Mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli

Pathogenic Escherichia coli can be classified into several pathotypes, and it is believed that each pathotype carries one or more specific gene repertoire (or virulence factors combination) that distinguishes them from non-pathogenic E. coli strains and from other pathotypes. In contrast to this notion, it was proposed that this is not the case for E. coli mastitis, a common disease in farm animals and that any given E. coli isolate can cause this disease, even strains that are considered non-pathogenic. In this review we will re-examine this latter concept and recent advances in the study E. coli mastitis.     

Global gene expression in Escherichia coli biofilms

It is now apparent that microorganisms undergo significant changes during the transition from planktonic to biofilm growth. These changes result in phenotypic adaptations that allow the formation of highly organized and structured sessile communities, which possess enhanced resistance to antimicrobial treatments and host immune defence responses. Escherichia coli has been used as a model organism to study the mechanisms of growth within adhered communities. In this study, we use DNA microarray technology to examine the global gene expression profile of E. coli during sessile growth compared with planktonic growth. Genes encoding proteins involved in adhesion (type 1 fimbriae) and, in particular, autoaggregation (Antigen 43) were highly expressed in the adhered population in a manner that is consistent with current models of sessile community development. Several novel gene clusters were induced upon the transition to biofilm growth, and these included genes expressed under oxygen-limiting conditions, genes encoding (putative) transport proteins, putative oxidoreductases and genes associated with enhanced heavy metal resistance. Of particular interest was the observation that many of the genes altered in expression have no current defined function. These genes, as well as those induced by stresses relevant to biofilm growth such as oxygen and nutrient limitation, may be important factors that trigger enhanced resistance mechanisms of sessile communities to antibiotics and hydrodynamic shear forces.     

Development and maturation of Escherichia coli K-12 biofilms

The development and maturation of E. coli biofilms in flow-chambers was investigated. We found that the presence of transfer constitutive IncF plasmids induced biofilm development forming structures resembling those reported for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The development occurred in a step-wise process: (i). attachment of cells to the substratum, (ii). clonal growth and microcolony formation, and (iii). differentiation into expanding structures rising 70-100 microm into the water phase. The first two steps were the same in the plasmid-carrying and plasmid-free strains, whereas the third step only occurred in conjugation pilus proficient plasmid-carrying strains. The final shapes of the expanding structures in the mature biofilm seem to be determined by the pilus configuration, as various mutants affected in the processing and activity of the transfer pili displayed differently structured biofilms. We further provide evidence that flagella, type 1 fimbriae, curli and Ag43 are all dispensable for the observed biofilm maturation. In addition, our results indicate that cell-to-cell signalling mediated by autoinducer 2 (AI-2) is not required for differentiation of E. coli within a biofilm community. We suggest on the basis of these results that E. coli K-12 biofilm development and maturation is dependent on cell-cell adhesion factors, which may act as inducers of self-assembly processes that result in differently structured biofilms depending on the adhesive properties on the cell surface.     

Effect of Escherichia coli morphogene bolA on biofilms

Biofilm physiology is established under a low growth rate. The morphogene bolA is mostly expressed under stress conditions or in stationary phase, suggesting that bolA could be implicated in biofilm development. In order to verify this hypothesis, we tested the effect of bolA on biofilm formation. Overexpression of bolA induces biofilm development, while bolA deletion decreases biofilms.     

Significance of rpoS during maturation of Escherichia coli biofilms

Presence of starved, stationary phase-like zones in biofilms seems to be an important factor for biofilm formation. In this study, roles of rpoS gene in the formation of Escherichia coli biofilms were investigated. E. coli MG1655 wild type (WT) and rpoS mutant (DeltarpoS) strains were used to compare biofilm formation capacity and global gene expression. Even though the DeltarpoS strain could attach and form microcolonies on glass surfaces, it could not establish mature biofilms. DNA microarray analysis revealed that WT biofilms (WBF) showed similar pattern of gene expression with WT planktonic stationary phase, whereas DeltarpoS biofilms (MBF) showed similar pattern of gene expression with WT planktonic exponential phase. Genes involved in energy metabolism (atpIBEFHAG, atpC, cydAB) and flagella synthesis (flgB, flgC, flhD, fliA, fliC, fliY) showed increased expression in the MBF, but not in the WBF. Moreover, genes involved in stress responses (blc, cspG, dinD poxB, wcaF, wcaI, and yfcF) showed increased expression in the WBF compared to the MBF. These results suggested that the rpoS gene contributed in maturation of E. coli biofilms through regulation of global gene expression including energy metabolism, motility, and stress responses.     

Penicillin-binding proteins of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains

The penicillin-binding proteins of 11 pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, including enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, enteroaggregative, and enterohemorrhagic E. coli, were detected in gels following the labeling of isolated cell envelopes with [³H]benzylpenicillin. The electrophoretic profiles, sensitivities to and morphological changes induced by β-lactam antibiotics showed that the penicillin-binding proteins of most pathogenic E. coli possess structural and physiological functions similar to those of E. coli K12.     

