Pathogenic diversity of Escherichia coli and the emergence of 'exotic' islands in the gene stream.

Escherichia coli is a highly adaptive bacterial species that is both a member of the commensal intestinal flora and a versatile pathogen associated with numerous types of intestinal and systemic infections in humans and other animals. The spectrum of diseases caused by E. coli is due to the acquisition of specific virulence genes harbored on plasmids, bacteriophages, or within distinct DNA segments termed pathogenicity islands (PAIs) that are absent from the genomes of commensal E. coli strains. PAIs are likely to have been transferred horizontally and may have integrated into the E. coli chromosome through bacteriophage or plasmid integration or transposition. The contribution of intergenic inheritance to the adaptation and evolution of E. coli, types of PAIs associated with different groups of pathogenic E. coli and approaches to identify unique sequence islands (USIs), some of which might confer pathogenicity, in E. coli and other bacteria are presented.     

PCR detection of virulence factor genes in Escherichia coli isolates from weaned piglets with edema disease and/or diarrhea in China

Fimbriae, toxins and pathogenicity islands (PAIs) are main virulence factors of the pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. To investigate into their prevalence in clinical E. coli isolates associated with porcine postweaning diarrhea (PWD) and/or pig edema disease (ED), 240 isolates were obtained from diseased piglets (140 from PWD, 76 from ED and 24 from ED/PWD) and submitted to PCR detection for genes coding for fimbriae, enterotoxins, shiga toxins, intimin and high-molecular-weight protein 2 (HMWP2). Among the 240 isolates detected, detection rates of the genes for F18, F4, intimin, HMWP2, Stx2e, LTa, STa and STb were 26.25%, 3.75%, 28.33%, 16.67%, 35%, 10.83%, 14.58% and 9.17%, respectively, and 67.92% of the isolates could be assigned into 20 different virulence factor patterns. Further more, F18ab+ STEC are the prevalent pathogens of ED, and F18+ and/or intimin+ STEC/ETEC are the dominant pathogens of ED/PWD, while F18ab+, F4+ and/or intimin+ ETEC and HPI+ and/or LEE+ E. coli are more frequently associated with PWD.     

Occurrence of pathogenicity island I(APEC-O1) genes among Escherichia coli implicated in avian colibacillosis

Colibacillosis caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a leading cause of economic loss to the poultry industry worldwide. The ability of APEC to cause disease is determined by certain virulence markers, some of which are located on pathogenicity islands (PAls). We recently described one such PAI in an APEC O1:K1 strain (APEC-O1). This PAI, termed PAI I(APEC-O1), carries the genes of the pap operon, a region similar to the tia invasion determinant of enterotoxigenic E coli; ireA, a gene that encodes an iron-responsive element; and a novel 1.5-kb region, ORF 54. Here, the occurrence of six selected loci of PAI I(APEC-O1) (papA, papC, papG, ireA, tia, and ORF 54) among APEC and fecal E. coli strains from apparently healthy chickens (avian commensal E. coli) was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. None of the commensal E. coli was positive for all six traits, whereas 7.2% of the APEC isolates were positive for all the traits. Although there was no significant difference in the occurrence of ORF 54 among APEC and commensal E. coli, tia, ireA, papC, and papG genes were predominantly present in APEC rather than in avian commensal E. coli. papA was detected in only 6.3% of APEC, perhaps because of the presence of allelic variants of the gene. Additionally, the presence of all six traits was tested with PCR in APEC isolates collected in the 1980s, and these results were compared with those obtained with the APEC isolated in the 1990s. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of tia, ireA, papC, papG, and ORF 54 between APEC isolates collected during the different decades. However, papA was more frequently present in APEC from the 1980s than it was in APEC from the 1990s. Phylogenetic group of an isolate did not correlate with pathogenicity or the presence of PAI traits, except that more APEC of the low-pathogenicity group belonged to the phylogenetic group B1. However, PAI traits occurred more frequently in isolates belonging to the intermediate- and high-pathogenicity groups than in isolates of low pathogenicity.     

