Host immune-related gene responses against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection in vitro differ among chicken cell lines established from different organs

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) induces acute disease in chickens causing high mortality and morbidity and is a major threat to poultry industries in Southeast Asian countries. The mechanisms of disease manifestation and host innate immune responses against HAPIV in chickens are not well understood. In this study, we examined virus replication and host gene expressions in four chicken cell lines in vitro to elucidate the impact of host innate immune responses against viral replication. It was demonstrated that viral replication efficiencies were different depending on the cell line. The viral replication appeared to be affected by the basal expression of IFN related genes. The expression of immune-related genes against the viral infection also varied in a cell line dependent manner. In non-immune derived cell lines, but not in immune derived cell lines, the expression of the CCL5 and CCL20 genes were induced by HPAIV infection. Reverse genetics HPAIV, with internal genes from avirulent avian influenza, reduced virus replication and affected immune-related gene expression in a cell line dependent manner. These results suggest the possibility that differential immune responses in different cell types in local tissues could modulate the consequences of HPAIV infection in chickens.     

Cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression profiles in tracheobronchial lymph nodes from pigs singularly infected or coinfected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO)

The objective of this study was to determine cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression profiles in tracheobronchial lymph nodes from pigs singularly infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO), or coinfected with both. Twenty-eight pigs were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) negative controls (NEG), (2) inoculated with MHYO (IMHYO), (3) inoculated with MHYO and PCV2 (CoI), and (4) inoculated with PCV2 (IPCV2). MHYO infection significantly (P<0.05) stimulated innate cytokines, IL1B and IL8. PCV2 infection significantly stimulated expression of IFNG, IL8, NOS2A and chemokines CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL10. IFNB, IL1B and IL12 were slightly increased with PCV2 infection and IFNA and IL4 were significantly downregulated. Compared to NEG pigs, coinfection resulted in a significant increase in expression of IFNG, IL1B, IL8, CCL5, CXCL10, and weak stimulation of IFNB, IL6 and IL10; IL13 and IFNA were significantly downregulated. Overall MHYO potentiated PCV2 infection by increasing IFNG and IL10 mRNA expression levels. The increase of IFNG and chemokines and decrease of IFNA in IPCV2 and CoI pigs were correlated with increased severity of lymphoid lesions and the presence of PCV2 antigen. In summary, this work provided evidence that the increased severity of lesions in PCV2 and MHYO coinfected pigs was associated mainly with the presence of PCV2 antigen and alterations of cytokine mRNA expression profiles.     

Effects of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium (ST) and Choleraesuis (SC) on chemokine and cytokine expression in swine ileum and jejunal epithelial cells

The gastrointestinal epithelium represents a barrier to potentially invasive enteric pathogens, maintains a role in innate immune surveillance, and is a source of both chemokine and cytokine chemotactic mediators in response to bacterial invasion. In the current study, we evaluated cytokine and chemokine mediators known to regulate movement of macrophages (macrophage migration inhibitory factor; MIF), neutrophils (IL8), dendritic cells (CCL20), and epithelial remodeling (osteopontin; OPN) in response to invasive swine enteropathogens Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST) or Choleraesuis (SC). For the in vivo experiment, weaned pigs served as uninfected controls (0 h) or were given 3 x 10(9) CFU ST orally. Pigs were sacrificed at 8, 24, 48, and 144 h after inoculation and total RNA was extracted from defined segments of proximal (PI) and distal (DI) ileum. Relative expression of MIF and OPN were not affected by ST. IL8 expression was increased numerically (P = 0.17 for the interaction term) at 24 and 144 h in the PI and these increases accounted for greater expression in the PI relative to the DI (P < 0.05). Relative expression of CCL20 was increased at 24 h after ST (P < 0.05). Next, we evaluated the time course of MIF, IL8, CCL20, and OPN mRNA expression induced by application of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ST or SC in vitro using pig jejunal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). Cells were grown to confluency on permeable membranes, and treated apically with LPS (10 ng/mL), ST or SC (10(8)/well). After 1 h, cells were washed to remove LPS or extracellular bacteria, and media containing gentamicin was added to kill remaining extracellular bacteria. Media and RNA were collected at 1.5, 3, and 6 h after treatment. MIF mRNA was not affected by LPS or bacterial treatment. Similarly, IL8 expression was not affected by LPS, but was increased by ST and SC relative to controls at 1.5 and 3 h post exposure (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Treatment with SC increased CCL20 mRNA relative to controls at 3 h (P < 0.05), while ST increased CCL20 at 1.5, 3, and 6h with maximal expression at 6 h (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). ST and SC increased polarized IL8 secretion. Our data demonstrate that invasive bacterial pathogens in the pig gastrointestinal tract trigger upregulation of selected cytokine and chemokine mediators, but serovars of Salmonella elicited differing patterns of activation in vitro.     

Dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis influenced intestinal health of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic E. coli

Background: There is growing evidence to support the beneficial effects of supplementing direct-fed microbials(DFM) on performance, health status, and immune responses of weaned pigs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis(DSM 25841) on growth performance, diarrhea, gut permeability and immunity of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic F-18 Escherichia coli(E. coli).Results: The F18 E. coli infection reduced(P 0.05) growth performance and intestinal villi height, whereas increased(P 0.05) diarrhea and transcellular and paracellular permeability in the jejunum compared with non-challenged control. Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis linearly enhanced average daily gain of E. coli infected pigs from d 0 to 5 post-inoculation(PI)(P 0.05) and d 0 to 11 PI(P = 0.058). Supplementation of high dose of Bacillus subtilis reduced(P 0.05) both transcellular and paracellular permeability on d 5 and d11 PI compared with the E. coli infected pigs fed with control diet. E. coli infection up-regulated(P 0.05)the m RNA expression of SLC5 A10(soluble carrier family 5 member 10) and MUC2(mucin 2) on d 5 PI, but down-regulated(P 0.05) expression of SLC5 A10, MUC2, and CLDN1 on d 11 PI in jejunal mucosa when pigs were fed with the control diet. Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis linearly up-regulated(P 0.05) the m RNA expression of CFTR and ZO1 on d 5 PI and SLC5 A10 and MUC2 on d 11 PI in jejunal mucosa of E. coli infected pigs. In addition, E. coli infection increased(P 0.05) the m RNA expression of several immune genes(IL1 A, IL1 B, and IL7 on d 5 PI, and IL1 B, IL6, IL7, and TNF on d 11 PI) in the ileal mucosa of weaned pigs. Inclusion of Bacillus subtilis to control diet linearly down-regulated gene expression of IL1 A on d 5 PI(P = 0.07) and IL6 on d 11 PI(P 0.05) in ileal mucosa of E. coli infected pigs.Conclusions: Supplementation of Bacillus subtilis(DSM 25841) enhanced growth rate and improved gut barrier function of weaned pigs experimentally infected with a pathogenic E. coli.     

干扰素刺激基因对羊口疮病毒在OFTu细胞中增殖的抑制效应

羊口疮病毒（ORFV）是重要的人兽共患病病原,不仅严重危害养羊业,而且威胁人类健康。干扰素刺激基因（stimulator of interferon genes,STING）作为细胞的DNA感受器,在机体天然免疫中起重要作用。为探索STING在ORFV感染中的作用及其对病毒复制的影响,本研究构建了ORFV感染羊胚胎鼻甲细胞（OFTu）的模型,分析了ORFV感染细胞后对STING及其相关基因的动态表达,探索了STING基因在干扰表达和过表达状态下对ORFV在细胞上增殖的影响。结果表明,ORFV感染OFTu细胞后,STING、cGAS、TBK1、IRF3、IRF7、IL-6、IFN-β、IL-1β和TNF-α的转录明显升高。OFTu细胞过表达STING可导致RIG-1、DDX41、IFI16、IRF3、IRF7、IL-6、TNF-α、IFN-α和IFN-β等基因转录上调。OFTu细胞在STING过表达状态下感染ORFV可介导TBK-1、IRF3、IFN-β和TNF-α的转录升高,抑制ORFV的复制;在STING表达干扰的状态下,ORFV感染OFTu细胞降低了TBK-1、IRF3、IFN-β和TNF-α的转录,增加了ORFV的复制。这表明STING蛋白能够增强抗病毒细胞因子的表达,抑制ORFV在OFTu细胞中的增殖,研究结果为深入理解STING在羊口疮病毒感染和复制中的作用提供了科学的理论依据,也为深入探索ORFV感染和致病的分子机制提供了基础数据。     

