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Autotransporters but not pAA are critical for rabbit colonization by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4

Author

Listed:
  • Diana Munera

    (Brigham & Women’s Hospital
    Harvard Medical School
    HHMI)

  • Jennifer M. Ritchie

    (Brigham & Women’s Hospital
    Harvard Medical School
    Present address: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK)

  • Stavroula K. Hatzios

    (Brigham & Women’s Hospital
    Harvard Medical School
    HHMI)

  • Rod Bronson

    (Harvard Medical School)

  • Gang Fang

    (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

  • Eric E. Schadt

    (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

  • Brigid M. Davis

    (Brigham & Women’s Hospital
    Harvard Medical School
    HHMI)

  • Matthew K. Waldor

    (Brigham & Women’s Hospital
    Harvard Medical School
    HHMI)

Abstract

The outbreak of diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome that occurred in Germany in 2011 was caused by a Shiga toxin-producing enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strain. The strain was classified as EAEC owing to the presence of a plasmid (pAA) that mediates a characteristic pattern of aggregative adherence on cultured cells, the defining feature of EAEC that has classically been associated with virulence. Here we describe an infant rabbit-based model of intestinal colonization and diarrhoea caused by the outbreak strain, which we use to decipher the factors that mediate the pathogen’s virulence. Shiga toxin is the key factor required for diarrhoea. Unexpectedly, we observe that pAA is dispensable for intestinal colonization and development of intestinal pathology. Instead, chromosome-encoded autotransporters are critical for robust colonization and diarrhoeal disease in this model. Our findings suggest that conventional wisdom linking aggregative adherence to EAEC intestinal colonization is false for at least a subset of strains.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana Munera & Jennifer M. Ritchie & Stavroula K. Hatzios & Rod Bronson & Gang Fang & Eric E. Schadt & Brigid M. Davis & Matthew K. Waldor, 2014. "Autotransporters but not pAA are critical for rabbit colonization by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O104:H4," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4080
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4080
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