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Giordano M, Iacoviello O, Santangelo L, Martino M, Torres D, Carbone V, Scavia G, Loconsole D, Chironna M, Cristofori F, Francavilla R. Gastrointestinal involvement in STEC-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome: 10 years in a pediatric center. Pediatr Nephrol 2024; 39:1885-1891. [PMID: 38189960 PMCID: PMC11026196 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-023-06258-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gastrointestinal (GI) tract represents one of the main targets of typical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children. In this observational study, we tried to establish (1) the main features of GI complications during STEC-HUS and (2) the relationship between Escherichia coli serotypes and Shiga toxin (Stx) variants with hepatopancreatic involvement. METHODS A total of 79 STEC-HUS patients were admitted to our pediatric nephrology department between January 2012 and June 2021. Evidence of intestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic involvements was reported for each patient, alongside demographic, clinical, and laboratory features. Frequency of gastrointestinal complications across groups of patients infected by specific E. coli serotypes and Stx gene variants was evaluated. RESULTS Six patients developed a bowel complication: two developed rectal prolapse, and four developed bowel perforation which resulted in death for three of them and in bowel stenosis in one patient. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 13 patients. An isolated increase in pancreatic enzymes and/or liver transaminases was observed in 41 and 15 patients, respectively. Biliary sludge was detected in three, cholelithiasis in one. Forty-seven patients developed direct hyperbilirubinemia. Neither E. coli serotypes nor Shiga toxin variants correlated with hepatic or pancreatic involvement. CONCLUSIONS During STEC-HUS, GI complications are common, ranging from self-limited elevation of laboratory markers to bowel perforation, a severe complication with a relevant impact on morbidity and mortality. Hepatopancreatic involvement is frequent, but usually short-lasting and self-limiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Giordano
- Pediatric Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII - AOU Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy.
| | - Onofrio Iacoviello
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Pediatric Section, University of Bari "Aldo Moro, " Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII, Bari, Italy
| | - Luisa Santangelo
- Pediatric Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII - AOU Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Marida Martino
- Pediatric Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII - AOU Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Diletta Torres
- Pediatric Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII - AOU Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenza Carbone
- Pediatric Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII - AOU Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Gaia Scavia
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Loconsole
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Chironna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Fernanda Cristofori
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Pediatric Section, University of Bari "Aldo Moro, " Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII, Bari, Italy
| | - Ruggiero Francavilla
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Pediatric Section, University of Bari "Aldo Moro, " Pediatric Hospital Giovanni XXIII, Bari, Italy
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Kirkland ME, Patfield S, Hughes AC, Hernlem B, He X. A novel Shiga toxin 2a neutralizing antibody therapeutic with low immunogenicity and high efficacy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0059823. [PMID: 38047751 PMCID: PMC10777836 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00598-23] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections are difficult to treat due to the risk of antibiotic-induced stress upregulating the production of toxins, medical treatment is consequently limited to supportive care to prevent the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Here, we introduce a potentially therapeutic humanized mouse monoclonal antibody (Hu-mAb 2-5) targeting Stx2a, the most common Shiga toxin subtype identified from outbreaks. We demonstrate that Hu-mAb 2-5 has low immunogenicity in healthy adults ex vivo and high neutralizing efficacy in vivo, protecting mice from mortality and HUS-related tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina E. Kirkland
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California, USA
- U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Stephanie Patfield
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California, USA
| | - Anna C. Hughes
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California, USA
| | - Bradley Hernlem
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California, USA
| | - Xiaohua He
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California, USA
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3
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Freedman SB, van de Kar NCAJ, Tarr PI. Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli and the Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome. N Engl J Med 2023; 389:1402-1414. [PMID: 37819955 DOI: 10.1056/nejmra2108739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B Freedman
- From the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada (S.B.F.); the Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (N.C.A.J.K.); and the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, and the Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (P.I.T.)
| | - Nicole C A J van de Kar
- From the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada (S.B.F.); the Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (N.C.A.J.K.); and the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, and the Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (P.I.T.)
| | - Phillip I Tarr
- From the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada (S.B.F.); the Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (N.C.A.J.K.); and the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, and the Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (P.I.T.)
