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Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Pathogenesis, Virulence and Control Strategies: 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 6955

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Eric Cox

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Parasitology, Virology & Immunology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Interests: mucosal immunity; E. coli; ETEC; STEC; EHEC; toxoplasmosis; Chlamydia sp.; food allergy; vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Pengpeng Xia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Veterinary Medicine (Institute of Comparative Medicine), Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: Escherichia coli; nutritional immunity; host-pathogen interaction; receptor; diarrhea; mucosal immunity; vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the leading cause of intestinal and extraintestinal diseases in humans and livestock. The classification of numerous pathogenic E. coli categories or pathotypes is based on the production of virulence factors and the presence or severity of certain symptoms that they cause. To invade host cells, bacteria have gradually developed a variety of mechanisms to survive or take advantage of benefits within intracellular niches during the infection process. Thus, even though bacteria share similar virulence features, they might have a distinctive pathogenic mechanism. Additionally, the molecular biology of the interplay between host and pathogenic E. coli is relatively poorly understood. This Special Issue aims to present the latest findings in this field and will cover all topics concerning the pathogenesis, virulence, and control strategies of pathogenic E. coli, including but not limited to: the immunomodulatory effect of metal ions and nutritional immunity, the regulatory effect of small non-coding RNA in pathogenic E. coli infections, new materials for preventing pathogenic E. coli infections, new methods for the detection and identification of pathogenic E. coli, and receptors for the host–pathogen interaction.

Prof. Dr. Eric Cox
Dr. Pengpeng Xia
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Escherichia coli
  • nutritional immunity
  • enterotoxin
  • fimbriae
  • flagellum
  • host–pathogen interaction
  • receptor
  • secretion system
  • small non-coding RNA
  • bacterial infections
  • detection methods

