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Huang S, Liu Q, Fang Y, Yu H, Yang X, Hu J, Wang Y, Tian R, Gao Y, Ni Z, Xiong Y. An outbreak associated with Escherichia albertii in a junior high school, China. Epidemiol Infect 2024; 152:e117. [PMID: 39363601 PMCID: PMC11450498 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268824001341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne enteropathogen associated with infectious diarrhoea in humans. In February 2023, an outbreak of acute gastroenteric cases was reported in a junior high school located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. Twenty-two investigated patients presented diarrhoea (22/22, 100%), abdominal pain (21/22, 95.5%), nausea (6/22, 27.3%), and vomiting (3/22, 13.6%). E. albertii strains were successfully isolated from anal swabs collected from six patients. Each isolate was classified as sequence type ST2686, harboured eae-β gene, and carried both cdtB-I and cdtB-II subtypes, being serotyped as EAOg32:EAHg4 serotype. A comprehensive whole-genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that the six isolates formed a distinct cluster, separate from other strains. These isolates exhibited minimal genetic variation, differing from one another by 0 to 1 single nucleotide polymorphism, suggesting a common origin from a single clone. To the best of our knowledge, this represented the first reported outbreak of gastroenteritis attributed to E. albertii outside of Japan on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwang Huang
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Shangcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qian Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yezhen Fang
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Shangcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hua Yu
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Hangzhou Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xi Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jinfeng Hu
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Shangcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiyi Wang
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Shangcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rui Tian
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Shangcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yixiao Gao
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Shangcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhimin Ni
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Shangcheng District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanwen Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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Carter MQ, Carychao D, Lindsey RL. Conditional expression of flagellar motility, curli fimbriae, and biofilms in Shiga toxin- producing Escherichia albertii. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1456637. [PMID: 39318426 PMCID: PMC11420993 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1456637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne pathogen. We previously reported that some avian Shiga toxin-producing E. albertii strains exhibited higher or comparable cytotoxicity in Vero-d2EGFP cells with several enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) outbreak strains. To better understand the environmental persistence of this pathogen, comparative genomics and phenotypic assays were applied to assess adhesion capability, motility, and biofilm formation in E. albertii. Among the 108 adherence-related genes, those involved in biogenesis of curli fimbriae, hemorrhagic E. coli pilus, type 1 fimbriae, and Sfm fimbriae were conserved in E. albertii. All 20 E. albertii strains carried a complete set of primary flagellar genes that were organized into four gene clusters, while five strains possessed genes related to the secondary flagella, also known as lateral flagella. Compared to EHEC strain EDL933, the eight chemotaxis genes located within the primary flagellar gene clusters were deleted in E. albertii. Additional deletion of motility genes flhABCD and motBC was identified in several E. albertii strains. Swimming motility was detected in three strains when grown in LB medium, however, when grown in 5% TSB or in the pond water-supplemented with 10% pigeon droppings, an additional four strains became motile. Although all E. albertii strains carried curli genes, curli fimbriae were detected only in four, eight, and nine strains following 24, 48, and 120 h incubation, respectively. Type 1 fimbriae were undetectable in any of the strains grown at 37°C or 28°C. Strong biofilms were detected in strains that produced curli fimbriae and in a chicken isolate that was curli fimbriae negative but carried genes encoding adhesive fimbriae K88, a signature of enterotoxigenic E. coli strains causing neonatal diarrhea in piglets. In all phenotypic traits examined, no correlation was revealed between the strains isolated from different sources, or between the strains with and without Shiga toxin genes. The phenotypic variations could not be explained solely by the genetic diversity or the difference in adherence genes repertoire, implying complex regulation in expression of various adhesins. Strains that exhibited a high level of cytotoxicity and were also proficient in biofilm production, may have potential to emerge into high-risk pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Qiu Carter
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Diana Carychao
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, United States
| | - Rebecca L Lindsey
- Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Wang X, Zhu H, Hu J, Zhang B, Guo W, Wang Z, Wang D, Qi J, Tian M, Bao Y, Si F, Wang S. Genetic distribution, characterization, and function of Escherichia coli type III secretion system 2 (ETT2). iScience 2024; 27:109763. [PMID: 38706860 PMCID: PMC11068852 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109763] [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] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Many Gram-negative bacteria use type Ⅲ secretion system (T3SS) to inject effector proteins and subvert host signaling pathways, facilitating the growth, survival, and virulence. Notably, some bacteria harbor multiple distinct T3SSs with different functions. An extraordinary T3SS, the Escherichia coli Type III Secretion System 2 (ETT2), is widespread among Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains. Since many ETT2 carry genetic mutations or deletions, it is thought to be nonfunctional. However, increasing studies highlight ETT2 contributes to E. coli pathogenesis. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of genetic distribution and characterization of ETT2. Subsequently, we outline its functional potential, contending that an intact ETT2 may retain the capacity to translocate effector proteins and manipulate the host's innate immune response. Given the potential zoonotic implications associated with ETT2-carrying bacteria, further investigations into the structure, function and regulation of ETT2 are imperative for comprehensive understanding of E. coli pathogenicity and the development of effective control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jiangang Hu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Weiqi Guo
