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Mazzotta C, Ingelfinger JR, Grabowski EF. Shiga toxin down-regulates ERG protein in endothelial cells and impairs angiogenesis. Thromb Res 2024; 240:109038. [PMID: 38850807 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2024.109038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shiga toxin (Stx) can activate inflammatory signaling, leading to vascular dysfunction and promotion of a pro-thrombotic tissue microenvironment. Stx can trigger the development of the enterohemorrhagic (childhood) hemolytic uremic syndrome (eHUS), a triad of thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and acute kidney injury, often requiring dialysis. Additional features may include damage to other organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, brain and cardiovascular system; death occurs in 2-5 %. eHUS is a thrombotic microangiopathy; thus, endothelial cell (EC) injury and platelet fibrin thrombus formation in glomerular arterioles and in the arterioles of other affected organs are likely. To elucidate mechanisms of this microangiopathy, we examined in human ECs the regulation of the platelet adhesion proteins P-selectin and von Willebrand factor (VWF), along with the downregulation of erythroblast-transformation-specific transcription factor (ERG) a key regulator of angiogenesis and megakaryocyte development. METHODS VWF, P-selectin, and ERG levels were determined using immunofluorescence and Western blot in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs were treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Stx-1 or both, versus normal controls. Capillary morphogenesis on Matrigel was performed using HUVECs treated, for 22 h with TNF-α, Stx-1, or both, or treated 4 h with Stx-1 alone or in combination with TNF-α for 22 h. RESULTS Stx-1 significantly reduced ERG and VWF expression on HUVECs, but upregulated P-selectin expression. ERG levels decreased with Stx-1 alone or in combination with TNF-α, in the nuclear, perinuclear and cytoplasmatic regions. Stx-1 reduced capillary morphogenesis, while Stx-1-TNF-α combined treatment reduced capillary morphogenesis still further. CONCLUSIONS In the presence of Stx-1 or TNF-α or both treatments, ECs were activated, expressing higher levels of P-selectin and lower levels of VWF. Our findings, further, provide evidence that Stx-1 downregulates ERG, repressing angiogenesis in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celestina Mazzotta
- Cardiovascular Thrombosis Laboratory, Hematology/Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, *Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, United States
| | - Julie R Ingelfinger
- Nephology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Eric F Grabowski
- Cardiovascular Thrombosis Laboratory, Hematology/Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, *Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, United States.
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Wang X, Yu D, Chui L, Zhou T, Feng Y, Cao Y, Zhi S. A Comprehensive Review on Shiga Toxin Subtypes and Their Niche-Related Distribution Characteristics in Shiga-Toxin-Producing E. coli and Other Bacterial Hosts. Microorganisms 2024; 12:687. [PMID: 38674631 PMCID: PMC11052178 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx), the main virulence factor of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), was first discovered in Shigella dysenteriae strains. While several other bacterial species have since been reported to produce Stx, STEC poses the most significant risk to human health due to its widespread prevalence across various animal hosts that have close contact with human populations. Based on its biochemical and molecular characteristics, Shiga toxin can be grouped into two types, Stx1 and Stx2, among which a variety of variants and subtypes have been identified in various bacteria and host species. Interestingly, the different Stx subtypes appear to vary in their host distribution characteristics and in the severity of diseases that they are associated with. As such, this review provides a comprehensive overview on the bacterial species that have been recorded to possess stx genes to date, with a specific focus on the various Stx subtype variants discovered in STEC, their prevalence in certain host species, and their disease-related characteristics. This review provides a better understanding of the Stx subtypes and highlights the need for rapid and accurate approaches to toxin subtyping for the proper evaluation of the health risks associated with Shiga-toxin-related bacterial food contamination and human infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
| | - Daniel Yu
- School of Public Health, Univeristy of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada;
| | - Linda Chui
- Alberta Precision Laboratories-ProvLab, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J2, Canada;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Tiantian Zhou
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yu Feng
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yuhao Cao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China;
| | - Shuai Zhi
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
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Panwar S, Duggirala KS, Yadav P, Debnath N, Yadav AK, Kumar A. Advanced diagnostic methods for identification of bacterial foodborne pathogens: contemporary and upcoming challenges. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2023; 43:982-1000. [PMID: 35994308 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2095253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
It is a public health imperative to have safe food and water across the population. Foodborne infections are one of the primary causes of sickness and mortality in both developed and developing countries. An estimated 100 million foodborne diseases and 120 000 foodborne illness-related fatalities occur each year in India. Several factors affect foodborne illness, such as improper farming methods, poor sanitary and hygienic conditions at all levels of the food supply chain, the lack of preventative measures in the food processing industry, the misuse of food additives, as well as improper storage and handling. In addition, chemical and microbiological combinations also play a key role in disease development. But recent disease outbreaks indicated that microbial pathogens played a major role in the development of foodborne diseases. Therefore, prompt, rapid, and accurate detection of high-risk food pathogens is extremely vital to warrant the safety of the food items. Conventional approaches for identifying foodborne pathogens are labor-intensive and cumbersome. As a result, a range of technologies for the rapid detection of foodborne bacterial pathogens have been developed. Presently, many methods are available for the instantaneous detection, identification, and monitoring of foodborne pathogens, such as nucleic acid-based methods, biosensor-based methods, and immunological-based methods. The goal of this review is to provide a complete evaluation of several existing and emerging strategies for detecting food-borne pathogens. Furthermore, this review outlines innovative methodologies and their uses in food testing, along with their existing limits and future possibilities in the detection of live pathogens in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surbhi Panwar
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, India
| | | | - Pooja Yadav
- Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Nabendu Debnath
- Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Yadav
- Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, Jammu, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Department of Nutrition Biology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
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Panchal N, Jain V, Elliott R, Flint Z, Worsley P, Duran C, Banerjee T, Santra S. Plasmon-Enhanced Bimodal Nanosensors: An Enzyme-Free Signal Amplification Strategy for Ultrasensitive Detection of Pathogens. Anal Chem 2022; 94:13968-13977. [PMID: 36153970 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Increasing foodborne illnesses have led to global health and economic burdens. E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most common disease-provoking pathogens and known to be lethal Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains. With a low infection dose in addition to person-to-person transmission, STEC infections are easily spread. As a result, specific and rapid testing methods to identify foodborne pathogens are urgently needed. Nanozymes have emerged as enzyme-mimetic nanoparticles, demonstrating intrinsic catalytic activity that could allow for rapid, specific, and accurate pathogen identification in the agrifood industry. In this study, we developed a sensitive nanoplatform based on the traditional ELISA assay with the synergistic properties of gold and iron oxide nanozymes, replacing the conventional enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). We designed an easily interchangeable sandwich ELISA composed of a novel, multifunctional magneto-plasmonic nanosensor (MPnS) with target antibodies (MPnS-Ab). Our experiments demonstrate a 100-fold increase in catalytic activity in comparison to HRP with observable color changes within 15 min. Results further indicate that the MPnS-Ab is highly specific for E. coli O157:H7. Additionally, effective translatability of catalytic activity of the MPnS technology in the lateral flow assay (LFA) platform is also demonstrated for E. coli O157:H7 detection. As nanozymes display more stability, tunable activity, and multi-functionality than natural enzymes, our platform could provide customizable, low-cost assay that combines high specificity with rapid detection for a variety of pathogens in a point-of-care setup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilamben Panchal
- Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway Street, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762, United States
| | - Vedant Jain
- Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway Street, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762, United States
| | - Rebekah Elliott
- Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway Street, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762, United States
| | - Zachary Flint
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Paul Worsley
- Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway Street, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762, United States
| | - Caine Duran
- Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway Street, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762, United States
