scholarly journals Mouse Genetic Background Affects Transfer of an Antibiotic Resistance Plasmid in the Gastrointestinal Tract

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Logan C. Ott ◽  
Zachary R. Stromberg ◽  
Graham A. J. Redweik ◽  
Michael J. Wannemuehler ◽  
Melha Mellata
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Plasmid Transfer ◽  
Host Factors ◽  
Mouse Strains ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Mouse Genetic

ABSTRACT Dissemination of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes, often on plasmids, leads to antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, which is a major problem for animal and public health. Bacterial conjugation is the primary route of AR gene transfer in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Significant gaps in knowledge about which gastrointestinal communities and host factors promote plasmid transfer remain. Here, we used Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky strain CVM29188 carrying plasmid pCVM29188_146 (harboring streptomycin and tetracycline resistance genes) to assess plasmid transfer to Escherichia coli under in vitro conditions and in various mouse strains with a conventional or defined microbiota. As an initial test, the transfer of pCVM29188_146 to the E. coli strains was confirmed in vitro. Colonization resistance and, therefore, a lack of plasmid transfer were found in wild-type mice harboring a conventional microbiota. Thus, mice harboring the altered Schaedler flora (ASF), or ASF mice, were used to probe for host factors in the context of a defined microbiota. To assess the influence of inflammation on plasmid transfer, we compared interleukin-10 gene-deficient 129S6/SvEv ASF mice (proinflammatory environment) to wild-type 129S6/SvEv ASF mice and found no difference in transconjugant yields. In contrast, the mouse strain influenced plasmid transfer, as C3H/HeN ASF mice had significantly lower levels of transconjugants than 129S6/SvEv ASF mice. Although gastrointestinal members were identical between the ASF mouse strains, a few differences from C3H/HeN ASF mice were detected, with C3H/HeN ASF mice having significantly lower abundances of ASF members 356 (Clostridium sp.), 492 (Eubacterium plexicaudatum), and 502 (Clostridium sp.) than 129S6/SvEv ASF mice. Overall, we demonstrate that microbiota complexity and mouse genetic background influence in vivo plasmid transfer. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance is a threat to public health. Many clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes are carried on plasmids that can be transferred to other bacterial members in the gastrointestinal tract. The current study used a murine model to study the transfer of a large antibiotic resistance plasmid from a foodborne Salmonella strain to a gut commensal E. coli strain in the gastrointestinal tract. We found that different mouse genetic backgrounds and a different diversity of microbial communities influenced the level of Escherichia coli that acquired the plasmid in the gastrointestinal tract. This study suggests that the complexity of the microbial community and host genetics influence plasmid transfer from donor to recipient bacteria.

scholarly journals An In Vitro Chicken Gut Model Demonstrates Transfer of a Multidrug Resistance Plasmid from Salmonella to Commensal Escherichia coli

mBio ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roderick M. Card ◽  
Shaun A. Cawthraw ◽  
Javier Nunez-Garcia ◽  
Richard J. Ellis ◽  
Gemma Kay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Plasmid Transfer ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Antibiotic Administration