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4
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Rivas M, Pichel M, Colonna M, Casanello AL, Alconcher LF, Galavotti J, Principi I, Araujo SP, Ramírez FB, González G, Pianciola LA, Mazzeo M, Suarez Á, Oderiz S, Ghezzi LFR, Arrigo DJ, Paladini JH, Baroni MR, Pérez S, Tamborini A, Chinen I, Miliwebsky ES, Goldbaum F, Muñoz L, Spatz L, Sanguineti S. Surveillance of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli associated bloody diarrhea in Argentina. Rev Argent Microbiol 2023; 55:345-354. [PMID: 37301652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In Argentina, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC-HUS) infection is endemic, and reliable data about prevalence and risk factors have been available since 2000. However, information about STEC-associated bloody diarrhea (BD) is limited. A prospective study was performed during the period October 2018-June 2019 in seven tertiary-hospitals and 18 referral units from different regions, aiming to determine (i) the frequency of STEC-positive BD cases in 714 children aged 1-9 years of age and (ii) the rate of progression of bloody diarrhea to HUS. The number and regional distribution of STEC-HUS cases in the same hospitals and during the same period were also assessed. Twenty-nine (4.1%) of the BD patients were STEC-positive, as determined by the Shiga Toxin Quik Chek (STQC) test and/or the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay. The highest frequencies were found in the Southern region (Neuquén, 8.7%; Bahía Blanca, 7.9%), in children between 12 and 23 month of age (8.8%), during summertime. Four (13.8%) cases progressed to HUS, three to nine days after diarrhea onset. Twenty-seven STEC-HUS in children under 5 years of age (77.8%) were enrolled, 51.9% were female; 44% were Stx-positive by STQC and all by mPCR. The most common serotypes were O157:H7 and O145:H28 and the prevalent genotypes, both among BD and HUS cases, were stx2a-only or -associated. Considering the endemic behavior of HUS and its high incidence, these data show that the rate of STEC-positive cases is low among BD patients. However, the early recognition of STEC-positive cases is important for patient monitoring and initiation of supportive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Rivas
- Inmunova S.A., Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, San Martín, 1650 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Mariana Pichel
- Inmunova S.A., Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, San Martín, 1650 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Colonna
- Inmunova S.A., Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, San Martín, 1650 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Laura F Alconcher
- Hospital Interzonal "Dr. José Penna", Av. Laínez 2401, B8000 Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena Galavotti
- Hospital Interzonal "Dr. José Penna", Av. Laínez 2401, B8000 Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Iliana Principi
- Hospital de Niños "Dr. Humberto Notti", Av. Bandera de los Andes 2603, M5521 Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Sofía Pérez Araujo
- Hospital de Niños "Dr. Humberto Notti", Av. Bandera de los Andes 2603, M5521 Guaymallén, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Flavia B Ramírez
- Hospital Provincial Neuquén Dr. Castro Rendón, Buenos Aires 450, Q8300 Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Gladys González
- Hospital Provincial Neuquén Dr. Castro Rendón, Buenos Aires 450, Q8300 Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Luis A Pianciola
- Laboratorio Central, Gregorio Martínez 65, Q8300 Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Melina Mazzeo
- Laboratorio Central, Gregorio Martínez 65, Q8300 Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Ángela Suarez
- Hospital De Niños "Sor María Ludovica", Calle 14 1631 entre 65 y 66, B1904CSI La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Oderiz
- Hospital De Niños "Sor María Ludovica", Calle 14 1631 entre 65 y 66, B1904CSI La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lidia F R Ghezzi
- Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Tte. Gral. Juan Domingo Perón 4190, C1199AB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego J Arrigo
- Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Tte. Gral. Juan Domingo Perón 4190, C1199AB, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José H Paladini
- Hospital Dr. Orlando Alassia, Mendoza 4151, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María R Baroni
- Hospital Dr. Orlando Alassia, Mendoza 4151, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Susana Pérez
- Hospital "Dr. Lucio Molas", Raúl B. Díaz Pilcomayo, 6300 Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - Ana Tamborini
- Hospital "Dr. Lucio Molas", Raúl B. Díaz Pilcomayo, 6300 Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - Isabel Chinen
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563, 1281 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elizabeth S Miliwebsky