| | - Tuhina Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Santimukul Santra
- Department of Chemistry, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway Street, Pittsburg, Kansas 66762, United States
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Madoroba E, Malokotsa KP, Ngwane C, Lebelo S, Magwedere K. Presence and Virulence Characteristics of Shiga Toxin Escherichia coli and Non-Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 in Products from Animal Protein Supply Chain Enterprises in South Africa. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2022; 19:386-393. [PMID: 35512735 PMCID: PMC9245721 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2021.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Consumption of food that is contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has been linked to serious foodborne disease outbreaks. Our aim was to provide a descriptive study on the presence and virulence factors of STEC and non-STEC O157 isolates recovered from 2017 diverse meat and meat product samples from all provinces of South Africa (n = 1758) and imported meat from South Africa's major ports of entry (n = 259). A cross-sectional study was undertaken to analyze raw intact meat, raw processed (nonintact) meat, and ready-to-eat (RTE) meat from cattle, game, sheep, pork, and poultry. Isolation was performed using International Organization for Standardization-based microbiological techniques, while detection and characterization were performed using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and conventional PCR targeting the stx1, stx2, eae, and ehxA genes. A total of 28 of 1758 (1.59%; confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2) samples from the domestic market tested positive (n = 10 Escherichia coli O157:H7; n = 14 Escherichia coli O157: non-H7; and n = 4 non-O157 STEC), while 4/259 (1.54%; CI 0.4-4) samples from ports of entry tested positive for Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on RT-PCR. On average, diverse samples from domestic meat and meat products from cattle showed the highest number of positive samples (22/1758; 1.3%; CI 0.8-2). RT-PCR detected more positive samples (n = 32) compared with culture (n = 17). Sixteen different virulence factor combinations were observed. Our findings demonstrate a relatively low presence of diverse STEC strains along the meat value chain. To our knowledge, this is the first extensive report in South Africa to analyze STEC and non-STEC O157 from local and imported samples from many animal species. This is important as it reveals virulence factors in STEC strains circulating in meat and meat products in South Africa, which contribute to the risk of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Madoroba
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
| | - Keneiloe Portia Malokotsa
- Bacteriology Section, Agricultural Research Council–Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Cynthia Ngwane
- Agricultural Research Council—Biometry Unit, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Sogolo Lebelo
- Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Kudakwashe Magwedere
- Directorate of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Pretoria, South Africa
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Switching Shiga Toxin (Stx) Type from Stx2d to Stx2a but Not Stx2c Alters Virulence of Stx-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) Strain B2F1 in Streptomycin (Str)-Treated Mice. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13010064. [PMID: 33467588 PMCID: PMC7829771 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strain B2F1 produces Stx type 2d, a toxin that becomes more toxic towards Vero cells in the presence of intestinal mucus. STEC that make Stx2d are more pathogenic to streptomycin (Str)-treated mice than most STEC that produce Stx2a or Stx2c. However, purified Stx2d is only 2- or 7-fold more toxic by the intraperitoneal route than Stx2a or Stx2c, respectively. We hypothesized, therefore, that the toxicity differences among Stx2a, Stx2c, and Stx2d occur at the level of delivery from the intestine. To evaluate that hypothesis, we altered the toxin type produced by stx2d+ mouse virulent O91:H21 clinical isolate B2F1 to Stx2a or Stx2c. Because B2F1 encodes two copies of stx2d, we did these studies in a derivative of B2F1 in which stx2d1 was deleted. Although the strains were equivalently virulent to the Str-treated mice at the 1010 dose, the B2F1 strain that produced Stx2a was attenuated relative to the ones that produced Stx2d or Stx2c when administered at 103 CFU/mouse. We next compared the oral toxicities of purified Stx2a, Stx2c, and Stx2d. We found that purified Stx2d is more toxic than Stx2a or Stx2c upon oral administration at 4 µg/mouse. Taken together, these studies suggest that Stx2 toxins are most potent when delivered directly from the bacterium. Furthermore, because Stx2d and Stx2c have the identical amino acid composition in the toxin B subunit, our results indicate that the virulence difference between Stx2a and Stx2d and Stx2c resides in the B or binding subunit of the toxins.
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7
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Comparative Use of Quantitative PCR (qPCR), Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR), and Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) in the Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) in Environmental Samples. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12123507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that constitutes a global threat to human health. However, the quantification of this pathogen in food and environmental samples may be problematic at the low cell numbers commonly encountered in environmental samples. In this study, we used recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) for the detection of E. coli O157:H7, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for quantification, and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for absolute and accurate quantification of E. coli O157:H7 from spiked and environmental samples. Primer and probe sets were used for the detection of stx1 and stx2 using RPA. Genes encoding for stx1, stx2, eae, and rfbE were used to quantify E. coli O157:H7 in the water samples. Furthermore, duplex ddPCR assays were used to quantify the pathogens in these samples. Duplex assay set 1 used stx1 and rfbE genes, while assay set 2 used stx2 and eae genes. Droplet digital PCR was used for the absolute quantification of E. coli O15:H7 in comparison with qPCR for the spiked and environmental samples. The RPA results were compared to those from qPCR and ddPCR in order to assess the efficiency of the RPA compared with the PCR methods. The assays were further applied to the dairy lagoon effluent (DLE) and the high rate algae pond (HRAP) effluent, which were fed with diluted DLE. The RPA detected was <10 CFU/mL, while ddPCR showed quantification from 1 to 104 CFU/mL with a high reproducibility. In addition, quantification by qPCR was from 103 to 107 CFU/mL of the wastewater samples. Therefore, the RPA assay has potential as a point of care tool for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 from different environmental sources, followed by quantification of the target concentrations.
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Role of the Nitric Oxide Reductase NorVW in the Survival and Virulence of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli during Infection. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9090683. [PMID: 32825770 PMCID: PMC7558590 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are bacterial pathogens responsible for life-threatening diseases in humans, such as hemolytic and uremic syndrome. It has been previously demonstrated that the interplay between EHEC and nitric oxide (NO), a mediator of the host immune innate response, is critical for infection outcome, since NO affects both Shiga toxin (Stx) production and adhesion to enterocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of the NO reductase NorVW in the virulence and fitness of two EHEC strains in a murine model of infection. We determined that the deletion of norVW in the strain O91:H21 B2F1 has no impact on its virulence, whereas it reduces the ability of the strain O157:H7 620 to persist in the mouse gut and to produce Stx. We also revealed that the fitness defect of strain 620 ΔnorVW is strongly attenuated when mice are treated with an NO synthase inhibitor. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the NO reductase NorVW participates in EHEC resistance against NO produced by the host and promotes virulence through the modulation of Stx synthesis. The contribution of NorVW in the EHEC infectious process is, however, strain-dependent and suggests that the EHEC response to nitrosative stress is complex and multifactorial.
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Bimodal Response to Shiga Toxin 2 Subtypes Results from Relatively Weak Binding to the Target Cell. Infect Immun 2019; 87:IAI.00428-19. [PMID: 31527121 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00428-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
There are two major antigenic forms of Shiga toxin (Stx), Stx1 and Stx2, which bind the same receptor and act on the same target but nonetheless differ in potency. Stx1a is more toxic to cultured cells, but Stx2 subtypes are more potent in animal models. To understand this phenomenon in cultured cells, we used a system that combines flow cytometry with a fluorescent reporter to monitor the Stx-induced inhibition of protein synthesis in single cells. We observed that Vero cells intoxicated with Stx1a behave differently than those intoxicated with Stx2 subtypes: cells challenged with Stx1a exhibited a population-wide loss of protein synthesis, while cells exposed to Stx2a or Stx2c exhibited a dose-dependent bimodal response in which one subpopulation of cells was unaffected (i.e., no loss of protein synthesis). Cells challenged with a hybrid toxin containing the catalytic subunit of Stx1a and the cell-binding subunit of Stx2a also exhibited a bimodal response to intoxication, while cells challenged with a hybrid toxin containing the catalytic subunit of Stx2a and the cell-binding subunit of Stx1a exhibited a population-wide loss of protein synthesis. Other experiments further supported a primary role for the subtype of the B subunit in the outcome of host-Stx interactions. Our collective observations indicate that the bimodal response to Stx2 subtypes is due to relatively weak binding between Stx2 and the host cell that reduces the total functional pool of Stx2 in comparison to that of Stx1a. This explains, in part, the molecular basis for the differential cellular toxicity between Stx1a and Stx2 subtypes.