ABSTRACT The chicken gastrointestinal tract is richly populated by commensal bacteria that fulfill various beneficial roles for the host, including helping to resist colonization by pathogens. It can also facilitate the conjugative transfer of multidrug resistance (MDR) plasmids between commensal and pathogenic bacteria which is a significant public and animal health concern as it may affect our ability to treat bacterial infections. We used an in vitro chemostat system to approximate the chicken cecal microbiota, simulate colonization by an MDR Salmonella pathogen, and examine the dynamics of transfer of its MDR plasmid harboring several genes, including the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase bla CTX-M1. We also evaluated the impact of cefotaxime administration on plasmid transfer and microbial diversity. Bacterial community profiles obtained by culture-independent methods showed that Salmonella inoculation resulted in no significant changes to bacterial community alpha diversity and beta diversity, whereas administration of cefotaxime caused significant alterations to both measures of diversity, which largely recovered. MDR plasmid transfer from Salmonella to commensal Escherichia coli was demonstrated by PCR and whole-genome sequencing of isolates purified from agar plates containing cefotaxime. Transfer occurred to seven E. coli sequence types at high rates, even in the absence of cefotaxime, with resistant strains isolated within 3 days. Our chemostat system provides a good representation of bacterial interactions, including antibiotic resistance transfer in vivo. It can be used as an ethical and relatively inexpensive approach to model dissemination of antibiotic resistance within the gut of any animal or human and refine interventions that mitigate its spread before employing in vivo studies. IMPORTANCE The spread of antimicrobial resistance presents a grave threat to public health and animal health and is affecting our ability to respond to bacterial infections. Transfer of antimicrobial resistance via plasmid exchange is of particular concern as it enables unrelated bacteria to acquire resistance. The gastrointestinal tract is replete with bacteria and provides an environment for plasmid transfer between commensals and pathogens. Here we use the chicken gut microbiota as an exemplar to model the effects of bacterial infection, antibiotic administration, and plasmid transfer. We show that transfer of a multidrug-resistant plasmid from the zoonotic pathogen Salmonella to commensal Escherichia coli occurs at a high rate, even in the absence of antibiotic administration. Our work demonstrates that the in vitro gut model provides a powerful screening tool that can be used to assess and refine interventions that mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in the gut before undertaking animal studies. IMPORTANCE The spread of antimicrobial resistance presents a grave threat to public health and animal health and is affecting our ability to respond to bacterial infections. Transfer of antimicrobial resistance via plasmid exchange is of particular concern as it enables unrelated bacteria to acquire resistance. The gastrointestinal tract is replete with bacteria and provides an environment for plasmid transfer between commensals and pathogens. Here we use the chicken gut microbiota as an exemplar to model the effects of bacterial infection, antibiotic administration, and plasmid transfer. We show that transfer of a multidrug-resistant plasmid from the zoonotic pathogen Salmonella to commensal Escherichia coli occurs at a high rate, even in the absence of antibiotic administration. Our work demonstrates that the in vitro gut model provides a powerful screening tool that can be used to assess and refine interventions that mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in the gut before undertaking animal studies.

scholarly journals Effects of KPC Variant and Porin Genotype on the In Vitro Activity of Meropenem-Vaborbactam against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Wilson ◽  
Ellen G. Kline ◽  
Chelsea E. Jones ◽  
Kristin T. Morder ◽  
Roberta T. Mettus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Disk Diffusion ◽  
Broth Microdilution ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Strip Testing ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

ABSTRACT Meropenem-vaborbactam is a new agent with the potential to treat carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections. We describe the in vitro activity of meropenem-vaborbactam against representative CRE genotypes and laboratory-engineered Escherichia coli isolates harboring mutant blaKPC genes associated with ceftazidime-avibactam resistance. We also compared disk diffusion and gradient strip testing methods to standard broth microdilution methods. Against 120 CRE isolates, median ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem-vaborbactam MICs were 1 and 0.03 µg/ml, respectively. Ninety-eight percent (117/120) of isolates were susceptible to meropenem-vaborbactam (MICs ≤ 4 µg/ml). Against Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates harboring mutant blaKPC, the addition of vaborbactam lowered the meropenem MICs in 78% of isolates (14/18); 100% were susceptible to meropenem-vaborbactam. Median meropenem-vaborbactam MICs were higher against K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae isolates with mutant ompK36 porin genes (n = 26) than against those with wild-type ompK36 porin genes (n = 54) (0.25 versus 0.03 µg/ml; P < 0.0001). Against E. coli TOP10 isolates with plasmid constructs containing wild-type blaKPC or mutant blaKPC, the addition of vaborbactam at 8 µg/ml lowered the meropenem MICs 2- to 512-fold, resulting in meropenem-vaborbactam MICs of 0.03 µg/ml. The rates of categorical agreement with broth microdilution for disk diffusion or gradient strips ranged from 90 to 95%. Essential agreement rates were higher for research-use-only (RUO) gradient strips manufactured by bioMérieux (82%) than for those manufactured by Liofilchem (48%) (P < 0.0001). Taken together, our data highlight the potent in vitro activity of meropenem-vaborbactam against CRE, including isolates resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam. Vaborbactam inhibited both wild-type and variant KPC enzymes. On the other hand, KPC-producing K. pneumoniae isolates with ompK36 mutations displayed higher meropenem-vaborbactam MICs than isolates with wild-type ompK36. The results of susceptibility testing with RUO bioMérieux gradient strips most closely aligned with those of broth microdilution methods.

scholarly journals Mutations in the Bacterial Ribosomal Protein L3 and Their Association with Antibiotic Resistance

