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Dias D, Costa S, Fonseca C, Baraúna R, Caetano T, Mendo S. Pathogenicity of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from wildlife: Should we care? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:152324. [PMID: 34915011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most frequent bacterial agents associated with food-borne outbreaks in Europe. In humans, the infection can lead to life-threatening diseases. Domestic and wild animals can harbor STEC, and ruminants are the main STEC reservoirs, although asymptomatic. In the present study we have characterized STEC from wildlife (wild boar (n = 56), red deer (n = 101), red fox (n = 37) and otter (n = 92)). Cultivable STEC (n = 52) were isolated from 17% (n = 49) of the faecal samples. All the isolates were non-O157 STEC encoding stx1 (n = 2; 4%) and/or stx2 genes (n = 51; 98%). Only one strain (2%) isolated from red fox had an antibiotic resistant phenotype. However, when the normalized resistance interpretation of epidemiological cutoffs (NRI ECOFFs) were used, 23% (n = 12) of the strains were non-wildtype to at least one of the antibiotics tested. After analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), 20 strains were selected for whole genome sequencing and belonged to the following serotypes: O27:H30 (n = 15), O146:H28 (n = 2), O146:H21 (n = 1), O178:H19 (n = 1), and O103:H2 (n = 1). In addition to stx, all strains encode several virulence factors such as toxins, adhesins, fimbriae and secretion systems, among others. All sequenced genomes carried several mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as prophages and/or plasmids. The core genome and the phylogenetic analysis showed close evolutionary relationships between some of the STEC recovered from wildlife and strains of clinical origin, highlighting their pathogenic potential. Overall, our results show the zoonotic potential of STEC strains originating from wildlife, highlighting the importance of monitoring their genomic characteristics following a One Health perspective, in which the health of humans is related to the health of animals, and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Dias
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sávio Costa
- Centro de Genômica e Biologia de Sistemas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Carlos Fonseca
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; ForestWISE - Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest & Fire Management, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Rafael Baraúna
- Centro de Genômica e Biologia de Sistemas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Tânia Caetano
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sónia Mendo
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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Sessler K, Papatheodorou P, Wondany F, Krause M, Noettger S, Bernhard D, Michaelis J, Schmidt H, Barth H. The enzyme subunit SubA of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains demonstrates comparable intracellular transport and cytotoxic activity as the holotoxin SubAB in HeLa and HCT116 cells in vitro. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:975-983. [PMID: 33483759 PMCID: PMC7904543 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02965-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) is secreted by certain Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains and is composed of the enzymatically active subunit SubA and the pentameric binding/transport subunit SubB. We previously demonstrated that SubA (10 µg/ml), in the absence of SubB, binds and intoxicates the human cervix cancer-derived epithelial cell line HeLa. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic activity of SubA in the absence of SubB remained unclear. In the present study, the cytotoxic effects mediated by SubA alone were investigated in more detail in HeLa cells and the human colon cancer cell line HCT116. We found that in the absence of SubB, SubA (10 µg/ml) is internalized into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it cleaves the chaperone GRP78, an already known substrate for SubA after its canonical uptake into cells via SubB. The autonomous cellular uptake of SubA and subsequent cleavage of GRP78 in cells is prevented by treatment of cells with 10 µM brefeldin A, which inhibits the transport of protein toxins into the ER. In addition, by analyzing the SubA mutant SubAΔC344, we identified the C-terminal SEEL motif as an ER-targeting signal. Conclusively, our results strongly suggest that SubA alone shares the same intracellular transport route and cytotoxic activity as the SubAB holotoxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Sessler
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Panagiotis Papatheodorou
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Fanny Wondany
- Institute of Biophysics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Maike Krause
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sabrina Noettger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Denise Bernhard
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Herbert Schmidt
- Department of Food Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Holger Barth