Prevalence and deletion types of the pathogenicity island ETT2 among Escherichia coli strains from oedema disease and colibacillosis in pigs

Piglet pathogenic Escherichia coli encoding Shigatoxin 2e and F18 adhesins are the etiological agents of oedema disease as well as of non-oedema disease colibacillosis. In order to reveal virulence differences among this pathogen, the presence of the pathogenicity island (PAI) E. coli type three secretion system 2 (ETT2) was examined. Using PCR and Southern blot techniques for the identification of the right, the middle, and the left region of this 29.9kb large genetic element, the entire ETT2 was found among E. coli O138:H(-), O139:H1, and O147:H6 strains originated from cases of oedema disease in Germany between 1995 and 2001 and belonging to various clonal types. In contrast, non-oedema disease E. coli isolates (e.g. O8:H19, 101:H(-), O141:H4) contain deleted subtypes of ETT2. These deletions cover the translocon part of the putative ETT2-encoded type III secretion apparatus. It is suggested that the entire ETT2 is associated with a particular virulence trait of piglet oedema disease E. coli (EDEC).     

The possible influence of LuxS in the in vivo virulence of rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Attaching and effacing (A/E) organisms, such as rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), human EPEC or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) share attaching and effacing phenotype and LEE pathogenicity island responsible for A/E. The present study was undertaken to investigate the impact of the LuxS quorum sensing (QS) signaling system in vitro and in vivo pathogenicity of A/E organisms using rabbit EPEC (rEPEC) strain E22 (O103:H2). Analysis of the bioluminescence indicated abolished production of the QS signal AI-2 by luxS mutant (E22DeltaluxS). Strain E22Deltalux also exhibited impaired expression of several normally secreted proteins and reduced adherence to cultured HeLa cells. Complementation of the intact luxS gene to E22DeltaluxS restored secreted protein expression comparable to the WT type but not adherence to HeLa cells. In experimentally infected rabbits, the isogenic luxS mutant induced clinical illness and intimate adherence to the intestinal mucosa, albeit to a less extent, comparable to that seen with the parent virulent strain. It is worth noting that reduced fecal bacterial shedding, mucosal adherence and improved cumulative weight gain were seen for the mutant strain complemented with luxS when compared to the WT. It appears that the luxS gene is not essential for in vivo pathogenicity by rEPEC where exogenous QS signals are present in the gut. The impact of AI-2 provided by multicopy plasmid on bacterial virulence is discussed.     

仔猪腹泻致病性大肠杆菌分型鉴定及耐药性分析

为了解贵州省规模化养猪场腹泻仔猪致病性大肠杆菌流行情况及耐药性变化,本研究运用凝集试验、PCR和药敏纸片琼脂扩散法等方法对分离的78株致病性大肠杆菌进行血清型、毒力基因及耐药性分析。结果显示,78株致病性大肠杆菌以O138、O87血清型为主,占定型菌株的60.8%;其中62株致病性大肠杆菌检出毒力基因,检出率为79.5%,可分为8种毒力基因类型,分属肠致病性大肠杆菌（EPEC）、肠产毒性大肠杆菌（ETEC）和肠聚集性大肠杆菌（EAEC）,毒力基因eaeA、elt和escV检出率较高,分别为38.5%、28.2%和21.8%;分离到的致病性大肠杆菌对β-内酰胺类药物高度耐药,均为多重耐药株,耐药种类可达8种以上。结果表明,当前贵州省规模化养猪场腹泻仔猪致病性大肠杆菌的毒力基因检出率较高且基因型复杂,耐药性严重。本试验结果可为规模化养猪场防控仔猪腹泻提供基础资料及理论依据。     

腹泻水貂检出携带耶尔森菌HPI毒力岛的大肠杆菌

为了解大肠杆菌引起水貂腹泻的机理,进行了小肠结肠炎耶尔森菌HPI毒力岛基因的检测,并对其菌株做毒力试验。用PCR扩增法检测毒力岛基因irp2和fyua,小鼠腹腔注射检测菌株毒力。结果：从3个貂场腹泻病死水貂脏器以及粪便中分离出血清型分别为078、029和038的大肠杆菌,对3个血清型大肠杆菌进行毒力岛检测,均检出携带小肠结肠炎耶尔森菌HPI毒力岛基因irp2和fyua。3个血清型078、029和038的大肠杆菌均使小鼠发病死亡。结果表明水貂腹泻是由携带小肠结肠炎耶尔森茵HPI毒力岛基因irp2和fyua的大肠杆菌引起,该茵对水貂的健康具有潜在的威胁。     

