Development of new diagnostic options for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli as an important diarrheal pathogen

• Grant number: 18/04144-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2020
• End date: January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Agreement: EU-CELAC IG (former ERA.Net - LAC)
• Principal Investigator: Waldir Pereira Elias Junior
• Grantee: Waldir Pereira Elias Junior
• Principal researcher abroad: Ulrich Dobrindt
• Institution abroad: University of Munster, Germany
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Roxane Maria Fontes Piazza
• Associated research grant(s): 23/00712-2 - New diagnostic options for enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), AP.R SPRINT

Abstract

Diarrhea is an important disease burden worldwide. It causes considerable childhood mortality in the developing world and is associated with morbidity and substantial health care costs also in industrialized countries. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) are a major cause of acute diarrhea in developing and industrialized regions. So far, the gold standard for EAEC identification is the recognition of the so-called "stacked-brick" adherence phenotype on HEp-2 cells. Molecular techniques have been developed to detect pathogenic EAEC strains, and various gene targets have been used. Nevertheless, no consensus has been reached so far, on which EAEC marker genes unambiguously correlate with pathogenicity. Thus, our aim is to increase the diagnostic sensitivity of EAEC. Whole genome sequencing of larger sets of well-defined clinical isolates and consecutive comparative genomic studies will identify targets that can be used to improve EAEC detection and risk assessment, e.g. translating into the development of a biosensor for sensitive EAEC detection in urine, blood or stool. As the individual contribution of EAEC to the development of diarrhea, especially in mixed infections, is often unclear, intestinal microbiome analyses of patients will shed further light on host microbiome factors associated with EAEC-associated diarrhea and thus facilitate EAEC typing and diagnosis. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FREIRE, CLAUDIA A. A.; RODRIGUES, BEATRIZ O. O.; ELIAS, WALDIR P. P.; ABE, CECILIA M. M.. Adhesin related genes as potential markers for the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli category. FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, v. 12, p. 8-pg., 2022-11-08. (18/04144-0)

SCHUEROFF, PAULO A.; SALVADOR, FABIA A.; ABE, CECILIA M.; WAMI, HALELUYA T.; CARVALHO, ENEAS; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; DOBRINDT, ULRICH; GOMES, TANIA A. T.; ELIAS, WALDIR P.. The aggregate-forming pili (AFP) mediates the aggregative adherence of a hybrid-pathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC/EAEC) isolated from a urinary tract infection. VIRULENCE, v. 12, n. 1, p. 3073-3093, DEC 31 2021. (18/06610-9, 18/04144-0)

SCHUEROFF, PAULO A.; ABE, CECILIA M.; SILVA, JONATAS W.; COELHO, CIDELI DE PAULA; ANDRADE, FERNANDA B.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; DOBRINDT, ULRICH; GOMES, TANIA A. T.; ELIAS, WALDIR P.. Role of aggregate-forming pilus (AFP) in adherence and colonization of both intestinal and urinary tracts. VIRULENCE, v. 13, n. 1, p. 11-pg., 2022-12-31. (18/06610-9, 18/04144-0)