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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Alonso CA, Mora A, Díaz D, Blanco M, González-Barrio D, Ruiz-Fons F, Simón C, Blanco J, Torres C. Occurrence and characterization of stx and/or eae-positive Escherichia coli isolated from wildlife, including a typical EPEC strain from a wild boar. Vet Microbiol 2017; 207:69-73. [PMID: 28757042 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strains are food-borne pathogens associated with acute diarrhea. Haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is often a complication of STEC infection. In order to examine the occurrence, serotypes, virulence and antimicrobial-resistance profiles of STEC and EPEC in wildlife, 326 faecal E. coli strains from 304 clinically healthy animals were analyzed. For this approach stx1, stx2 and eae genes, as well as accessory virulence determinants (ehx, hlyA, saa, tia, bfp, subAB) were PCR-screened and sequenced. Serotyping was performed employing all available O (O1-O185) and H (H1-H56) antisera. Genetic diversity was analyzed by XbaI-PFGE and phylotyping. Thirteen STEC (4.3%) and 10 EPEC (3.3%) were identified among 12 deer, 3 mouflon, 6 wild boars and 2 birds. Nine STEC showed seropathotypes B (O145:[H28]) and C (O22:H8, O128:[H2]) associated with HUS, and D (O110:H28, O146:H21, O146:[H28], ONT:H8) associated with human diarrhea. Although most isolates harbored stx2b and stx1c variants, stx2a and stx1a (related with severe disease) were also detected. Additionally, the eae gene was present in one stx2a-positive O145:[H28] STEC from a deer and 11 STEC harbored subAB genes (mainly the subAB2 variant). EPEC isolates showed 7 different intimin variants (β1, β2, γ1, ε1, ζ1, ι1-A, κ). Interestingly, the O49:[H10] eae-κ EPEC isolated from a wild boar was bfpA-positive showing a combination of serotype/virulence profile previously detected among human clinical tEPEC. Based on present results, wild ruminants, wild boars and to a lesser extent birds would be carriers of potentially pathogenic STEC and EPEC strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Andrea Alonso
- Área Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Azucena Mora
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Dafne Díaz
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Miguel Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - David González-Barrio
- Grupo SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Fons
- Grupo SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Carmen Simón
- Facultad de Veterinaria,Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jorge Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Carmen Torres
- Área Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain.
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Mishra RP, Jain U, Singh RK. Genotypic study of verocytotoxic Escherichia coli isolates from deer by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Vet World 2016; 9:919-21. [PMID: 27651685 PMCID: PMC5021846 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.919-921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM This study was planned to study the genotypes of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in fecal samples of deer due to its public health significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 160 fecal samples of deer were taken from Mathura district and Kanpur Zoo and screened for VTEC genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS All fecal samples were positive for E. coli. All the E. coli isolates were screened by PCR to detect virulence genes stx1 , stx2 , eaeA, and hlyA. Of these, 15 isolates were found positive for VTEC having one or more genes in different combinations. CONCLUSION Genes such as stx1 , stx2 , eaeA, and hlyA were prevalent in VTEC isolates from feces of deer. The presence of VTEC isolates having virulent genes may pose a threat to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendra Prasad Mishra
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary University, UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Udit Jain
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary University, UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Subtilase cytotoxin-encoding subAB2 variants in verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from goats and sheep. Res Vet Sci 2016; 105:74-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Mishra RP, Jain U, Bist B, Verma AK, Kumar A. Prevalence of vero toxic Escherichia coli in fecal samples of domestic as well as wild ruminants in Mathura districts and Kanpur zoo. Vet World 2016; 9:71-4. [PMID: 27051188 PMCID: PMC4819354 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.71-74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The present study was planned to reveal the prevalence of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in fecal samples of domestic and wild ruminants in Mathura district and Kanpur zoo. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 240 fecal samples comprising 60 each of cattle, buffalo, sheep and deer from Mathura districts and Kanpur zoo were screened for the presence of E. coli and VTEC genes positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULT Out of 240 fecal samples, 212 E. coli strains were obtained. All the E. coli isolates were screened by PCR to detect virulence genes stx1 , stx2 , eaeA and hlyA. Of these, 25 isolates were identified as VTEC. The prevalence of VTEC in cattle, buffalo, sheep and deer was found 13.4% (8/60), 13.4% (8/60), 6.67% (4/60) and 8.33% (5/60), respectively. CONCLUSION stx1 , stx2 , eaeA and hlyA genes were prevalent in VTEC isolates from feces of cattle, buffalo, sheep and deer population of Mathura districts and Kanpur zoo. The presence of VTEC isolates in this region may pose a threat to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendra Prasad Mishra
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishvidhyalaya Ewam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura - 281 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Udit Jain
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishvidhyalaya Ewam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura - 281 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Basanti Bist
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishvidhyalaya Ewam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura - 281 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Amit Kumar Verma