Polymorphism and selection of rpoS in pathogenic Escherichia coli

Background  

Though RpoS is important for survival of pathogenic Escherichia coli in natural environments, polymorphism in the rpoS gene is common. However, the causes of this polymorphism and consequential physiological effects on gene expression in pathogenic strains are not fully understood.     

Probability of recovering pathogenic Escherichia coli from foods

The probability of recovering pathogenic Escherichia coli from food by the Bacteriological Analytical Manual method was determined by the effects of several factors: the number of strains per food, the ability of pathogenic strains to survive enrichment, and the frequency of plasmid loss during enrichment. Biochemical patterns indicated the presence of about six E. coli strains per food sample. About half of the strains isolated from humans did not survive enrichment. Among those which grew, plasmid loss, as determined by gel electrophoresis and DNA colony hybridization, ranged from 20 to 95%. The combined effects of failure to survive enrichment and plasmid loss decreased the relative numbers of these strains and reduced the chance of detecting pathogens. To counteract this tendency and obtain a 90 to 95% probability off recovering a given pathogenic strain, 40 to 50 colonies per food sample should be picked during the routine testing of foods.     

致病性大肠杆菌和蜡样芽胞杆菌的分离鉴定

【背景】猪只消化道疾病是养猪业上一大重要疾病,给养猪业带来一定的经济损失。大肠杆菌是引起猪腹泻的一种常见病原菌,可以引起不同日龄的猪腹泻,但主要以幼龄猪为主。【目的】旨在分离鉴定引起四川省眉山市一规模化养猪场病猪大规模腹泻的病原菌。【方法】采用常规细菌分离方法结合16S rRNA基因序列的分析方法从发病猪肝脏、胃以及污染的饲料分离鉴定细菌,并对分离株进行小鼠致病性试验、16S rRNA基因遗传进化树分析、毒力基因的检测、药物敏感试验。【结果】从腹泻猪肝脏中分离到一株致病性大肠杆菌,胃中分离到一株蜡样芽胞杆菌,并且追溯到传染源是该猪场饲料。通过检测这两株菌相应的毒力基因发现大肠杆菌不属于肠外致病性型,蜡样芽胞杆菌检测到了nheA、nheB、nheC、bceT、entFM 5种毒力基因;药敏试验表明常规的氨基糖苷类和头孢类抗生素对大肠杆菌抑菌效果较好,红霉素、氟苯尼考、头孢氨苄、头孢哌酮对蜡样芽胞杆菌抑菌效果较好,而蜡样芽胞杆菌对青霉素、阿莫西林等常规药物不敏感。【结论】饲料存在大肠杆菌和蜡样芽胞杆菌的混合污染。     

Plasmid replicon typing of commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates

Despite the critical role of plasmids in horizontal gene transfer, few studies have characterized plasmid relatedness among different bacterial populations. Recently, a multiplex PCR replicon typing protocol was developed for classification of plasmids occurring in members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Here, a simplified version of this replicon typing procedure which requires only three multiplex panels to identify 18 plasmid replicons is described. This method was used to screen 1,015 Escherichia coli isolates of avian, human, and poultry meat origin for plasmid replicon types. Additionally, the isolates were assessed for their content of several colicin-associated genes. Overall, a high degree of plasmid variability was observed, with 221 different profiles occurring among the 1,015 isolates examined. IncFIB plasmids were the most common type identified, regardless of the source type of E. coli. IncFIB plasmids occurred significantly more often in avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and retail poultry E. coli (RPEC) than in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and avian and human fecal commensal E. coli isolates (AFEC and HFEC, respectively). APEC and RPEC were also significantly more likely than UPEC, HFEC, and AFEC to possess the colicin-associated genes cvaC, cbi, and/or cma in conjunction with one or more plasmid replicons. The results suggest that E. coli isolates contaminating retail poultry are notably similar to APEC with regard to plasmid profiles, with both generally containing multiple plasmid replicon types in conjunction with colicin-related genes. In contrast, UPEC and human and avian commensal E. coli isolates generally lack the plasmid replicons and colicin-related genes seen in APEC and RPEC, suggesting limited dissemination of such plasmids among these bacterial populations.     

绵羊肺源性致病性大肠杆菌的分离与鉴定

【目的】近年来,羊呼吸系统疾病日益频发,由肠外致病性大肠杆菌感染引起的呼吸道疾病也日渐增多,给养羊业带来了一定经济损失。本文旨在确定新疆石河子地区某羊场表现为呼吸道感染症状的病死羔羊的细菌性病原及其特性。【方法】采用细菌常规分离鉴定结合16S rRNA基因序列分析的方法从发病羔羊的肺脏中分离鉴定细菌,并对分离株进行药敏试验、特异基因PCR检测、小鼠致病性试验及肺脏组织的病理学观察。【结果】从病死羔羊肺脏组织分离得到一株致病性大肠杆菌,该分离株呈多重耐药现象,检测到iutA、fyuA和ireA三种毒力基因;病变肺脏肺泡壁毛细血管充血,界限不清,支气管管腔充血,周围淋巴细胞浸润、增生。【结论】从病死羔羊肺中分离的细菌性病原是肠外致病性大肠杆菌(ExPEC)。     