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Zhiyang Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Di Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jingjing Qi
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mingxing Tian
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yanqing Bao
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Fusheng Si
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201106, China
| | - Shaohui Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Shanghai 200241, China
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Awasthi SP, Nagita A, Hatanaka N, Hassan J, Xu B, Hinenoya A, Yamasaki S. Detection of prolong excretion of Escherichia albertii in stool specimens of a 7-year-old child by a newly developed Eacdt gene-based quantitative real-time PCR method and molecular characterization of the isolates. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30042. [PMID: 38737260 PMCID: PMC11088251 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30042] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is an emerging zoonotic foodborne pathogen. The clinical significance of this bacterium has increasingly been recognized worldwide. However, diagnostic method has not yet been established and its clinical manifestations are not fully understood. Here, we show that an Eacdt gene-based quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) developed in this study is 100% specific and sensitive when tested with 39 E. albertii and 36 non-E. albertii strains, respectively. Detection limit of the real-time PCR was 10 colony forming unit (CFU) and 1 pg of genomic DNA per PCR tube. When E. albertii was spiked with 4 × 100-106 CFU per mL to stool of healthy person, detection limit was 4.0 × 103 and 4.0 CFU per mL before and after enrichment culture, respectively. Moreover, the qRT-PCR was able to detect E. albertii in five children out of 246 (2%) but none from 142 adults suffering from gastroenteritis. All five E. albertii strains isolated carried eae and paa genes, however, only one strain harbored stx2f genes. Long-term shedding of stx2f gene-positive E. albertii in a child stool could be detected because of the qRT-PCR developed in this study which might have been missed if only conventional PCR and culture methods were employed. Furthermore, E. albertii isolated from siblings with diarrhea showed clonality by PFGE analysis. Taken together, these data suggest that the Eacdt gene-based qRT-PCR developed for the detection of E. albertii is useful and will assist in determining the real burden and clinical manifestation of E. albertii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharda Prasad Awasthi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
- Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
| | - Akira Nagita
- Department of Pediatrics, Mizushima Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Noritoshi Hatanaka
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
- Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
| | - Jayedul Hassan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Bingting Xu
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hinenoya
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
- Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
| | - Shinji Yamasaki
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
- Graduate School of Veterinary Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
- Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
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Ha EJ, Hong SM, Kim SJ, Ahn SM, Kim HW, Choi KS, Kwon HJ. Tracing the Evolutionary Pathways of Serogroup O78 Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1714. [PMID: 38136748 PMCID: PMC10740950 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121714] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) causes severe economic losses in the poultry industry, and O78 serogroup APEC strains are prevalent in chickens. In this study, we aimed to understand the evolutionary pathways and relationships between O78 APEC and other E. coli strains. To trace these evolutionary pathways, we classified 3101 E. coli strains into 306 subgenotypes according to the numbers and types of single nucleotide polymorphisms (RST0 to RST63-1) relative to the consensus sequence (RST0) of the RNA polymerase beta subunit gene and performed network analysis. The E. coli strains showed four apparently different evolutionary pathways (I-1, I-2, I-3, and II). The thirty-two Korean O78 APEC strains tested in this study were classified into RST4-4 (45.2%), RST3-1 (32.3%), RST21-1 (12.9%), RST4-5 (3.2%), RST5-1 (3.2%), and RST12-6 (3.2%), and all RSTs except RST21-1 (I-2) may have evolved through the same evolutionary pathway (I-1). A comparative genomic study revealed the highest relatedness between O78 strains of the same RST in terms of genome sequence coverage/identity and the spacer sequences of CRISPRs. The early-appearing RST3-1 and RST4-4 prevalence among O78 APEC strains may reflect the early settlement of O78 E. coli in chickens, after which these bacteria accumulated virulence and antibiotic resistance genes to become APEC strains. The zoonotic risk of the conventional O78 APEC strains is low at present, but the appearance of genetically distinct and multiple virulence gene-bearing RST21-1 O78 APEC strains may alert us to a need to evaluate their virulence in chickens as well as their zoonotic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jin Ha
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, Department of Farm Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 PLUS for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 088026, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.H.); (S.-M.H.); (S.-J.K.)
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.A.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Seung-Min Hong
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, Department of Farm Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 PLUS for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 088026, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.H.); (S.-M.H.); (S.-J.K.)
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.A.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Seung-Ji Kim
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, Department of Farm Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 PLUS for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 088026, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.H.); (S.-M.H.); (S.-J.K.)
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.A.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Sun-Min Ahn
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.A.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Ho-Won Kim
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.A.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Kang-Seuk Choi
- Laboratory of Avian Diseases, Department of Farm Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 PLUS for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 088026, Republic of Korea; (E.-J.H.); (S.-M.H.); (S.-J.K.)
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.A.); (H.-W.K.)
| | - Hyuk-Joon Kwon
- Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (S.-M.A.); (H.-W.K.)