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2488 KiB  
Article
First Isolation of the Heteropathotype Shiga Toxin-Producing and Extra-Intestinal Pathogenic (STEC-ExPEC) E. coli O80:H2 in French Healthy Cattle: Genomic Characterization and Phylogenetic Position
by Nathan Soleau, Sarah Ganet, Stéphanie Werlen, Lia Collignon, Aurélie Cointe, Stéphane Bonacorsi and Delphine Sergentet
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5428; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105428 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 1122
Abstract
The emerging heteropathotype shigatoxigenic (STEC) and extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) O80:H2 has been the second leading cause of pediatric HUS in France since the mid-2010s. In contrast with other highly pathogenic STEC serotypes, for which ruminants have clearly been identified as the [...] Read more.
The emerging heteropathotype shigatoxigenic (STEC) and extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) O80:H2 has been the second leading cause of pediatric HUS in France since the mid-2010s. In contrast with other highly pathogenic STEC serotypes, for which ruminants have clearly been identified as the main human infection source, this heteropathotype’s reservoir remains unknown. In this context, we describe for the first time the isolation of seven STEC O80:H2 strains from healthy cattle on a single cattle farm in France. This study aimed at (i) characterizing the genome and (ii) investigating the phylogenetic positions of these O80:H2 STEC strains. The virulomes, resistomes, and phylogenetic positions of the seven bovine isolates were investigated using in silico typing tools, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and cgMLST analysis after short-read whole genome sequencing (WGS). One representative isolate (A13P112V1) was also subjected to long-read sequencing. The seven isolates possessed ExPEC-related virulence genes on a pR444_A-like mosaic plasmid, previously described in strain RDEx444 and known to confer multi-drug resistance. All isolates were clonally related and clustered with human clinical strains from France and Switzerland with a range of locus differences of only one to five. In conclusion, our findings suggest that healthy cattle in France could potentially act as a reservoir of the STEC-ExPEC O80:H2 pathotype. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Pathogenesis, Virulence and Control Strategies: 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 3712 KiB  
Article
Molecular and Genomic Analysis of the Virulence Factors and Potential Transmission of Hybrid Enteropathogenic and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (EPEC/ETEC) Strains Isolated in South Korea
by Woojung Lee, Soohyun Sung, Jina Ha, Eiseul Kim, Eun Sook An, Seung Hwan Kim, Soon Han Kim and Hae-Yeong Kim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12729; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612729 - 12 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
Hybrid strains Escherichia coli acquires genetic characteristics from multiple pathotypes and is speculated to be more virulent; however, understanding their pathogenicity is elusive. Here, we performed genome-based characterization of the hybrid of enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), the strains that cause [...] Read more.
Hybrid strains Escherichia coli acquires genetic characteristics from multiple pathotypes and is speculated to be more virulent; however, understanding their pathogenicity is elusive. Here, we performed genome-based characterization of the hybrid of enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), the strains that cause diarrhea and mortality in children. The virulence genes in the strains isolated from different sources in the South Korea were identified, and their phylogenetic positions were analyzed. The EPEC/ETEC hybrid strains harbored eae and est encoding E. coli attaching and effacing lesions and heat-stable enterotoxins of EPEC and ETEC, respectively. Genome-wide phylogeny revealed that all hybrids (n = 6) were closely related to EPEC strains, implying the potential acquisition of ETEC virulence genes during ETEC/EPEC hybrid emergence. The hybrids represented diverse serotypes (O153:H19 (n = 3), O49:H10 (n = 2), and O71:H19 (n = 1)) and sequence types (ST546, n = 4; ST785, n = 2). Furthermore, heat-stable toxin-encoding plasmids possessing estA and various other virulence genes and transporters, including nleH2, hlyA, hlyB, hlyC, hlyD, espC, espP, phage endopeptidase Rz, and phage holin, were identified. These findings provide insights into understanding the pathogenicity of EPEC/ETEC hybrid strains and may aid in comparative studies, virulence characterization, and understanding evolutionary biology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Pathogenesis, Virulence and Control Strategies: 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 1644 KiB  
Article
Shiga Toxin, Stx2e, Influences the Activity of Porcine Lymphocytes In Vitro
by Daniel Sperling, Hana Stepanova, Han Smits, Anne-Kathrin Diesing and Martin Faldyna
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(9), 8009; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24098009 - 28 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1432
Abstract
Oedema disease (OD) in piglets is one of the most important pathologies, as it causes significant losses due to the high mortality because of the Shiga toxin family, which produces Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. The main toxin responsible for the characteristic pathologies in [...] Read more.
Oedema disease (OD) in piglets is one of the most important pathologies, as it causes significant losses due to the high mortality because of the Shiga toxin family, which produces Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. The main toxin responsible for the characteristic pathologies in pigs is Shiga toxin 2 subtype e (Stx2e). Moreover, there is growing evidence that Stx’s family of toxins also targets immune cells. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of Stx2e on porcine immune cells. Porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells were pre-incubated with Stx2e, at three different concentrations (final concentrations of 10, 500, and 5000 CD50/mL) and with a negative control group. Cells were then stimulated with polyclonal mitogens: concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, or lipopolysaccharides. Cell proliferation was assessed by BrdU (or EdU) incorporation into newly created DNA. The activation of the lymphocyte subsets was assessed by the detection of CD25, using flow cytometry. The toxin significantly decreased mitogen-driven proliferation activity, and the effect was partially dose-dependent, with a significant impact on both T and B populations. The percentage of CD25+ cells was slightly lower in the presence of Stx2e in all the defined T cell subpopulations (CD4+, CD8+, and γδTCR+)—in a dose-dependent manner. B cells seemed to be the most affected populations. The negative effects of different concentrations of Stx2e on the immune cells in this study may explain the negative impact of the subclinical course of OD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Pathogenesis, Virulence and Control Strategies: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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16 pages, 1636 KiB  
Review
The Love and Hate Relationship between T5SS and Other Secretion Systems in Bacteria
by Yi Luo, Ziyue Chen, Siqi Lian, Xingduo Ji, Chunhong Zhu, Guoqiang Zhu and Pengpeng Xia
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010281 - 24 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2226
Abstract
Bacteria have existed on Earth for billions of years, exhibiting ubiquity and involvement in various biological activities. To ensure survival, bacteria usually release and secrete effector proteins to acquire nutrients and compete with other microorganisms for living space during long-term evolution. Consequently, bacteria [...] Read more.
Bacteria have existed on Earth for billions of years, exhibiting ubiquity and involvement in various biological activities. To ensure survival, bacteria usually release and secrete effector proteins to acquire nutrients and compete with other microorganisms for living space during long-term evolution. Consequently, bacteria have developed a range of secretion systems, which are complex macromolecular transport machines responsible for transporting proteins across the bacterial cell membranes. Among them, one particular secretion system that stands out from the rest is the type V secretion system (T5SS), known as the “autotransporter”. Bacterial activities mediated by T5SS include adherence to host cells or the extracellular matrix, invasion of host cells, immune evasion and serum resistance, contact-dependent growth inhibition, cytotoxicity, intracellular flow, protease activity, autoaggregation, and biofilm formation. In a bacterial body, it is not enough to rely on T5SS alone; in most cases, T5SS cooperates with other secretion systems to carry out bacterial life activities, but regardless of how good the relationship is, there is friction between the secretion systems. T5SS and T1SS/T2SS/T3SS/T6SS all play a synergistic role in the pathogenic processes of bacteria, such as nutrient acquisition, pathogenicity enhancement, and immune modulation, but T5SS indirectly inhibits the function of T4SS. This could be considered a love–hate relationship between secretion systems. This paper uses the systematic literature review methodology to review 117 journal articles published within the period from 1995 to 2024, which are all available from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases and aim to elucidate the link between T5SS and other secretion systems, providing clues for future prevention and control of bacterial diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Pathogenesis, Virulence and Control Strategies: 2nd Edition)
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