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli: emerging issues on virulence and modes of transmission

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) constitute a subset of serotypes (E. coli O157 and some other serogroups) of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC) firmly associated with severe human illnesses like bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Stx production is essential but not sufficient for EHEC virulence. Most strains are capable of colonising the intestinal mucosa of the host with the "attaching and effacing" mechanism, genetically governed by a large pathogenicity island (PAI) defined as the Locus of Enterocyte Effacement. Other virulence factors carried by mobile genetic elements like PAI and plasmids have been recently described, and their role in the pathogenic process has not been fully elucidated. EHEC are zoonotic pathogens. They rarely cause disease in animals, and ruminants are recognised as their main natural reservoir. Cattle are considered to be the most important source of human infections with EHEC O157, and the ecology of the organism in cattle farming has been extensively studied. The organism has also been reported in sheep, goats, water buffalos, and deer. Pigs and poultry are not considered to be a source of EHEC and the sporadic reports may derive from accidental exposure to ruminant dejections. The epidemiology of EHEC infections has remarkably changed during the past ten years and an increasing number of unusual food vehicles have been associated with human infections. New routes of transmission have emerged, like contact with animals during farm visits and a wide variety of environment-related exposures. As for other zoonotic agents, having animals and raw products that are free from EHEC is not possible in practice. However, their occurrence can be minimised by applying high standards of hygiene in all the steps of the food production chain.     

河西走廊地区犊牛腹泻致病性大肠杆菌分离鉴定、毒力因子及耐药性检测

[目的]为了分析河西走廊地区犊牛腹泻致病性大肠杆菌携带毒力基因和耐药性情况,[方法]2020—2021年在河西走廊地区采集患腹泻病犊牛的粪便、肛拭子及肝脏等病料组织279份,采用人工感染试验动物、PCR方法和K-B药敏纸片法分别检测犊牛腹泻性大肠杆菌致病性、毒力因子和耐药性。[结果]结果表明,分离得到了126株大肠杆菌,其中79株犊牛腹泻性大肠杆菌能引起小鼠死亡;分离的79株致病性大肠杆菌的毒力基因crl、irp2、fimH、papC、K88、K99、stx1、stx2检测率在40.5%～100%之间,其他毒力基因检测率在15.2%～34.2%之间;分离的79株致病性大肠杆菌对氨苄西林、阿莫西林、新霉素等8种药物的耐药率在49.4%～96.2%之间,对其他药物的耐药率在5.1%～32.9%之间。[结论]从河西走廊地区患腹泻病犊牛病料组织中分离得到79株致病性大肠杆菌,这些菌株携带多种毒力基因,对临床中常用的抗菌药物产生了耐药性。     

Comparison of virulence gene profiles of Escherichia coli isolates from sows with coliform mastitis and healthy sows

Coliform mastitis (CM) is not only a serious economical and animal welfare touching problem in dairy cattle, but also in sows after farrowing. Due to this disease, the essential adequate supply with colostrum for the growth and the health of the piglets is not ensured. Besides other influencing factors, Escherichia (E.) coli is of great importance as a causative agent of this multifactorial disease. In this study, E. coli isolates from milk samples of healthy and CM-affected sows were examined for the presence of virulence genes associated with extraintestinal E. coli strains, enterotoxigenic E. coli and other pathogenic E. coli. The isolated E. coli harbored mainly virulence genes of extraintestinal E. coli strains (especially fimC, ompA, traT, hra, kpsMTII, iroN). The virulence gene spectrum for both samples from CM-affected and healthy sows did not differ significantly. Particular virulence gene profiles of E. coli isolates from diseased sows were not detected. This study provides novel insights into the role of E. coli in association with mastitis in sows since it is the first time E. coli isolates from CM-affected sows' milk were analysed for virulence genes. Because there were no differences in the prevalence of E. coli and their virulence-associated genes between healthy and diseased sows, other causative factors seem to have greater influence on the pathogenesis of porcine CM.     