- Laboratory of Poultry Medicine, Department of Farm Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 PLUS for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 088026, Republic of Korea
- Farm Animal Clinical Training and Research Center (FACTRC), GBST, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Republic of Korea
- GeNiner Inc., Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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Liu Q, Yang X, Sun H, Wang H, Sui X, Zhang P, Bai X, Xiong Y. Genetic Diversity and Expression of Intimin in Escherichia albertii Isolated from Humans, Animals, and Food. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2843. [PMID: 38137987 PMCID: PMC10745426 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122843] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii (E. albertii) is an emerging diarrheagenic pathogen associated with sporadic infections and human gastroenteric outbreaks. The eae gene, which encodes intimin in the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) operon, contributes to the establishment of the attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion. Increasing collection of E. albertii strains from various sources has resulted in a rapid increase in the number of eae subtypes. This study systematically investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of eae among E. albertii strains isolated from humans, animals, and food. The eae gene was present in 452/459 (98.5%) strains and 23 subtypes were identified including two novel subtypes, named eae-α11 and η3. The eae-σ subtype was the most predominant among humans, animals, and food-derived strains, while eae-γ3, τ, and α11 were unique in human-derived strains. Additionally, the LEE island was also analyzed at genomic, transcriptional, and functional levels through genomic analysis, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and HEp-2 cell adherence assays, respectively. The eae transcript levels were variable and associated with eae subtypes. Three different adherence patterns, including localized adherence-like (LAL), diffuse adherence (DA), and detachment (DE), were observed among E. albertii strains. This study demonstrated a high diversity of functional intimin in E. albertii strains isolated from humans, animals, and food. Further in vivo and in vitro studies are warranted to better elucidate the role of intimin or LEE in different genetic backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
| | - Xi Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
| | - Hui Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
| | - Hua Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
| | - Xinxia Sui
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
| | - Peihua Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
| | - Xiangning Bai
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Yanwen Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China; (Q.L.); (X.Y.); (H.S.); (H.W.); (X.S.); (P.Z.); (X.B.)
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Carter MQ, Quiñones B, He X, Pham A, Carychao D, Cooley MB, Lo CC, Chain PSG, Lindsey RL, Bono JL. Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia albertii Strains Isolated from Wild Birds in a Major Agricultural Region in California. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2803. [PMID: 38004814 PMCID: PMC10673567 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112803] [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: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne pathogen. To better understand the pathogenesis and health risk of this pathogen, comparative genomics and phenotypic characterization were applied to assess the pathogenicity potential of E. albertii strains isolated from wild birds in a major agricultural region in California. Shiga toxin genes stx2f were present in all avian strains. Pangenome analyses of 20 complete genomes revealed a total of 11,249 genes, of which nearly 80% were accessory genes. Both core gene-based phylogenetic and accessory gene-based relatedness analyses consistently grouped the three stx2f-positive clinical strains with the five avian strains carrying ST7971. Among the three Stx2f-converting prophage integration sites identified, ssrA was the most common one. Besides the locus of enterocyte effacement and type three secretion system, the high pathogenicity island, OI-122, and type six secretion systems were identified. Substantial strain variation in virulence gene repertoire, Shiga toxin production, and cytotoxicity were revealed. Six avian strains exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity than that of stx2f-positive E. coli, and three of them exhibited a comparable level of cytotoxicity with that of enterohemorrhagic E. coli outbreak strains, suggesting that wild birds could serve as a reservoir of E. albertii strains with great potential to cause severe diseases in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Qiu Carter
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (B.Q.); (A.P.); (D.C.); (M.B.C.)
| | - Beatriz Quiñones
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (B.Q.); (A.P.); (D.C.); (M.B.C.)
| | - Xiaohua He
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA 94710, USA;
| | - Antares Pham
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (B.Q.); (A.P.); (D.C.); (M.B.C.)
| | - Diana Carychao
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (B.Q.); (A.P.); (D.C.); (M.B.C.)
| | - Michael B. Cooley
- Produce Safety and Microbiology Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Western Regional Research Center, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (B.Q.); (A.P.); (D.C.); (M.B.C.)
| | - Chien-Chi Lo
- Biosecurity and Public Health Group, U.S. Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Santa Fe, NM 87545, USA; (C.-C.L.); (P.S.G.C.)
| | - Patrick S. G. Chain
- Biosecurity and Public Health Group, U.S. Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Santa Fe, NM 87545, USA; (C.-C.L.); (P.S.G.C.)
| | - Rebecca L. Lindsey
- Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA;
| | - James L. Bono
- Meat Safety and Quality Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933, USA;
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Liu Q, Wang H, Zhang S, Yan G, Yang X, Bai X, Deng J, Chen X, Zhang L, Zhang J, Wang B, Zou N, Xiong Y, Zhang Z. Escherichia albertii isolated from the bloodstream of a patient with liver cirrhosis in China: A case report. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22298. [PMID: 38058622 PMCID: PMC10695973 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A rare case of bacteremia caused by Escherichia albertii, in a 50-year-old male with liver cirrhosis was reported. Clear, colorless, and circular colonies were recovered on blood agar after 24 h of aerobic incubation at 37 °C. The isolate was identified as E. albertii using MALDI-TOF/MS and confirmed by the diagnostic triplex-PCR targeting clpX, lysP, and mdh genes. The administration of piperacillin/tazobactam intravenously (4.5g every 8 hours) for 3 days was effective. This study suggested that specific strains of E. albertii have been implicated in causing extraintestinal infections in humans, similar to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). However, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms requires further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Suchuan Zhang
- Zigong First Peoples Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Guodong Yan
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xi Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangning Bai
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Deng
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Nianli Zou
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yanwen Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengdong Zhang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
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9
