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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)

Articles published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the research grant:
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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., . (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, . (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., . (18/06610-9, 18/04144-0)