Quorum sensing in Escherichia coli

• Grant number: 08/05519-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2009
• End date: December 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Palma Sircili
• Grantee: Marcelo Palma Sircili
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) are part of a group of pathogens that are able to cause a characteristic lesion in cultured intestinal epithelial cells named attaching and effacing (A/E). This lesion is characterized by the disruption of intestinal microvilli, intimate adherence of bacteria and reorganization of citoskeleton proteins, resulting in a pedestal formation. The genes responsible for A/E lesion are localized in a 35, 6 kb pathogenicity island named Locus of Enterocyte Effacement (LEE). The LEE genes transcription is regulated by several factors, including quorum sensing. Quorum sensing is utilized to define a density dependent system of gene regulation. This system is used by both Gram positive and Gram negative strains, and is based on the production and detection of extracellular signaling molecules called autoinducers. The aim of this study is verify the influence of normal intestinal microbiota in the virulence of typical and atypical EPEC strains. (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)

BELIZARIO, JOSE E.; SIRCILI, MARCELO P.. Novel biotechnological approaches for monitoring and immunization against resistant to antibiotics Escherichia coli and other pathogenic bacteria. BMC Veterinary Research, v. 16, n. 1, NOV 2 2020. (12/02497-7, 14/20847-0, 10/06707-0, 08/05519-6)