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563, 1281 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Goldbaum
- Inmunova S.A., Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, San Martín, 1650 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana Muñoz
- Inmunova S.A., Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, San Martín, 1650 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Linus Spatz
- Inmunova S.A., Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, San Martín, 1650 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Sanguineti
- Inmunova S.A., Av. 25 de Mayo 1021, San Martín, 1650 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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5
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Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and a Fresh View on Shiga Toxin-Binding Glycosphingolipids of Primary Human Kidney and Colon Epithelial Cells and Their Toxin Susceptibility. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23136884. [PMID: 35805890 PMCID: PMC9266556 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are the human pathogenic subset of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC). EHEC are responsible for severe colon infections associated with life-threatening extraintestinal complications such as the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and neurological disturbances. Endothelial cells in various human organs are renowned targets of Stx, whereas the role of epithelial cells of colon and kidneys in the infection process has been and is still a matter of debate. This review shortly addresses the clinical impact of EHEC infections, novel aspects of vesicular package of Stx in the intestine and the blood stream as well as Stx-mediated extraintestinal complications and therapeutic options. Here follows a compilation of the Stx-binding glycosphingolipids (GSLs), globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer) and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer) and their various lipoforms present in primary human kidney and colon epithelial cells and their distribution in lipid raft-analog membrane preparations. The last issues are the high and extremely low susceptibility of primary renal and colonic epithelial cells, respectively, suggesting a large resilience of the intestinal epithelium against the human-pathogenic Stx1a- and Stx2a-subtypes due to the low content of the high-affinity Stx-receptor Gb3Cer in colon epithelial cells. The review closes with a brief outlook on future challenges of Stx research.
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6
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Ardissino G, Vignati C, Masia C, Capone V, Colombo R, Tel F, Daprai L, Testa S, Dodaro A, Paglialonga F, Luini M, Brigotti M, Picicco D, Baldioli C, Pagani F, Ceruti R, Tommasi P, Possenti I, Cresseri D, Consonni D, Montini G, Arghittu M. Bloody Diarrhea and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Children: Data from the ItalKid-HUS Network. J Pediatr 2021; 237:34-40.e1. [PMID: 34197890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the results of an enhanced laboratory-surveillance protocol for bloody diarrhea aimed at identifying children with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection early in the course of the disease toward the early identification and management of patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STUDY DESIGN The study (2010-2019) involved a referral population of 2.3 million children. Stool samples of patients with bloody diarrhea were screened for Shiga toxin (Stx) genes. Positive patients were rehydrated and monitored for hemoglobinuria until diarrhea resolved or STEC-HUS was diagnosed. RESULTS A total of 4767 children were screened; 214 (4.5%) were positive for either Stx1 (29.0%) or Stx2 (45.3%) or both Stx1+2 (25.7%); 34 patients (15.9%) developed STEC-HUS (0.71% of bloody diarrheas). Hemoglobinuria was present in all patients with HUS. Patients with Stx2 alone showed a greater risk of STEC-HUS (23.7% vs 12.7%) and none of the patients with Stx1 alone developed HUS. During the same period of time, 95 other patients were diagnosed STEC-HUS but were not captured by the screening program (26 had nonbloody diarrhea, 11 came from areas not covered by the screening program, and 58 had not been referred to the screening program, although they did meet the inclusion criteria). At HUS presentation, serum creatinine of patients identified by screening was significantly lower compared with that of the remaining patients (median 0.9 vs 1.51 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS Nearly 1% of children with bloody diarrhea developed STEC-HUS, and its diagnosis was anticipated by the screening program for Stx. The screening of bloody diarrhea for Stx is recommended, and monitoring patients carrying Stx2 with urine dipstick for hemoglobinuria is suggested to identify the renal complication as early as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Ardissino
- Center for HUS Prevention Control and Management, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano.
