A systematic review and meta-analysis of the epidemiology of pathogenic Escherichia coli of calves and the role of calves as reservoirs for human pathogenic E. coli

ABSTRACT In chickens, colibacillosis is caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) via respiratory tract infection. Many virulence factors, including type 1 (F1A) and P (F11) fimbriae, curli, aerobactin, K1 capsule, and temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (Tsh) and plasmid DNA regions have been associated with APEC. A strong correlation between serum resistance and virulence has been demonstrated, but roles of virulence factors in serum resistance have not been well elucidated. By using mutants of APEC strains TK3, MT78, and χ7122, which belong to serogroups O1, O2, and O78, respectively, we investigated the role of virulence factors in resistance to serum and pathogenicity in chickens. Our results showed that serum resistance is one of the pathogenicity mechanisms of APEC strains. Virulence factors that increased bacterial resistance to serum and colonization of internal organs of infected chickens were O78 lipopolysaccharide of E. coli χ7122 and the K1 capsule of E. coli MT78. In contrast, curli, type 1, and P fimbriae did not appear to contribute to serum resistance. We also showed that the iss gene, which was previously demonstrated to increase resistance to serum in certain E. coli strains, is located on plasmid pAPEC-1 of E. coli χ7122 but does not play a major role in resistance to serum for strain χ7122.

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Transcription Regulator YgeK Affects the Virulence of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11113018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3018

Author(s):

Jian Tu ◽

Dandan Fu ◽

Yi Gu ◽

Ying Shao ◽

Xiangjun Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Transcriptional Regulator ◽

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

E Coli ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

System 2 ◽

Important Regulator ◽

Alignment Analysis ◽

Responsible Pathogen

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the responsible pathogen for colibacillosis in poultry, and is a potential gene source for human extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli type III secretion system 2 (ETT2) is widely distributed in human and animal ExPEC isolates, and is crucial for the virulence of ExPEC. Transcriptional regulator YgeK, located in the ETT2 gene cluster, was identified as an important regulator of gene expression in enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). However, the role of YgeK in APEC has not been reported. In this study, we performed amino acid alignment analysis of YgeK among different E. coli strains and generated ygeK mutant strain AE81ΔygeK from clinical APEC strain AE81. Flagellar formation, bacterial motility, serum sensitivity, adhesion, and virulence were all significantly reduced following the inactivation of YgeK in APEC. Then, we performed transcriptome sequencing to analyze the functional pathways involved in the biological processes. Results suggested that ETT2 transcriptional regulator YgeK plays a crucial role in APEC virulence. These findings thus contribute to our understanding of the function of the ETT2 cluster, and clarify the pathogenic mechanism of APEC.

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Epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase and metallo-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in South Asia

Future Microbiology ◽

10.2217/fmb-2020-0193 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kamrul Islam ◽

Aaron J Heffernan ◽

Saiyuri Naicker ◽

Andrew Henderson ◽

Mohammed Abdul Hassen Chowdhury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Systematic Review ◽

South Asia ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Clinical Isolates ◽

E Coli ◽

Extended Spectrum ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

High Prevalence

Aim: To determine the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Escherichia coli in South Asia. Methodology: A systematic review and meta-analysis of data published in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus. Results: The pooled prevalence of ESBL and MBL-producing E. coli in South Asia were 33% (95% CI: 27–40%) and 17% (95% CI: 12–24%), respectively. The prevalence of blaCTX-M type was 58% (95% CI: 49–66%) with blaCTX-M-15 being the most prevalent (51%, 95% CI: 40–62%) variant. The most prevalent MBL variant was blaNDM-1 (33%, 95% CI: 20–50%). Conclusion: This study suggests a high prevalence of ESBLs and MBLs among E. coli clinical isolates. Comprehensive resistance surveillance is required to guide clinicians prescribing antibiotics in South Asia.

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Properties of haemolysin E (HlyE) from a pathogenic Escherichia coli avian isolate and studies of HlyE export

Microbiology ◽

10.1099/mic.0.26877-0 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 150 (5) ◽

pp. 1495-1505 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Neil R. Wyborn ◽

Angela Clark ◽

Ruth E. Roberts ◽

Stuart J. Jamieson ◽

Svetomir Tzokov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Cell Envelope ◽

Membrane Integrity ◽

Intrinsic Property ◽

E Coli ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Carboxyl Terminal ◽

K 12

Haemolysin E (HlyE) is a novel pore-forming toxin first identified in Escherichia coli K-12. Analysis of the 3-D structure of HlyE led to the proposal that a unique hydrophobic β-hairpin structure (the β-tongue, residues 177–203) interacts with the lipid bilayer in target membranes. In seeming contradiction to this, the hlyE sequence from a pathogenic E. coli strain (JM4660) that lacks all other haemolysins has been reported to encode an Arg residue at position 188 that was difficult to reconcile with the proposed role of the β-tongue. Here it is shown that the JM4660 hlyE sequence encodes Gly, not Arg, at position 188 and that substitution of Gly188 by Arg in E. coli K-12 HlyE abolishes activity, emphasizing the importance of the head domain in HlyE function. Nevertheless, 76 other amino acid substitutions were confirmed compared to the HlyE protein of E. coli K-12. The JM4660 HlyE protein was dimeric, suggesting a mechanism for improving toxin solubility, and it lysed red blood cells from many species by forming 36–41 Å diameter pores. However, the haemolytic phenotype of JM4660 was found to be unstable due to defects in HlyE export, indicating that export of active HlyE is not an intrinsic property of the protein but requires additional components. TnphoA mutagenesis of hlyE shows that secretion from the cytoplasm to the periplasm does not require the carboxyl-terminal region of HlyE. Finally, disruption of genes associated with cell envelope function, including tatC, impairs HlyE export, indicating that outer membrane integrity is important for effective HlyE secretion.