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Leszczyńska K, Święcicka I, Daniluk T, Lebensztejn D, Chmielewska-Deptuła S, Leszczyńska D, Gawor J, Kliber M. Escherichia albertii as a Potential Enteropathogen in the Light of Epidemiological and Genomic Studies. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1384. [PMID: 37510288 PMCID: PMC10379040 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071384] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is a new enteropathogen of humans and animals. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and pathogenicity of E. albertii strains isolated in northeastern Poland using epidemiological and genomic studies. In 2015-2018, a total of 1154 fecal samples from children and adults, 497 bird droppings, 212 food samples, 92 water samples, and 500 lactose-negative E. coli strains were tested. A total of 42 E. albertii strains were isolated. The PCR method was suitable for their rapid identification. In total, 33.3% of E. albertii isolates were resistant to one antibiotic, and 16.7% to two. Isolates were sensitive to cefepime, imipenem, levofloxacin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and did not produce ESBL β-lactamases. High genetic variability of E. albertii has been demonstrated. In the PFGE method, 90.5% of the strains had distinct pulsotypes. In MLST typing, 85.7% of strains were assigned distinct sequence types (STs), of which 64% were novel ST types. Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) and Paa toxin genes were found in 100% of E. albertii isolates. Genes encoding toxins, IbeA, CdtB type 2, Tsh and Shiga (Stx2f), were found in 26.2%, 9.7%, 1.7%, and 0.4% of E. albertii isolates, respectively. The chromosome size of the tested strains ranged from 4,573,338 to 5,141,010 bp (average 4,784,003 bp), and at least one plasmid was present in all strains. The study contributes to a more accurate assessment of the genetic diversity of E. albertii and the potential threat it poses to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Leszczyńska
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Enginnering, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Izabela Święcicka
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Bialystok, ul. Ciołkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Białystok, Poland
| | - Tamara Daniluk
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Enginnering, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Dariusz Lebensztejn
- Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition, Allergology and Pulmonology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Sylwia Chmielewska-Deptuła
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Enginnering, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Dorota Leszczyńska
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Enginnering, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Jan Gawor
- DNA Sequecing and Synthesis Facility, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kliber
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Enginnering, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland
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10
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Okuno M, Arimizu Y, Miyahara S, Wakabayashi Y, Gotoh Y, Yoshino S, Harada T, Seto K, Yamamoto T, Nakamura K, Hayashi T, Ogura Y. Escherichia cryptic clade I is an emerging source of human intestinal pathogens. BMC Biol 2023; 21:81. [PMID: 37055811 PMCID: PMC10100065 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01584-4] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the genus Escherichia, several monophyletic clades other than the traditionally defined species have been identified. Of these, cryptic clade I (C-I) appears to represent a subspecies of E. coli, but due to the difficulty in distinguishing it from E. coli sensu stricto, the population structure and virulence potential of C-I are unclear. RESULTS We defined a set of true C-I strains (n = 465), including a Shiga toxin 2a (Stx2a)-producing isolate from a patient with bloody diarrhoea identified by the retrospective analyses using a C-I-specific detection system. Through genomic analysis of 804 isolates from the cryptic clades, including these C-I strains, we revealed their global population structures and the marked accumulation of virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance genes in C-I. In particular, half of the C-I strains contained hallmark virulence genes of Stx-producing E. coli (STEC) and/or enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). We also found the host-specific distributions of virulence genes, which suggests bovines as the potential source of human infections caused by STEC- and STEC/ETEC hybrid-type C-I strains, as is known in STEC. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate the emergence of human intestinal pathogens in C-I lineage. To better understand the features of C-I strains and their infections, extensive surveillance and larger population studies of C-I strains are needed. The C-I-specific detection system developed in this study will be a powerful tool for screening and identifying C-I strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miki Okuno
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Yoko Arimizu
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Infectious Disease, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, 810-0065, Japan
| | - Seina Miyahara
- Department of Microbiology, Miyazaki Prefectural Institute for Public Health and Environment, Miyazaki, 889-2155, Japan
| | - Yuki Wakabayashi
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Gotoh
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shuji Yoshino
- Department of Microbiology, Miyazaki Prefectural Institute for Public Health and Environment, Miyazaki, 889-2155, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Harada
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan
| | - Kazuko Seto
- Division of Planning, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yamamoto
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Keiji Nakamura
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshitoshi Ogura
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan.
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11
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Bengtsson RJ, Baker KS, Cunningham AA, Greig DR, John SK, Macgregor SK, Seilern-Moy K, Spiro S, Chong CC, De Silva PM, Jenkins C, Lawson B. The genomic epidemiology of Escherichia albertii infecting humans and birds in Great Britain. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1707. [PMID: 36973246 PMCID: PMC10043262 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37312-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is a recently identified gastrointestinal bacterial pathogen of humans and animals which is typically misidentified as pathotypes of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli or Shigella species and is generally only detected during genomic surveillance of other Enterobacteriaceae. The incidence of E. albertii is likely underestimated, and its epidemiology and clinical relevance are poorly characterised. Here, we whole genome sequenced E. albertii isolates from humans (n = 83) and birds (n = 79) isolated in Great Britain between 2000 and 2021 and analysed these alongside a broader public dataset (n = 475) to address these gaps. We found human and avian isolates typically (90%; 148/164) belonged to host-associated monophyletic groups with distinct virulence and antimicrobial resistance profiles. Overlaid patient epidemiological data suggested that human infection was likely related to travel and possibly foodborne transmission. The Shiga toxin encoding stx2f gene was associated with clinical disease (OR = 10.27, 95% CI = 2.98-35.45 p = 0.0002) in finches. Our results suggest that improved future surveillance will further elucidate disease ecology and public and animal health risks associated with E. albertii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Bengtsson
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kate S Baker