IbeB is involved in the invasion and pathogenicity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli

The ibeB gene in neonatal meningitis Escherichia coli (NMEC) contribute to the penetration of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). However, whether IbeB plays a role in avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) infection remains unclear. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the distribution of the ibeB gene in Chinese APEC strains and examine whether IbeB is involved in APEC pathogenicity. The ibeB gene was found in all 100 detected E. coli isolates with over 97% sequence homology. These results indicated that ibeB is a conserved E. coli gene irrelevant of pathotypes. To determine the role of ibeB in APEC pathogenicity, an ibeB mutant of strain DE205B was constructed and characterized. The inactivation of ibeB resulted in reduced invasion capacity towards DF-1 cells and defective virulence in animal models as compared to the wild-type strain. Animal infection experiments revealed that loss of ibeB decreased APEC colonization and invasion capacity in brains and lungs. These virulence-related phenotypes were partially recoverable by genetic complementation. Reduced expression levels of invasion- and adhesion-associated genes in ibeB mutant could be major reasons as evidenced by reduced ibeA and ompA expression. These results indicate that IbeB is involved in APEC invasion and pathogenicity.     

仔猪黄痢病原分离株药敏试验和不同给药方法疗效比较研究

为科学评价河南省仔猪黄痢大肠杆菌地方分离株的耐药性和不同给药方法对仔猪黄痢疗效的影响,本研究首先自河南省25个临床发病猪场病猪体内分离鉴定仔猪黄痢大肠杆菌;通过小白鼠致病力试验以检测大肠杆菌分离株的毒力;采用20种抗菌药物对分离株进行药敏试验以筛选对仔猪黄痢大肠杆菌最敏感的药物;选取敏感药物分别采用口腔灌服、肌肉注射和腹腔注射3种给药方法对临床上仔猪黄痢发病猪进行治疗效果比较试验以确定最佳给药方法。结果自河南省25个发生仔猪黄痢的猪场的病猪体内共分离鉴定出25株大肠杆菌。25株大肠杆菌分离株对小白鼠的致病率为100%;对临床上常用的20种抗菌药物都有耐药现象,但耐药率高低不同(4%～100%);20种抗菌药物中诺氟沙星、氧氟沙星、新霉素和利福平等4种药物的敏感率较高,高敏率分别为92%、88%、88%和80%。3种不同的给药方法对仔猪黄痢病例的治疗效果不同,其中通过口腔灌服和腹腔注射的给药方法对仔猪黄痢的治愈率(分别为92.3%、95.0%)显著高于肌肉注射给药方法(58.8%);腹腔注射组治愈率稍高于口腔灌服组,但二者差异不显著。本研究为临床上仔猪黄痢的防制提供了科学依据。     

甘肃省东中部地区猪和鸡大肠杆菌的分离鉴定

试验从甘肃省东中部地区分离出猪和鸡大肠杆菌189株,从中鉴定出致病性大肠杆菌69株。然后对其进行生化试验、毒力学试验和血清型鉴定,并对猪和鸡致病性大肠杆菌的免疫原性进行了初步筛选。     

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26:H11/H-: a human pathogen in emergence