| | - Chiara Vignati
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Carla Masia
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Valentina Capone
- Center for HUS Prevention Control and Management, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Rosaria Colombo
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Francesca Tel
- Department of Pediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milano
| | - Laura Daprai
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Sara Testa
- Center for HUS Prevention Control and Management, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Antonella Dodaro
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Fabio Paglialonga
- Center for HUS Prevention Control and Management, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Mario Luini
- Lombardia and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zootechnic Institute (IZSLER), Lodi; Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Lodi
| | - Maurizio Brigotti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna
| | - Damiano Picicco
- ASL 1 Imperiese: Azienda Sanitaria Locale 1 Imperiese - Ospedale di Sanremo, Sanremo
| | - Carlo Baldioli
- Pediatric Unit, Ospedale Pia Luvini, ASST-Sette Laghi-Università Insubria, Cittiglio
| | - Franca Pagani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, Brescia
| | - Rossella Ceruti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Carlo Poma, Mantova
| | - Paola Tommasi
- Department of Pediatrics, Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milano
| | | | - Donata Cresseri
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Center for HUS Prevention Control and Management, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Dario Consonni
- Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano
| | - Giovanni Montini
- Center for HUS Prevention Control and Management, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano; Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano
| | - Milena Arghittu
- Azienda socio sanitaria territoriale (ASST) Melegnano e della Martesana - Vizzolo Predabissi, Milano, Italy
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Alconcher LF, Balestracci A, Coccia PA, Suarez ADC, Ramírez FB, Monteverde ML, Perez Y Gutiérrez MG, Carlopio PM, Principi I, Estrella P, Micelli S, Leroy DC, Quijada NE, Seminara C, Giordano MI, Hidalgo Solís SB, Saurit M, Caminitti A, Arias A, Liern M, Rivas M. Hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection in Argentina: update of serotypes and genotypes and their relationship with severity of the disease. Pediatr Nephrol 2021; 36:2811-2817. [PMID: 33604727 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-021-04988-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection is the most common cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Only few studies correlated serotypes and stx genotypes with disease severity. This study aimed to update STEC serotypes, stx genotypes, and virulence factors (eae and ehxA) in a cohort of patients with STEC-HUS and investigate whether they influence the severity of disease. METHODS In this multicentric study, children hospitalized between 2005 and 2016 with STEC-HUS confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory were included. Serotypes (O157, O145, O121, and others), stx genotypes (stx1a, stx2a, stx2c, stx2d, and others), and virulence factors were analyzed, and their association with dialysis requirement (>10 days); severe neurological, cardiovascular, and/or bowel involvement; and death was assessed. RESULTS The records of 280 patients were reviewed; 160 females, median age 21 months (IQR18m). STEC O157 was isolated in 206 (73.6%) patients, O145 in 47 (16.8%), O121 in 15 (5.4%), and other serotypes in 12 (4.2%). The stx2a/2c genotype was carried by 179 (63.9%) strains, stx2a by 94 (33.6%), stx1a/stx2a by five (1.8%), and stx1a only by two (0.7%). All strains except six harbored eae and ehxA genes. Fifty-nine (21.1%) patients had severe neurological involvement, 29 (10.4%) severe bowel injury, 14 (5%) cardiovascular involvement, 53 (18.9%) required > 10 days of dialysis, and 12 (4.3%) died. Neither serotypes nor stx genotypes detected were significantly linked to severity. CONCLUSIONS Serotype O157 and virulence stx2a/2c, eae, ehxA genotype are prevalent in Argentina, and no relationship was found between severity and serotypes and genotypes of STEC detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura F Alconcher
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Pediatric Department, Hospital Interzonal Dr. José Penna Bahía Blanca, Las Lomas 217, (8000) Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Alejandro Balestracci
- Nephrology Unit, Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula A Coccia
- Pediatric Nephrology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Italiano Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Angela Del C Suarez
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital de Niños Sor María Ludovica La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Flavia B Ramírez
- Pediatric Nephrology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Dr. Castro Rendon Neuquén, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Marta L Monteverde
- Hospital Nacional de Pediatría JP Garrahan CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Paula M Carlopio
- Pediatric Nephrology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Posadas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Illiana Principi
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital Pediátrico Humberto J Notti Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Patricia Estrella
- Dirección de Epidemiología de La Pampa - Hospital Lucio Molas, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina
| | - Susana Micelli
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital del Niño Jesús, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Daniela C Leroy
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Interzonal de Agudos Abrahan Piñeyro Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | - Mariana Saurit
- Hospital Público Materno Infantil de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Caminitti
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital Provincial de Santa Fé, Santa Fé, Argentina
| | - Andrea Arias
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital Materno Infantil Dr. Héctor Quintana Jujuy, San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Miguel Liern