pagP基因对禽致病性大肠杆菌抗菌肽抗性和致病性的影响

【目的】禽致病性大肠杆菌(Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)不仅严重影响全球的养禽业,对人类公共健康也造成巨大的潜在威胁。pag P基因在细菌的抗菌肽抗性和致病性方面发挥重要作用,但关于pag P基因在APEC中的功能尚不清楚。本文构建禽致病性大肠杆菌pag P基因缺失株,对缺失株的抗菌肽抗性和致病性进行研究。【方法】利用Red重组系统构建APEC的pag P基因缺失株,然后利用回复质粒构建回复株。研究pag P基因对细胞黏附与入侵、生物被膜形成能力、外膜渗透性、抗菌肽敏感性、致病性等方面的影响。【结果】成功构建pag P基因缺失株和回复株,抗菌肽抗性试验发现pag P基因缺失株对多粘菌素B、鸡β-防御素2(AVBD2)的敏感性显著增加(P0.01),致病性试验结果表明pag P基因缺失株的毒力显著降低(P0.01)。【结论】APEC的pag P基因对AVBD2的敏感性和APEC的致病性密切相关,为深入研究pag P基因的功能及调控作用奠定了基础。     

禽致病性大肠杆菌脂多糖核心型分布与毒力基因的相关性分析

【目的】大肠杆菌脂多糖(LPS)核心型根据其化学结构的不同分为5种,即R1、R2、R3、R4和K12。通过对禽致病性大肠杆菌(Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)安徽、江苏、上海和河南等省市分离株的脂多糖核心型分布情况的研究,分析其与大肠杆菌主要毒力基因之间的潜在联系,以期为APEC的研究和防治提供参考。【方法】对分离到的76株APEC,利用PCR方法开展对LPS核心型分型鉴定和毒力基因检测;分析LPS核心型的分布和毒力基因、致病性之间的相关性。【结果】在76株APEC分离株中,68.4% (52株)为R1核心型,15.8% (12株)为R3型,11.8% (9株)为R4型,3.9% (3株)为R2型,未检测到K12核心型。毒力基因鉴定结果中yijp、mat、fimC、ibeB和ompA的检验阳性率均达到90%以上,可作为APEC的保守基因。其中LPS核心型R1与neuC、cva/cvi、irp2均具有显著正相关性(P<0.05),R3与iroN、irp2均具有显著负相关性(P<0.05),R4核心型与aatA显著正相关(P<0.05)。【结论】APEC的LPS核心型主要为R1。LPS核心型对部分毒力基因分布具有显著影响。     

Structure of the cyclomodulin Cif from pathogenic Escherichia coli

Bacterial pathogens have evolved a sophisticated arsenal of virulence factors to modulate host cell biology. Enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC) use a type III protein secretion system (T3SS) to inject microbial proteins into host cells. The T3SS effector cycle inhibiting factor (Cif) produced by EPEC and EHEC is able to block host eukaryotic cell-cycle progression. We present here a crystal structure of Cif, revealing it to be a divergent member of the superfamily of enzymes including cysteine proteases and acetyltransferases that share a common catalytic triad. Mutation of these conserved active site residues abolishes the ability of Cif to block cell-cycle progression. Finally, we demonstrate that irreversible cysteine protease inhibitors do not abolish the Cif cytopathic effect, suggesting that another enzymatic activity may underlie the biological activity of this virulence factor.     

Applicability of a model for non-pathogenic Escherichia coli for predicting the growth of pathogenic Escherichia coli

A model was developed for the temperature dependence of growth rate of a non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strain. The suitability of that model for predicting the growth rate of pathogenic E. coli strains was assessed. Growth rates of pathogenic strains were found to be adequately described by the model. Model predictions were also found to describe sufficiently well-published growth rate data for non-pathogenic E. coli on mutton carcase surfaces and E. coli O157:H7 in ground roasted beef, milk, and on cantaloupes and water melons. In addition, E. coli O157:H7 was found to grow in the region of 44–45·5 °C.     

Probability of recovering pathogenic Escherichia coli from foods.

The probability of recovering pathogenic Escherichia coli from food by the Bacteriological Analytical Manual method was determined by the effects of several factors: the number of strains per food, the ability of pathogenic strains to survive enrichment, and the frequency of plasmid loss during enrichment. Biochemical patterns indicated the presence of about six E. coli strains per food sample. About half of the strains isolated from humans did not survive enrichment. Among those which grew, plasmid loss, as determined by gel electrophoresis and DNA colony hybridization, ranged from 20 to 95%. The combined effects of failure to survive enrichment and plasmid loss decreased the relative numbers of these strains and reduced the chance of detecting pathogens. To counteract this tendency and obtain a 90 to 95% probability off recovering a given pathogenic strain, 40 to 50 colonies per food sample should be picked during the routine testing of foods.