Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli are not a significant cause of diarrhoea in hospitalised children in Kuwait

Background  

The importance of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) infections in the Arabian Gulf including Kuwait is not known. The prevalence of DEC (enterotoxigenic [ETEC], enteropathogenic [EPEC], enteroinvasive [EIEC], enterohemorrhagic [EHEC] and enteroaggregative [EAEC]) was studied in 537 children ≤ 5 years old hospitalised with acute diarrhoea and 113 matched controls from two hospitals during 2005–07 by PCR assays using E. coli colony pools.     

Mechanism of protonophores-mediated induction of heat-shock response in Escherichia coli

Background  

Protonophores are the agents that dissipate the proton-motive-force (PMF) across E. coli plasma membrane. As the PMF is known to be an energy source for the translocation of membrane and periplasmic proteins after their initial syntheses in cell cytoplasm, protonophores therefore inhibit the translocation phenomenon. In addition, protonophores also induce heat-shock-like stress response in E. coli cell. In this study, our motivation was to investigate that how the protonophores-mediated phenomena like inhibition of protein translocation and induction of heat-shock proteins in E. coli were correlated.     

Genetical and functional investigation of fliC genes encoding flagellar serotype H4 in wildtype strains of Escherichia coli and in a laboratory E. coli K-12 strain expressing flagellar antigen type H48

Background  

Serotyping of O-(lipopolysaccharide) and H-(flagellar) antigens is a wideley used method for identification of pathogenic strains and clones of Escherichia coli. At present, 176 O- and 53 H-antigens are described for E. coli which occur in different combinations in the strains. The flagellar antigen H4 is widely present in E. coli strains of different O-serotypes and pathotypes and we have investigated the genetic relationship between H4 encoding fliC genes by PCR, nucleotide sequencing and expression studies.     

Consequences of concurrent Ascaridia galli and Escherichia coli infections in chickens

   

Three experiments were carried out to examine the consequences of concurrent infections with Ascaridia galli and Escherichia coli in chickens raised for table egg production. Characteristic pathological lesions including airsacculitis, peritonitis and/or polyserositis were seen in all groups infected with E. coli. Furthermore, a trend for increased mortality rates was observed in groups infected with both organisms which, however, could not be confirmed statistically. The mean worm burden was significantly lower in combined infection groups compared to groups infected only with A. galli. It was also shown that combined infections of E. coli and A. galli had an added significant negative impact on weight gain.     

Isolation and characterization of enteroaggregative,enterotoxigenic, diffusely adherent <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella</Emphasis> Worthington from human diarrhoeic faecal samples in Kashmir and Secunderabad,India

Seven hundred and thirty-five diarrhoeic faecal samples from children were investigated for presence of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) and Salmonella spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture. Out of 675 samples from Kashmir, 55 isolates were obtained, which carried at least one virulence gene studied. Out of the 55 isolates, 36 (65.45%) were EAEC, 18 (32.72%) were ETEC while only one isolate (1.81%) was DAEC. All the EAEC isolates were found to be typical as they possessed aggR gene. Six (16.66%) EAEC isolates carried the astA gene. Out of the 18 ETEC isolates, 13 carried the elt gene alone, four possessed both the elt and est genes and the remaining one harboured the est gene alone. Five ETEC isolates also possessed astA gene. Nineteen EAEC isolates belonged to 10 different serogroups. Serogroup O153 was most frequent. The ETEC isolates also belonged to 10 different serogroups of which O159 was most predominant. Out of 224 E. coli isolates from 60 samples of Secunderabad, 27 isolates carried at least one virulence gene. Out of 27 isolates 22 (81.48%) were typical EAEC, three (11.11%) were ETEC and two (7.4%) were DAEC. Fifteen EAEC isolates belonged to seven different serogroups with O86 as most frequent. Four EAEC isolates also possessed the astA gene. All the three ETEC isolates harboured elt gene only and belonged to three different serogroups. Two isolates of Salmonella Worthington were obtained from only two samples in Kashmir.     

Vaccination with attenuated Salmonella enterica Dublin expressing E coli O157:H7 outer membrane protein Intimin induces transient reduction of fecal shedding of E coli O157:H7 in cattle

Background  

Escherichia coli serogroup O157:H7 has emerged as an important zoonotic bacterial pathogen, causing a range of symptoms from self-limiting bloody diarrhea to severe hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans. Beef and dairy cattle are considered the most important animal reservoirs for this pathogen. One of the important virulence characteristics of E. coli O157:H7 is the eaeA gene encoding the 97 kDa surface protein intimin. Intimin is required for attachment and effacement during the interaction of enterohemorrhagic E. coli with human and bovine neonatal enterocytes. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that an adaptive mucosal immune response directed against intimin will reduce or prevent enteric colonization and fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle.     

