scholarly journals A Novel Arsenate-Resistant Determinant Associated with ICEpMERPH, a Member of the SXT/R391 Group of Mobile Genetic Elements

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Ryan ◽  
Shannon Slattery ◽  
J. Tony Pembroke
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Metal Resistance ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Major Facilitator Superfamily ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Arsenate Resistance ◽  
Pathogenic Vibrio ◽  
Resistance System ◽  
Low Levels

ICEpMERPH, the first integrative conjugative element (ICE) of the SXT/R391 family isolated in the United Kingdom and Europe, was analyzed to determine the nature of its adaptive functions, its genetic structure, and its homology to related elements normally found in pathogenic Vibrio or Proteus species. Whole genome sequencing of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolate K802 (which contains the ICEpMERPH) was carried out using Illumina sequencing technology. ICEpMERPH has a size of 110 Kb and 112 putative open reading frames (ORFs). The “hotspot regions” of the element were found to contain putative restriction digestion systems, insertion sequences, and heavy metal resistance genes that encoded resistance to mercury, as previously reported, but also surprisingly to arsenate. A novel arsenate resistance system was identified in hotspot 4 of the element, unrelated to other SXT/R391 elements. This arsenate resistance system was potentially linked to two genes: orf69, encoding an organoarsenical efflux major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter-like protein related to ArsJ, and orf70, encoding nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Phenotypic analysis using isogenic strains of Escherichia coli strain AB1157 with and without the ICEpMERPH revealed resistance to low levels of arsenate in the range of 1–5 mM. This novel, low-level resistance may have an important adaptive function in polluted environments, which often contain low levels of arsenate contamination. A bioinformatic analysis on the novel determinant and the phylogeny of ICEpMERPH was presented.

scholarly journals RegR Virulence Regulon of Rabbit-Specific Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain E22

2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 1078-1089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yogitha N. Srikhanta ◽  
Dianna M. Hocking ◽  
Judyta Praszkier ◽  
Matthew J. Wakefield ◽  
Roy M. Robins-Browne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Gene Target ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Genes Encoding

ABSTRACTAraC-like regulators play a key role in the expression of virulence factors in enteric pathogens, such as enteropathogenicEscherichia coli(EPEC), enterotoxigenicE. coli, enteroaggregativeE. coli, andCitrobacter rodentium. Bioinformatic analysis of the genome of rabbit-specific EPEC (REPEC) strain E22 (O103:H2) revealed the presence of a gene encoding an AraC-like regulatory protein, RegR, which shares 71% identity to the global virulence regulator, RegA, ofC. rodentium. Microarray analysis demonstrated that RegR exerts 25- to 400-fold activation on transcription of several genes encoding putative virulence-associated factors, including a fimbrial operon (SEF14), a serine protease, and an autotransporter adhesin. These observations were confirmed by proteomic analysis of secreted and heat-extracted surface-associated proteins. The mechanism of RegR-mediated activation was investigated by using its most highly upregulated gene target,sefA. Transcriptional analyses and electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that RegR activates the expression ofsefAby binding to a region upstream of thesefApromoter, thereby relieving gene silencing by the global regulatory protein H-NS. Moreover, RegR was found to contribute significantly to virulence in a rabbit infection experiment. Taken together, our findings indicate that RegR controls the expression of a series of accessory adhesins that significantly enhance the virulence of REPEC strain E22.

scholarly journals A selC-Associated Genomic Island of the Extraintestinal Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain BEN2908 Is Involved in Carbohydrate Uptake and Virulence

2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (3) ◽  
pp. 977-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman Chouikha ◽  
Pierre Germon ◽  
Annie Brée ◽  
Philippe Gilot ◽  
Maryvonne Moulin-Schouleur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Genomic Island ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Major Facilitator Superfamily ◽  
Integrase Gene ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Major Facilitator Superfamily Transporter ◽  
Major Facilitator

