Analysis of bacterial diversity and characterization of Escherichia coli isolates from the enteric microbiota of inflammatory bowel disease patients

• Grant number: 08/10975-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: June 01, 2009 - November 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Josias Rodrigues
• Grantee: Josias Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by the occurrence of multiple lesions along the gastrointestinal tract (GI) causing discomfort and in extreme situations seriously affecting the life quality of the patients. The lesions can be restricted to the colon and manifest superficial and diffusely across the mucosa, a picture marking the ulcerative colitis IBD clinical variant, or identified as deep and focal inflammatory reactions in any part of the GI - signs that distinguish Crohn's disease. Multiple factors are involved in the genesis of these lesions, among which an imbalance in species composition of intestinal microbiota. Escherichia coli, for example, are increased in IBD patients, and several evidences support their involvement at least in the complication of the symptoms of disease. Strongest evidence, maybe, comes from the studies conducted with the "Adherent and Invasive" Escherichia coli strains. The invasive ability and intracellular survival of these bacteria in regional macrophages seem to play a role in the triggering and perpetuation of inflammatory reactions subjacent to the signs of Crohn's disease. On the basis of this and other available data concerning the association of intestinal microbiota with IBD, the central aim of this project is to make an evaluation of the bacteria composition of luminal and mucosal-associated microbiota of IBD patients and controls, using both quantitative and qualitative assays targeting culturable as well as non-culturable organisms. In addition, a detailed analysis of the virulence properties of the identified Escherichia coli isolates is proposed. (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)

DE SOUZA, HELTON LUIS; DE CARVALHO, VANESSA R.; ROMEIRO, FERNANDO GOMES; SASSAKI, LIGIA YUKIE; KELLER, ROGERIA; RODRIGUES, JOSIAS. Mucosa-associated but not luminal Escherichia coli is augmented in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. GUT PATHOGENS, v. 4, DEC 13 2012. (08/10975-0)

THOMAZINI, CRISTIANE M.; SAMEGIMA, DANIELLE A. G.; RODRIGUES, MARIA A. M.; VICTORIA, CARLOS R.; RODRIGUES, JOSIAS. High prevalence of aggregative adherent Escherichia coli strains in the mucosa-associated microbiota of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, v. 301, n. 6, p. 475-479, AUG 2011. (08/10975-0)