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O26:H11 have emerged as the most important non-O157:H7 EHEC, with respect to their ability to cause diarrhoea and the haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a leading cause of acute renal failure in children, and is mainly caused by EHEC expressing Shiga toxins (Stx) 1 and/or 2. Since 1996, EHEC O26, which produce Stx2 only and appear to have enhanced virulence, have been increasingly isolated from HUS patients in Germany. In contrast, EHEC O26 found in cattle predominantly produce Stx1 as the sole Stx. Additional potential virulence factors of EHEC O26 include cytolysins (EHEC hemolysin), serine proteases (EspP), lymphotoxins (Efal) and adhesins (intimin). The genes encoding the virulence factors are located within pathogenicity islands (eae, efa1), bacteriophages (stx) or plasmids (EHEC-hlyA, espP). In addition, EHEC O26 possess, in contrast to other EHEC, the "high pathogenicity island" (HPI), which is also present in pathogenic Yersiniae.This island contains genes involved in the biosynthesis, regulation and transport of the siderophore yersiniabactin. Comparative genomic analyses between EHEC O26 and non-pathogenic E. coli, as well as investigations of mechanisms involved in the transfer of virulence genes, provide a deeper insight into the evolution of EHEC O26.These studies demonstrate how horizontal transfer of virulence genes, even from distantly related organisms, can lead in brief intervals to the rise of a highly virulent clone within a particular E. coli serotype.The classical bacteriological methods are no longer sufficient to determine the risk posed by EHEC O26. However, knowledge of the complete virulence profiles of these pathogens and understanding their stepwise evolution form a foundation for developing new strategies to prevent human infections and new methods for their laboratory diagnosis.     

河北省犊牛腹泻大肠杆菌致病性及耐药性分析

为确定河北省犊牛腹泻大肠杆菌的致病性与耐药性,本研究对2018年1月至2019年6月期间从河北省石家庄、保定、承德、唐山、廊坊的部分肉牛场腹泻犊牛样品中分离到的50株大肠杆菌进行了致病性试验、药物敏感性试验、毒力基因和耐药基因检测。结果显示:50株分离菌均对小鼠具有致病性,致病菌占比100%(50/50)。毒力基因fyuA、irp2、eaeA、ler检出率分别为68.0%、66.0%、34.0%、34.0%。50株分离菌均对15种抗生素中的2种及以上表现为耐药,对10种及以上抗生素耐药的菌株占比达34%(17/50);分离菌对土霉素、磺胺对甲氧嘧啶、磺胺间甲氧嘧啶、替米考星4种药物表现为高度耐药,耐药率分别为90%、90%、94%、100%。除四环素类tetD基因检出率为0外,其它耐药基因均有检出,其中四环素类tetC、氨基糖苷类aadA1、喹诺酮类gyrA、gyrB基因检测率高达100%。试验的50株大肠杆菌均具有较强的毒力和多重耐药性。本研究为河北省大肠杆菌所致犊牛腹泻病的防治提供了实验依据。     

Identification of virulence attributes of gastrointestinal Escherichia coli isolates of veterinary significance

The pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli recovered from the intestinal tract of animals fall into categories called enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and necrotoxigenic. The other two categories, enteroinvasive and enteroaggregative, have not been reported in animals. The pathogenicity of these strains is determined by the presence of certain genes that encode adhesins and toxins, are generally organized in large blocks in chromosomes, large plasmids or phages, and are often transmitted horizontally between strains. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the virulence attributes that determine the pathogenic potential of E. coli strains and the methods available to assess the virulence of the strains. We also discuss the clinical symptoms, the gross and histological lesions, and the molecular diagnostic methods our laboratories have implemented for detecting pathogenic strains of E. coli that are isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of animals.     

一例鸡源致病型大肠杆菌的分离鉴定

为进行一例鸡源致病型大肠杆菌的分离鉴定,无菌采集疑似大肠杆菌患病蛋鸡肝脏、脾脏等组织,进行病原菌的分离培养。利用培养特性检查、菌落形态观察、革兰氏染色鉴定、生化特性考察、PCR鉴定、测序分析以及动物致病性试验对分离菌株进行鉴定,并同时进行药敏试验。结果显示,分离菌株为一株致病型大肠杆菌,对青霉素、氟苯尼考、阿莫西林等多种抗生素产生耐药性,对丁胺卡那敏感。建议使用丁胺卡那霉素对大肠杆菌进行防治。     

