Porcine E. coli: Virulence-Associated Genes,Resistance Genes and Adhesion and Probiotic Activity Tested by a New Screening Method |
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| Authors: | Peter Schierack Stefan R?diger Christoph Kuhl Rico Hiemann Dirk Roggenbuck Ganwu Li J?rg Weinreich Enrico Berger Lisa K Nolan Bryon Nicholson Antje R?mer Ulrike Fr?mmel Lothar H Wieler Christian Schr?der |
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| Institution: | 1. Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften, Hochschule Lausitz (FH), Senftenberg, Germany.; 2. Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America.; 3. Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Berlin, Germany.; 4. Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.; University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, |
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| Abstract: | We established an automated screening method to characterize adhesion of Escherichia coli to intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) and their probiotic activity against infection by enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). 104 intestinal E. coli isolates from domestic pigs were tested by PCR for the occurrence of virulence-associated genes, genes coding for resistances to antimicrobial agents and metals, and for phylogenetic origin by PCR. Adhesion rates and probiotic activity were examined for correlation with the presence of these genes. Finally, data were compared with those from 93 E. coli isolates from wild boars.Isolates from domestic pigs carried a broad variety of all tested genes and showed great diversity in gene patterns. Adhesions varied with a maximum of 18.3 or 24.2 mean bacteria adherence per epithelial cell after 2 or 6 hours respectively. Most isolates from domestic pigs and wild boars showed low adherence, with no correlation between adhesion/probiotic activity and E. coli genes or gene clusters. The gene sfa/foc, encoding for a subunit of F1C fimbriae did show a positive correlative association with adherence and probiotic activity; however E. coli isolates from wild boars with the sfa/foc gene showed less adhesion and probiotic activity than E. coli with the sfa/foc gene isolated from domestic pigs after 6 hour incubation.In conclusion, screening porcine E. coli for virulence associated genes genes, adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells, and probiotic activity revealed a single important adhesion factor, several probiotic candidates, and showed important differences between E. coli of domestic pigs and wild boars. |
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