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Role of Deoxyribose Catabolism in Colonization of the Murine Intestine by Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strains

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.01039-08 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 1442-1450 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Vanessa Martinez-Jéhanne ◽

Laurence du Merle ◽

Christine Bernier-Fébreau ◽

Codruta Usein ◽

Amy Gassama-Sow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Biochemical Characterization ◽

Pathogenic Potential ◽

E Coli ◽

Intestinal Epithelia ◽

Gut Colonization ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Evolutionary Step

ABSTRACT We previously suggested that the ability to metabolize deoxyribose, a phenotype encoded by the deoK operon, is associated with the pathogenic potential of Escherichia coli strains. Carbohydrate metabolism is thought to provide the nutritional support required for E. coli to colonize the intestine. We therefore investigated the role of deoxyribose catabolism in the colonization of the gut, which acts as a reservoir, by pathogenic E. coli strains. Molecular and biochemical characterization of 1,221 E. coli clones from various collections showed this biochemical trait to be common in the E. coli species (33.6%). However, multivariate analysis evidenced a higher prevalence of sugar-metabolizing E. coli clones in the stools of patients from countries in which intestinal diseases are endemic. Diarrhea processes frequently involve the destruction of intestinal epithelia, so it is plausible that such clones may be positively selected for in intestines containing abundant DNA, and consequently deoxyribose. Statistical analysis also indicated that symptomatic clinical disorders and the presence of virulence factors specific to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli were significantly associated with an increased risk of biological samples and clones testing positive for deoxyribose. Using the streptomycin-treated-mouse model of intestinal colonization, we demonstrated the involvement of the deoK operon in gut colonization by two pathogenic isolates (one enteroaggregative and one uropathogenic strain). These results, indicating that deoxyribose availability promotes pathogenic E. coli growth during host colonization, suggest that the acquisition of this trait may be an evolutionary step enabling these pathogens to colonize and persist in the mammalian intestine.

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Acquisition of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Plasmids by a Commensal E. coli Isolate Enhances Its Abilities To Kill Chicken Embryos, Grow in Human Urine, and Colonize the Murine Kidney

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00363-06 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 74 (11) ◽

pp. 6287-6292 ◽

Cited By ~ 84

Author(s):

Jerod A. Skyberg ◽

Timothy J. Johnson ◽

James R. Johnson ◽

Connie Clabots ◽

Catherine M. Logue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Human Urine ◽

Recipient Strain ◽

Donor Strain ◽

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Upec Strain ◽

Chicken Embryos ◽

E Coli ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli

ABSTRACT We have found an avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) plasmid, pAPEC-O2-ColV, which contains many of the genes associated with APEC virulence and also shows similarity in content to a plasmid and pathogenicity island of human uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). To test the possible role of this plasmid in virulence, it was transferred by conjugation along with a large R plasmid, pAPEC-O2-R, into a commensal avian E. coli strain. The transconjugant was compared to recipient strain NC, UPEC strain HE300, and donor strain APEC O2 using various assays, including lethality for chicken embryos, growth in human urine, and ability to cause urinary tract infection in mice. The transconjugant killed significantly more chicken embryos than did the recipient. In human urine, APEC O2 grew at a rate equivalent to that of UPEC strain HE300, and the transconjugant showed significantly increased growth compared to the recipient. The transconjugant also significantly outcompeted the recipient in colonization of the murine kidney. These findings suggest that APEC plasmids, such as pAPEC-O2-ColV, contribute to the pathogenesis of avian colibacillosis. Moreover, since avian E. coli and their plasmids may be transmitted to humans, evaluation of APEC plasmids as possible reservoirs of urovirulence genes for human UPEC may be warranted.

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Identification and Antimicrobial Resistance of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli from Retail Meats

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-10-251 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 38-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

XIAODONG XIA ◽

JIANGHONG MENG ◽

SHAOHUA ZHAO ◽

SONYA BODEIS-JONES ◽

STUART A. GAINES ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Ground Beef ◽

Phylogenetic Groups ◽

E Coli ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Retail Meats ◽

Phylogenetic Grouping ◽

Resistant Strains

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) causes a variety of infections outside the gastrointestinal tract. Retail meats are frequently contaminated with E. coli strains, and they might serve as a vehicle for transmitting ExPEC. A total of 1,275 E. coli isolates recovered from ground beef, ground turkey, chicken breasts, and pork chops obtained in Georgia, Maryland, Oregon, and Tennessee in 2006 were investigated for the presence of ExPEC by using multiplex PCR. Identified ExPEC isolates were assigned to serogroups and phylogenetic groups and then analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibility. Approximately 16% (200 of 1,275) of the E. coli isolates were identified as ExPEC, based on defined genetic criteria. The occurrence of ExPEC was highest in E. coli isolated from ground turkey (23.5%) and chicken breasts (20.2%), and less frequent in isolates from pork chops (8.3%) and ground beef (3.4%). Phylogenetic grouping revealed that most (66.5%) ExPEC isolates fell into the same phylogenetic groups (B2 and D) as did virulent human ExPEC strains. Among the 15 antimicrobial agents tested, resistance to tetracycline (67.0%), sulfisoxazole (59.5%), and streptomycin (46.0%) was most frequent. Most ExPEC isolates (n = 163 [81.5%]) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, and more than half (n = 114 [57%]) exhibited resistance to at least three drugs. This study found that ExPEC strains, including antimicrobial-resistant strains, were frequent among E. coli recovered from retail meats, especially those from chicken and turkey products. These findings indicate a need to better understand the role of certain meat types as potential sources of human ExPEC infection.

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