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Andrew A Cunningham
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - David R Greig
- Gastrointestinal and Food Safety (One Health) Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, UK
| | - Shinto K John
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Shaheed K Macgregor
- Wildlife Health Services, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Katharina Seilern-Moy
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Simon Spiro
- Wildlife Health Services, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Charlotte C Chong
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - P Malaka De Silva
- Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Claire Jenkins
- Gastrointestinal and Food Safety (One Health) Division, UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London, UK
| | - Becki Lawson
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
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12
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Liu Q, Bai X, Yang X, Fan G, Wu K, Song W, Sun H, Chen S, Chen H, Xiong Y. Identification and Genomic Characterization of Escherichia albertii in Migratory Birds from Poyang Lake, China. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010009. [PMID: 36678357 PMCID: PMC9861504 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is an emerging zoonotic foodborne enteropathogen leading to human gastroenteritis outbreaks. Although E. albertii has been isolated from birds which have been considered as the potential reservoirs of this bacterium, its prevalence in migratory birds has rarely been described. In this study, E. albertii in migratory birds from Poyang Lake was investigated and characterized using whole genome sequencing. Eighty-one fecal samples from nine species of migratory birds were collected and 24/81 (29.6%) tested PCR-positive for E. albertii-specific genes. A total of 47 isolates was recovered from 18 out of 24 PCR-positive samples. All isolates carried eae and cdtB genes. These isolates were classified into eight E. albertii O-genotypes (EAOgs) (including three novel EAOgs) and three E. albertii H-genotypes (EAHgs). Whole genome phylogeny separated migratory bird-derived isolates into different lineages, some isolates in this study were phylogenetically closely grouped with poultry-derived or patient-derived strains. Our findings showed that migratory birds may serve as an important reservoir for heterogeneous E. albertii, thereby acting as potential transmission vehicles of E. albertii to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiangning Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Guoyin Fan
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang 330038, China
| | - Kui Wu
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang 330038, China
| | - Wentao Song
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang 330038, China
| | - Hui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Shengen Chen
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang 330038, China
| | - Haiying Chen
- Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang 330038, China
| | - Yanwen Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
- Correspondence:
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13
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Barmettler K, Biggel M, Treier A, Muchaamba F, Vogler BR, Stephan R. Occurrence and Characteristics of Escherichia albertii in Wild Birds and Poultry Flocks in Switzerland. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10112265. [PMID: 36422334 PMCID: PMC9699108 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii, a zoonotic pathogen, has sporadically been associated with infectious diarrhea in humans. Poultry and wild birds are considered potential reservoirs. We assessed the occurrence of E. albertii in 280 fecal samples from wild birds (n = 130) and pooled fecal samples collected at slaughterhouse level from poultry flocks (n = 150) in Switzerland. Using an E. albertii-specific PCR targeting the Eacdt gene, 23.8% (31/130) of the samples from wild birds, but not from the pooled poultry fecal samples, tested positive for Eacdt. The positive samples originated from 11 bird species belonging to eight families. Strain isolation was attempted on the PCR-positive samples by subculturing the broth cultures onto xylose–MacConkey plates. Isolation was possible on 12 of the 31 Eacdt-PCR-positive samples. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the strains belonged to nine distinct sequence types, with ST13420 and ST5967 being represented by two and three isolates, respectively. All strains harbored the eae gene, while two strains were also positive for stx2f. Our study thus shows that E. albertii is present in the Swiss wild bird population, which can potentially act as a source of this pathogen to humans, other animals, and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Barmettler
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Biggel
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Treier
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francis Muchaamba
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Renate Vogler
- National Reference Centre for Poultry and Rabbit Diseases (NRGK), Institute of Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roger Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
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14
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Muchaamba F, Barmettler K, Treier A, Houf K, Stephan R. Microbiology and Epidemiology of Escherichia albertii—An Emerging Elusive Foodborne Pathogen. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050875. [PMID: 35630320 PMCID: PMC9145129 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii, a close relative of E. coli, is an emerging zoonotic foodborne pathogen associated with watery diarrhea mainly in children and immunocompromised individuals. E. albertii was initially classified as eae-positive Hafnia alvei, however, as more genetic and biochemical information became available it was reassigned to its current novel taxonomy. Its infections are common under conditions of poor hygiene with confirmed transmission via contaminated water and food, mainly poultry-based products. This pathogen has been isolated from various domestic and wild animals, with most isolates being derived from birds, implying that birds among other wild animals might act as its reservoir. Due to the absence of standardized isolation and identification protocols, E. albertii can be misidentified as other Enterobacteriaceae. Exploiting phenotypes such as its inability to ferment rhamnose and xylose and PCR assays targeting E. albertii-specific genes such as the cytolethal distending toxin and the DNA-binding transcriptional activator of cysteine biosynthesis encoding genes can be used to accurately identify this pathogen. Several gaps exist in our knowledge of E. albertii and need to be bridged. A deeper understanding of E. albertii epidemiology and physiology is required to allow the development of effective measures to control its transmission and infections. Overall, current data suggest that E. albertii might play a more significant role in global infectious diarrhea cases than previously assumed and is often overlooked or misidentified. Therefore, simple, and efficient diagnostic tools that cover E. albertii biodiversity are required for effective isolation and identification of this elusive agent of diarrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Muchaamba
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (K.B.); (A.T.); (R.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Karen Barmettler
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (K.B.); (A.T.); (R.S.)
| | - Andrea Treier
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (K.B.); (A.T.); (R.S.)
| | - Kurt Houf
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium;
| | - Roger Stephan
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; (K.B.); (A.T.); (R.S.)