In vitro rapid clearance of infectious bursal disease virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chicken lines divergent for antibody response might be related to the enhanced expression of proinflammatory cytokines

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute and highly contagious viral disease of young chickens caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). An effective way to control IBDV would be to breed chickens with a reduced susceptibility to IBDV infection. In the present work, we used chickens selected for high and low specific responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) (H and L, respectively) to assess the susceptibility of differential immune competent animals to IBDV infection. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of high SRBC line (HL) and low SRBC line (LL) were infected with IBDV and viral RNA loads were determined at different time post-IBDV infection. Chicken orthologues of the T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2); a Th2 cytokine, IL-10; a pro inflammatory cytokine, IL-6; the CCL chemokines, chCCLi2, chCCLi4 and chCCLi7; colony stimulating factor, GM-CSF; and a anti-inflammatory cytokine, transforming growth factor β-2 (TGFβ-2) were quantified. The expression of chCCLi2, chCCLi4 and chCCLi7 was significantly higher in L line as compared to H line. However, in H line the viral RNA loads were significantly lower than in L line. Therefore, the upregulated chemokines might be associated with the susceptibility to IBDV. The expression of IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-6 was significantly higher in H line as compared to L line. We assume that the higher proinflammatory cytokines expression in H line might be related to the rapid clearance of virus from PBMCs. Significantly higher levels of IL-10 and TGFβ-2 mRNAs in L line might be related to the pathogenesis of IBDV. In conclusion, selection for antibody responses appears to influence the expression profiles of chemokines and cytokines against IBDV. Further, the selection for high SRBC response might improve the immuno-competence of chickens against IBDV.     

Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) resistance and immune characteristics of pig lines generated by crossing an MPS pulmonary lesion selected Landrace line and a highly immune capacity selected Large White line

To understand the influence of crossbreeding on Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) resistance and immune characteristics, two crossbred lines were characterized. One crossbred line, LaWa, was generated by crossing the MPS pulmonary lesion selected Landrace line (La) and the highly immune‐selected Large White line (Wa). The second crossbred line, LaWb, was generated by crossing the La line and the nonselected Large White line (Wb). The crossbred LbWb line (nonselected Landrace line × nonselected Large White line) and the La line were used as controls. The LaWa and LaWb lines had an intermediate level of MPS lung lesions between La and LbWb lines, although the difference was not statistically significant. After stimulation with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), the LaWb and LaWa lines showed immune characteristics similar to that of the La line; the number of monocytes in peripheral blood increased, while B cells, T cells, secretion of SRBC‐specific immunoglobulin G, and interleukin (IL)‐13 decreased. Additionally, the number of natural killer (NK) cells and the expression of IL‐4 and IL‐17 were significantly higher in the LaWb and LaWa lines, respectively. These data suggested that crossbreeding of La and Wa lines resulted in the inheritance of some of the selected immune responses.     

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to Marek's disease herpesvirus-encoded glycoproteins

