Sodium chloride enhances recovery and growth of acid-stressed E. coli O157:H7

AIMS: Combinations of sodium chloride and acid are frequently used to inhibit growth of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in food. The influence of differing sodium chloride, lactate and pH values on the growth of stressed and unstressed cells of a non-toxigenic strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: At pH 5.5 or 6.0, there was little or no effect on the growth rate in the presence of lactate and/or sodium chloride, but the lag times were longer as the lactate concentration increased. At pH 5.0, in the absence of sodium chloride, increasing the lactate concentration increased the growth rate and the lag time; no growth occurred in the presence of 1.5 g 100 g(-1) lactate. In the presence of 4-6 g 100 g(-1) sodium chloride, growth occurred at 1.5 g 100 g(-1) lactate. The growth rate was similar at all lactate concentrations. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the presence of sodium chloride promoted growth of E. coli O157:H7, especially under stressful conditions of low pH. Significance and Impact of the Study: These findings could have implications for the use of acid and sodium chloride as a preservation treatment for the inhibition of E. coli O157:H7 in food.     

Characterization of inducible stx2-positive Escherichia coli O157:H7/H7- strains isolated from cattle in France

Aims:  To quantify the variability of the Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) production by a panel of stx2 -positive Escherichia coli O157:H7/H7- isolates from healthy cattle before and after induction with enrofloxacin.
Methods and Results:  ProSpecT^® ELISA was used to quantify the Stx2 production by stx2 -positive E. coli O157:H7/H7- isolates in native conditions (basal level) or after induction with enrofloxacin. Whereas only 15·2% of the E. coli O157:H7/H7- strains studied displayed significant amounts of detectable Stx2 without induction, most of them were shown to be inducible, and at various levels, in presence of subinhibitory concentrations of enrofloxacin.
Conclusions:  We demonstrated the capability of a highly elevated proportion of stx2 -positive, but constitutively Stx2 -negative, E. coli O157:H7/H7- isolates from healthy cattle to produce significant levels of Shiga toxin Stx2 in presence of subtherapeutic concentrations of enrofloxacin, an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolones family only licensed for veterinary use.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study documents the risk that bovine-associated Shiga toxin producing E. coli isolates may become more frequently pathogenic to humans as a side-effect of the increasing use of veterinary fluoroquinolones in the oral treatment of food animals like cattle or poultry.     

大肠杆菌O157：H7中编码vt2基因的噬菌体的分离与鉴定

根据GenBank中VT1、VT2毒素的基因序列设计合成2对引物,以大肠杆菌O157:H7菌株DNA为模板,扩 增vt1、vt2。诱导只扩增出vt2的菌株释放噬菌体,利用多种指示菌经双层琼脂平板法来分离纯化VT2噬菌体,观 察噬菌斑的特征,提纯病毒粒子进行电镜观察,并对噬菌体中vt2基因检测、克隆和序列分析。结果显示VT2噬菌 体感染MC1061在双层琼脂平板上形成的噬菌斑小而混浊,多呈磨玻璃样;而首次感染大肠杆菌CC118(λpir),此 后用MC1061分离的噬菌体,再以MC1061为指示菌,在双层琼脂平板上形成小而清晰透明的噬菌斑。电镜下噬 菌体头部呈六边形外廓,尾部细长无尾鞘结构。以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,检测到vt2特异性DNA 带,克隆的vt2基因序列与GenBank中编码VT2毒素的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655,BA000007,AF291819) 的同源性分别达到99％,确定编码VT2毒素的基因位于噬菌体上,并获得VT2噬菌体(?)HY。     