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital Gutiérrez CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marta Rivas
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Buenos Aires, Argentina
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8
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Zhang P, Essendoubi S, Keenliside J, Reuter T, Stanford K, King R, Lu P, Yang X. Genomic analysis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from cattle and pork-production related environments. NPJ Sci Food 2021; 5:15. [PMID: 34210979 PMCID: PMC8249597 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-021-00097-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Three E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks have been attributed to contaminated pork in Alberta, Canada, recently. This study investigates the phylogenetic relatedness of E. coli O157:H7 from pigs, cattle, and pork-production environments for source attribution. Limited strain diversity was observed using five conventional subtyping methods, with most or all strains being in one subgroup. Whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis confirmed the recent ancestry of the isolates from all three sources. Most environmental isolates clustered closer with pig isolates than cattle isolates. Also, a direct link was observed between 2018-outbreak environmental isolates and isolates collected from a pig farm in 2018. The majority of pig isolates harbor only one Shiga toxin gene, stx2a, while 70% (35/50) of the cattle isolates have both stx1a and stx2a. The results show some E. coli O157:H7 strains could establish persistence on pig farms and as such, pigs can be a significant source of the organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Zhang
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe, Alberta Canada
| | | | | | - Tim Reuter
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge, Alberta Canada ,grid.47609.3c0000 0000 9471 0214University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
| | - Kim Stanford
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge, Alberta Canada ,grid.47609.3c0000 0000 9471 0214University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
| | - Robin King
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Edmonton, Alberta Canada
| | - Patricia Lu
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Edmonton, Alberta Canada
| | - Xianqin Yang
- grid.55614.330000 0001 1302 4958Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe, Alberta Canada
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Luna M, Kamariski M, Principi I, Bocanegra V, Vallés PG. Severely ill pediatric patients with Shiga toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) who suffered from multiple organ involvement in the early stage. Pediatr Nephrol 2021; 36:1499-1509. [PMID: 33205220 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-020-04829-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is the main cause of pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI) in Argentina. Endothelial injury is the trigger event in the microangiopathic process. The host inflammatory response to toxin and E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is involved in disease pathophysiology. METHODS This retrospective study describes pediatric STEC-HUS patients with multiorgan involvement at the initial phase of disease. A retrospective study of critically ill HUS patients with evidence of E. coli infection was conducted through a period of 15 years. RESULTS Forty-four patients 35.4 ± 4.1 months were admitted to the intensive care unit for 21 ± 2 days. Mechanical ventilation was required in 41 patients, early inotropic support in 37, and 28 developed septic shock. Forty-one patients required kidney replacement therapy for 12 ± 1 days. Forty-one patients showed neurological dysfunction. Dilated cardiomyopathy was demonstrated in 3 patients, left ventricular systolic dysfunction in 4, and hypertension in 17. Four patients had pulmonary hemorrhage, and acute respiratory distress syndrome in 2. Colectomy for transmural colonic necrosis was performed in 3 patients. Thirty-seven patients were treated with therapeutic plasma exchange, and 28 patients received methylprednisolone (10 mg/kg for 3 days). Of the surviving 32 patients, neurological sequelae were seen in 11 and chronic kidney failure in 5. CONCLUSIONS Severe clinical outcome at onset suggests an amplified inflammatory response after exposure to Shiga toxin and/or E. coli LPS. STEC-HUS associated with severe neurological involvement, hemodynamic instability, and AKI requires intensive care and focused therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Luna
- Servicio de Nefrología, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Humberto Notti, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Mariana Kamariski
- Servicio de Nefrología, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Humberto Notti, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Iliana Principi
- Servicio de Nefrología, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Humberto Notti, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Victoria Bocanegra
- Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo (IMBECU), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Patricia G Vallés
- Servicio de Nefrología, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Humberto Notti, Mendoza, Argentina. .,Área de Fisiopatología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
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10
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Lin CY, Xie J, Freedman SB, McKee R, Schnadower D, Tarr PI, Finkelstein Y, Desai NM, Lane RD, Bergmann KR, Kaplan RL, Hariharan S, Cruz AT, Cohen DM, Dixon A, Ramgopal S, Powell EC, Kilgar J, Michelson KA, Bitzan M, Yen K, Meckler GD, Plint AC, Balamuth F, Bradin S, Gouin S, Kam AJ, Meltzer J, Hunley TE, Avva U, Porter R, Fein DM, Louie JP, Tarr GA. Predicting Adverse Outcomes for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infections in Emergency Departments. J Pediatr 2021; 232:200-206.e4. [PMID: 33417918 PMCID: PMC8084908 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.12.