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Hernandez LB, Cadona JS, Christensen M, Fernández D, Padola NL, Bustamante AV, Sanso AM. Virulence genes and genetic diversity assessment of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O91 strains from cattle, beef and poultry products. Microb Pathog 2018; 125:463-467. [PMID: 30300666 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O91 has ranked in the top five of the non-O157 serogroups most frequently associated with human cases. In order to gain insight into the genetic diversity of O91 Latin American STEC strains, we analyzed their virulence properties and carried out a subtyping assay. A panel of 21 virulence genetic markers associated with human and animal infections was evaluated and the relatedness among strains was determined by a multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) comprising 9 VNTR loci. Twenty-two STEC O91 isolated from cattle and meat food and belonging to 5 serotypes (O91:H21, O91:H8, O91:H14, O91:H28, O91:H40) were studied. Eight virulence profiles were obtained for the O91 STEC strains: 4 for O91:H21 plus one for O91:H8, O91:H14, O91:H28 and O91:H40. All strains contained ehxA and lpfA0113 genes and only both stx1-positive strains lacked saa, which encodes the STEC autoagglutinating adhesin. Other genes involved in adhesion were detected: ehaA (91%), elfA and espP (86%), ecpA (82%) and, hcpA (77%). The gene encoding the cytolethal distending toxin type-V (CDT-V) was found only in O91:H8 and O91:H21, being present in the majority (89%) of strains of this last serotype. MLVA typing divided the total number of strains into 12 genotypes, and 9 of them were unique to a single strain. No association was observed between the virulence profiles and the source of the strains. Although they lack the eae gene, most of the strains have the genetic potential to adhere to host cells through other structures and possess cdt-V, which has been found in STEC strains involved in serious diseases. The MLVA showed clonal relatedness among strains isolated from cattle belonged to a same dairy farm and suggested that the same clone remains circulating throughout the year and, on the other hand, the need to increase the number of VNTR loci which could allow a higher discrimination among O91:H21 isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Belén Hernandez
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CIC-UNCPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Jimena Soledad Cadona
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CIC-UNCPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Martín Christensen
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CIC-UNCPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Daniel Fernández
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CIC-UNCPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Nora Lía Padola
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CIC-UNCPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Ana Victoria Bustamante
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CIC-UNCPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
| | - Andrea Mariel Sanso
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CIC-UNCPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, 7000, Tandil, Argentina.
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11
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Lee JB, Han D, Lee HT, Wi SM, Park JH, Jo JW, Cho YJ, Hahn TW, Lee S, Kang B, Kwak HS, Kim J, Yoon JW. Pathogenic and phylogenetic characteristics of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates from retail meats in South Korea. J Vet Sci 2018; 19:251-259. [PMID: 29284205 PMCID: PMC5879073 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.2.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we report the pathogenic and phylogenetic characteristics of seven Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from 434 retail meats collected in Korea during 2006 to 2012. The experimental analyses revealed that all isolates (i) were identified as non-O157 STEC, including O91:H14 (3 isolates), O121:H10 (2 isolates), O91:H21 (1 isolate), and O18:H20 (1 isolate), (ii) carried diverse Stx subtype genes (stx1, stx2c, stx2e, or stx1 + stx2b) whose expression levels varied strain by strain, and (iii) lacked the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island, a major virulence factor of STEC, but they possessed one or more alternative virulence genes encoding cytotoxins (Cdt and SubAB) and/or adhesins (Saa, Iha, and EcpA). Notably, a significant heterogeneity in glutamate-induced acid resistance was observed among the STEC isolates (p < 0.05). In addition, phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that all three STEC O91:H14 isolates were categorized into sequence type (ST) 33, of which two beef isolates were identical in their pulsotypes. Similar results were observed with two O121:H10 pork isolates (ST641; 88.2% similarity). Interestingly, 96.0% of the 100 human STEC isolates collected in Korea during 2003 to 2014 were serotyped as O91:H14, and the ST33 lineage was confirmed in approximately 72.2% (13/18 isolates) of human STEC O91:H14 isolates from diarrheal patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- June Bong Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Dalmuri Han
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Hyung Tae Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Seon Mi Wi
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Jeong Hoon Park
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Jung-Woo Jo
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Young-Jae Cho
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Tae-Wook Hahn
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Sunjin Lee
- Division of Enteric Diseases, Centers for Infectious Diseases, National Research Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Byunghak Kang
- Division of Enteric Diseases, Centers for Infectious Diseases, National Research Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Hyo Sun Kwak
- Division of Enteric Diseases, Centers for Infectious Diseases, National Research Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Jonghyun Kim
- Division of Enteric Diseases, Centers for Infectious Diseases, National Research Institute of Health, Cheongju 28159, Korea
| | - Jang Won Yoon
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
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12
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Kerangart S, Cournoyer B, Loukiadis E. C-source metabolic profilings of foodborne Shiga-toxin producing E. coli match serogroup differentiations and highlight functional adaptations. Int J Food Microbiol 2017; 266:324-336. [PMID: 29217302 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The tropism of pathogenic STEC for foodstuffs and cattle reservoir is related to functional specializations. An investigation of C-source utilization patterns among and between STEC serogroups was performed using omnilog phenotypic microarrays (OM). OM functional groupings were compared with STEC phylogroups, seropathotypes, EFSA's molecular risk assessment groups and serogroups. OM INT reduction activities of 37 STEC strains growing on 190 C-substrates were compared. Each strain had its own specific C-utilization profile but 23% of the substrates was used by all strains, 47% by none, and 30% was variably metabolized. Galactose, mannose, N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc), and N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) found in the mucus layer of the bovine small intestine were metabolized by all strains. The 56 most informative substrates divided the C-utilization patterns (CP) into three clusters with: (A) harboring all O157 and O145 strains; (B) all O26 strains, and (C) strains of the other serogroups. Significant correlations between INT reduction values of pair of strains per CP group supported these differentiations. CP of group A and B strains were respectively defective in the use of galactonic acid-γ-lactone and rhamnose. Most CP group C strains grew with l-lyxose. Adjusted Wallace coefficients analyses of the datasets indicated high probabilities for the prediction of the use of glycolic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, l-lyxose and d-galactonic acid-γ-lactone and 5-keto-d-gluconic acid by a serogroup. The use of a C-substrate could be predicted from the classification of a strain into a phylogroup or seropathotype. Significantly lower numbers of C-substrates were used by seropathotype A strains like O157 ones. Improvements of STEC identification keys were proposed using the most discriminant C-substrates found in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Kerangart
- University of Lyon, Research group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS 5557, INRA 1418, University Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France
| | - Benoit Cournoyer
- University of Lyon, Research group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS 5557, INRA 1418, University Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France.