Cell-mediated immune responses are important for protective immunity to Marek’s disease (MD), especially because MD herpesvirus (MDV) infection is strictly cell-associated in chickens with the exception of the feather follicle epithelium. A system previously developed using reticuloendotheliosis (REV)-transformed cell lines stably expressing individual MDV genes allows the determination of relevant MDV proteins for the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. To examine the importance of glycoproteins for the induction of CTL, the MDV genes coding for glycoproteins (g) C, D, E, H, I, K, L, and M were stably transfected into the REV-transformed chicken cell lines RECC-CU205 (major histocompatibility complex (MHC): B²¹B²¹) and RECC-CU91 (MHC: B¹⁹B¹⁹). All transfected cell lines were lysed by REV-sensitized, syngeneic splenocytes obtained from MD-resistant N2a (MHC: B²¹B²¹) and MD-susceptible P2a (MHC: B¹⁹B¹⁹) chickens, indicating that the expression of individual MDV glycoproteins did not interfere with antigen processing pathways. Only cell lines expressing gI were recognized by CTL from both N2a and P2a MDV-infected chickens. Cell lines expressing glycoproteins gC and gK, and to a lesser extent, gH, gL, and gM were lysed by syngeneic MDV-sensitized splenocytes from N2a birds but not P2a birds. In contrast, gE was recognized by MDV-sensitized effector cells from the P2a line and not the N2a line. Glycoprotein D was not recognized by either line, with the exception of one marginally significant P2a assay. These results indicate that late viral glycoproteins are relevant for the induction of cell-mediated immunity during MDV infection.     

连翘水提液体外对禽流感病毒增殖及炎症因子表达的抑制效应

旨在评估连翘体外抗H5N1和H9N2禽流感病毒（avian influenza viruses,AIVs）增殖及其介导炎症的效果,本试验制备了连翘水提液,首先采用CCK-8法测定了连翘水提液对DF-1细胞的安全浓度,并通过3种处理方法（药液预处理病毒后感染细胞、先感染病毒后给药、先给药后感染病毒）来筛选连翘水提液的最佳给药方式;在最佳给药方式下,使用TCID₅₀法检测禽流感病毒H5N1和H9N2的增殖情况,并采用qRT-PCR检测了炎症相关趋化因子和细胞因子的表达变化。结果显示,连翘水提液对DF-1细胞的最高安全浓度为4 mg·mL^-1;先感染病毒后给药是最佳的给药方式;在最佳给药方式下,连翘水提液能显著降低H5N1和H9N2 AIVs在各个时间点的病毒滴度,并呈剂量依赖性关系;与对照组相比,H5N1 AIV给药组中CX3CL1、IL8L1、CCL5、SCYA4、IL1β、IL-6和TNF-α的表达显著降低,H9N2 AIV给药组中CX3CL1、IL8L1、CCL5、IFN-β、IL-6和TNF-α的表达也有类似的下降趋势。这表明连翘能够抑制H5N1和H9N2 AIVs在DF-1细胞中的增殖,降低炎症相关细胞因子的表达,有良好的抗炎和抗病毒活性。     

Response of B congenic chickens to infection with infectious bursal disease virus.

Six congenic lines of chickens that differ from the parental inbred line RPRL-15I5 for genes in the major histocompatibility (B) complex were used to study the influence of the B haplotypes on the response of chickens to infection with virulent infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) at 1 day or 4 weeks of age, and on the antibody response to vaccination with live or inactivated oil-emulsion (OE) IBDV vaccines at 7 weeks of age. IBDV-induced immunodepression and lesions in the bursa, spleen, and thymus in chickens infected with virus at 1 day of age were of the same degree of severity, regardless of line of chickens used. The response of blood cells to the mitogens phytohemagglutinin-M and concanavalin A was elevated in chickens infected with IBDV at 1 day of age. In an experiment conducted to study the effect of the B haplotype on IBDV infection in 4-week-old chickens, B congenic line C-12 (B12B12) showed the highest susceptibility to clinical IBD, with mortality of 79%. No detectable difference in the serological response to vaccination with live or OE IBDV vaccines was noted among chickens of various congenic lines. We conclude that the B haplotypes may influence IBDV-induced mortality, but not immunodepression or severity of lesions in lymphoid organs, or the antibody response to live or OE IBDV vaccines.     