Overexpression and simple purification of the Thermotoga maritima 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli and its application for NADPH regeneration

Background  

Thermostable enzymes from thermophilic microorganisms are playing more and more important roles in molecular biology R&D and industrial applications. However, over-production of recombinant soluble proteins from thermophilic microorganisms in mesophilic hosts (e.g. E. coli) remains challenging sometimes.     

Role of the ArcAB two-component system in the resistance of Escherichia coli to reactive oxygen stress

Background  

The global regulatory system ArcAB controls the anaerobic growth of E. coli, however, its role in aerobic conditions is not well characterized. We have previously reported that ArcA was necessary for Salmonella to resist reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aerobic conditions.     

Secretion of flagellin by the LEE-encoded type III secretion system of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Background  

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is an attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogen that possesses a type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded within the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE). The LEE is essential for A/E lesion formation and directs the secretion and translocation of multiple LEE-encoded and non-LEE encoded effector proteins into the cytosol of infected cells. In this study we used proteomics to compare proteins exported to the culture supernatant by wild type EPEC E2348/69, a ΔespADB mutant and a ΔescF T3SS mutant.     

Lactoferrin and free secretory component of human milk inhibit the adhesion of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to HeLa cells

Background  

Diarrhoea caused by Escherichia coli is an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is considered one of the major causes of diarrhoea in children living in developing countries. The ability of diarrhoeagenic strains of E. coli to adhere to and colonize the intestine is the first step towards developing the disease. EPEC strains adhere to enterocytes and HeLa cells in a characteristic pattern known as localized adherence.     

Gene doctoring: a method for recombineering in laboratory and pathogenic Escherichia coli strains

Background  

Homologous recombination mediated by the λ-Red genes is a common method for making chromosomal modifications in Escherichia coli. Several protocols have been developed that differ in the mechanisms by which DNA, carrying regions homologous to the chromosome, are delivered into the cell. A common technique is to electroporate linear DNA fragments into cells. Alternatively, DNA fragments are generated in vivo by digestion of a donor plasmid with a nuclease that does not cleave the host genome. In both cases the λ-Red gene products recombine homologous regions carried on the linear DNA fragments with the chromosome. We have successfully used both techniques to generate chromosomal mutations in E. coli K-12 strains. However, we have had limited success with these λ-Red based recombination techniques in pathogenic E. coli strains, which has led us to develop an enhanced protocol for recombineering in such strains.     

A model combining cell physiology and population genetics to explain Escherichia coli laboratory evolution

Background  

Laboratory experiments under controlled conditions during thousands of generations are useful tools to assess the processes underlying bacterial evolution. As a result of these experiments, the way in which the traits change in time is obtained. Under these conditions, the bacteria E. coli shows a parallel increase in cell volume and fitness.     

Identification and dynamics of a beneficial mutation in a long-term evolution experiment with Escherichia coli

Background  

Twelve populations of E. coli were serially propagated for 20,000 generations in a glucose-supplemented minimal medium in order to study the dynamics of evolution. We sought to find and characterize one of the beneficial mutations responsible for the adaptation and other phenotypic changes, including increased cell size, in one of these populations.     

鸡源大肠杆菌毒力基因检测及分子流行特征

[目的] 本试验旨在阐明鸡源大肠杆菌致病性及分子流行特性,为探索大肠杆菌流行途径制定合理的防控策略提供新思路。[方法] 2018–2019年在河北省采集病死鸡肝脏样品,通过选择培养基筛选、生化鉴定、血清凝集试验对分离菌株进行系统鉴定,应用PCR方法检测分离株中毒力基因流行情况。参考系统发育群分类方法对大肠杆菌进行分群分析,并参照McMLST网站数据库提供的7对管家基因序列进行多位点序列分型（multilocus sequence typing,MLST）分析。[结果] 结果显示,56株分离株符合大肠杆菌生化特征,分为8个生化表型,B4（30.36%）、B5（25%）和B2（23.21%）为主要生化表型。56株分离株大肠杆菌血清凝集试验均呈阳性,分为11种血清型,O₇₈（26.79%）、O₂（23.21%）、O₁₅₇（17.86%）和O₁（14.29%）为主要流行血清型。56株大肠杆菌共检测出15种肠外大肠杆菌毒力基因,未检出papC、ibeA和ibeB基因。黏附相关基因fimC和抗血清存活因子相关基因ompA携带率为100%。aatA、yijP、irp2、mat、iss,检出率分别为98.21%、98.21%、98.21%、96.43%、92.86%。同时,大肠杆菌与铁转运相关基因iroN、fyuA、iucD、irp2检出率均在80%以上。56株大肠杆菌中有20株属于肠出血型大肠杆菌（enterohemorrhagic E.coli,EHEC）,其次是肠聚集型大肠杆菌（enteroaggregative E.coli,EAEC）（n=4）、肠产毒素型大肠杆菌（Enterotoxigenic E.coli,ETEC）（n=2）。这些菌株D群分离株较多,其次是B2群。通过MLST分型分析,共分为22个ST型,其中ST88（n=7）、ST85（n=6）、ST243（n=6）型为主要流行型。[结论] 结果显示大肠杆菌血清型多样,毒力因子种类繁多,致病性大肠杆菌同时携带多种毒力基因,表明动物源大肠杆菌具有较强的毒力基础。     