| | - Estelle Loukiadis
- University of Lyon, Research group on "Bacterial Opportunistic Pathogens and Environment", UMR Ecologie Microbienne, CNRS 5557, INRA 1418, University Lyon 1, VetAgro Sup, 69280 Marcy L'Etoile, France; University of Lyon, VetAgro Sup, LMAP, National Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli (including VTEC), Marcy L'Etoile, France
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13
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Arimitsu H, Sasaki K, Tsuji T. Development of a simple and rapid diagnosis method for swine edema disease to specifically detect Stx2e protein by immunochromatographic test. Microbiol Immunol 2017; 60:334-42. [PMID: 26996467 DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Edema disease in piglets is caused by Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e)-producing Escherichia coli. However, there is currently no available Stx2e-specific immunochromatographic test strip to differentiate Stx2e from other types of Shiga toxin 2. In the present study, to develop an Stx2e-specific immunochromatographic test strip, we isolated nine different monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma clones from Stx2e toxoid-immunized mice and confirmed that six antibodies were A subunit-specific whereas three antibodies were B subunit-specific. Only one A subunit-specific monoclonal antibody (45B2) was cross-reactive with prototype Stx2 (Stx2a) at the same sensitivity, but the remaining eight monoclonal antibodies were not. In immunochromatographic tests using the highly sensitive antibodies, test strips using some combinations of gold colloid-conjugated monoclonal antibody with the B subunit-specific monoclonal antibody on the membrane detected Stx2e, but not other types of Shiga toxin 2. These test strips had the ability to detect Stx2e in the culture supernatant of clinically isolated Stx2e gene-positive strains, but not in those of Stx2e gene-negative strains. These results indicate that our test strip is practical for the specific detection of Stx2e to diagnose swine edema disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Arimitsu
- Department of Microbiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Keiko Sasaki
- Department of Microbiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Takao Tsuji
- Department of Microbiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
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14
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Affinity-Based Screening of Tetravalent Peptides Identifies Subtype-Selective Neutralizers of Shiga Toxin 2d, a Highly Virulent Subtype, by Targeting a Unique Amino Acid Involved in Its Receptor Recognition. Infect Immun 2016; 84:2653-61. [PMID: 27382021 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00149-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx), a major virulence factor of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), can be classified into two subgroups, Stx1 and Stx2, each consisting of various closely related subtypes. Stx2 subtypes Stx2a and Stx2d are highly virulent and linked with serious human disorders, such as acute encephalopathy and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Through affinity-based screening of a tetravalent peptide library, we previously developed peptide neutralizers of Stx2a in which the structure was optimized to bind to the B-subunit pentamer. In this study, we identified Stx2d-selective neutralizers by targeting Asn16 of the B subunit, an amino acid unique to Stx2d that plays an essential role in receptor binding. We synthesized a series of tetravalent peptides on a cellulose membrane in which the core structure was exactly the same as that of peptides in the tetravalent library. A total of nine candidate motifs were selected to synthesize tetravalent forms of the peptides by screening two series of the tetravalent peptides. Five of the tetravalent peptides effectively inhibited the cytotoxicity of Stx2a and Stx2d, and notably, two of the peptides selectively inhibited Stx2d. These two tetravalent peptides bound to the Stx2d B subunit with high affinity dependent on Asn16. The mechanism of binding to the Stx2d B subunit differed from that of binding to Stx2a in that the peptides covered a relatively wide region of the receptor-binding surface. Thus, this highly optimized screening technique enables the development of subtype-selective neutralizers, which may lead to more sophisticated treatments of infections by Stx-producing EHEC.
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15
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Baranzoni GM, Fratamico PM, Gangiredla J, Patel I, Bagi LK, Delannoy S, Fach P, Boccia F, Anastasio A, Pepe T. Characterization of Shiga Toxin Subtypes and Virulence Genes in Porcine Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:574. [PMID: 27148249 PMCID: PMC4838603 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Similar to ruminants, swine have been shown to be a reservoir for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and pork products have been linked with outbreaks associated with STEC O157 and O111:H-. STEC strains, isolated in a previous study from fecal samples of late-finisher pigs, belonged to a total of 56 serotypes, including O15:H27, O91:H14, and other serogroups previously associated with human illness. The isolates were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a high-throughput real-time PCR system to determine the Shiga toxin (Stx) subtype and virulence-associated and putative virulence-associated genes they carried. Select STEC strains were further analyzed using a Minimal Signature E. coli Array Strip. As expected, stx2e (81%) was the most common Stx variant, followed by stx1a (14%), stx2d (3%), and stx1c (1%). The STEC serogroups that carried stx2d were O15:H27, O159:H16 and O159:H-. Similar to stx2a and stx2c, the stx2d variant is associated with development of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome, and reports on the presence of this variant in STEC strains isolated from swine are lacking. Moreover, the genes encoding heat stable toxin (estIa) and enteroaggregative E. coli heat stable enterotoxin-1 (astA) were commonly found in 50 and 44% of isolates, respectively. The hemolysin genes, hlyA and ehxA, were both detected in 7% of the swine STEC strains. Although the eae gene was not found, other genes involved in host cell adhesion, including lpfAO113 and paa were detected in more than 50% of swine STEC strains, and a number of strains also carried iha, lpfAO26, lpfAO157, fedA, orfA, and orfB. The present work provides new insights on the distribution of virulence factors among swine STEC strains and shows that swine may carry Stx1a-, Stx2e-, or Stx2d-producing E. coli with virulence gene profiles associated with human infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Marco Baranzoni
- Eastern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service Wyndmoor, PA, USA
| | - Pina M Fratamico
- Eastern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service Wyndmoor, PA, USA
| | - Jayanthi Gangiredla
- Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Isha Patel
- Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Lori K Bagi
- Eastern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service Wyndmoor, PA, USA
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- Food Safety Laboratory, University of Paris-Est, Anses, Maisons-Alfort France
| | - Patrick Fach
- Food Safety Laboratory, University of Paris-Est, Anses, Maisons-Alfort France
| | - Federica Boccia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples Italy
| | - Aniello Anastasio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples Italy
| | - Tiziana Pepe
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples Italy
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16
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Melton-Celsa AR, O'Brien AD, Feng PCH. Virulence Potential of Activatable Shiga Toxin 2d-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Fresh Produce. J Food Prot 2015; 78:2085-8. [PMID: 26555533 PMCID: PMC4835030 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-15-180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are food- and waterborne pathogens that are often transmitted via beef products or fresh produce. STEC strains cause both sporadic infections and outbreaks, which may result in hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. STEC strains may elaborate Stx1, Stx2, and/or subtypes of those toxins. Epidemiological evidence indicates that STEC that produce subtypes Stx2a, Stx2c, and/or Stx2d are more often associated with serious illness. The Stx2d subtype becomes more toxic to Vero cells after incubation with intestinal mucus or elastase, a process named "activation." Stx2d is not generally found in the E. coli serotypes most commonly connected to STEC outbreaks. However, STEC strains that are stx2d positive can be isolated from foods, an occurrence that gives rise to the question of whether those food isolates are potential human pathogens. In this study, we examined 14 STEC strains from fresh produce that were stx2d positive and found that they all produced the mucus-activatable Stx2d and that a subset of the strains tested were virulent in streptomycin-treated mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R Melton-Celsa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA.
| | - Alison D O'Brien
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Peter C H Feng
- Division of Microbiology, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland 20740, USA
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17
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Abstract
The Shiga toxins (Stxs), also known as Vero toxins and previously called Shiga-like toxins, are a family of potent protein synthesis inhibitors made by Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and some serogroups of Escherichia coli that cause bloody diarrhea in humans. Stxs act as virulence factors for both S. dysenteriae and E. coli and contribute to the disease process initiated by those organisms both directly and indirectly. A handful of methods exist for toxin purification, and the toxins can now even be purchased commercially. However, the Stxs are now classified as select agents, and specific rules govern the distribution of both the toxin and clones of the toxin. Toxin delivery into the host in S. dysenteriae type 1 is most likely aided by the invasiveness of that organism. Although the Stxs are made and produced by bacteria, they do not appear to act against either their host organism or other bacteria under normal circumstances, most likely because the A subunit is secreted from the cytoplasm as soon as it is synthesized and because the holotoxin cannot enter intact bacterial cells. The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in patients infected with Stx-producing E. coli (STEC) such as O157:H7 as well as the potential risks of such treatment are areas of controversy. Several studies indicate that the course of the diarrhea stage of the disease is unaltered by antibiotic treatment. Several groups anticipate that a therapy that targets the Stxs is an important component of trying to alleviate disease caused by Stx-producing bacteria.