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15
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Thomson NM, Gilroy R, Getino M, Foster-Nyarko E, van Vliet AH, La Ragione RM, Pallen MJ. Remarkable genomic diversity among Escherichia isolates recovered from healthy chickens. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12935. [PMID: 35251780 PMCID: PMC8896058 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Escherichia has been extensively studied and it is known to encompass a range of commensal and pathogenic bacteria that primarily inhabit the gastrointestinal tracts of warm-blooded vertebrates. However, the presence of E. coli as a model organism and potential pathogen has diverted attention away from commensal strains and other species in the genus. To investigate the diversity of Escherichia in healthy chickens, we collected fecal samples from antibiotic-free Lohmann Brown layer hens and determined the genome sequences of 100 isolates, 81 of which were indistinguishable at the HC0 level of the Hierarchical Clustering of Core Genome Multi-Locus Sequence Typing scheme. Despite initial selection on CHROMagar Orientation medium, which is considered selective for E. coli, in silico phylotyping and core genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis revealed the presence of at least one representative of all major clades of Escherichia, except for E. albertii, Shigella, and E. coli phylogroup B2 and cryptic clade I. The most frequent phylogenomic groups were E. coli phylogroups A and B1 and E. ruysiae (clades III and IV). We compiled a collection of reference strains isolated from avian sources (predominantly chicken), representing every Escherichia phylogroup and species, and used it to confirm the phylogeny and diversity of our isolates. Overall, the isolates carried low numbers of the virulence and antibiotic resistance genes typically seen in avian pathogenic E. coli. Notably, the clades not recovered are ones that have been most strongly associated with virulence by other studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Gilroy
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Getino
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom,Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom,Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arnoud H.M. van Vliet
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto M. La Ragione
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom,Department of Microbial Sciences, School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Pallen
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom,Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
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16
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Wang H, Zhang L, Cao L, Zeng X, Gillespie B, Lin J. Isolation and characterization of Escherichia albertii originated from the broiler farms in Mississippi and Alabama. Vet Microbiol 2022; 267:109379. [PMID: 35219009 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne enteropathogen with increasing outbreaks worldwide, particularly in Japan recently. However, major features of this zoonotic pathogen, such as prevalence, virulence, and antibiotic resistance (AR), still remain under characterized. In a recent pilot study, we reported isolation of E. albertii from a chicken farm in Tennessee, suggesting chicken is an important reservoir for E. albertii. In this large-scale study, we examined prevalence of E. albertii in 9 farms in Mississippi and Alabama. Of a total of 270 cloacal swabs (30 per farm), 43 were PCR positive and 12 E. albertii strains were isolated with different isolation rates in individual farms ranging from 0 to 23.3 %. Both PFGE and whole genome analysis showed the E. albertii from different farms were phylogenetically distant, but those from the same farm displayed clonal relationships. Consistently, the antibiogram, AR gene profiles, and plasmid replicon types were similar across the strains in the same farm. Notably, 9 of the 12 E. albertii strains displayed multidrug resistance; one strain was even resistant to imipenem, a clinically important carbapenem antibiotic. In addition, comparative genomics analysis showed that two chicken E. albertii clusters displayed very close evolutionary relationships and similar virulence gene profiles to human E. albertii strains. In vitro growth assay demonstrated that the anti-enterobactin antibodies could dramatically inhibit the growth of two representative chicken E. albertii, supporting the feasibility of the novel enterobactin-based immune intervention for controlling this emerging pathogen. Taken together, the findings from this study further indicated chickens as an important reservoir for E. albertii in the U.S., highlighting the need to prevent and control E. albertii in poultry production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwen Wang
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Poultry Science, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
| | - Liu Cao
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Ximin Zeng
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Barbara Gillespie
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Jun Lin
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
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17
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Hayashi T. [Genome analysis-based studies on bacterial genetic diversity]. Nihon Saikingaku Zasshi 2022; 77:145-160. [PMID: 36418109 DOI: 10.3412/jsb.77.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
There are a huge number of bacterial species on earth, and a huge intra-species genomic diversity are also observed in many bacteria. The high ability of bacteria to acquire foreign DNA and the presence of various mobile genetic elements contribute the generation of such genomic diversity. During the biochemical and genetic analysis of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin, called cytotoxin, and its converting phage, which I first engaged in my research carrier, I became very interested in the genetic diversity of bacteria and mobile genetic elements such as bacteriophages, and realized the usefulness and power of genome analysis. Since then, I have been involved in genome analyses of various pathogenic bacteria such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), commensal bacteria of human and other animals, and bacteria or bacterial communities in natural environments. I was so lucky that I jumped in this research field at the very begging of genome analyses and experienced a very exciting time of surprisingly rapid advance in genome sequencing technologies which revolutionized a wide range of biology. In this article, I first review the main findings which our group obtained from the genome analyses on the P. aeruginosa cytotoxin converting phage and those on the evolution and genomic diversity of EHEC and related bacteria. The results of our analyses of Rickettsiaceae family genomes, which show surprisingly very low genomic diversity, and genome sequence-based analyses of an intrahospital bacterial outbreak and within-host genomic diversity are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
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18
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Zaki MES, Eid AE, El-Kazzaz SS, El-Sabbagh AM. Molecular Study of Escherichia albertii in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections. Open Microbiol J 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/1874285802115010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
There are insufficient data about the presence of E. albertii as a causative organism in urinary tract infection in pediatric patients. Objective: The present study aimed to detect E. albertii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of uidA, mdh, and lysP genes among isolated E.coli from children with urinary tract infection.
