scholarly journals Molecular Subtyping and Genetic Analysis of the Enterohemolysin Gene (ehxA) from Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli and Atypical Enteropathogenic E. coli

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (20) ◽  
pp. 6360-6369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian L. Cookson ◽  
Jenny Bennett ◽  
Fiona Thomson-Carter ◽  
Graeme T. Attwood

ABSTRACT Analyses of the distribution of virulence factors among different Escherichia coli pathotypes, including Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), may provide some insight into the mechanisms by which different E. coli strains cause disease and the evolution of distinct E. coli types. The aim of this study was to examine the DNA sequence of the gene for enterohemolysin, a plasmid-encoded toxin that readily causes the hemolysis of washed sheep erythrocytes, and to assess the distribution of enterohemolysin subtypes among E. coli isolates from various human and animal sources. The 2,997-bp ehxA gene was amplified from 227 (63.8%) of 356 stx- and/or eae-positive E. coli strains isolated from cattle and sheep and from 24 (96.0%) of 25 STEC strains isolated from humans with diarrheal disease. By using PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of ehxA, six distinct PCR-RFLP types (A to F) were observed, with strains of subtypes A and C constituting 91.6% of all the ehxA-positive strains. Subtype A was associated mainly with ovine strains with stx only (P < 0.001), and subtype C was associated with bovine eae-positive strains (P < 0.001). Eleven ehxA alleles were fully sequenced, and the phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of three closely related (>95.0%) ehxA sequence groups, one including eae-positive strains (subtypes B, C, E, and F) and the other two including mainly eae-negative STEC strains (subtypes A and D). In addition to being widespread among STEC strains, stx-negative, eae-positive strains (atypical enteropathogenic E. coli strains) isolated from cattle and sheep have similar ehxA subtypes and hemolytic activities.

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia de Oliveira Ayala ◽  
Ana Carolina Ramos Moreno ◽  
Marina Baquerizo Martinez ◽  
Ylanna Kelner Burgos ◽  
Antonio Fernando Pestana de Castro ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (20) ◽  
pp. 6301-6311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra C. Lorenz ◽  
Insook Son ◽  
Anna Maounounen-Laasri ◽  
Andrew Lin ◽  
Markus Fischer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTShiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) belonging to certain serogroups (e.g., O157 and O26) can cause serious conditions like hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), but other strains might be equally pathogenic. While virulence factors, likestxandeae, have been well studied, little is known about the prevalence of theE. colihemolysin genes (hlyA,ehxA,e-hlyA, andsheA) in association with these factors. Hemolysins are potential virulence factors, andehxAandhlyAhave been associated with human illness, but the significance ofsheAis unknown. Hence, 435E. colistrains belonging to 62 different O serogroups were characterized to investigate gene presence and phenotypic expression of hemolysis. We further investigatedehxAsubtype patterns inE. coliisolates from clinical, animal, and food sources. WhilesheAandehxAwere widely distributed,e-hlyAandhlyAwere rarely found. Most strains (86.7%) were hemolytic, and significantly more hemolytic (95%) than nonhemolytic strains (49%) carriedstxand/oreae(P< 0.0001).ehxAsubtyping, as performed by using PCR in combination with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, resulted in six closely related subtypes (>94.2%), with subtypes A/D beingeae-negative STECs and subtypes B, C, E, and Feaepositive. Unexpectedly,ehxAsubtype patterns differed significantly between isolates collected from different sources (P< 0.0001), suggesting that simple linear models of exposure and transmission need modification; animal isolates carried mostly subtypes A/C (39.3%/42.9%), food isolates carried mainly subtype A (81.9%), and clinical isolates carried mainly subtype C (66.4%). Certain O serogroups correlated with particularehxAsubtypes: subtype A with O104, O113, and O8; B exclusively with O157; C with O26, O111, and O121.