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18
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Fagerquist CK, Zaragoza WJ. Shiga toxin 2 subtypes of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H- E32511 analyzed by RT-qPCR and top-down proteomics using MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2015; 26:788-799. [PMID: 25667061 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-015-1076-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We have measured the relative abundance of the B-subunits and mRNA transcripts of two Stx2 subtypes present in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H- strain E32511 using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS) with post source decay (PSD) and real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Stx2a and Stx2c in STEC strain E32511 were quantified from the integrated peak area of their singly charged disulfide-intact B-subunit ions at m/z ~7819 and m/z ~7774, respectively. We found that the Stx2a subtype was 21-fold more abundant than the Stx2c subtype. The two amino acid substitutions (16D ↔ 16 N and 24D ↔ 24A) that distinguish Stx2a from Stx2c not only result in a mass difference of 45 Da between their respective B-subunits but also result in distinctly different fragmentation channels by MS/MS-PSD because both substitutions involve an aspartic acid (D) residue. Importantly, these two substitutions have also been linked to differences in subtype toxicity. We measured the relative abundances of mRNA transcripts using RT-qPCR and determined that the stx2a transcript is 13-fold more abundant than stx2c transcript. In silico secondary structure analysis of the full mRNA operons of stx2a and stx2c suggest that transcript structural differences may also contribute to a relative increase of Stx2a over Stx2c. In consequence, toxin expression may be under both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifton K Fagerquist
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA, 94710, USA,
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19
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Arvand M, Bettge-Weller G, Fruth A, Uphoff H, Pfeifer Y. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Shiga toxin gene (stx1)-positive Escherichia coli O91:H14 carrying blaCTX-M-15 on an IncI1-ST31 plasmid isolated from a human patient in Germany. Int J Med Microbiol 2015; 305:404-7. [PMID: 25801683 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2011, the Shiga toxin- and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 caused a serious outbreak of gastroenteritis in Germany. This strain carried bla(CTX-M-15) and bla(TEM-1) on an IncI1-ST31 plasmid. During screening of individuals at risk for acquisition of the epidemic E. coli O104:H4, we isolated another ESBL-producing and Shiga toxin-positive E. coli belonging to serotype O91:H14 from feces of a human patient. Interestingly, the patient also carried a further ESBL-producing but Shiga toxin-negative E. coli. Both strains harbored bla(CTX-M-15) and bla(TEM-1) on an IncI1-ST31 plasmid, which was indistinguishable regarding size and plasmid restriction pattern from the plasmid of the epidemic E. coli O104:H4 strain. The patient had traveled to India 6 months prior to the isolation of the E. coli strains. This is the first report of an ESBL-producing, Shiga toxin-positive E. coli of serogroup O91. Our data suggest a high propensity of the IncI1-ST31 plasmid to spread in the human and/or animal population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mardjan Arvand
- Hesse State Health Office, Centre for Health Protection, Dillenburg, Germany.
| | | | - Angelika Fruth
- Robert Koch Institute, National Reference Centre for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enterics, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Helmut Uphoff
- Hesse State Health Office, Centre for Health Protection, Dillenburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Pfeifer
- Robert Koch Institute, FG13 Nosocomial Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance, Wernigerode, Germany
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20
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Ibekwe AM, Ma J, Crowley DE, Yang CH, Johnson AM, Petrossian TC, Lum PY. Topological data analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and non-O157 survival in soils. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:122. [PMID: 25250242 PMCID: PMC4155871 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 have been implicated in many foodborne illnesses caused by the consumption of contaminated fresh produce. However, data on their persistence in soils are limited due to the complexity in datasets generated from different environmental variables and bacterial taxa. There is a continuing need to distinguish the various environmental variables and different bacterial groups to understand the relationships among these factors and the pathogen survival. Using an approach called Topological Data Analysis (TDA); we reconstructed the relationship structure of E. coli O157 and non-O157 survival in 32 soils (16 organic and 16 conventionally managed soils) from California (CA) and Arizona (AZ) with a multi-resolution output. In our study, we took a community approach based on total soil microbiome to study community level survival and examining the network of the community as a whole and the relationship between its topology and biological processes. TDA produces a geometric representation of complex data sets. Network analysis showed that Shiga toxin negative strain E. coli O157:H7 4554 survived significantly longer in comparison to E. coli O157:H7 EDL 933, while the survival time of E. coli O157:NM was comparable to that of E. coli O157:H7 EDL 933 in all of the tested soils. Two non-O157 strains, E. coli O26:H11 and E. coli O103:H2 survived much longer than E. coli O91:H21 and the three strains of E. coli O157. We show that there are complex interactions between E. coli strain survival, microbial community structures, and soil parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abasiofiok M Ibekwe
- Agricultural Research Service-US Salinity Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Jincai Ma
- Agricultural Research Service-US Salinity Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture Riverside, CA, USA ; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - David E Crowley
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Ching-Hong Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI, USA
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21
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Ma J, Mark Ibekwe A, Crowley DE, Yang CH. Persistence of Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 strains in agricultural soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 490:822-829. [PMID: 24907617 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 serogroups are known to cause serious diseases in human. However, research on the persistence of E. coli non-O157 serogroups in preharvest environment is limited. In the current study, we compared the survival behavior of E. coli O157 to that of non-O157 E. coli strains in agricultural soils collected from three major fresh produce growing areas of California (CA) and Arizona (AZ). Results showed that the nonpathogenic E. coli O157:H7 4554 survived longer than the pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 in Imperial Valley CA and Yuma AZ, but not in soils from the Salinas area. However, E. coli O157:NM was found to persist significantly longer than E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 in all soil tested from the three regions. Furthermore, two non-O157 (E. coli O26:H21 and E. coli O103:H2) survived significantly longer than E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 in all soils tested. Pearson correlation analysis showed that survival of the E. coli strains was affected by different environmental factors. Our data suggest that survival of E. coli O157 and non-O157 may be strain and soil specific, and therefore, care must be taken in data interpretation with respect to survival of this pathogen in different soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincai Ma
- USDA-ARS U. S. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, CA 92507, United States; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - A Mark Ibekwe
- USDA-ARS U. S. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, CA 92507, United States.
| | - David E Crowley
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Ching-Hong Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53211, United States
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22
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Son I, Binet R, Maounounen-Laasri A, Lin A, Hammack TS, Kase JA. Detection of five Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli genes with multiplex PCR. Food Microbiol 2014; 40:31-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2013.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Revised: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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23
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Russo LM, Melton-Celsa AR, Smith MJ, O'Brien AD. Comparisons of native Shiga toxins (Stxs) type 1 and 2 with chimeric toxins indicate that the source of the binding subunit dictates degree of toxicity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93463. [PMID: 24671194 PMCID: PMC3966898 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC) cause food-borne outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis. The main virulence factor expressed by STEC, Stx, is an AB5 toxin that has two antigenically distinct forms, Stx1a and Stx2a. Although Stx1a and Stx2a bind to the same receptor, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), Stx2a is more potent than Stx1a in mice, whereas Stx1a is more cytotoxic than Stx2a in cell culture. In this study, we used chimeric toxins to ask what the relative contribution of individual Stx subunits is to the differential toxicity of Stx1a and Stx2a in vitro and in vivo. Chimeric stx1/stx2 operons were generated by PCR such that the coding regions for the A2 and B subunits of one toxin were combined with the coding region for the A1 subunit of the heterologous toxin. The toxicities of purified Stx1a, Stx2a, and the chimeric Stxs were determined on Vero and HCT-8 cell lines, while polarized HCT-8 cell monolayers grown on permeable supports were used to follow toxin translocation. In all in vitro assays, the activity of the chimeric toxin correlated with that of the parental toxin from which the B subunit originated. The origin of the native B subunit also dictated the 50% lethal dose of toxin after intraperitoneal intoxication of mice; however, the chimeric Stxs exhibited reduced oral toxicity and pH stability compared to Stx1a and Stx2a. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that the differential toxicity of the chimeric toxins for cells and mice is determined by the origin of the B subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Russo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Angela R. Melton-Celsa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alison D. O'Brien