兔肠致病性大肠杆菌lifA基因的免疫调节和黏附特性

兔肠致病性大肠杆菌(rEPEC)菌株RDEC-1的基因组中lifA基因与LEE(Locus for enterocyte effacement)致病岛相毗邻.本试验通过DNA序列分析、基因打靶技术、细胞因子检测以及动物试验,分析lifA基因完整核苷酸序列及其生物学功能.结果表明,RDEC-1的lifA基因的核苷酸序列与人肠致病性大肠杆菌的完全相同;ifA基因具有降低家兔外周血单核细胞IL-2表达的作用.与野生型菌株RDEC-1相比,被定点敲除lifA基因的RDEC-1突变株(RDEC-1△lifA)口服接种家兔后,排菌量明显降低.利用野生型RDEC-1和RDEC-1△lifA基因缺失菌株同时口服接种家兔,从粪便中分离细菌,结果显示野生型RDEC-1是优势菌,而RDEC-1△lifA基因缺失菌数量极少.RDEC-1△lifA基因缺失菌株和野生型RDEC-1都能引起特征性家兔肠道上皮的黏附与细胞脱落病变(A/Elesion).表明rEPEC的lifA基因在免疫调节和细菌的肠道定居中起重要作用,这为研究lifA基因的生物学功能提供了直接证据.     

某定点肉牛屠宰场中非O157致病性STEC的分离鉴定

为了了解新疆伊犁地区肉牛屠宰过程中大肠杆菌的污染情况，检测非O157致病性产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli，STEC）的感染情况，本试验采集新疆伊犁地区某定点肉牛屠宰场中屠宰肉牛的粪样和屠宰后的胴体表面拭子，并对样品进行了大肠杆菌的分离鉴定、毒力基因（eae、stx1、stx2）的PCR检测、O157鉴定（rfbE）、ERIC-PCR基因分型和小鼠致病性试验。结果显示，在采集的45份样品中分离鉴定出42株大肠杆菌，分离率为93.3%。其中2株菌株同时编码了毒力基因stx1和stx2，检出率为4.8%，毒力基因eae未被检出。PCR鉴定均为非O157 STEC。ERIC-PCR基因分型检测发现，2株菌的基因型非常相似，同源关系密切。对小鼠进行腹腔注射攻毒，攻菌6 h后，小鼠开始出现死亡，立即解剖死亡小鼠发现，其肠道出血，肝脏、脾脏、肾脏明显出血肿大，解剖对照小鼠表现正常，表明菌株具有一定的致病性。综上所述，在肉牛屠宰过程中存在大肠杆菌污染，其中粪便中非O157 STEC菌株对胴体造成了污染，需要加强控制肉牛的屠宰加工关键环节的环境卫生。     

Prevalence of serogroups and virulence genes in Escherichia coli associated with postweaning diarrhoea and edema disease in pigs and a comparison of diagnostic approaches

Identification of Escherichia coli causing porcine postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) or edema disease (ED) requires knowledge regarding the prevalent pathotypes within a given region. This study was undertaken to determine the present distribution of serogroups, hemolytic activity and virulence factor gene profiles among porcine pathogenic E. coli isolates in Denmark and to compare detection of these characteristics as diagnostic approaches. Five hundred and sixty-three E. coli were serogrouped using E. coli O-antisera and investigated for hemolytic activity. Of these, 219 isolates were further characterized using a 5'-nuclease PCR assay detecting genes for adhesion factors, enterotoxins and verocytotoxin 2e (VT2e). Forty-two different serogroups were found. The most prevalent serogroup was O149 accounting for 49.9% of all isolates, followed by O138 (14.9%), O139 (6.9%), O141 (4.1%) and O8 (3.7%). Hemolytic activity was detected in 87.7% of all isolates. Virulence factor genes detected were F4 (44.7%), F18 (39.3%), intimin (1.4%), F6 (0.9%), STb (77.6%), EAST1 (65.8%), LT (61.6%), STa (26.5%) and VT2e (16.4%). Six pathotypes accounted for 65.7% of all isolates investigated. Using possession of virulence factor genes as reference, O-serogrouping employing a selection of antisera representing common pig pathogenic serogroups and detection of hemolysis were evaluated as epidemiological markers for pathogenicity. Both criteria were associated with pathogenicity (P<0.001, for both), however, both methods also resulted in false classifications regarding pathogenicity for 11.9 and 13.2% of isolates, respectively. Detection of adhesion factor genes F4, F18 and intimin is suggested as an operational alternative when diagnosing PWD and ED.