Th1/Th2型免疫反应相关基因在巨噬细胞RAW264.7应对细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴刺激时的表达谱研究

本研究旨在解析巨噬细胞RAW264.7在应对细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴刺激时其Th1、Th2型免疫反应相关基因的差异表达规律,为进一步揭示巨噬细胞抗细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴免疫调控机制奠定理论基础。将细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴和巨噬细胞RAW264.7共培养6、24、72 h,收集RAW264.7细胞,提取总RNA,构建cDNA文库,利用RNA sequencing技术进行测序分析。结果表明,当细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴（PSC）与巨噬细胞RAW264.7共培养6、24、72 h后,和PBS对照组相比,PSC处理组分别有848、3 745和7 009个基因的表达出现显著差异变化,其中上调的基因分别为415、1 159和2 237个,下调的基因分别为433、2 586和4 772个。对Th1、Th2型免疫反应相关基因的差异表达分析结果显示,当巨噬细胞RAW264.7与细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴共培养6 h时,共有31个Th1、Th2型免疫反应相关基因的表达出现显著变化,其中15个基因出现显著上调,16个出现显著下调。当巨噬细胞RAW264.7与细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴共培养24 h时,共有111个Th1、Th2型免疫反应相关基因的表达出现显著变化,其中34个基因出现显著上调,78个出现显著下调。当巨噬细胞RAW264.7与细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴共培养72 h时,共有212个Th1、Th2型免疫反应相关基因的表达出现显著变化,其中50个基因出现显著上调,162个出现显著下调。这些差异表达的基因主要包括富亮氨酸重复序列蛋白LRRCs、G蛋白偶联受体GPCRs、C型凝集素受体CLRs、清道夫受体SRs等,同时还有一些模式识别受体PRR下游信号分子以及一些PRR下游效应分子。同时分析结果显示,当细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴与巨噬细胞RAW264.7共培养6、24 h时,其Th1型的免疫反应相关的细胞因子编码基因,诸如Tnfrsf1a、Ifnar1的Tnfrsf12a等,它们的表达显著上调;而72 h时,其Th2型免疫反应相关细胞因子编码基因,诸如IL4和IL6等,它们的表达显著上调。同时研究随机选取了部分差异表达的基因进行了qRT-PCR验证,结果表明其表达趋势与RNA-seq结果一致。本研究系统解析了巨噬细胞RAW264.7应对细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴刺激不同时间段其相关基因的差异表达谱特性,初步筛选了巨噬细胞RAW264.7应对细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴刺激固有免疫相关的基因,为进一步解析这些差异表达基因在巨噬细胞RAW264.7应对细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴刺激时发挥作用以及调控机制奠定了基础。     

CD81、CCL26基因在黔北麻羊不同性腺组织中的表达研究

CD81和CCL26基因是影响哺乳动物性腺细胞融合的重要因子,但其在黔北麻羊性腺组织中的表达情况尚不清楚。为研究CD81和CCL26基因在黔北麻羊不同组织中的表达量,本实验以单、多羔黔北麻羊为研究对象,提取下丘脑、垂体、子宫、输卵管、卵巢组织的RNA,并将5种性腺组织RNA逆转录合成第一链cDNA,随后采用q-PCR技术检测CD81、CCL26基因的mRNA在单、多羔黔北麻羊不同性腺组织中的表达水平。结果表明:黔北麻羊性腺组织中CD81、CCL26基因的mRNA均有表达,2种基因均在单、多羔卵巢中的表达量最高;CD81基因在单羔组子宫中的表达量最低;CD81基因在多羔组、CCL26基因在单多羔组下丘脑中的表达量均最低;组间差异表达量分析可知,CD81基因在多羔组子宫的表达量显著高于单羔组;CCL26基因在单羔组卵巢和输卵管的表达量显著高于多羔组,在单羔组子宫的表达量极显著高于多羔组。本实验结果提示,CD81和CCL26基因可能与山羊繁殖能力相关,也为初步揭示山羊繁殖的分子调控机制提供了参考依据。     

Messenger ribonucleic acid expression of the MyoD gene family in muscle tissue at slaughter in relation to selection for porcine growth rate