2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 149-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Osek ◽  
P. Gallien

Fourteen Escherichia coli O157 strains isolated from cattle and pigs in Poland and in Germany were investigated, using PCR, for the genetic markers associated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Only two strains, both of cattle origin, were positive for the fliC (H7) gene and could be classified as O157 : H7. Nine isolates had stx shiga toxin genes, either stx1 (1 strain), stx2 (4 isolates) or both (4 strains). The stx2-carrying samples were further subtyped by PCR for the stx2c, stx2d, and stx2e toxin variants. It was shown that all but one stx2-positive bacteria possessed the stx2c Shiga toxin gene type and one stx2 STEC isolate had the stx2d virulence factor sub-type. The eaeA (intimin) gene was found in 9 strains (8 isolates from cattle and one strain from pigs); all of them harboured the genetic marker characteristic of the gamma intimin variant. The translocated intimin receptor (tir) gene was detected in 7 isolates tested and among them only one tir-positive strain was recovered from pigs. The ehly E. coli enterohemolysin gene was amplified in all but one strains obtained from cattle and only in one isolate of porcine origin. The genetic relatedness of the analysed E. coli O157 strains was examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of chromosomal DNA digested with XbaI. Two distinct but related RFLP pattern clusters were observed: one with 9 strains (8 isolates of bovine origin and one strain obtained from pigs) and the other one comprises the remaining 5 E. coli isolates (4 of porcine origin and one strain recovered from cattle). The results suggest that pigs, besides cattle, may be a reservoir of E. coli O157 strains potentially pathogenic to humans. Moreover, epidemiologically unrelated isolates of the O157 serogroup, recovered from different animal species, showed a clonal relationship as demonstrated by the RFLP analysis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 2794-2799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mueen Aslam ◽  
Frances Nattress ◽  
Gordon Greer ◽  
Chris Yost ◽  
Colin Gill ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The possible origin of beef contamination and genetic diversity of Escherichia coli populations in beef cattle, on carcasses and ground beef, was examined by using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the fliC gene. E. coli was recovered from the feces of 10 beef cattle during pasture grazing and feedlot finishing and from hides, carcasses, and ground beef after slaughter. The 1,403 E. coli isolates (855 fecal, 320 hide, 153 carcass, and 75 ground beef) were grouped into 121 genetic subtypes by using the RAPD method. Some of the genetic subtypes in cattle feces were also recovered from hides, prechilled carcasses, chilled carcasses, and ground beef. E. coli genetic subtypes were shared among cattle at all sample times, but a number of transient types were unique to individual animals. The genetic diversity of the E. coli population changed over time within individual animals grazing on pasture and in the feedlot. Isolates from one animal (59 fecal, 30 hide, 19 carcass, and 12 ground beef) were characterized by the PCR-RFLP analysis of the fliC gene and were grouped into eight genotypes. There was good agreement between the results obtained with the RAPD and PCR-RFLP techniques. In conclusion, the E. coli contaminating meat can originate from cattle feces, and the E. coli population in beef cattle was highly diverse. Also, genetic subtypes can be shared among animals or can be unique to an animal, and they are constantly changing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Torres ◽  
Maria Amaral ◽  
Leticia Bentancor ◽  
Lucia Galli ◽  
Jorge Goldstein ◽  
...  

Pathogenic Escherichia coli are known to be a common cause of diarrheal disease and a frequently occurring bacterial infection in children and adults in Latin America. Despite the effort to combat diarrheal infections, the south of the American continent remains a hot spot for infections and sequelae associated with the acquisition of one category of pathogenic E. coli, the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). This review will focus on an overview of the prevalence of different STEC serotypes in human, animals and food products, focusing on recent reports from Latin America outlining the recent research progress achieved in this region to combat disease and endemicity in affected countries and to improve understanding on emerging serotypes and their virulence factors. Furthermore, this review will highlight the progress done in vaccine development and treatment and will also discuss the effort of the Latin American investigators to respond to the thread of STEC infections by establishing a multidisciplinary network of experts that are addressing STEC-associated animal, human and environmental health issues, while trying to reduce human disease. Regardless of the significant scientific contributions to understand and combat STEC infections worldwide, many significant challenges still exist and this review has focus in the Latin American efforts as an example of what can be accomplished when multiple groups have a common goal.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1022
Author(s):  
Anca Mare ◽  
Adrian Man ◽  
Felicia Toma ◽  
Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea ◽  
Răzvan Lucian Coșeriu ◽  
...  