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Amézquita-López BA, Quiñones B, Lee BG, Chaidez C. Virulence profiling of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli recovered from domestic farm animals in Northwestern Mexico. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2014; 4:7. [PMID: 24551599 PMCID: PMC3908320 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a zoonotic enteric pathogen that causes human gastrointestinal illnesses. The present study characterized the virulence profiles of O157 and non-O157 STEC strains, recovered from domestic animals in small rural farms within the agricultural Culiacan Valley in Mexico. Virulence genes coding for adhesins, cytotoxins, proteases, subtypes of Shiga toxin (Stx), and other effectors were identified in the STEC strains by PCR. The genotyping analysis revealed the presence of the effectors nleA, nleB, nleE, and nleH1-2, espK, and espN in the O157:H7 and O111:H8 STEC strains. Furthermore, the genes encoding the autoagglutinating adhesin (Saa) and subtilase (SubA) were exclusively identified in the O8:H19 eae-negative strains. The adhesin (iha) and the silent hemolysin (sheA) genes were detected in 79% of the O157 and non-O157 strains. To examine the relative toxicities of the STEC strains, a fluorescent Vero cell line, Vero-d2EGFPs, was employed to measure the inhibition of protein synthesis by Stx. Analysis of culture supernatants from serotype O8:H19 strains with the stx gene profile stx1a, stx2a, and stx2c and serotypes O75:H8 and O146:H8 strains with the stx gene profile stx1a, stx1c, and stx2b, resulted in a significant reduction in the Vero-d2EGFP fluorescent signal. These observations suggest that these non-O157 strains may have an enhanced ability to inhibit protein synthesis in Vero cells. Interestingly, analysis of the stx2c-positive O157:H7 strains resulted in a high fluorescent signal, indicating a reduced toxicity in the Vero-d2EGFP cells. These findings indicate that the O157 and non-O157 STEC strains, recovered in the Culiacan Valley, display distinct virulence profiles and relative toxicities in mammalian cells and have provided information for evaluating risks associated with zoonotic STEC in this agricultural region in Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beatriz Quiñones
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center Albany, CA, USA
| | - Bertram G Lee
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center Albany, CA, USA
| | - Cristóbal Chaidez
- Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo Culiacán, Mexico
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Bettelheim KA, Goldwater PN. Serotypes of Non-O157 Shigatoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/aim.2014.47045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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26
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Proposal for effective treatment of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection in mice. Microb Pathog 2013; 65:57-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2013.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2013] [Revised: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 09/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Zheng H, Jing H, Wang H, Xia S, Hu W, Cui S, Bi Z, Yang J, Pang B, Zhao G, Zhang J, Li H, Xu J. stx2vhaIs the Dominant Genotype of Shiga Toxin-ProducingEscherichia coliO157:H7 Isolated from Patients and Domestic Animals in Three Regions of China. Microbiol Immunol 2013; 49:1019-26. [PMID: 16365526 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2005.tb03698.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli(STEC) O157: H7 strains were isolated from domestic animals and patients from Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China and the bordering Anhui and Henan Provinces and were examined for the stx genotype. Of 390 strains, 277 were identified as genotype stx2vha ; 41, stx2 ; 51, stx2-stx1 ; 1, stx2-stx2vha-stx1 ; 5, stx2-stx2vha ; and 15 were un-typeable. Of the 277 stx2vha-bearing isolates, 116 were isolated from goats; 42, cattle; 38, hens, and 35 from pigs. The study shows stx2vha is the dominant genotype and goats are an important reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zheng
- Department of Diarrhea Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, China Center for Disease Prevention and Control
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Shiga toxin type 2dact displays increased binding to globotriaosylceramide in vitro and increased lethality in mice after activation by elastase. Toxins (Basel) 2013; 5:2074-92. [PMID: 24217397 PMCID: PMC3847715 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5112074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Revised: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin type 2dact (Stx2dact), an Stx2 variant originally identified from Escherichia coli O91:H21 strain B2F1, displays increased cytotoxicity after activation by elastase present in intestinal mucus. Activation is a result of cleavage of two amino acids from the C-terminal tail of the A2 subunit. In this study, we hypothesized that activation leads to increased binding of toxin to its receptor on host cells both in vitro and in vivo. To test this theory, Stx2dact was treated with elastase or buffer alone and then each toxin was assessed for binding to purified globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or cells in culture by immunofluorescence, or flow cytometry. Elastase- and buffer-treated Stx2dact were also evaluated for binding to mouse kidney tissue and for relative lethality in mice. We found that activated Stx2dact had a greater capacity to bind purified Gb3, cells in culture, and mouse kidney tissue and was more toxic for mice than was non-activated Stx2dact. Thus, one possible mechanism for the augmented cytotoxicity of Stx2dact after activation is its increased capacity to bind target cells, which, in turn, may cause greater lethality of elastase-treated toxin for mice and enhanced virulence for humans of E. coli strains that express Stx2dact.
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Croxen MA, Law RJ, Scholz R, Keeney KM, Wlodarska M, Finlay BB. Recent advances in understanding enteric pathogenic Escherichia coli. Clin Microbiol Rev 2013; 26:822-80. [PMID: 24092857 PMCID: PMC3811233 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00022-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 831] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although Escherichia coli can be an innocuous resident of the gastrointestinal tract, it also has the pathogenic capacity to cause significant diarrheal and extraintestinal diseases. Pathogenic variants of E. coli (pathovars or pathotypes) cause much morbidity and mortality worldwide. Consequently, pathogenic E. coli is widely studied in humans, animals, food, and the environment. While there are many common features that these pathotypes employ to colonize the intestinal mucosa and cause disease, the course, onset, and complications vary significantly. Outbreaks are common in developed and developing countries, and they sometimes have fatal consequences. Many of these pathotypes are a major public health concern as they have low infectious doses and are transmitted through ubiquitous mediums, including food and water. The seriousness of pathogenic E. coli is exemplified by dedicated national and international surveillance programs that monitor and track outbreaks; unfortunately, this surveillance is often lacking in developing countries. While not all pathotypes carry the same public health profile, they all carry an enormous potential to cause disease and continue to present challenges to human health. This comprehensive review highlights recent advances in our understanding of the intestinal pathotypes of E. coli.
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Rahal EA, Kazzi N, Nassar FJ, Matar GM. Escherichia coli O157:H7-Clinical aspects and novel treatment approaches. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:138. [PMID: 23162800 PMCID: PMC3498739 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a notorious pathogen often contracted by intake of contaminated water or food. Infection with this agent is associated with a broad spectrum of illness ranging from mild diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis to the potentially fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Treating E. coli O157:H7 infection with antimicrobial agents is associated with an increased risk of severe sequelae such as HUS. The difficulty in treating this bacterium using conventional modalities of antimicrobial agent administration has sparked an interest in investigating new therapeutic approaches to this bacterium. These approaches have included the use of probiotic agents and natural products with variable success rates. In addition, novel modalities and regimen of antimicrobial agent administration have been assessed in an attempt at decreasing their association with aggravating infection outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias A Rahal
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, American University of Beirut Beirut, Lebanon
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Steyert SR, Sahl JW, Fraser CM, Teel LD, Scheutz F, Rasko DA. Comparative genomics and stx phage characterization of LEE-negative Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:133. [PMID: 23162798 PMCID: PMC3491183 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection by Escherichia coli and Shigella species are among the leading causes of death due to diarrheal disease in the world. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that do not encode the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE-negative STEC) often possess Shiga toxin gene variants and have been isolated from humans and a variety of animal sources. In this study, we compare the genomes of nine LEE-negative STEC harboring various stx alleles with four complete reference LEE-positive STEC isolates. Compared to a representative collection of prototype E. coli and Shigella isolates representing each of the pathotypes, the whole genome phylogeny demonstrated that these isolates are diverse. Whole genome comparative analysis of the 13 genomes revealed that in addition to the absence of the LEE pathogenicity island, phage-encoded genes including non-LEE encoded effectors, were absent from all nine LEE-negative STEC genomes. Several plasmid-encoded virulence factors reportedly identified in LEE-negative STEC isolates were identified in only a subset of the nine LEE-negative isolates further confirming the diversity of this group. In combination with whole genome analysis, we characterized the lambdoid phages harboring the various stx alleles and determined their genomic insertion sites. Although the integrase gene sequence corresponded with genomic location, it was not correlated with stx variant, further highlighting the mosaic nature of these phages. The transcription of these phages in different genomic backgrounds was examined. Expression of the Shiga toxin genes, stx(1) and/or stx(2), as well as the Q genes, were examined with quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays. A wide range of basal and induced toxin induction was observed. Overall, this is a first significant foray into the genome space of this unexplored group of emerging and divergent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan R Steyert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Institute for Genome Sciences Baltimore, MD, USA
