmids are known to be key agents of change in microbial populations, promoting the dissemination of various traits, such as drug resistance and virulence. This study determined the genetic makeup of virulence plasmids from rare enterohemolysin subtype D and E Shiga toxin-producingE. colistrains. We demonstrated thatehxAsubtype D plasmids represent a novelE. colivirulence plasmid, and although subtype D plasmids were derived from nonclinical isolates, they encoded a variety of virulence determinants that are associated with pathogenicE. coli. In contrast, subtype E plasmids, isolated from strains recovered from severely ill patients, carry only a few virulence determinants. The results of this study reemphasize the plasticity and vast diversity amongE. coliplasmids. This work demonstrates that, althoughE. colistrains of certain serogroups may not be frequently associated with disease, they should not be underestimated in protecting human health and food safety.

Prevalence and distribution of different diarrhoeagenicEscherichia colivirulotypes in major water bodies in Bangladesh

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (12) ◽  
pp. 2516-2525 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. AKTER ◽  
M. ISLAM ◽  
K. S. AFREEN ◽  
N. AZMUDA ◽  
S. I. KHAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Waterborne Pathogen ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Enriched Cultures ◽  
Natural Water Bodies

SUMMARYEscherichia coli, a prominent waterborne pathogen, causes a variety of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal infections that depend on virulence determinants. To monitor natural aquatic systems for virulence-associated genes ofE. coli, multiplex PCR was used in a survey covering 46 major natural water bodies in Bangladesh. DNA was extracted directly from water samples as well as from pre-enriched and enriched cultures during three successive seasons and assessed forE. colivirulotype distribution. From the five virulotypes, genes from the enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), and enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) virulotypes were detected consistently, but genes from the enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enteroaggregative (EAEC) virulotypes were traced only occasionally. ETEC was the most prevalent virulotype, followed by EPEC. However, EIEC and EAEC virulotypes could not be detected in winter or the rainy season, respectively. Specific regional distribution patterns of differentE. colivirulotypes and their temporal fluctuations were identified. These observations may assist with assessing seasonal risk and identifying vulnerable areas of the country prone toE. coli-associated outbreaks.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Grouping and Virulence Potential of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Strains in Cattle

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (13) ◽  
pp. 4677-4682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Valat ◽  
Frédéric Auvray ◽  
Karine Forest ◽  
Véronique Métayer ◽  
Emilie Gay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Extended Spectrum ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases ◽  
Phylogenetic Grouping ◽  
Almost All

ABSTRACTIn line with recent reports of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) inEscherichia coliisolates of highly virulent serotypes, such as O104:H4, we investigated the distribution of phylogroups (A, B1, B2, D) and virulence factor (VF)-encoding genes in 204 ESBL-producingE. coliisolates from diarrheic cattle. ESBL genes, VFs, and phylogroups were identified by PCR and a commercial DNA array (Alere, France). ESBL genes belonged mostly to the CTX-M-1 (65.7%) and CTX-M-9 (27.0%) groups, whereas those of the CTX-M-2 and TEM groups were much less represented (3.9% and 3.4%, respectively). One ESBL isolate wasstx1andeaepositive and belonged to a major enterohemorrhagicE. coli(EHEC) serotype (O111:H8). Two other isolates wereeaepositive butstxnegative; one of these had serotype O26:H11. ESBL isolates belonged mainly to phylogroup A (55.4%) and, to lesser extents, to phylogroups D (25.5%) and B1 (15.6%), whereas B2 strains were quasi-absent (1/204). The number of VFs was significantly higher in phylogroup B1 than in phylogroups A (P= 0.04) and D (P= 0.02). Almost all of the VFs detected were found in CTX-M-1 isolates, whereas only 64.3% and 33.3% of them were found in CTX-M-9 and CTX-M-2 isolates, respectively. These results indicated that the widespread dissemination of theblaCTX-Mgenes within theE. colipopulation from cattle still spared the subpopulation of EHEC/Shiga-toxigenicE. coli(STEC) isolates. In contrast to other reports on non-ESBL-producing isolates from domestic animals, B1 was not the main phylogroup identified. However, B1 was found to be the most virulent phylogroup, suggesting host-specific distribution of virulence determinants among phylogenetic groups.

scholarly journals Effect of protein and lactulose on the production of gamma-aminobutyric acid by faecal Escherichia coli.