Even if serotyping based on O antigens is still routinely used by most laboratories for the detection of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, this method can provide false-positive reactions, due to the high diversity of O antigens. Molecular methods represent a valuable tool that clarifies these situations. In the Bacteriology Laboratory of Mureș County Hospital, between May 2016 and July 2019, 160 diarrheagenic E. coli strains were isolated from children under 2 years old with diarrheic disease. The strains were identified as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)/enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) via agglutination with polyvalent sera. STEC strains were serotyped using monovalent sera for serogroup O157. Simplex PCR was performed on the strains to determine the presence of the hlyA gene, and, for the positive ones, the hemolytic activity was tested. Antibiotic susceptibility of the identified diarrheagenic E. coli strains was also investigated. STEC strains were the most frequently identified (49.1%), followed by EPEC (40.2%). The hlyA gene was identified in 12 cases, representing 18.2% of the STEC strains. Even if the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains represented only 10%, a relevant percentage of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains (24%) was identified.


2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 3744-3747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian L. Cookson ◽  
Mingshu Cao ◽  
Jenny Bennett ◽  
Carolyn Nicol ◽  
Fiona Thomson-Carter ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Virulence gene profiles of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) from cattle, sheep, and humans were examined to determine the relationship between pathotypes. Shared virulence factors (intimin, EHEC hemolysin, serine protease, and a type II secretion system) were identified, suggesting a dynamic evolutionary relationship between aEPEC and STEC.


2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (13) ◽  
pp. 4724-4731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen E. Mellor ◽  
Eby M. Sim ◽  
Robert S. Barlow ◽  
Beatriz A. D'Astek ◽  
Lucia Galli ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTShiga toxigenicEscherichia coliO157 is the leading cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) worldwide. The frequencies ofstxgenotypes and the incidences of O157-related illness and HUS vary significantly between Argentina and Australia. Locus-specific polymorphism analysis revealed that lineage I/II (LI/II)E. coliO157 isolates were most prevalent in Argentina (90%) and Australia (88%). Argentinean LI/II isolates were shown to belong to clades 4 (28%) and 8 (72%), while Australian LI/II isolates were identified as clades 6 (15%), 7 (83%), and 8 (2%). Clade 8 was significantly associated with Shiga toxin bacteriophage insertion (SBI) typestx2(locus of insertion,argW) in Argentinean isolates (P< 0.0001). In Argentinean LI/II strains,stx2is carried by a prophage inserted atargW, whereas in Australian LI/II strains theargWlocus is occupied by the novelstx1prophage. In both Argentinean and Australian LI/II strains,stx2cis almost exclusively carried by a prophage inserted atsbcB. However, alternativeq933- orq21-related alleles were identified in the Australianstx2cprophage. Argentinean LI/II isolates were also distinguished from Australian isolates by the presence of the putative virulence determinant ECSP_3286 and the predominance of motile O157:H7 strains. Characteristics common to both Argentinean and Australian LI/II O157 strains included the presence of putative virulence determinants (ECSP_3620, ECSP_0242, ECSP_2687, ECSP_2870, and ECSP_2872) and the predominance of thetir255T allele. These data support further understanding of O157 phylogeny and may foster greater insight into the differential virulence of O157 lineages.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Selene Marozzi ◽  
Paola De Santis ◽  
Sarah Lovari ◽  
Roberto Condoleo ◽  
Stefano Bilei ◽  
...  

In recent years, the incidence of foodborne diseases caused by shiga toxin-producing <em>Escherichia coli</em> (STEC) has increased globally. For this reason, within the specific regional control plan for the detection of STEC in food products in Italy, the presence of STEC in unpasteurized milk cheeses was investigated. In total 203 samples obtained from March 2011 to December 2013 were analysed, with two standard methods (ISO 16654:2001 and ISO 13136:2012). Two strains of <em>E. coli</em> O157 were isolated (2/161, 1.2%) but did not carry any virulence-associated genes and 22 <em>stx</em>-positive samples (22/146, 15.1%) were detected in enrichment cultures, mostly from ovine cheeses. Only two strains isolated from different ovine cheeses carried <em>stx</em> gene and none of these was <em>eae</em>-positive. This study confirms the presence of <em>stx</em>-positive <em>E. coli</em> and suggests that this type of food cannot be excluded as a potential vehicle of STEC.


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