ABSTRACT The complete nucleotide sequence and genetic organization of a new genomic island (AGI-3) isolated from the extraintestinal avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strain BEN2908 is reported. This 49,600-bp island is inserted at the selC locus and contains putative mobile genetic elements such as a phage-related integrase gene, transposase genes, and direct repeats. AGI-3 shows a mosaic structure of five modules. Some of these modules are present in other E. coli strains and in other pathogenic bacterial species. The gene cluster aec-35 to aec-37 of module 1 encodes proteins associated with carbohydrates assimilation such as a major facilitator superfamily transporter (Aec-36), a glycosidase (Aec-37), and a putative transcriptional regulator of the LacI family (Aec-35). The aec-35 to aec-37 cluster was found in 11.6% of the tested pathogenic and nonpathogenic E. coli strains. When present, the aec-35 to aec-37 cluster is strongly associated with the selC locus (97%). Deletion of the aec-35-aec-37 region affects the assimilation of seven carbohydrates, decreases the growth rate of the strain in minimal medium containing galacturonate or trehalose, and attenuates the virulence of E. coli BEN2908 for chickens.

scholarly journals CD45RA and CD45RC isoforms expression in weaned pigs vaccinated with non-enterotoxigenic F4ac+ Escherichia coli strain against colibacillosis

2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Božič ◽  
L. Švec ◽  
I. Valpotič
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Lymphocyte Activation ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
Spleen Cells ◽  
Weaned Pigs ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
E Coli

Since no effective vaccine is available for its immunoprophylaxis, porcine post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) induced by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains remains an important cause of morbidity. Live attenuated oral vaccines have been suggested to be relatively effective in preventing ETEC-induced PWD in the pigs, but the mechanisms responsible for protection have not been elucidated. In the present study we have investigated the likely impact of oral vaccination of weaned pigs with non-ETEC strain expressing F4ac antigen on CD45RA and CD45RC isoforms expression on the surface of the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells and on spleen cells by using one-colour flow cytometry. Additionally, to assess the activation state of T cells in the MLN and spleen of the pigs, surface expression of the lymphocyte activation marker CD25 was analysed. Sham-vaccinated weaned pigs served as controls. Our results of the quantitative phenotypic analysis of isolated lymphocytes showed that the vaccinal E. coli strain induced elevation of both CD25+ and CD45RC+ cells in the spleen, but not MLN, of the vaccinated weaned pigs. This was accompanied by decreased CD45RA expression on spleen cells, suggesting that CD45RA+ spleen cells could develop CD45RC phenotype, probably as a consequence of activation in the vaccinated challenge-infected weaned pigs.

scholarly journals Regulation of Expression of the TIR-Containing Protein C Gene of the Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain CFT073

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 549
Author(s):  
Julia Ittensohn ◽  
Jacqueline Hemberger ◽  
Hannah Griffiths ◽  
Maren Keller ◽  
Simone Albrecht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
Coli Strain ◽  
Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Reporter Construct ◽  
Regulation Of Expression ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Strain Cft073 ◽  
Myeloid Differentiation Factor

The uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain CFT073 causes kidney abscesses in mice Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing protein C (TcpC) dependently and the corresponding gene is present in around 40% of E. coli isolates of pyelonephritis patients. It impairs the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling chain and the NACHT leucin-rich repeat PYD protein 3 inflammasome (NLRP3) by binding to TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 as well as to NLRP3 and caspase-1, respectively. Overexpression of the tcpC gene stopped replication of CFT073. Overexpression of several tcpC-truncation constructs revealed a transmembrane region, while its TIR domain induced filamentous bacteria. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that tcpC expression is presumably tightly controlled. We tested two putative promoters designated P1 and P2 located at 5′ of the gene c2397 and 5′ of the tcpC gene (c2398), respectively, which may form an operon. High pH and increasing glucose concentrations stimulated a P2 reporter construct that was considerably stronger than a P1 reporter construct, while increasing FeSO4 concentrations suppressed their activity. Human urine activated P2, demonstrating that tcpC might be induced in the urinary tract of infected patients. We conclude that P2, consisting of a 240 bp region 5′ of the tcpC gene, represents the major regulator of tcpC expression.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document