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Kumar A, Taneja N, Kumar Y, Sharma M. Detection of Shiga toxin variants among Shiga toxin-forming Escherichia coli isolates from animal stool, meat and human stool samples in India. J Appl Microbiol 2012; 113:1208-16. [PMID: 22830431 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05415.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2012] [Revised: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 07/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
AIM To study the prevalence and distribution of various variants in the stx gene of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from diverse environmental sources (animal stool, meat) and human illness, from a large geographic area in India, and to understand the association between variants, serotype distribution and human disease. METHODS AND RESULTS A surveillance for STEC was conducted in the semi-urban and rural areas of Punjab, Himachal, Haryana and Chandigarh. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates (80 animal stool, 39 meat, 21 human stool from diarrhoea and HUS cases) were characterized for stx variants by PCR. Shiga-like toxin (Stx) was detected using Ridascreen-EIA assay. Variant stx2c was the most common (25·1%), followed by stx1d (13%), stx1c (10·7%) and stx2d (9·2%), whereas stx2e, stx2f and stx2g were absent. Only 8/21 (38%) human isolates harboured stx variants, of which stx2c and stx2d were found in 2 and 1 isolates, respectively. The low frequency of carriage of these potentially more pathogenic variants may explain the low severity of human illness seen in India. Shiga-like toxin was detected in only 42 of the isolates positive for the stx genes probably due to the low levels of toxins produced. Serogroup distribution was found to be diverse, suggesting the lack of any predominant circulating type. CONCLUSIONS The presence of stx variants 1c, 1d, 2c and stx2d in diverse environmental and human sources in India was demonstrated. The prevalence of the most common subtype stx2c found in this study in animal isolates may pose a threat to the public health. We report the subtyping of human STEC isolates and report the presence of stx1d subtype for the first time from India. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY We demonstrated the presence of potentially pathogenic subtypes in the environmental specimens which may act as a reservoir for human infections. Serogroups new to India were also reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kumar
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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Mallick EM, McBee ME, Vanguri VK, Melton-Celsa AR, Schlieper K, Karalius BJ, O'Brien AD, Butterton JR, Leong JM, Schauer DB. A novel murine infection model for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. J Clin Invest 2012; 122:4012-24. [PMID: 23041631 DOI: 10.1172/jci62746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) is an important subset of Shiga toxin-producing (Stx-producing) E. coli (STEC), pathogens that have been implicated in outbreaks of food-borne illness and can cause intestinal and systemic disease, including severe renal damage. Upon attachment to intestinal epithelium, EHEC generates "attaching and effacing" (AE) lesions characterized by intimate attachment and actin rearrangement upon host cell binding. Stx produced in the gut transverses the intestinal epithelium, causing vascular damage that leads to systemic disease. Models of EHEC infection in conventional mice do not manifest key features of disease, such as AE lesions, intestinal damage, and systemic illness. In order to develop an infection model that better reflects the pathogenesis of this subset of STEC, we constructed an Stx-producing strain of Citrobacter rodentium, a murine AE pathogen that otherwise lacks Stx. Mice infected with Stx-producing C. rodentium developed AE lesions on the intestinal epithelium and Stx-dependent intestinal inflammatory damage. Further, the mice experienced lethal infection characterized by histopathological and functional kidney damage. The development of a murine model that encompasses AE lesion formation and Stx-mediated tissue damage will provide a new platform upon which to identify EHEC alterations of host epithelium that contribute to systemic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Mallick
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Multicenter evaluation of a sequence-based protocol for subtyping Shiga toxins and standardizing Stx nomenclature. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 50:2951-63. [PMID: 22760050 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00860-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 586] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
When Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains emerged as agents of human disease, two types of toxin were identified: Shiga toxin type 1 (Stx1) (almost identical to Shiga toxin produced by Shigella dysenteriae type 1) and the immunologically distinct type 2 (Stx2). Subsequently, numerous STEC strains have been characterized that express toxins with variations in amino acid sequence, some of which confer unique biological properties. These variants were grouped within the Stx1 or Stx2 type and often assigned names to indicate that they were not identical in sequence or phenotype to the main Stx1 or Stx2 type. A lack of specificity or consistency in toxin nomenclature has led to much confusion in the characterization of STEC strains. Because serious outcomes of infection have been attributed to certain Stx subtypes and less so with others, we sought to better define the toxin subtypes within the main Stx1 and Stx2 types. We compared the levels of relatedness of 285 valid sequence variants of Stx1 and Stx2 and identified common sequences characteristic of each of three Stx/Stx1 and seven Stx2 subtypes. A novel, simple PCR subtyping method was developed, independently tested on a battery of 48 prototypic STEC strains, and improved at six clinical and research centers to test the reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity of the PCR. Using a consistent schema for nomenclature of the Stx toxins and stx genes by phylogenetic sequence-based relatedness of the holotoxin proteins, we developed a typing approach that should obviate the need to bioassay each newly described toxin and that predicts important biological characteristics.
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Parma YR, Chacana PA, Lucchesi PMA, Rogé A, Granobles Velandia CV, Krüger A, Parma AE, Fernández-Miyakawa ME. Detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using chicken egg yolk IgY antibodies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:84. [PMID: 22919675 PMCID: PMC3417390 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a subset of Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) is associated with a spectrum of diseases that includes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and a life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Regardless of serotype, Shiga toxins (Stx1 and/or Stx2) are uniformly expressed by all EHEC, and so exploitable targets for laboratory diagnosis of these pathogens. In this study, a sandwich ELISA for determination of Shiga toxin (Stx) was developed using anti-Stx2B subunit antibodies and its performance was compared with that of the Vero cell assay and a commercial immunoassay kit. Chicken IgY was used as capture antibody and a HRP-conjugated rabbit IgG as the detection antibody. The anti-Stx2B IgY was harvested from eggs laid by hens immunized with a recombinant protein fragment. Several parameters were tested in order to optimize the sandwich ELISA assay, including concentration of antibodies, type and concentration of blocking agent, and incubation temperatures. Supernatants from 42 STEC strains of different serotypes and stx variants, including stx2EDL933, stx2vha, stx2vhb, stx2g, stx1EDL933, and stx1d were tested. All Stx variants were detected by the sandwich ELISA, with a detection limit of 115 ng/ml Stx2. Twenty three strains negative for stx genes, including different bacteria species, showed no activity in Vero cell assay and produced negative results in ELISA, except for two strains. Our results show that anti-Stx2B IgY sandwich ELISA could be used in routine diagnosis as a rapid, specific and economic method for detection of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y R Parma
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Calle Las Cabañas y Los Reseros s/n, Casilla de Correo 25 (1712), Castelar Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Activation of p53/ATM-dependent DNA damage signaling pathway by shiga toxin in mammalian cells. Microb Pathog 2012; 52:311-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2012.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2010] [Revised: 02/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Quiñones B, Swimley MS, Narm KE, Patel RN, Cooley MB, Mandrell RE. O-antigen and virulence profiling of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli by a rapid and cost-effective DNA microarray colorimetric method. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:61. [PMID: 22919652 PMCID: PMC3417394 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide. The present study developed the use of DNA microarrays with the ampliPHOX colorimetric method to rapidly detect and genotype STEC strains. A low-density 30-mer oligonucleotide DNA microarray was designed to target O-antigen gene clusters of 11 E. coli serogroups (O26, O45, O91, O103, O104, O111, O113, O121, O128, O145, and O157) that have been associated with the majority of STEC infections. In addition, the DNA microarray targeted 11 virulence genes, encoding adhesins, cytotoxins, proteases, and receptor proteins, which have been implicated in conferring increased ability to cause disease for STEC. Results from the validation experiments demonstrated that this microarray-based colorimetric method allowed for a rapid and accurate genotyping of STEC reference strains from environmental and clinical sources and from distinct geographical locations. Positive hybridization signals were detected only for probes targeting serotype and virulence genes known to be present in the STEC reference strains. Quantification analysis indicated that the mean pixel intensities of the signal for probes targeting O-antigen or virulence genes were at least three times higher when compared to the background. Furthermore, this microarray-based colorimetric method was then employed to genotype a group of E. coli isolates from watershed sediment and animal fecal samples that were collected from an important region for leafy-vegetable production in the central coast of California. The results indicated an accurate identification of O-type and virulence genes in the tested isolates and confirmed that the ampliPHOX colorimetric method with low-density DNA microarrays enabled a fast assessment of the virulence potential of STEC using low-cost reagents and instrumentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Quiñones
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service Albany, CA, USA.