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 3518-3528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasmus N. Klitgaard ◽  
Eleni Ntokou ◽  
Katrine Nørgaard ◽  
Daniel Biltoft ◽  
Lykke H. Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Ribosomal Protein ◽  
Large Subunit ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Growth Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Ribosomal Protein L3 ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTDifferent groups of antibiotics bind to the peptidyl transferase center (PTC) in the large subunit of the bacterial ribosome. Resistance to these groups of antibiotics has often been linked with mutations or methylations of the 23S rRNA. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of studies where mutations have been found in the ribosomal protein L3 in bacterial strains resistant to PTC-targeting antibiotics but there is often no evidence that these mutations actually confer antibiotic resistance. In this study, a plasmid exchange system was used to replace plasmid-carried wild-type genes with mutated L3 genes in a chromosomal L3 deletion strain. In this way, the essential L3 gene is available for the bacteria while allowing replacement of the wild type with mutated L3 genes. This enables investigation of the effect of single mutations inEscherichia coliwithout a wild-type L3 background. Ten plasmid-carried mutated L3 genes were constructed, and their effect on growth and antibiotic susceptibility was investigated. Additionally, computational modeling of the impact of L3 mutations inE. coliwas used to assess changes in 50S structure and antibiotic binding. All mutations are placed in the loops of L3 near the PTC. Growth data show that 9 of the 10 mutations were well accepted inE. coli, although some of them came with a fitness cost. Only one of the mutants exhibited reduced susceptibility to linezolid, while five exhibited reduced susceptibility to tiamulin.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation of Tebipenem (SPR859), an Orally Available Carbapenem, against a Global Set of Enterobacteriaceae Isolates, Including a Challenge Set of Organisms

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Ryan Arends ◽  
Paul R. Rhomberg ◽  
Nicole Cotroneo ◽  
Aileen Rubio ◽  
Robert K. Flamm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Urinary Tract Infection ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Tract Infection ◽  
Broth Microdilution ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT The antimicrobial activity of tebipenem and other carbapenem agents were tested in vitro against a set of recent clinical isolates responsible for urinary tract infection (UTI), as well as against a challenge set. Isolates were tested by reference broth microdilution and included Escherichia coli (101 isolates), Klebsiella pneumoniae (208 isolates), and Proteus mirabilis (103 isolates) species. Within each species tested, tebipenem showed equivalent MIC50/90 values to those of meropenem (E. coli MIC50/90, ≤0.015/0.03 mg/liter; K. pneumoniae MIC50/90, 0.03/0.06 mg/liter; and P. mirabilis MIC50/90, 0.06/0.12 mg/liter) and consistently displayed MIC90 values 8-fold lower than imipenem. Tebipenem and meropenem (MIC50, 0.03 mg/liter) showed equivalent MIC50 results against wild-type, AmpC-, and/or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates. Tebipenem also displayed MIC50/90 values 4- to 8-fold lower than imipenem against the challenge set. All carbapenem agents were less active (MIC50, ≥8 mg/liter) against isolates carrying carbapenemase genes. These data confirm the in vitro activity of the orally available agent tebipenem against prevalent UTI Enterobacteriaceae species, including those producing ESBLs and/or plasmid AmpC enzymes.

scholarly journals ISKpn40-Mediated Mobilization of the Colistin Resistance Gene mcr-3.11 in Escherichia coli

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Zhang He ◽  
Teng-Fei Long ◽  
Cai-Ping Chen ◽  
Bing He ◽  
Xing-Ping Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Resistance Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Colistin Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Report ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Target Sites

ABSTRACT The mobile colistin resistance gene mcr-3 has globally disseminated since it was first reported in 2017 in Escherichia coli. In vitro mobilization assays in this study demonstrate the functionality of the composite transposon structure ISKpn40-mcr-3.11-dgkA-ISKpn40 in wild-type and recA− E. coli strains. These transpositions generated 4-bp duplications at the target sites. This is the first report demonstrating the mobility of the mcr-3.11 gene by transposition.

scholarly journals Conjugation-Mediated Horizontal Gene Transfer of Clostridium perfringens Plasmids in the Chicken Gastrointestinal Tract Results in the Formation of New Virulent Strains

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake A. Lacey ◽  
Anthony L. Keyburn ◽  
Mark E. Ford ◽  
Ricardo W. Portela ◽  
Priscilla A. Johanesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Clostridium Perfringens ◽  
Plasmid Transfer ◽  
Conjugative Plasmid ◽  
Conjugative Transfer ◽  
Necrotic Enteritis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gastrointestinal Pathogen

