Exploring the interactions of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli with intestinal cells in vitro and in vivo

• Grant number: 11/12664-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Tânia Aparecida Tardelli Gomes do Amaral
• Grantee: Tânia Aparecida Tardelli Gomes do Amaral
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cecilia Mari Abe ; Denise Yamamoto ; Mônica Aparecida Midolli Vieira ; Rodrigo Tavanelli Hernandes

Abstract

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) comprise two distinct groups of organisms: typical EPEC (tEPEC), which produce the so called the bundle-forming pilus, and atypical EPEC (aEPEC), which are devoid of these fimbriae. Both contain the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), a pathogenicity island that encodes a Type Three Secretion System (T3SS) and several effector proteins, which are responsible for the formation of the characteristic attaching and effacing lesion (A/E). For several years, we have explored various aspects of the pathogenicity of EPEC. We have shown that aEPEC present phenotypic and genotypic characteristics far more diverse than those of tEPEC, with some strains showing unusual properties, such as the ability to invade intestinal cells, adhere via flagella and exacerbate mucus production in vivo. Moreover, we have found additional adhesive properties in some strains of classic serotypes of tEPEC (e.g., O119:H6). These facts portray the high plasticity of the E. coli genome and justify the need of a better characterization of how these strains have evolved and the identification of possible newly acquired virulence properties. Using selected strains of aEPEC and tEPEC, in this study, we intend to evaluate: aspects of their adherence to intestinal cells in vitro, focusing on the role of the flagellum, T3SS proteins and effector proteins secreted by this system; the dynamics of their interaction with intestinal cells in vitro and the role of some T3SS- dependent effector proteins on this interaction; the ability of persistence (biofilm production and maintenance in the intracellular millieu), and aspects of their interaction (adherence, invasion, translocation, and/or induction of mucus production) in the intestines of rabbits and rats. (AU)

Scientific publications

(14)

(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)

SANTOS, FERNANDA F.; YAMAMOTO, DENISE; ABE, CECILIA M.; BRYANT, JACK A.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; KITAMURA, FELIPE C.; CASTRO, FELIPE S.; VALIATTI, TIAGO B.; PIAZZA, ROXANE M. F.; ELIAS, WALDIR P.; et al. The Type III Secretion System (T3SS)-Translocon of Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) Can Mediate Adherence. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 10, JUL 9 2019. (11/12664-5)

LIMA, MAURICIO P.; YAMAMOTO, DENISE; DE MELLO SANTOS, ANA CAROLINA; OOKA, TADASUKE; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; VIEIRA, MONICA A. M.; SANTOS, FERNANDA FERNANDES; SILVA, ROSA MARIA; HAYASHI, TETSUYA; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Phenotypic characterization and virulence-related properties of Escherichia albertii strains isolated from children with diarrhea in Brazil. PATHOGENS AND DISEASE, v. 77, n. 2, MAR 2019. (11/12664-5)

SALVADOR, FABIA A.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; VIEIRA, MONICA A. M.; ROCKSTROH, ANNA C.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Distribution of non-LEE-encoded type 3 secretion system dependent effectors in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 45, n. 3, p. 851-855, JUL-SEP 2014. (11/12664-5)

ROMAO, FABIANO T.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; YAMAMOTO, DENISE; OSUGUI, LIKA; POPI, ANA FLAVIA; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Influence of environmental factors in the adherence of an atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain to epithelial cells. BMC Microbiology, v. 14, DEC 20 2014. (11/12664-5)

GARCIA, BRUNA G.; OOKA, TADASUKE; GOTOH, YASUHIRO; VIEIRA, MONICA A. M.; YAMAMOTO, DENISE; OGURA, YOSHITOSHI; GIRAO, DENNYS M.; SAMPAIO, SUELY C. F.; MELO, ALEXIS BONFIM; IRINO, KINUE; et al. Genetic relatedness and virulence properties of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains of serotype O119:H6 expressing localized adherence or localized and aggregative adherence-like patterns on HeLa cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, v. 306, n. 3, p. 152-164, MAY 2016. (11/12664-5, 11/06469-5)