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Osman KM, Mustafa AM, Aly MA, AbdElhamed GS. Serotypes, Virulence Genes, and Intimin Types of Shiga Toxin-ProducingEscherichia coliand EnteropathogenicEscherichia coliIsolated from Mastitic Milk Relevant to Human Health in Egypt. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2012; 12:297-305. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kamelia M. Osman
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ashgan M. Mustafa
- Center of Excellence in Biotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Magdy A.K. Aly
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt
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Kim J, Oh K, Jeon S, Cho S, Lee D, Hong S, Cho S, Park M, Jeon D, Kim S. Escherichia coli O104:H4 from 2011 European outbreak and strain from South Korea. Emerg Infect Dis 2012; 17:1755-6. [PMID: 21888813 DOI: 10.3201/eid1709.110879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Profile of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from dogs and cats and genetic relationships with isolates from cattle, meat and humans. Vet Microbiol 2011; 156:336-42. [PMID: 22119188 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2011] [Revised: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Pets can be reservoirs of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. The aim of this study was to examine nine strains belonging to several serotypes (O91:H21, O91:H16, O178:H19, O8:H19, O22:H8, O22:HNT, ONT:H8), previously recovered from cats or dogs. To this end, we assessed a set of additional virulence genes (stx(2) subtype, subAB, ehxA, eae and saa), cytotoxic activity, and genetic relationships with strains isolated from cattle, meat and humans using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Most of the isolates carried the stx(2) and/or stx(2vh-b) sequences, while only the O91:H21 isolate presented the mucus-activatable stx(2d) variant, as confirmed by sequencing the genes of subunits A and B. All the strains showed cytotoxic activity in cultured cells. One of the two O178:H19, selected for its high level of cytotoxicity in Vero cells, showed the ability to cause functional alterations in the human colon mucosa in vitro. None of the strains possessed the subAB, eae or saa genes and only the strains belonging to serotype O8:H19 carried the ehxA gene. The isolates shared 90-100% similarity by PFGE to epidemiologically unrelated strains of the corresponding serotypes recovered from cattle, meat or humans. Our results demonstrate that dogs and cats may have a role in the infection of humans by STEC, probably serving as a vehicle for bovine strains in the cycle of human infection, and thus emphasize the health risks for owners and their families.
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Kim J, Oh K, Jeon S, Cho S, Lee D, Hong S, Cho S, Park M, Jeon D, Kim S. Escherichia coli O104:H4 from 2011 European outbreak and strain from South Korea. Emerg Infect Dis 2011. [PMID: 21888813 PMCID: PMC3322094 DOI: 10.3201/eid1708.110879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Madic J, de Garam CP, Brugère H, Loukiadis E, Fach P, Jamet E, Auvray F. Duplex real-time PCR detection of type III effector tccP and tccP2 genes in pathogenic Escherichia coli and prevalence in raw milk cheeses. Lett Appl Microbiol 2011; 52:538-45. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2011.03038.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Bosilevac JM, Koohmaraie M. Prevalence and characterization of non-O157 shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates from commercial ground beef in the United States. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:2103-12. [PMID: 21257806 PMCID: PMC3067332 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02833-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a Shiga toxin (stx)-producing E. coli (STEC) strain that has been classified as an adulterant in U.S. beef. However, numerous other non-O157 STEC strains are associated with diseases of various severities and have become an increasing concern to the beef industry, regulatory officials, and the public. This study reports on the prevalence and characterization of non-O157 STEC in commercial ground beef samples (n = 4,133) obtained from numerous manufacturers across the United States over a period of 24 months. All samples were screened by DNA amplification for the presence of Shiga toxin genes, which were present in 1,006 (24.3%) of the samples. Then, culture isolation of an STEC isolate from all samples that contained stx(1) and/or stx(2) was attempted. Of the 1,006 positive ground beef samples screened for stx, 300 (7.3% of the total of 4,133) were confirmed to have at least one strain of STEC present by culture isolation. In total, 338 unique STEC isolates were recovered from the 300 samples that yielded an STEC isolate. All unique STEC isolates were serotyped and were characterized for the presence of known virulence factors. These included Shiga toxin subtypes, intimin subtypes, and accessory virulence factors related to adherence (saa, iha, lifA), toxicity (cnf, subA, astA), iron acquisition (chuA), and the presence of the large 60-MDa virulence plasmid (espP, etpD, toxB, katP, toxB). The isolates were also characterized by use of a pathogenicity molecular risk assessment (MRA; based on the presence of various O-island nle genes). Results of this characterization identified 10 STEC isolates (0.24% of the 4,133 total) that may be considered a significant food safety threat, defined by the presence of eae, subA, and nle genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Bosilevac
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, State Spur 18D, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA.
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Melton-Celsa A, Mohawk K, Teel L, O’Brien A. Pathogenesis of Shiga-Toxin Producing Escherichia coli. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2011; 357:67-103. [DOI: 10.1007/82_2011_176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Quiñones B, Swimley MS. Use of a Vero cell-based fluorescent assay to assess relative toxicities of Shiga toxin 2 subtypes from Escherichia coli. Methods Mol Biol 2011; 739:61-71. [PMID: 21567318 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-102-4_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli is a leading cause of human gastroenteritis from food and waterborne sources worldwide. Shiga toxins 1 and 2 are important virulence factors linked to severe human illness. In particular, Shiga toxin 2 is composed of a diverse and heterogeneous group of subtypes with differential cytotoxicities in mammalian cells. In this chapter, we describe the use of the Vero-d2EGFP fluorescent assay to examine the relative toxicities of Stx2 and Stx2 subtypes expressed by strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Quiñones
- United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, USA.
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Smith R, Paiba G, Ellis-Iversen J. Longitudinal study to investigate VTEC O157 shedding patterns in young cattle. Res Vet Sci 2010; 88:411-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2009] [Revised: 10/26/2009] [Accepted: 12/08/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Auvray F, Lecureuil C, Dilasser F, Taché J, Derzelle S. Development of a real-time PCR assay with an internal amplification control for the screening of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coliin foods. Lett Appl Microbiol 2009; 48:554-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2009.02561.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Madic J, Lecureuil C, Dilasser F, Derzelle S, Jamet E, Fach P, Auvray F. Screening of food raw materials for the presence of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coliO91:H21. Lett Appl Microbiol 2009; 48:447-51. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2008.02549.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Ellis-Iversen J, Cook AJC, Smith RP, Pritchard GC, Nielen M. Temporal patterns and risk factors for Escherichia coli O157 and Campylobacter spp, in young cattle. J Food Prot 2009; 72:490-6. [PMID: 19343935 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-72.3.490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli O157 and Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are zoonotic pathogens originating from farm animals. Cattle are the main reservoir for E. coli O157 and also contribute to human cases of campylobacteriosis through contaminated milk, direct contact, and environmental contamination. Thirty groups of young cattle on 30 farms were observed for 7 months and sampled on 4 to 6 separate occasions for E. coli O157 and C. jejuni/coli to characterize shedding patterns and identify risk factors. The within herd prevalence of E. coli O157 per sampling occasion ranged from 0 to 60% (mean = 24%) and average Campylobacter spp. within herd prevalence was 47% ranging from 0 to 100%. The prevalence of E. coli O157-positive herds declined with a linear trend throughout the study from 100 to 38% (OR: 0.5, P < 0.01), whereas time in the study was not significantly associated with Campylobacter prevalence (P = 0.13). Larger herds were more likely to be positive with either or both agents, whereas the number of suckler calves on the farm reduced the risk of both organisms (OR: 0.4/0.6, P < 0.01). Poultry on the premises reduced the risk of E. coli O157, but was not associated with Campylobacter. Emptying and cleaning the water troughs more often than once monthly reduced the risk of detecting Campylobacter and cattle sourced by private water supplies were more likely to be Campylobacter positive. No drinking water management practices were associated with E. coli O157. The risk of detecting both organisms were almost five times higher when the cattle were housed indoors (OR: 4.9, P = 0.03).
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanne Ellis-Iversen
- Centre for Epidemiology and Risk Analyses, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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