Project description:Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) is a significant human pathogens that cause outbreaks of haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome. During infection, pathogens compete for iron with the host, and one mechanism by which EHEC obtains iron is through haem uptake and utilitisation which is encoded by the chu operon. We have demonstrated that the haem receptor chuA is regulated by the Crp-cAMP-dependent sRNA CyaR. We further demonstrate that activation of chuA by CyaR is independent of the chuA RNA-thermometer and termination by Rho. These results highlight the ability of regulatory sRNAs to integrate multiple environmental signals into a layered hierarchy of signal input.
Project description:Two lineages of enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EDL933, Stx1+ and Stx2+) and 86-24 (Stx2+) were investigated in regards to biofilm formation on an abiotic surface. Strikingly, EDL933 strain formed a robust biofilm while 86-24 strain formed no biofilm on either a polystyrene plate or a polyethylene tube. To identify the genetic mechanisms of different biofilm formation in two EHEC strains, DNA microarrays were first performed and phenotypic assays were followed. In the comparison of the EDL933 strain versus 86-24 strain, genes (csgBAC and csgDEFG) involved in curli biosynthesis were significantly induced while genes (trpLEDCB and mtr) involved in indole signaling were repressed. Additionally, a dozen of phage genes were differentially present between two strains. Curli assays using a Congo red plate and scanning electron microscopy corroborate the microarray data as the EDL 933 strain produces a large amount of curli, while 86-24 forms much less curli. Also, the indole production in the EDL933 was 2-times lower than that of 86-24. It was known that curli formation positively regulates and indole negatively regulates biofilm formation of EHEC. Hence, it appears that less curli formation and high indole production in the 86-24 strain are majorly responsible for no biofilm formation.
Project description:Transcript abundance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 was determined in the presence or absence of pulsed expression of the small RNA, AsxR.
Project description:There is increasing evidence to support a role for sigma factor 54 (RpoN) in the regulation of stress resistance factors and protein secretion systems important to bacterial transmission and pathogenesis. In enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7, acid resistance and type III secretion are essential determinants of gastric passage and colonization. This study thus described the transcriptome of an rpoN null strain of E. coli O157:H7 (EcJR-8) to determine the influence of RpoN on virulence and stress resistance gene regulation, and further explored its contribution to glutamate-dependent acid resistance (GDAR). Inactivation of rpoN resulted in the growth phase-dependent, differential expression of 104 genes. This included type III secretion structural and regulatory genes encoded on the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), as well as GDAR genes gadA, gadBC and gadE. Upregulation of gad transcript levels in EcJR-8 during logarithmic growth correlated with increased GDAR and survival in a model stomach. Acid susceptibility was reconstituted in EcJR-8 complemented in trans with wild-type rpoN. Acid resistance in EcJR-8 was dependent on exogenous glutamate, gadE and rpoS, but was independent of hns. Results also suggest that GDAR may be controlled by RpoN at multiple regulatory levels. This study supports the hypothesis that RpoN is an important regulator of virulence and stress resistance factors in E. coli O157:H7, and is the first to examine the mechanism by which it represses GDAR.
Project description:Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains have been classified into different genotypes based on the presence of specific shiga toxin-encoding bacteriophage insertion sites. Genotypes that are predominant in clinical isolates are named clinical genotypes and those that are isolated mostly from bovine sources are bovine-biased genotypes. To determine whether inherent differences in gene expression could possibly explain the variation in infectivity of these genotypes, we compared the expression patterns of O157:H7 strains isolated from cattle, which belonged to either clinical genotype 1 or bovine-biased genotype 5. Important virulence factors of O157, including locus of enterocyte effacement, enterohemolysin, and pO157 plasmid encoded genes, showed increased expression in clinical genotype. Genes essential for acid resistance such as gadA, gadB, and gadC and other stress fitness-associated genes were up-regulated in the bovine-biased genotype 5. Overall, these results suggest that clinical genotype 1 strains more commonly cause human illness because of an enhanced ability to express O157 virulence factors known to be important for disease pathogenesis. By contrast, strains of the bovine-biased genotype 5 appear to be more resistant to adverse environmental conditions, which enable them to survive well in bovines without causing disease.
Project description:Two lineages of enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EDL933, Stx1+ and Stx2+) and 86-24 (Stx2+) were investigated in regards to biofilm formation on an abiotic surface. Strikingly, EDL933 strain formed a robust biofilm while 86-24 strain formed no biofilm on either a polystyrene plate or a polyethylene tube. To identify the genetic mechanisms of different biofilm formation in two EHEC strains, DNA microarrays were first performed and phenotypic assays were followed. In the comparison of the EDL933 strain versus 86-24 strain, genes (csgBAC and csgDEFG) involved in curli biosynthesis were significantly induced while genes (trpLEDCB and mtr) involved in indole signaling were repressed. Additionally, a dozen of phage genes were differentially present between two strains. Curli assays using a Congo red plate and scanning electron microscopy corroborate the microarray data as the EDL 933 strain produces a large amount of curli, while 86-24 forms much less curli. Also, the indole production in the EDL933 was 2-times lower than that of 86-24. It was known that curli formation positively regulates and indole negatively regulates biofilm formation of EHEC. Hence, it appears that less curli formation and high indole production in the 86-24 strain are majorly responsible for no biofilm formation. For the microarray experiments, E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 and 86-24 were inoculated in 25 ml of LB in 250 ml shake flasks with overnight cultures that were diluted 1:100. Cells were shaken at 250 rpm and 37°C for an absorbance of 4.0 at 600 nm. Cells were immediately chilled with dry ice and 95% ethanol (to prevent RNA degradation) for 30 sec before centrifugation in 50 ml centrifuge tubes at 13,000 g for 2 min; cell pellets were frozen immediately with dry ice and stored -80°C. RNA was isolated using Qiagen RNeasy mini Kit (Valencia, CA, USA). RNA quality was assessed by Agilent 2100 bioanalyser using the RNA 6000 Nano Chip (Agilent Technologies, Amstelveen, The Netherlands), and quantity was determined by ND-1000 Spectrophotometer (NanoDrop Technologies, Inc., DE, USA).