ABSTRACT Clostridium perfringens is a gastrointestinal pathogen capable of causing disease in a variety of hosts. Necrotic enteritis in chickens is caused by C. perfringens strains that produce the pore-forming toxin NetB, the major virulence factor for this disease. Like many other C. perfringens toxins and antibiotic resistance genes, NetB is encoded on a conjugative plasmid. Conjugative transfer of the netB-containing plasmid pJIR3535 has been demonstrated in vitro with a netB-null mutant. This study has investigated the effect of plasmid transfer on disease pathogenesis, with two genetically distinct transconjugants constructed under in vitro conditions, within the intestinal tract of chickens. This study also demonstrates that plasmid transfer can occur naturally in the host gut environment without the need for antibiotic selective pressure to be applied. The demonstration of plasmid transfer within the chicken host may have implications for the progression and pathogenesis of C. perfringens-mediated disease. Such horizontal gene transfer events are likely to be common in the clostridia and may be a key factor in strain evolution, both within animals and in the wider environment. IMPORTANCE Clostridium perfringens is a major gastrointestinal pathogen of poultry. C. perfringens strains that express the NetB pore-forming toxin, which is encoded on a conjugative plasmid, cause necrotic enteritis. This study demonstrated that the conjugative transfer of the netB-containing plasmid to two different nonpathogenic strains converted them into disease-causing strains with disease-causing capability similar to that of the donor strain. Plasmid transfer of netB and antibiotic resistance was also demonstrated to occur within the gastrointestinal tract of chickens, with approximately 14% of the isolates recovered comprising three distinct, in vivo-derived, transconjugant types. The demonstration of in vivo plasmid transfer indicates the potential importance of strain plasticity and the contribution of plasmids to strain virulence.

scholarly journals Target- and Resistance-Based Mechanistic Studies with TP-434, a Novel Fluorocycline Antibiotic

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 2559-2564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trudy H. Grossman ◽  
Agata L. Starosta ◽  
Corey Fyfe ◽  
William O'Brien ◽  
David M. Rothstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tetracycline Resistance ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Tetracycline Resistance Genes ◽  
Potent Inhibition ◽  
The Common ◽  
Wild Type Control

ABSTRACTTP-434 is a novel, broad-spectrum fluorocycline antibiotic with activity against bacteria expressing major antibiotic resistance mechanisms, including tetracycline-specific efflux and ribosomal protection. The mechanism of action of TP-434 was assessed using both cell-based andin vitroassays. InEscherichia colicells expressing recombinant tetracycline resistance genes, the MIC of TP-434 (0.063 μg/ml) was unaffected bytet(M),tet(K), andtet(B) and increased to 0.25 and 4 μg/ml in the presence oftet(A) andtet(X), respectively. Tetracycline, in contrast, was significantly less potent (MIC ≥ 128 μg/ml) againstE. colicells when any of these resistance mechanisms were present. TP-434 showed potent inhibition inE. coli in vitrotranscription/translation (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 0.29 ± 0.09 μg/ml) and [3H]tetracycline ribosome-binding competition (IC50= 0.22 ± 0.07 μM) assays. The antibacterial potencies of TP-434 and all other tetracycline class antibiotics tested were reduced by 4- to 16-fold, compared to that of the wild-type control strain, againstPropionibacterium acnesstrains carrying a 16S rRNA mutation, G1058C, a modification that changes the conformation of the primary binding site of tetracycline in the ribosome. Taken together, the findings support the idea that TP-434, like other tetracyclines, binds the ribosome and inhibits protein synthesis and that this activity is largely unaffected by the common tetracycline resistance mechanisms.

scholarly journals Horizontal Gene Transfer and Acquired Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Heidelberg following In Vitro Incubation in Broiler Ceca

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelumola Oladeinde ◽  
Kimberly Cook ◽  
Steven M. Lakin ◽  
Reed Woyda ◽  
Zaid Abdo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Horizontal Gene Transfer ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Foodborne Pathogen ◽  
Mobile Genetic Elements ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Acquired Antibiotic Resistance