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the performance of a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) severity score among children with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections and HUS by stratifying them according to their risk of adverse events. The score has not been previously evaluated in a North American acute care setting. STUDY DESIGN We reviewed medical records of children <18 years old infected with STEC and treated in 1 of 38 participating emergency departments in North America between 2011 and 2015. The HUS severity score (hemoglobin [g/dL] plus 2-times serum creatinine [mg/dL]) was calculated using first available laboratory results. Children with scores >13 were designated as high-risk. We assessed score performance to predict severe adverse events (ie, dialysis, neurologic complication, respiratory failure, and death) using discrimination and net benefit (ie, threshold probability), with subgroup analyses by age and day-of-illness. RESULTS A total of 167 children had HUS, of whom 92.8% (155/167) had relevant data to calculate the score; 60.6% (94/155) experienced a severe adverse event. Discrimination was acceptable overall (area under the curve 0.71, 95% CI 0.63-0.79) and better among children <5 years old (area under the curve 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.87). For children <5 years, greatest net benefit was achieved for a threshold probability >26%. CONCLUSIONS The HUS severity score was able to discriminate between high- and low-risk children <5 years old with STEC-associated HUS at a statistically acceptable level; however, it did not appear to provide clinical benefit at a meaningful risk threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu Yang Lin
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jianling Xie
- Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatric, Alberta Children Hospital, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
| | - Stephen B. Freedman
- Sections of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Gastroenterology, Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Alberta Children’s Hospital and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
| | - Ryan McKee
- Section of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - David Schnadower
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Phillip I. Tarr
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Yaron Finkelstein
- Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
| | - Neil M. Desai
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
| | - Roni D. Lane
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | - Ron L. Kaplan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA
| | - Selena Hariharan
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Andrea T. Cruz
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine
| | - Daniel M. Cohen
- Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital & The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Andrew Dixon
- University of Alberta, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute
| | - Sriram Ramgopal
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Elizabeth C. Powell
- Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Division of Emergency Medicine
| | - Jennifer Kilgar
- Department or Pediatrics & Division of Emergency Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario
| | | | - Martin Bitzan
- Division of Nephrology, Montreal Children’s Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada; A1 Jalila Children’s Hospital, Kidney Centre of Excellence, Dubai, UAE
| | - Kenneth Yen
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children’s Medical Center, UT Southwestern
| | - Garth D. Meckler
- Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
| | - Amy C. Plint
- Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fran Balamuth
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Division of Emergency Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
| | - Stuart Bradin
- Children’s Emergency Services, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School
| | - Serge Gouin
- Professor, Departments of Pediatric Emergency Medicine & Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Universite de Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - April J. Kam
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children’s Hospital, McMaster University
| | - James Meltzer
- Division of Emergency Medicine; Department of Pediatrics; Jacobi Medical Center
| | - Tracy E. Hunley
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Usha Avva
- Department of Pediatrics, Joseph M Sanzari Women and Children’s Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center
| | - Robert Porter
- Discipline of Pediatrics, Memorial University of Newfoundland
| | - Daniel M. Fein
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Jeffrey P. Louie
- Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota, Masonic Children’s Hospital
| | - Gillian A.M. Tarr
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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11
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Bording-Jorgensen M, Tyrrell H, Lloyd C, Chui L. Comparison of Common Enrichment Broths Used in Diagnostic Laboratories for Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030503. [PMID: 33673617 PMCID: PMC7997271 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030503] [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: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) affects more than 4 million individuals in Canada. Diagnostic laboratories are shifting towards culture-independent diagnostic testing; however, recovery of STEC remains an important aspect of surveillance programs. The objective of this study was to compare common broth media used for the enrichment of STEC. Clinical isolates including O157:H7 as well as non-O157 serotypes were cultured in tryptic soy (TSB), MacConkey (Mac), and Gram-negative (GN) broths and growth was compared using culture on sheep’s blood agar and real-time PCR (qPCR). In addition, a selection of the same isolates was spiked into negative stool and enriched in the same three broths, which were then evaluated using culture on CHROMagarTM STEC agar and qPCR. TSB was found to provide the optimal enrichment for growth of isolates with and without stool. The results from this study suggest that diagnostic laboratories may benefit from enriching STEC samples in TSB as a first line enrichment instead of GN or Mac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bording-Jorgensen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (M.B.-J.); (H.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Hannah Tyrrell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (M.B.-J.); (H.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Colin Lloyd
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (M.B.-J.); (H.T.); (C.L.)
