Prevalence and phenotypic and molecular characterization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolated from children with and without diarrhea in Botucatu, São Paulo

• Grant number: 12/19077-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2013 - September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Tavanelli Hernandes
• Grantee: Rodrigo Tavanelli Hernandes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: José Maurício Sforcin

Abstract

Diarrhea is a major public health problem worldwide, accounting for more than two million deaths each year, especially among children under five years of age. Escherichia coli associated with intestinal infections in both children and adults are known as diarrheagenic E. coli and are classified into six distinct pathotypes, considering their virulence mechanisms, the clinical syndromes, serotypes (O:H), the epidemiological aspects and type of interaction with cell lines cultured in vitro. The diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes are: enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC). Currently, EPEC have been divided into typical and atypical based on the presence of pEAF (with the bfp operon expression) in typical EPEC and its absence in atypical EPEC. Epidemiological studies conducted in different geographical regions of Brazil, on the etiology of diarrheal disease, have demonstrated that atypical EPEC and EAEC pathotypes are among the most frequent agents. Previous studies conducted in Botucatu in the late 90s, also pointed to a high prevalence of EAEC among diarrheal children. However, EAEC and atypical EPEC have been isolated in equal frequency from children with and without diarrhea making the association of these pathotypes of diarrheagenic E. coli as infectious agents of the gastrointestinal tract difficult. The role of atypical EPEC as an important causative agent of gastrointestinal infections can be supported by the involvement of these bacteria in outbreaks of acute diarrhea, affecting not only children but also adults. This observation reinforces the need to explore atypical EPEC isolates looking for virulence markers to identify potentially pathogenic isolates in this heterogeneous population. The main objective of this project includes investigating the prevalence and association of different pathotypes of diarrheagenic E. coli, Shigella e Salmonella among children under 5 years of age in Botucatu with diarrheal disease, as well as phenotypic and molecular characterization of the isolates of diarrheagenic E. coli, especially atypical EPEC currently considered an emerging pathotype both in developed and in developing countries. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(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)

VIEIRA, MELISSA A.; DIAS, REGIANE C. B.; DOS SANTOS, LUIS F.; RALL, VERA L. M.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.. Diversity of strategies used by atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to induce attaching and effacing lesion in epithelial cells. Journal of Medical Microbiology, v. 68, n. 6, p. 940-951, JUN 2019. (12/19077-0, 15/26207-6, 13/23414-5)

VIEIRA, MELISSA A.; DOS SANTOS, LUIS F.; DIAS, REGIANE C. B.; CAMARGO, CARLOS H.; PINHEIRO, SANDRA R. S.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.. Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli as aetiologic agents of sporadic and outbreak-associated diarrhoea in Brazil. Journal of Medical Microbiology, v. 65, n. 9, p. 998-1006, SEP 2016. (12/19077-0, 13/23414-5)

PITONDO-SILVA, ANDRE; NAKAZATO, GERSON; FALCAO, JULIANA P.; IRINO, KINUE; MARTINEZ, ROBERTO; DARINI, ANA LUCIA C.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO TAVANELLI. Phenotypic and genetic features of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from diarrheal children in the Ribeirao Preto metropolitan area, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. APMIS, v. 123, n. 2, p. 128-135, FEB 2015. (12/19077-0)

DIAS, REGIANE C. B.; DOS SANTOS, BRUNA C.; DOS SANTOS, LUIS F.; VIEIRA, MELISSA A.; YAMATOGI, RICARDO S.; MONDELLI, ALESSANDRO L.; SADATSUNE, TERUE; SFORCIN, JOSE M.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes investigation revealed atypical enteropathogenic E-coli as putative emerging diarrheal agents in children living in Botucatu, SAo Paulo State, Brazil. APMIS, v. 124, n. 4, p. 299-308, APR 2016. (12/19077-0, 13/05170-1)

VIEIRA, MELISSA A.; DOS SANTOS, LUIS F.; DIAS, REGIANE C. B.; CAMARGO, CARLOS H.; PINHEIRO, SANDRA R. S.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.. Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli as aetiologic agents of sporadic and outbreak-associated diarrhoea in Brazil. Journal of Medical Microbiology, v. 65, p. 9-pg., 2016-09-01. (13/23414-5, 12/19077-0)

TANABE, RODRIGO H. S.; VIEIRA, MELISSA A.; MARIANO, NOELLE A. B.; DIAS, REGIANE C. B.; DA SILVA, RAFAEL VENTIN; CASTRO, CAROLINE M.; DOS SANTOS, LUIS F.; CAMARGO, CARLOS H.; YAMATOGI, RICARDO S.; RALL, VERA L. M.; et al. Identification and characterization of atypical enteropathogenic and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from ground beef and poultry breast purchased in Botucatu, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 50, n. 4, p. 1099-1103, OCT 2019. (12/19077-0, 13/03460-2, 13/23414-5)