Correlation of rpoS and ppGpp variability with virulence in Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)

• Grant number: 14/05350-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Beny Spira
• Grantee: Ariel Eurides Stella
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

STEC are microorganisms known to produce severe foodborne infection, especially in children. Among the foods implicated in the transmission of disease, those of animal origin are the most important, because ruminants are considered reservoirs of this agent. The populations of STEC in the gastrointestinal tract of animals reflect a heterogeneity which is resulting from the expression of certain genotypic characteristics that are routinely influenced by environmental stress to which the microorganism is exposed. The study of bacterial stress response is critical to better understand factors associated with the presence and placement of pathogens by food factors, because this is a generally adverse environment (low temperature , presence of preservatives , etc.) to the microorganism. In this sense, are objectives of this study characterization of STEC strains isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of sheep on the polymorphic genes associated with the general response to stress and its correlation with the virulence of the isolates . (AU)