| | - Linda Chui
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada; (M.B.-J.); (H.T.); (C.L.)
- Alberta Precision Laboratories-Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab), Edmonton, AB T6G 2J2, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +(780)407-8951
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12
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Vachon MS, Khalid M, Tarr GAM, Hedberg C, Brown JA. Farm animal contact is associated with progression to Hemolytic uremic syndrome in patients with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli - Indiana, 2012-2018. One Health 2020; 11:100175. [PMID: 33392374 PMCID: PMC7772627 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a life-threatening complication of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection. The relationship between STEC exposure and severity of clinical outcomes is not well documented. We examined whether direct contact with farm animals increased the likelihood of HUS among Indiana residents diagnosed with STEC. Methods Exposure data for laboratory-confirmed STEC cases among Indiana residents during 2012–2018 were retrieved. Logistic regression and mediation analysis were performed to determine the extent to which a history of direct contact with farm animals was associated with post-diarrheal HUS independent of age and mediated by stx2 gene presence. Results A total of 784 STEC cases were retrieved. Of these, 46 (6%) developed HUS. Complete exposure data were available for 600 (77%) cases. A total of 24 (52%) HUS patients reported direct contact with farm animals, while 114 (21%) STEC patients who did not develop HUS reported this exposure. Among all STEC cases, HUS was associated with direct farm animal contact after adjusting for age (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.81, 6.40). Detection of stx2 genes mediated 12% of the association between farm animal contact and HUS. Conclusions Direct farm animal contact was a risk factor for development of HUS among laboratory-confirmed STEC cases, independent of stx2 presence. Direct farm animal contact should be considered a potential predictor of progression to HUS when patients present for care and the mechanism for its effect on virulence investigated. Independent of stx2 presence, contact with farm animals is a risk factor for the development of HUS. Stx2 gene detection mediated 12.2% of the association between farm animal contact and HUS. Exposure source may impact virulence of STEC and thus the severity of clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura S Vachon
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 55455
| | - Myda Khalid
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Kidney Diseases, Riley Hospital for Children 575 Riley Hospital Dr., Indianapolis, IN, USA, 46202
| | - Gillian A M Tarr
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 55455
| | - Craig Hedberg
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 55455
| | - Jennifer A Brown
- Epidemiology Resource Center, Indiana State Department of Health, 2 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN, USA, 46204
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13
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Stanford K. Introduction to the Special Issue "Molecular Basis and the Pathogenesis of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Infections". Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12120763. [PMID: 33287118 PMCID: PMC7761636 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12120763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although much of the world has progressed since the 1980s, our ability to treat infections with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) has unfortunately shown little improvement [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Stanford
- Research and Innovation Services, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
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14
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A Toxic Environment: a Growing Understanding of How Microbial Communities Affect Escherichia coli O157:H7 Shiga Toxin Expression. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.00509-20. [PMID: 32358004 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00509-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains, including E. coli O157:H7, cause severe illness in humans due to the production of Shiga toxin (Stx) and other virulence factors. Because Stx is coregulated with lambdoid prophage induction, its expression is especially susceptible to environmental cues. Infections with Stx-producing E. coli can be difficult to model due to the wide range of disease outcomes: some infections are relatively mild, while others have serious complications. Probiotic organisms, members of the gut microbiome, and organic acids can depress Stx production, in many cases by inhibiting the growth of EHEC strains. On the other hand, the factors currently known to amplify Stx act via their effect on the stx-converting phage. Here, we characterize two interactive mechanisms that increase Stx production by O157:H7 strains: first, direct interactions with phage-susceptible E. coli, and second, indirect amplification by secreted factors. Infection of susceptible strains by the stx-converting phage can expand the Stx-producing population in a human or animal host, and phage infection has been shown to modulate virulence in vitro and in vivo Acellular factors, particularly colicins and microcins, can kill O157:H7 cells but may also trigger Stx expression in the process. Colicins, microcins, and other bacteriocins have diverse cellular targets, and many such molecules remain uncharacterized. The identification of additional Stx-amplifying microbial interactions will improve our understanding of E. coli O157:H7 infections and help elucidate the intricate regulation of pathogenicity in EHEC strains.