Analysis of the lambdoid prophage element e14 in the E. coli K-12 genome

Background  

Many sequenced bacterial genomes harbor phage-like elements or cryptic prophages. These elements have been implicated in pathogenesis, serotype conversion and phage immunity. The e14 element is a defective lambdoid prophage element present at 25 min in the E. coli K-12 genome. This prophage encodes important functional genes such as lit (T4 exclusion), mcrA (modified cytosine restriction activity) and pin (recombinase).     

Production of mevalonate by a metabolically-engineered Escherichia coli

Mevalonate is biosynthesized from acetyl-CoA and metabolized to isoprenoid compounds in a wide variety of organisms although certain types of prokaryotes employ another route for isoprenoid biosynthesis (the non-mevalonate pathway). To establish a fermentative process for mevalonate production, enzymes for mevalonate synthesis from Enterococcus faecalis were expressed in Escherichia coli, a non-mevalonate pathway bacterium. Mevalonate was accumulated, indicating a redirection of acetate metabolism by the expressed enzyme. The recombinant E. coli produced 47 g mevalonate l^–1 in 50 h of fed-batch cultivation in a 2 l jar fermenter; this is the highest titer ever reported demonstrating the superiority of E. coli in its ability of acetyl-CoA supply and its inability is degrade mevalonate.     

Synergy between type 1 fimbriae expression and C3 opsonisation increases internalisation of E. coli by human tubular epithelial cells

Background  

Bacterial infection of the urinary tract is a common clinical problem with E. coli being the most common urinary pathogen. Bacterial uptake into epithelial cells is increasingly recognised as an important feature of infection. Bacterial virulence factors, especially fimbrial adhesins, have been conclusively shown to promote host cell invasion. Our recent study reported that C3 opsonisation markedly increases the ability of E. coli strain J96 to internalise into human proximal tubular epithelial cells via CD46, a complement regulatory protein expressed on host cell membrane. In this study, we further assessed whether C3-dependent internalisation by human tubular epithelial cells is a general feature of uropathogenic E. coli and investigated features of the bacterial phenotype that may account for any heterogeneity.     

Caffeine-death in Escherichia coli

Summary Growth of a culture of E. coli strain B or 15 in medium containing caffeine resulted in the accumulation of inviable cells in the population. A caffeine concentration of 8 mM caused the death of between 30% and 50% of the cells in 12 independent populations grown for 15 generations or more. The thymine dimer excision-defective strains Bs-1, Bs-8 and Bs-12 and the exr ^– mutant Bs-2 were resistant to this lethal effect. The reckless, hcr ⁺ mutant Bs-11 was more sensitive than the parental B strain. Although 100mM caffeine did not impair DNA synthesis in vitro, concentrations of the drug 8 mM caused a significant decline in DNA synthesis in vivo in E. coli B cells. From the fit of an experimental growth curve to an algebraic model of growth in which a proportion of cells are inactivated at each replication it is suggested that caffeine does not affect the replication rate of the viable cells. The observed impairment of DNA synthesis in vivo is equated with this cell death (caffeine-death). For E. coli 15 or B, 8 mM caffeine induced caffeine-death at a rate of 18% per cell generation. Caffeine-resistant mutants of E. coli B and E. coli 15 were isolated. Of those studied in detail a substantial proportion proved to be U.V. and X-ray sensitive and excision-defective. Others were more U.V. and X-ray resistant than strain B. Yet another class proved highly unstable. A chromosome breakage model of caffeine-death implicating enzymes of the excision-repair process is discussed.