大肠杆菌O157:H7中编码vt2基因的噬菌体的分离与鉴定

根据GenBank中VT1、VT2毒素的基因序列设计合成2对引物,以大肠杆菌O157H7菌株DNA为模板,扩增vt1、vt2.诱导只扩增出vt2的菌株释放噬菌体,利用多种指示菌经双层琼脂平板法来分离纯化VT2噬菌体,观察噬菌斑的特征,提纯病毒粒子进行电镜观察,并对噬菌体中vt2基因检测、克隆和序列分析.结果显示VT2噬菌体感染MC1061在双层琼脂平板上形成的噬菌斑小而混浊,多呈磨玻璃样;而首次感染大肠杆菌CC118(λpir),此后用MC1061分离的噬菌体,再以MC1061为指示菌,在双层琼脂平板上形成小而清晰透明的噬菌斑.电镜下噬菌体头部呈六边形外廓,尾部细长无尾鞘结构.以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,检测到vt2特异性DNA带,克隆的vt2基因序列与GenBank中编码VT2毒素的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655,BA000007,AF291819)的同源性分别达到99%,确定编码VT2毒素的基因位于噬菌体上,并获得VT2噬菌体()HY.     

Multiplex real-time PCR method to identify Shiga toxin genes stx1 and stx2 and Escherichia coli O157:H7/H- serotype

A multiplex real-time PCR method to simultaneously detect the stx1 and stx2 genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and a unique conserved single-nucleotide polymorphism in the E. coli O157:H7/H- uidA gene has been developed. There is more than 98.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity for all three gene targets based on a panel of 138 isolates. The PCR efficiencies were >/= 1.89, and as few as 6 CFU/reaction could be detected.     

Assessment of resistance to colicinogenic Escherichia coli by E. coli O157:H7 strains

AIMS: To assess a collection of 96 Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains for their resistance potential against a set of colicinogenic E. coli developed as a probiotic for use in cattle. METHODS AND RESULTS: Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains were screened for colicin production, types of colicins produced, presence of colicin resistance and potential for resistance development. Thirteen of 14 previously characterized colicinogenic E. coli strains were able to inhibit 74 serotype O157:H7 strains. Thirteen E. coli O157:H7 strains were found to be colicinogenic and 11 had colicin D genes. PCR products for colicins B, E-type, Ia/Ib and M were also detected. During in vitro experiments, the ability to develop colicin resistance against single-colicin producing E. coli strains was observed, but rarely against multiple-colicinogenic strains. The ability of serotype O157:H7 strains to acquire colicin plasmids or resistance was not observed during a cattle experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Escherichia coli O157:H7 has the potential to develop single-colicin resistance, but simultaneous resistance against multiple colicins appears to be unlikely. Colicin D is the predominant colicin produced by colicinogenic E. coli O157:H7 strains. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The potential for resistance development against colicin-based strategies for E. coli O157:H7 control may be very limited if more than one colicin type is used.     

肠出血性大肠杆菌O157：H7监测及分析

为了了解长春地区动物和人感染肠出血性大肠杆菌O157H7状况,建立流行病学监测网.采集长春市动物养殖场动物粪便和腹泻病人便样进行监测.结果在牛粪和鸡粪中共检出2株O157H7大肠杆菌.可见,在长春地区存在肠出血性大肠杆菌O157H7菌潜在污染的威胁,需要加强监测力度.     

Elimination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in meats by gamma irradiation.

Undercooked and raw meat has been linked to outbreaks of hemorrhagic diarrhea due to the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7; therefore, treatment with ionizing radiation was investigated as a potential method for the elimination of this organism. Response-surface methods were used to study the effects of irradiation dose (0 to 2.0 kGy), temperature (-20 to +20 degrees C), and atmosphere (air and vacuum) on E. coli O157:H7 in mechanically deboned chicken meat. Differences in irradiation dose and temperature significantly affected the results. Ninety percent of the viable E. coli in chicken meat was eliminated by doses of 0.27 kGy at +5 degrees C and 0.42 kGy at -5 degrees C. Small, but significant, differences in radiation resistance by E. coli were found when finely ground lean beef rather than chicken was the substrate. Unlike nonirradiated samples, no measurable verotoxin was found in finely ground lean beef which had been inoculated with 10(4.8) CFU of E. coli O157:H7 per g, irradiated at a minimum dose of 1.5 kGy, and temperature abused at 35 degrees C for 20 h. Irradiation is an effective method to control this food-borne pathogen.     

Prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli stx1, stx2, eaeA, and rfbE genes and survival of E. coli O157:H7 in manure from organic and low-input conventional dairy farms

Manure samples were collected from 16 organic (ORG) and 9 low-input conventional (LIC) Dutch dairy farms during August and September 2004 to determine the prevalence of the STEC virulence genes stx(1) (encoding Shiga toxin 1), stx(2) (encoding Shiga toxin 2), and eaeA (encoding intimin), as well as the rfbE gene, which is specific for Escherichia coli O157. The rfbE gene was present at 52% of the farms. The prevalence of rfbE was higher at ORG farms (61%) than at LIC farms (36%), but this was not significant. Relatively more LIC farms were positive for all Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) virulence genes eaeA, stx(1), and stx(2), which form a potentially highly virulent combination. Species richness of Enterobacteriaceae, as determined by DGGE, was significantly lower in manure positive for rfbE. Survival of a green fluorescent protein-expressing E. coli O157:H7 strain was studied in the manure from all farms from which samples were obtained and was modeled by a biphasic decline model. The time needed to reach the detection limit was predominantly determined by the level of native coliforms and the pH (both negative relationships). Initial decline was faster for ORG manure but leveled off earlier, resulting in longer survival than in LIC manure. Although the nonlinear decline curve could theoretically be explained as the cumulative distribution of an underlying distribution of decline kinetics, it is proposed that the observed nonlinear biphasic pattern of the survival curve is the result of changing nutrient status of the manure over time (and thereby changing competition pressure), instead of the presence of subpopulations differing in the level of resistance.     

Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli stx1, stx2, eaeA, and rfbE Genes and Survival of E. coli O157:H7 in Manure from Organic and Low-Input Conventional Dairy Farms

Manure samples were collected from 16 organic (ORG) and 9 low-input conventional (LIC) Dutch dairy farms during August and September 2004 to determine the prevalence of the STEC virulence genes stx₁ (encoding Shiga toxin 1), stx₂ (encoding Shiga toxin 2), and eaeA (encoding intimin), as well as the rfbE gene, which is specific for Escherichia coli O157. The rfbE gene was present at 52% of the farms. The prevalence of rfbE was higher at ORG farms (61%) than at LIC farms (36%), but this was not significant. Relatively more LIC farms were positive for all Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) virulence genes eaeA, stx₁, and stx₂, which form a potentially highly virulent combination. Species richness of Enterobacteriaceae, as determined by DGGE, was significantly lower in manure positive for rfbE. Survival of a green fluorescent protein-expressing E. coli O157:H7 strain was studied in the manure from all farms from which samples were obtained and was modeled by a biphasic decline model. The time needed to reach the detection limit was predominantly determined by the level of native coliforms and the pH (both negative relationships). Initial decline was faster for ORG manure but leveled off earlier, resulting in longer survival than in LIC manure. Although the nonlinear decline curve could theoretically be explained as the cumulative distribution of an underlying distribution of decline kinetics, it is proposed that the observed nonlinear biphasic pattern of the survival curve is the result of changing nutrient status of the manure over time (and thereby changing competition pressure), instead of the presence of subpopulations differing in the level of resistance.     

Competition for proline between indigenous Escherichia coli and E. coli O157:H7 in gnotobiotic mice associated with infant intestinal microbiota and its contribution to the colonization resistance against E. coli O157:H7

Previously, we produced two groups of gnotobiotic mice, GB-3 and GB-4, which showed different responses to Escherichia coli O157:H7 challenge. E. coli O157:H7 was eliminated from GB-3, whereas GB-4 mice became carriers. It has been reported that the lag time of E. coli O157:H7 growth in 50% GB-3 caecal suspension was extended when compared to GB-4 caecal suspension. In this study, competition for nutrients between intestinal microbiota of GB-3 and GB-4 mice and E. coli O157:H7 was examined. Amino acid concentrations in the caecal contents of GB-3 and GB-4 differed, especially the concentration of proline. The supplementation of proline into GB-3 caecal suspension decreased the lag time of E. coli O157:H7 growth in vitro. When E. coli O157:H7 was cultured with each of the strains used to produce GB-3 mice in vitro, 2 strains of E. coli (proline consumers) out of 5 enterobacteriaceae strains strongly suppressed E. coli O157:H7 growth and the suppression was attenuated by the addition of proline into the medium. These results indicate that competition for proline with indigenous E. coli affected the growth of E. coli O157:H7 in vivo and may contribute to E. coli O157:H7 elimination from the intestine.     

Reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 populations in cattle by addition of colicin E7-producing E. coli to feed

A cattle trial using artificially inoculated calves was conducted to determine the effect of the addition of colicinogenic Escherichia coli strains capable of producing colicin E7 (a 61-kDa DNase) to feed on the fecal shedding of serotype O157:H7. The experiment was divided into three periods. In period 1, which lasted 24 days, six calves were used as controls, and eight calves received 10(7) CFU of E. coli (a mixture of eight colicinogenic E. coli strains) per g of feed. Both groups were orally inoculated with nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 strains 7 days after the treatment started. In periods 2 and 3, the treatment and control groups were switched, and the colicinogenic E. coli dose was increased 10-fold. During period 3, which lasted as long as period 1, both groups were reinoculated with E. coli O157:H7. The numbers of E. coli O157:H7 were consistently greater in the control groups during the three periods, but comparisons within each time period determined a statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference only at day 21 of period 1. However, when the daily average counts were compared between the period 1 control group and the period 3 treatment group that included the same six animals, an overall reduction of 1.1 log(10) CFU/g was observed, with a maximum decrease of 1.8 log(10) CFU/g at day 21 (overall statistical significance, P = 0.001). Serotype O157:H7 was detected in 44% of the treatment group's intestinal tissue samples and in 64% of those from the control group (P < 0.04). These results indicated that the daily addition of 10(8) CFU of colicin E7-producing E. coli per gram of feed could reduce the fecal shedding of serotype O157:H7.     

Reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Populations in Cattle by Addition of Colicin E7-Producing E. coli to Feed

A cattle trial using artificially inoculated calves was conducted to determine the effect of the addition of colicinogenic Escherichia coli strains capable of producing colicin E7 (a 61-kDa DNase) to feed on the fecal shedding of serotype O157:H7. The experiment was divided into three periods. In period 1, which lasted 24 days, six calves were used as controls, and eight calves received 10⁷ CFU of E. coli (a mixture of eight colicinogenic E. coli strains) per g of feed. Both groups were orally inoculated with nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 strains 7 days after the treatment started. In periods 2 and 3, the treatment and control groups were switched, and the colicinogenic E. coli dose was increased 10-fold. During period 3, which lasted as long as period 1, both groups were reinoculated with E. coli O157:H7. The numbers of E. coli O157:H7 were consistently greater in the control groups during the three periods, but comparisons within each time period determined a statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference only at day 21 of period 1. However, when the daily average counts were compared between the period 1 control group and the period 3 treatment group that included the same six animals, an overall reduction of 1.1 log₁₀ CFU/g was observed, with a maximum decrease of 1.8 log₁₀ CFU/g at day 21 (overall statistical significance, P = 0.001). Serotype O157:H7 was detected in 44% of the treatment group's intestinal tissue samples and in 64% of those from the control group (P < 0.04). These results indicated that the daily addition of 10⁸ CFU of colicin E7-producing E. coli per gram of feed could reduce the fecal shedding of serotype O157:H7.     

Vesicle-mediated transfer of virulence genes from Escherichia coli O157:H7 to other enteric bacteria

Membrane vesicles are released from the surfaces of many gram-negative bacteria during growth. Vesicles consist of proteins, lipopolysaccharide, phospholipids, RNA, and DNA. Results of the present study demonstrate that membrane vesicles isolated from the food-borne pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 facilitate the transfer of genes, which are then expressed by recipient Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis or E. coli JM109. Electron micrographs of purified DNA from E. coli O157:H7 vesicles showed large rosette-like structures, linear DNA fragments, and small open-circle plasmids. PCR analysis of vesicle DNA demonstrated the presence of specific genes from host and recombinant plasmids (hly, L7095, mobA, and gfp), chromosomal DNA (uidA and eaeA), and phage DNA (stx1 and stx2). The results of PCR and the Vero cell assay demonstrate that genetic material, including virulence genes, is transferred to recipient bacteria and subsequently expressed. The cytotoxicity of the transformed enteric bacteria was sixfold higher than that of the parent isolate (E. coli JM109). Utilization of the nonhost plasmid (pGFP) permitted the evaluation of transformation efficiency (ca. 10(3) transformants microg of DNA(-1)) and demonstrated that vesicles can deliver antibiotic resistance. Transformed E. coli JM109 cells were resistant to ampicillin and fluoresced a brilliant green. The role vesicles play in genetic exchange between different species in the environment or host has yet to be defined.     

Derivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Its O55:H7 Precursor

There are 29 E. coli genome sequences available, mostly related to studies of species diversity or mode of pathogenicity, including two genomes of the well-known O157:H7 clone. However, there have been no genome studies of closely related clones aimed at exposing the details of evolutionary change. Here we sequenced the genome of an O55:H7 strain, closely related to the major pathogenic O157:H7 clone, with published genome sequences, and undertook comparative genomic and proteomic analysis. We were able to allocate most differences between the genomes to individual mutations, recombination events, or lateral gene transfer events, in specific lineages. Major differences include a type II secretion system present only in the O55:H7 chromosome, fewer type III secretion system effectors in O55:H7, and 19 phage genomes or phagelike elements in O55:H7 compared to 23 in O157:H7, with only three common to both. Many other changes were found in both O55:H7 and O157:H7 lineages, but in general there has been more change in the O157:H7 lineages. For example, we found 50% more synonymous mutational substitutions in O157:H7 compared to O55:H7. The two strains also diverged at the proteomic level. Mutational synonymous SNPs were used to estimate a divergence time of 400 years using a new clock rate, in contrast to 14,000 to 70,000 years using the traditional clock rates. The same approaches were applied to three closely related extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli genomes, and similar levels of mutation and recombination were found. This study revealed for the first time the full range of events involved in the evolution of the O157:H7 clone from its O55:H7 ancestor, and suggested that O157:H7 arose quite recently. Our findings also suggest that E. coli has a much lower frequency of recombination relative to mutation than was observed in a comparable study of a Vibrio cholerae lineage.     

The lipopolysaccharide core type of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other non-O157 verotoxin-producing E. coli

A mouse monoclonal antibody specific for the R3 lipopolysaccharide core type of Escherichia coli was used to determine the core type of E. coli O157:H7 and other non-O157 verotoxin-producing E. coli strains. Lipopolysaccharide extracts from 28 clinical isolates were examined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting and all were found to have the R3 core. None of the core lipopolysaccharide from the strains tested reacted with the control R1 and R2 specific monoclonal antibodies. A common core type between all the verotoxin-producing E. coli strains tested may be significant when considering the immune response to these bacteria, and to the receptor for the VT bacteriophage.     

Encoded protein from ycbR gene of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with adherence to HEp-2 cells

Adhesion is one of the significant virulence factors in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 pathogenesis. It is regulated by specific loci in the genome sequence. This study mainly focused on investigating the influence of ycbR gene and its encoded YCBR protein on the adhesion of EHEC O157:H7 to HEp-2 cells. In the first part, mutants of EHEC O157:H7 were constructed through TnphoA mutagenesis and assayed for adherent ability. Six mutant strains with lost adherence to HEp-2 cells were isolated and then sequenced using a primer that hybridized to phoA sequence downstream of the fusion joint. The sequencing results indicated that the gene of eae and ycbR, between the initiation codon and the −10 sequence of Z4182, yciI, ARAC-type regulator protein, and high-affinity gluconate transporter of EHEC were all possibly related to adhesion. Of the six genes, the ycbR gene was cloned to the pET28a vector to analyze its function further. Recombinant YCBR protein fused to a His tag (YCBR-His) was expressed under IPTG induction and purified by Ni-NTA column. The purified protein was subcutaneously injected to rabbits to prepare antisera. The results of an adherence assay in the presence of anti-YCBR-His antibodies indicated that antibodies blocked the adherence of EHEC O157:H7 to HEp-2 cells. These observations suggested that ycbR encoded a novel adherence-associated determinant of EHEC O157:H7, which could contribute to the adhesive capacity of the bacteria.