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishvidhyalaya Ewam Go-Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura - 281 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Division of Veterinary Public Health, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Son HM, Duc HM, Honjoh KI, Miyamoto T. Identification of the newly identified subtilase cytotoxin-encoding gene (subAB2-2) among clinical Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates. Can J Microbiol 2015; 61:990-4. [DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2015-0519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) is an important virulence factor of eae-negative Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Three variants of SubAB-encoding genes have been reported in the literature; however, the newly described subAB variant (subAB2-2) was found only in STEC strains from deer meat, sheep, and some wild animals. In this study, subAB variants were detected by PCR and DNA sequencing in 5 out of 12 (41.6%) eae-negative STEC strains isolated from patients. Most subAB-positive STEC strains (80%) harbored the subAB1 gene. The subAB2-2 gene was detected for the first time in the clinical STEC O128:H2 strain. Other virulence genes including stx1a, stx1c, stx2b, ehxA, and tia were also detected in this strain. The DNA sequence analyses of the subAB1 and subAB2-2 genes of the clinical STEC strains showed 99% and 100% identity to those of the reference strains 98NK2 and LM27558stx2, respectively. This is the first report on the detection of the subAB2-2 gene in a clinical STEC isolate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Minh Son
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Hoang Minh Duc
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Honjoh
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Takahisa Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1, Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
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Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of recombinant subtilase cytotoxin variants of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Infect Immun 2015; 83:2338-49. [PMID: 25824835 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00231-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the cytotoxicity of the recently described subtilase variant SubAB2-2 of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli was determined and compared to the plasmid-encoded SubAB1 and the chromosome-encoded SubAB2-1 variant. The genes for the respective enzymatic active (A) subunits and binding (B) subunits of the subtilase toxins were amplified and cloned. The recombinant toxin subunits were expressed and purified. Their cytotoxicity on Vero cells was measured for the single A and B subunits, as well as for mixtures of both, to analyze whether hybrids with toxic activity can be identified. The results demonstrated that all three SubAB variants are toxic for Vero cells. However, the values for the 50% cytotoxic dose (CD50) differ for the individual variants. Highest cytotoxicity was shown for SubAB1. Moreover, hybrids of subunits from different subtilase toxins can be obtained which cause substantial cytotoxicity to Vero cells after mixing the A and B subunits prior to application to the cells, which is characteristic for binary toxins. Furthermore, higher concentrations of the enzymatic subunit SubA1 exhibited cytotoxic effects in the absence of the respective B1 subunit. A more detailed investigation in the human HeLa cell line revealed that SubA1 alone induced apoptosis, while the B1 subunit alone did not induce cell death.
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Nüesch-Inderbinen MT, Funk J, Cernela N, Tasara T, Klumpp J, Schmidt H, Stephan R. Prevalence of subtilase cytotoxin-encoding subAB variants among Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from wild ruminants and sheep differs from that of cattle and pigs and is predominated by the new allelic variant subAB2-2. Int J Med Microbiol 2015; 305:124-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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Kataria JL, Dutta TK, Roychoudhury P, Tiwari JG. Detection and molecular characterization of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) autoagglutinating adhesion gene (saa) from piglets in Mizoram. Vet World 2014. [DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2014.373-376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Molecular analysis of subtilase cytotoxin genes of food-borne Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli reveals a new allelic subAB variant. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:230. [PMID: 24128013 PMCID: PMC3852854 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The open reading frames of subAB genes and their flanking regions of 18 food-borne Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains were analyzed. Results All but one subAB open reading frames (ORF) were complete in all STEC strains. The subAB1 genes of nine STEC strains were located on large plasmids. The subAB2 allele (here designated subAB2-1), which was recently described by others to be present in the Subtilase-Encoding PAI (SE-PAI) was found in 6 STEC strains. A new chromosomal subAB2 variant, designated subAB2-2 was detected in 6 strains and was linked to a chromosomal gene hypothetically encoding an outer membrane efflux protein (OEP). Three STEC strains contained both subAB2 variants. DNA analysis indicated sequence conservation in the plasmid-located alleles and sequence heterogeneity among the chromosomal subAB2 genes. Conclusions The results of this study have shown that 18 subAB-PCR positive STEC strains contain complete subAB open reading frames. Furthermore, the new allelic variant subAB2-2 was described, which can occur in addition to subAB2-1 on a new chromosomal locus.
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