Methods:
The present study was a cross-sectional retrograde study which was carried out on 100 isolates of phenotypically confirmed E.coli detected in urine samples of children suffering from urinary tract infection. The isolates were subjected to molecular identification by PCR for uidA, mdh, and lysP genes.
Results:
E. albertii was identified by PCR in 7% of the isolates and E.coli was identified in 93% of the isolates. Two mdh and lysP genes were detected for E. albertii and the uidA gene for E. coli. E. albertii isolates had marked resistance to gentamicin (71.4%), followed by resistance to ciprofloxacin (57.1%), meropenem and imipenem (42.9% each) and ESBL activity by double discs method was reported in 57.1% of the isolates. However, none of the isolates had shown resistance to nalidixic acid and only one isolate had resistance to norfloxacin. There was a statistically insignificant difference between resistance to the used antibiotics such as aztreonam (P=0.083), ampicillin/clavulanate (P=0.5), ciprofloxacin (P=0.69), gentamicin (P=0.3) and ceftazidime (P=1.00).
Conclusion:
The present study highlights the emergence of E. albertii as a pathogen associated with urinary tract infections in children. There is marked antibiotic resistance of this pathogen, especially toward extended spectrum beta-lactams antibiotics. The identification method depends mainly on genetic studies. Further longitudinal studies with large number of patients are required to verify the accurate prevalence of this bacterium.
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19
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Luo L, Wang H, Payne MJ, Liang C, Bai L, Zheng H, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Zhang X, Yan G, Zou N, Chen X, Wan Z, Xiong Y, Lan R, Li Q. Comparative genomics of Chinese and international isolates of Escherichia albertii: population structure and evolution of virulence and antimicrobial resistance. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 34882085 PMCID: PMC8767325 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is a recently recognized species in the genus Escherichia that causes diarrhoea. The population structure, genetic diversity and genomic features have not been fully examined. Here, 169 E. albertii isolates from different sources and regions in China were sequenced and combined with 312 publicly available genomes (from additional 14 countries) for genomic analyses. The E. albertii population was divided into two clades and eight lineages, with lineage 3 (L3), L5 and L8 more common in China. Clinical isolates were observed in all clades/lineages. Virulence genes were found to be distributed differently among lineages: subtypes of the intimin encoding gene eae and the cytolethal distending toxin gene cdtB were lineage associated, and the second type three secretion system (ETT2) island was truncated in L3 and L6. Seven new eae subtypes and one new cdtB subtype (cdtB-VI) were identified. Alarmingly, 85.9 % of the Chinese E. albertii isolates were predicted to be multidrug-resistant (MDR) with 35.9 % harbouring genes capable of conferring resistance to 10 to 14 different drug classes. The majority of the MDR isolates were of poultry source from China and belonged to four sequence types (STs) [ST4638, ST4479, ST4633 and ST4488]. Thirty-four plasmids with some carrying MDR and virulence genes, and 130 prophages were identified from 17 complete E. albertii genomes. The 130 intact prophages were clustered into five groups, with group five prophages harbouring more virulence genes. We further identified three E. albertii specific genes as markers for the identification of this species. Our findings provided fundamental insights into the population structure, virulence variation and drug resistance of E. albertii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Luo
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hong Wang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Michael J Payne
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chelsea Liang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Li Bai
- Division I of Risk Assessment, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Food Safety Research Unit (2019RU014) of Chinese Academy of Medical Science, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, PR China
| | - Han Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhengdong Zhang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Guodong Yan
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Nianli Zou
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xi Chen
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Ziting Wan
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yanwen Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, PR China
| | - Ruiting Lan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Qun Li
- Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, Sichuan, PR China
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20
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Nakae K, Ooka T, Murakami K, Hara-Kudo Y, Imuta N, Gotoh Y, Ogura Y, Hayashi T, Okamoto Y, Nishi J. Diversification of Escherichia albertii H-Antigens and Development of H-Genotyping PCR. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:737979. [PMID: 34790177 PMCID: PMC8591213 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.737979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is a recently recognized human enteropathogen that is closely related to Escherichia coli. As E. albertii sometimes causes outbreaks of gastroenteritis, rapid strain typing systems, such as the O- and H-serotyping systems widely used for E. coli, will be useful for outbreak investigation and surveillance. Although an O-genotyping system has recently been developed, the diversity of E. albertii H-antigens (flagellins) encoded by fliC genes remains to be systematically investigated, and no H-serotyping or genotyping system is currently available. Here, we analyzed the fliC genes of 243 genome-sequenced E. albertii strains and identified 73 sequence types, which were grouped into four clearly distinguishable types designated E. albertii H-genotypes 1–4 (EAHg1–EAHg4). Although there was a clear sign of intraspecies transfer of fliC genes in E. albertii, none of the four E. albertii H-genotypes (EAHgs) were closely related to any of the 53 known E. coli H-antigens, indicating the absence or rare occurrence of interspecies transfer of fliC genes between the two species. Although the analysis of more E. albertii strains will be required to confirm the low level of variation in their fliC genes, this finding suggests that E. albertii may exist in limited natural hosts or environments and/or that the flagella of E. albertii may function in a limited stage(s) in their life cycle. Based on the fliC sequences of the four EAHgs, we developed a multiplex PCR-based H-genotyping system for E. albertii (EAH-genotyping PCR), which will be useful for epidemiological studies of E. albertii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Nakae
- Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tadasuke Ooka
- Department of Microbiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Koichi Murakami
- Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Naoko Imuta
- Department of Microbiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Gotoh
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshitoshi Ogura
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.,Department of Infectious Medicine, Division of Microbiology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Okamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Kagoshima University Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Junichiro Nishi