ABSTRACT The chicken gastrointestinal tract harbors microorganisms that play a role in the health and disease status of the host. The cecum is the part of the gut that carries the highest microbial densities, has the longest residence time of digesta, and is a vital site for urea recycling and water regulation. Therefore, the cecum provides a rich environment for bacteria to horizontally transfer genes between one another via mobile genetic elements such as plasmids and bacteriophages. In this study, we used broiler chicken cecum as a model to investigate antibiotic resistance genes that can be transferred in vitro from cecal flora to Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg. We used whole-genome sequencing and resistome enrichment to decipher the interactions between S. Heidelberg, the gut microbiome, and acquired antibiotic resistance. After 48 h of incubation of ceca under microaerophilic conditions, we recovered one S. Heidelberg isolate with an acquired IncK2 plasmid (88 kb) carrying an extended-spectrum-β-lactamase gene (blaCMY-2). In vitro, this plasmid was transferable between Escherichia coli and S. Heidelberg strains but transfer was unsuccessful between S. Heidelberg strains. An in-depth genetic characterization of transferred plasmids suggests that they share significant homology with P1-like phages. This study contributes to our understanding of horizontal gene transfer between an important foodborne pathogen and the chicken gut microbiome. IMPORTANCE S. Heidelberg is a clinically important serovar, linked to foodborne illness and among the top 5 serovars isolated from poultry in the United States and Canada. Acquisition of new genetic material from the microbial flora in the gastrointestinal tract of food animals, including broilers, may contribute to increased fitness of pathogens like S. Heidelberg and may increase their level of antibiotic tolerance. Therefore, it is critical to gain a better understanding of the interactions that occur between important pathogens and the commensals present in the animal gut and other agroecosystems. In this report, we show that the native flora in broiler ceca were capable of transferring mobile genetic elements carrying the AmpC β-lactamase (blaCMY-2) gene to an important foodborne pathogen, S. Heidelberg. The potential role for bacteriophage transduction is also discussed.

scholarly journals Competition and Resilience between Founder and Introduced Bacteria in the Caenorhabditis elegans Gut

2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 1288-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Portal-Celhay ◽  
Martin J. Blaser
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Serovar Typhimurium ◽  
Colonization Factors

The microbial communities that reside within the intestinal tract in vertebrates are complex and dynamic. In this report, we establish the utility ofCaenorhabditis elegansas a model system for identifying the factors that contribute to bacterial persistence and for host control of gut luminal populations. We found that for N2 worms grown on mixed lawns of bacteria,Salmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium substantially outcompetedEscherichia coli, even whenE. coliwas initially present at 100-fold-higher concentrations. To address whether innate immunity affects the competition, thedaf-2anddaf-16mutants were studied; their total gut bacterial levels reflect overall capacity for colonization, butSalmonellaoutcompetedE. colito an extent similar to wild-type worms. To address the role of virulence properties,SalmonellaΔspi-1Δspi-2was used to compete withE. coli. The net differential was significantly less than that for wild-typeSalmonella; thus,spi-1 spi-2encodesC. eleganscolonization factors. AnE. colistrain with repeatedin vivopassage had an enhanced ability to compete against anin vitro-passedE. colistrain and againstSalmonella. Our data provide evidence of active competition for colonization niches in theC. elegansgut, as determined by bacterial factors and subject toin vivoselection.

scholarly journals Finding Regulators Associated with the Expression of the Long Polar Fimbriae in Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

2015 ◽  
Vol 197 (23) ◽  
pp. 3658-3665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Hu ◽  
Brittany N. Ross ◽  
Roberto J. Cieza ◽  
Alfredo G. Torres
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Colonization Factor ◽  
Initial Adhesion ◽  
Intestinal Adhesion

ABSTRACTEnteropathogenicEscherichia coli(EPEC) is a human pathogen that requires initial adhesion to the intestine in order to cause disease. Multiple adhesion factors have been identified inE. colistrains, among them the long polar fimbriae (Lpf), a colonization factor associated with intestinal adhesion. The conditions of Lpf expression are well understood in enterohemorrhagicE. coli(EHEC); however, the expression of EPEClpfhas been found to be repressed under anyin vitrocondition tested. Therefore, we decided to identify those factors silencing expression of EPEClpf. Because histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) is a known repressor of EHEClpf, we tested it and found that H-NS is a repressor of EPEClpf. We also found that the adhesion of the EPEC Δhnsstrain was significantly enhanced compared to the wild-type strain. Becauselpfexpression was modestly increased in thehnsmutant, transposon mutagenesis was performed to find a strain displaying higherlpfexpression than EPEC Δhns. One Tn5insertion was identified within theyhjXgene, and furtherin vitrocharacterization revealed increasedlpfexpression and adhesion to Caco-2 cells compared with EPEC Δhns. However, in a murine model of intestinal infection, the EPEC Δhnsand EPEC ΔhnsTn5mutants had only a slight change in colonization pattern compared to the wild-type strain. Our data showed that EPEC Lpf is transcribed, but its role in EPEC intestinal colonization requires further analysis.IMPORTANCEData are presented demonstrating that the long polar fimbriae (lpf) operon in enteropathogenicE. coli(EPEC) is highly regulated; however, derepression occurs by mutagenizing two proteins associated with its control. The study demonstrates that the EPEClpfoperon can be expressed and, therefore, participates in the EPEC adherence phenotype.

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