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15
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Pintara A, Jennison A, Rathnayake IU, Mellor G, Huygens F. Core and Accessory Genome Comparison of Australian and International Strains of O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:566415. [PMID: 33013798 PMCID: PMC7498637 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.566415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a foodborne pathogen, and serotype O157:H7 is typically associated with severe disease. Australian STEC epidemiology differs from many other countries, as severe outbreaks and HUS cases appear to be more often associated with non-O157 serogroups. It is not known why Australian strains of O157 STEC might differ in virulence to international strains. Here we investigate the reduced virulence of Australian strains. Multiple genetic analyses were performed, including SNP-typing, to compare the core genomes of the Australian to the international isolates, and accessory genome analysis to determine any significant differences in gene presence/absence that could be associated with their phenotypic differences in virulence. The most distinct difference between the isolates was the absence of the stx2a gene in all Australian isolates, with few other notable differences observed in the core and accessory genomes of the O157 STEC isolates analyzed in this study. The presence of stx1a in most Australian isolates was another notable observation. Acquisition of stx2a seems to coincide with the emergence of highly pathogenic STEC. Due to the lack of other notable genotypic differences observed between Australian and international isolates characterized as highly pathogenic, this may be further evidence that the absence of stx2a in Australian O157 STEC could be a significant characteristic defining its mild virulence. Further work investigating the driving force(s) behind Stx prophage loss and acquisition is needed to determine if this potential exists in Australian O157 isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Pintara
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Amy Jennison
- Public Health Microbiology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Irani U. Rathnayake
- Public Health Microbiology, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Glen Mellor
- CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences, Archerfield, QLD, Australia
| | - Flavia Huygens
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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16
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Hauser JR, Atitkar RR, Petro CD, Lindsey RL, Strockbine N, O'Brien AD, Melton-Celsa AR. The Virulence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Isolates in Mice Depends on Shiga Toxin Type 2a (Stx2a)-Induction and High Levels of Stx2a in Stool. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:62. [PMID: 32175286 PMCID: PMC7054288 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we compared nine Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 patient isolates for Stx levels, stx-phage insertion site(s), and pathogenicity in a streptomycin (Str)-treated mouse model. The strains encoded stx2a, stx1a and stx2a, or stx2a and stx2c. All of the strains elaborated 105-106 cytotoxic doses 50% (CD50) into the supernatant after growth in vitro as measured on Vero cells, and showed variable levels of increased toxin production after growth with sub-inhibitory levels of ciprofloxacin (Cip). The stx2a+stx2c+ isolates were 90–100% lethal for Str-treated BALB/c mice, though one isolate, JH2013, had a delayed time-to-death. The stx2a+ isolate was avirulent. Both an stx2a and a recA deletion mutant of one of the stx2a+stx2c+ strains, JH2010, exhibited at least a three-log decrease in cytotoxicity in vitro and both were avirulent in the mice. Stool from Str-treated mice infected with the highly virulent isolates were 10- to 100-fold more cytotoxic than feces from mice infected with the clinical isolate, JH2012, that made only Stx2a. Taken together these findings demonstrate that the stx2a-phage from JH2010 induces to higher levels in vivo than does the phage from JH2012. The stx1a+stx2a+ clinical isolates were avirulent and neutralization of Stx1 in stool from mice infected with those strains indicated that the toxin produced in vivo was primarily Stx1a. Treatment of mice infected with Stx1a+Stx2a+ isolates with Cip resulted in an increase in Stx2a production in vivo and lethality in the mice. Our data suggest that high levels of Stx2a in stool are predictive of virulence in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn R Hauser
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rama R Atitkar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Courtney D Petro
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rebecca L Lindsey
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Nancy Strockbine
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alison D O'Brien
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Angela R Melton-Celsa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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