Project description:Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains have been classified into different genotypes based on the presence of specific shiga toxin-encoding bacteriophage insertion sites. Genotypes that are predominant in clinical isolates are named clinical genotypes and those that are isolated mostly from bovine sources are bovine-biased genotypes. To determine whether inherent differences in gene expression could possibly explain the variation in infectivity of these genotypes, we compared the expression patterns of O157:H7 strains isolated from cattle, which belonged to either clinical genotype 1 or bovine-biased genotype 5. Important virulence factors of O157, including locus of enterocyte effacement, enterohemolysin, and pO157 plasmid encoded genes, showed increased expression in clinical genotype. Genes essential for acid resistance such as gadA, gadB, and gadC and other stress fitness-associated genes were up-regulated in the bovine-biased genotype 5. Overall, these results suggest that clinical genotype 1 strains more commonly cause human illness because of an enhanced ability to express O157 virulence factors known to be important for disease pathogenesis. By contrast, strains of the bovine-biased genotype 5 appear to be more resistant to adverse environmental conditions, which enable them to survive well in bovines without causing disease. The results are based on O157:H7 clinical and bovine-biased genotype cultures grown in DMEM medium to exponential phase. Four strains were selected from each genotype and strains were considered as biological replicates. A double loop microarray design was used for comparing the samples. Differences in transcript levels were determined using a mixed model ANOVA in R/MAANOVA which tested for significant differences due to strain (clinical or bovine-biased) using the following linear model: array+dye+sample (biological replicate)+strain+error. We incorporated the dye-swaps among the biological replicates.
Project description:AimTo establish the rapid, specific, and sensitive method for detecting O157:H7 with DNA microchips.MethodsSpecific oligonucleotide probes (26-28 nt) of bacterial antigenic and virulent genes of E. coli O157:H7 and other related pathogen genes were pre-synthesized and immobilized on a solid support to make microchips. The four genes encoding O157 somatic antigen (rfbE), H7 flagellar antigen (fliC) and toxins (SLT1, SLT2) were monitored by multiplex PCR with four pairs of specific primers. Fluorescence-Cy3 labeled samples for hybridization were generated by PCR with Cy3-labeled single prime. Hybridization was performed for 60 min at 45 degrees. Microchip images were taken using a confocal fluorescent scanner.ResultsTwelve different bacterial strains were detected with various combinations of four virulent genes. All the O157:H7 strains yielded positive results by multiplex PCR. The size of the PCR products generated with these primers varied from 210 to 678 bp. All the rfbE/fliC/SLT1/SLT2 probes specifically recognized Cy3-labeled fluorescent samples from O157:H7 strains, or strains containing O157 and H7 genes. No cross hybridization of O157:H7 fluorescent samples occurred in other probes. Non-O157:H7 pathogens failed to yield any signal under comparable conditions. If the Cy3-labeled fluorescent product of O157 single PCR was diluted 50-fold, no signal was found in agarose gel electrophoresis, but a positive signal was found in microarray hybridization.ConclusionMicroarray analysis of O157:H7 is a rapid, specific, and efficient method for identification and detection of bacterial pathogens.
Project description:Transcript abundance in Escherichia coli O157:H7 was determined in the presence or absence of pulsed expression of the small RNA, AsxR. AsxR was cloned under the control the arabinose inducible promoter Para. Escherichia coli O157:H7 str. TUV93-0 with pAsxR or empty vector was cultured in MEM-HEPES media to an OD600 of 0.8 and 0.2% arabinose added. 10min after addition of arabinose 10ml of cells were harvested and and pellets resuspended in 1ml of Trizol and total RNA isolated. RNAs were labelled using the SuperScript Plus indirect cDNA labelling System. Triplicate control RNAs were pooled and hybridised to seperate AsxR test RNAs on three microarays. Arrays were hybridised using the Maui hybridisation platform and Scann using and Axon Autoloader Scanner. GenePix software was used to analyse images and GPR files were analysed using Genespring 7.3.1.
Project description:Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen that causes bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Hfq is an sRNA chaperone protein that is involved in post-transcriptional regulation of virulence genes in pathogenic bacteria. In EHEC strain EDL933, Hfq acts a negative regulator of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) that encodes most of the proteins involved in type three secretion and attaching and effacing lesions. We deleted hfq in E. coli O157:H7 strain 86-24 and compared global transcription profiles of the hfq mutant to the wild type strain in exponential growth phase. Deletion of hfq affected transcription of genes common to nonpathogenic and pathogenic strains of E. coli as well as pathogen-specific genes. Downregulated genes in the hfq mutant included ler as well as genes encoded in LEE2-5 that encode for type three secretion and AE lesion formation. Decreased expression of the LEE genes in the hfq mutant occurred at mid-, late, and stationary growth phases in both LB and DMEM media as detected by qRT-PCR. We also confirmed decreased regulation of the LEE genes by examining secreted proteins and AE lesion formation by the hfq mutant and WT strains. Deletion of hfq also caused decreased expression of the two-component system qseBC involved in inter-kingdom signaling and virulence gene regulation in EHEC as well as an increase in stx2AB expression that encodes for the deadly Shiga toxin. Altogether, these data indicate that Hfq plays a different regulatory role in EHEC 86-24 from what has been reported for EHEC strain EDL933 and that the role of Hfq in EHEC virulence regulation extends beyond the LEE.