- Department of Microbiology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
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21
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Hinenoya A, Awasthi SP, Yasuda N, Nagano K, Hassan J, Takehira K, Hatanaka N, Saito S, Watabe T, Yoshizawa M, Inoue H, Yamasaki S. Detection, isolation and molecular characterization of Escherichia albertii in wild birds in West Japan. Jpn J Infect Dis 2021; 75:156-163. [PMID: 34470969 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.jjid.2021.355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia albertii is an emerging zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Several outbreaks of E. albertii have occurred particularly in Japan. Although birds have been considered as one of the most important reservoirs of this bacterium, information regarding the prevalence in birds is still scanty. We performed a survey of E. albertii in wild birds in Japan, and examined characteristics of the isolates. E. albertii specific gene was detected in 5 cloacal swabs out of 156 birds by PCR. Four E. albertii were isolated from a swallow with 2 different E. albertii strains and 2 pigeons in a flock by XRM-MacConkey agar. These isolates were assigned to biogroup 3, shown no resistance to any antimicrobials tested, and classified into 2 EAO-genotypes (EAOg2 and EAOg33) and untypable. Similar to clinical E. albertii strains, these isolates carried virulence genes including eae (n=4), paa (n=4), Eccdt-I (n=2) and stx2f (n=1) in addition to Eacdt. Interestingly, stx2f genes in a strain were located on an inducible bacteriophage, which can confer the ability to produce Stx2f to E. coli. In conclusion, Japanese wild birds carried E. albertii at the similar levels to the reported prevalence in birds. These isolates may have a potential to cause gastroenteritis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Hinenoya
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Sharda Prasad Awasthi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Noritomo Yasuda
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Keigo Nagano
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Jayedul Hassan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Keiji Takehira
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | - Noritoshi Hatanaka
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Shinji Yamasaki
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Asian Health Science Research Institute, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan.,Osaka International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan
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22
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CesL Regulates Type III Secretion Substrate Specificity of the Enteropathogenic E. coli Injectisome. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9051047. [PMID: 34067942 PMCID: PMC8152094 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a complex molecular device used by several pathogenic bacteria to translocate effector proteins directly into eukaryotic host cells. One remarkable feature of the T3SS is its ability to secrete different categories of proteins in a hierarchical manner, to ensure proper assembly and timely delivery of effectors into target cells. In enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, the substrate specificity switch from translocator to effector secretion is regulated by a gatekeeper complex composed of SepL, SepD, and CesL proteins. Here, we report a characterization of the CesL protein using biochemical and genetic approaches. We investigated discrepancies in the phenotype among different cesL deletion mutants and showed that CesL is indeed essential for translocator secretion and to prevent premature effector secretion. We also demonstrated that CesL engages in pairwise interactions with both SepL and SepD. Furthermore, while association of SepL to the membrane does not depended on CesL, the absence of any of the proteins forming the heterotrimeric complex compromised the intracellular stability of each component. In addition, we found that CesL interacts with the cytoplasmic domains of the export gate components EscU and EscV. We propose a mechanism for substrate secretion regulation governed by the SepL/SepD/CesL complex.
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23
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Romão FT, Martins FH, Hernandes RT, Ooka T, Santos FF, Yamamoto D, Bonfim-Melo A, Jones N, Hayashi T, Elias WP, Sperandio V, Gomes TAT. Genomic Properties and Temporal Analysis of the Interaction of an Invasive Escherichia albertii With Epithelial Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:571088. [PMID: 33392102 PMCID: PMC7772469 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.571088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrhea is one of the main causes of infant mortality worldwide, mainly in the developing world. Among the various etiologic agents, Escherichia albertii is emerging as an important human enteropathogen. E. albertii promote attaching and effacing (AE) lesions due to the presence of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) that encodes a type three secretion system (T3SS), the afimbrial adhesin intimin and its translocated receptor, Tir, and several effector proteins. We previously showed that E. albertii strain 1551-2 invades several epithelial cell lineages by a process that is dependent on the intimin-Tir interaction. To understand the contribution of T3SS-dependent effectors present in E. albertii 1551-2 during the invasion process, we performed a genetic analysis of the LEE and non-LEE genes and evaluated the expression of the LEE operons in various stages of bacterial interaction with differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. The kinetics of the ability of the 1551-2 strain to colonize and form AE lesions was also investigated in epithelial HeLa cells. We showed that the LEE expression was constant during the early stages of infection but increased at least 4-fold during bacterial persistence in the intracellular compartment. An in silico analysis indicated the presence of a new tccP/espFU subtype, named tccP3. We found that the encoded protein colocalizes with Tir and polymerized F-actin during the infection process in vitro. Moreover, assays performed with Nck null cells demonstrated that the 1551-2 strain can trigger F-actin polymerization in an Nck-independent pathway, despite the fact that TccP3 is not required for this phenotype. Our study highlights the importance of the T3SS during the invasion process and for the maintenance of E. albertii 1551-2 inside the cells. In addition, this work may help to elucidate the versatility of the T3SS for AE pathogens, which are usually considered extracellular and rarely reach the intracellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiano T Romão
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Fernando H Martins
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T Hernandes
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Tadasuke Ooka
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Fernanda F Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise Yamamoto
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexis Bonfim-Melo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nina Jones
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Waldir P Elias
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Sperandio
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Tânia A T Gomes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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