Livestock meat production capacity is related to muscle fiber numbers and growth. Muscle fibers develop during early embryonic development from proliferating and differentiating myoblasts. Post-natal muscle growth requires satellite cell proliferation and differentiation. Myoblast and satellite cell proliferation and differentiation is regulated by the genes of the MyoD gene family (myogenin, myf-5, myf-6, and MyoD1). Our aim was to study the mRNA expression of these genes in postnatal muscle tissue in relation to porcine selection for growth rate or leanness. Five boars from a line selected for fast growth (F-line) and five boars from a line selected against backfat thickness (L-line) were slaughtered, and biopsies were taken from 12 muscles. Between-line effects, within-line effects in relation to the performance of the pigs, and muscle-specific effects were studied. Comparing the F-line with the L-line revealed significantly greater myogenin, myf-5, and MyoD1 mRNA expression in some muscles of the F-line. The expression of myf-6 showed a tendency for the opposite effect in some muscles. Muscles were ordered by their muscle-specific growth rate (b-value). Within-line evaluation of the data revealed a systematic muscle effect for the myf-6 expression level in the F-line because higher b-values correlated with increased myf-6 expression level. Backfat thickness was negatively related to myogenin expression in the F-line. A relationship was found between myogenin:MyoD1 mRNA expression ratio and meat color/muscle fiber type composition in the L-line. Furthermore, the myogenin:MyoD1 ratio was greater in muscles from F-line boars than in muscles from L-line boars, which relates to the difference between the lines in muscle fiber type. We conclude that the mRNA levels of the MyoD genes in porcine muscle tissue at slaughter showed different relationships to selection for growth rate when evaluated between selection lines and within selection lines.     

Muscovy duck retinoic acid-induced gene I (MdRIG-I) functions in innate immunity against H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIV) infections

Retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that senses pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck different from other species of ducks, and is more susceptible to some microbial pathogens. In this study, the Muscovy duck RIG-I gene (MdRIG-I) was identified. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that MdRIG-I mRNA was widely expressed in different tissues, especially in those with mucosa. RIG-I null DF-1 cells transfected with DNA constructs encoding MdRIG-I or CARDs domain can activate IRF-3 and NF-κB to up-regulated activity of IFN-β promoter. The components of the signaling pathway downstream of RIG-I in mammalian cells including IRF-3, NF-κB, IFN-β and the IFN-stimulated genes Mx-1, PKR and MDA5 were significantly up-regulated in CARDs-overexpressing-DF-1 cells. Implicating RIG-I in the antiviral response to an infection in vivo, we found that RIG-I expression in brain, spleen, lung and bursa were up-regulated in ducks challenged with H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV), whose six internal genes were closely related to the H7N9 and H10N8 AIV. In vitro, DF-1 cells transfected with MdRIG-I plasmid can respond significantly to H9N2 AIV, evident through enhancement of IFN-β promoter activity and decreased virus titer. Altogether, these results indicated that MdRIG-I is a novel member of RLR gene family, engaging in the early stage of antiviral innate immunity.     

Impact of a mutator phenotype on motility and cell adherence in Salmonella Heidelberg

In this study, we investigated adherence and motility of the hypermutator Salmonella enterica Heidelberg B182 bovine strain related to a 12bp deletion in mutS. This mutator phenotype was associated with increased adherence to epithelial cells and with high expression of fimA as shown by real-time RT-PCR. Motility studies showed that fliC were up-regulated in the B182 strain, while fljA and fljB were down-regulated. In order to determine if mutated mutS is implicated in this genes expression, isogenic strains, derived from a WT strain, containing the 12bp deletion in mutS (Δ12bpmutS) or an inactivated mutS (ΔmutS) were generated. Δ12bpmutS and ΔmutS strains showed a spontaneous mutation rate similar to the environmental strain B182, but exhibited lower adherence capacity and fimA expression. In contrast to the fimbriae genes, in Δ12bpmutS, fliC expression was up-regulated, but fljA and fljB expression were decreased, as in the B182 strain. Only fljB expression was increased in ΔmutS mutants. Taken together, our data suggest that mutS alteration does not influence fimbriae expression but can impact flagella genes.