SAMPAIO, SUELY C. F.; LUIZ, WILSON B.; VIEIRA, MONICA A. M.; FERREIRA, RITA C. C.; GARCIA, BRUNA G.; SINIGAGLIA-COIMBRA, RITA; SAMPAIO, JORGE L. M.; FERREIRA, LUIS C. S.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Flagellar Cap Protein FliD Mediates Adherence of Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to Enterocyte Microvilli. Infection and Immunity, v. 84, n. 4, p. 1112-1122, APR 2016. (11/12664-5)

PACHECO, VERONICA C. R.; YAMAMOTO, DENISE; ABE, CECILIA M.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; MORA, AZUCENA; BLANCO, JORGE; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Invasion of differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells is a sporadic property among atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains carrying common intimin subtypes. PATHOGENS AND DISEASE, v. 70, n. 2, p. 167-175, MAR 2014. (11/12664-5, 10/03108-9)

HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; DE LA CRUZ, MIGUEL A.; YAMAMOTO, DENISE; GIRON, JORGE A.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Dissection of the Role of Pili and Type 2 and 3 Secretion Systems in Adherence and Biofilm Formation of an Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain. Infection and Immunity, v. 81, n. 10, p. 3793-3802, OCT 2013. (11/12664-5)

ROMAO, FABIANO TEODORO; HERNANDES, RODRIGO TAVANELLI; OOKA, TADASUKE; HAYASHI, TETSUYA; SPERANDIO, VANESSA; TARDELLI GOMES, TANIA APARECIDA. Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia albertii Strain 1551-2, a Potential Extracellular and Intracellular Pathogen. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 6, n. 9, p. 2-pg., 2018-03-01. (11/12664-5)

SAMPAIO, SUELY C. F.; MOREIRA, FABIANA C.; LIBERATORE, ANA M. A.; VIEIRA, MONICA A. M.; KNOBL, TEREZINHA; ROMAO, FABIANO T.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; FERREIRA, CLAUDETE S. A.; FERREIRA, ANTONIO P.; FELIPE-SILVA, ALOISIO; et al. Analysis of the Virulence of an Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain In Vitro and In Vivo and the Influence of Type Three Secretion System. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, 2014. (11/12664-5)

ROMAO, FABIANO TEODORO; HERNANDES, RODRIGO TAVANELLI; OOKA, TADASUKE; HAYASHI, TETSUYA; SPERANDIO, VANESSA; TARDELLI GOMES, TANIA APARECIDA. Complete Genome Sequence of Escherichia albertii Strain 1551-2, a Potential Extracellular and Intracellular Pathogen. MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 6, n. 9, MAR 2018. (11/12664-5)

YAMAMOTO, DENISE; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; LIBERATORE, ANA MARIA A.; ABE, CECILIA M.; DE SOUZA, RODRIGO B.; ROMAO, FABIANO T.; SPERANDIO, VANESSA; KOH, IVAN H.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Escherichia albertii, a novel human enteropathogen, colonizes rat enterocytes and translocates to extra-intestinal sites. PLoS One, v. 12, n. 2, FEB 8 2017. (11/12664-5)

SAMPAIO, SUELY C. F.; MOREIRA, FABIANA C.; LIBERATORE, ANA M. A.; VIEIRA, MONICA A. M.; KNOBL, TEREZINHA; ROMAO, FABIANO T.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; FERREIRA, CLAUDETE S. A.; FERREIRA, ANTONIO P.; FELIPE-SILVA, ALOISIO; et al. Analysis of the Virulence of an Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain In Vitro and In Vivo and the Influence of Type Three Secretion System. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, v. 2014, p. 9-pg., 2014-01-01. (11/12664-5)

ROMAO, FABIANO T.; MARTINS, FERNANDO H.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; OOKA, TADASUKE; SANTOS, FERNANDA F.; YAMAMOTO, DENISE; BONFIM-MELO, ALEXIS; JONES, NINA; HAYASHI, TETSUYA; ELIAS, WALDIR P.; et al. Genomic Properties and Temporal Analysis of the Interaction of an Invasive Escherichia albertii With Epithelial Cells. FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, v. 10, DEC 16 2020. (11/12664-5)