Gut ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1007-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
H al Mardini ◽  
B al Jumaili ◽  
C O Record ◽  
D Burke
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid

Engineering the intracellular metabolism of Escherichia coli to produce gamma-aminobutyric acid by co-localization of GABA shunt enzymes

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van Dung Pham ◽  
Sivachandiran Somasundaram ◽  
Seung Hwan Lee ◽  
Si Jae Park ◽  
Soon Ho Hong
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gaba Shunt ◽  
Intracellular Metabolism

scholarly journals Variability of Escherichia coli O157 Strain Survival in Manure-Amended Soil in Relation to Strain Origin, Virulence Profile, and Carbon Nutrition Profile

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (22) ◽  
pp. 8088-8096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eelco Franz ◽  
Angela H. A. M. van Hoek ◽  
El Bouw ◽  
Henk J. M. Aarts
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Survival Time ◽  
Metabolic Profiling ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Survival Times ◽  
O157 Strain ◽  
Phenotypic Marker ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Amended Soil

ABSTRACTThe variation in manure-amended soil survival capability among 18Escherichia coliO157 strains (8 animal, 1 food, and 9 human isolates) was studied using a single sandy soil sample and a single sample of cattle manure as the inoculum carrier. The virulence profiles ofE. coliO157 strains were characterized by detection of virulence determinants (73 genes, 122 probes in duplicate) by using the IdentibacE. coligenotyping DNA miniaturized microarray. Metabolic profiling was done by subjecting all strains to the Biolog phenotypic carbon microarray. Survival times (calculated as days needed to reach the detection limit using the Weibull model) ranged from 47 to 266 days (median, 120 days). Survival time was significantly higher for the group of human isolates (median, 211 days; minimum [min.], 71; maximum [max.], 266) compared to the group of animal isolates (median, 70 days; min., 47; max., 249) (P= 0.025). Although clustering of human versus animal strains was observed based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, no relation between survival time and the presence of virulence genes was observed. Principal component analysis on the metabolic profiling data revealed distinct clustering of short- and long-surviving strains. The oxidization rate of propionic acid, α-ketobutyric acid, and α-hydroxybutyric acid was significantly higher for the long-surviving strains than for the short-surviving strains. The oxidative capacity ofE. coliO157 strains may be regarded as a phenotypic marker for enhanced survival in manure-amended soil. The large variation observed in survival is of importance for risk assessment models.

scholarly journals Genomic Subtraction To Identify and Characterize Sequences of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O91:H21

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 2316-2325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Pradel ◽  
Sabine Leroy-Setrin ◽  
Bernard Joly ◽  
Valérie Livrelli
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Shigella Flexneri ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Virulence Plasmids ◽  
Subtraction Procedure ◽  
Uremic Syndrome ◽  
Genomic Subtraction

ABSTRACT To identify Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli genes associated with severe human disease, a genomic subtraction technique was used with hemolytic-uremic syndrome-associated O91:H21 strain CH014 and O6:H10 bovine strains. The method was adapted to the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli genome: three rounds of subtraction were used to isolate DNA fragments specific to strain CH014. The fragments were characterized by genetic support analysis, sequencing, and hybridization to the genome of a collection of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. A total of 42 fragments were found, 19 of which correspond to previously identified unique DNA sequences in the enterohemorrhagic E. coli EDL933 reference strain, including 7 fragments corresponding to prophage sequences and others encoding candidate virulence factors, such a SepA homolog protein and a fimbrial usher protein. In addition, the subtraction procedure yielded plasmid-related sequences from Shigella flexneri and enteropathogenic and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli virulence plasmids. We found that lateral gene transfer is extensive in strain CH014, and we discuss the role of genomic mobile elements, especially bacteriophages, in the evolution and possible transfer of virulence determinants.

scholarly journals Virulence Genes and Molecular Typing of Different Groups of Escherichia coli O157 Strains in Cattle

2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (19) ◽  
pp. 6282-6291 ◽  
Author(s):  
István Tóth ◽  
Herbert Schmidt ◽  
Gábor Kardos ◽  
Zsuzsanna Lancz ◽  
Kristina Creuzburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Housekeeping Genes ◽  
Enzyme Analysis ◽  
Virulence Plasmid ◽  
O157 Strain ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Strain Collection ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT Characterization of an Escherichia coli O157 strain collection (n = 42) derived from healthy Hungarian cattle revealed the existence of diverse pathotypes. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC; eae positive) appeared to be the most frequent pathotype (n = 22 strains), 11 O157 strains were typical enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC; stx and eae positive), and 9 O157 strains were atypical, with none of the key stx and eae virulence genes detected. EHEC and EPEC O157 strains all carried eae-gamma, tir-gamma, tccP, and paa. Other virulence genes located on the pO157 virulence plasmid and different O islands (O island 43 [OI-43] and OI-122), as well as espJ and espM, also characterized the EPEC and EHEC O157 strains with similar frequencies. However, none of these virulence genes were detected by PCR in atypical O157 strains. Interestingly, five of nine atypical O157 strains produced cytolethal distending toxin V (CDT-V) and carried genes encoding long polar fimbriae. Macro-restriction fragment enzyme analysis (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) revealed that these E. coli O157 strains belong to four main clusters. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed that five housekeeping genes were identical in EHEC and EPEC O157 strains but were different in the atypical O157 strains. These results suggest that the Hungarian bovine E. coli O157 strains represent at least two main clones: EHEC/EPEC O157:H7/NM (nonmotile) and atypical CDT-V-producing O157 strains with H antigens different from H7. The CDT-V-producing O157 strains represent a novel genogroup. The pathogenic potential of these strains remains to be elucidated.

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