Role of cytokines in modulating the induction of mucus production by atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) strains in intestinal cells in vitro

• Grant number: 22/12006-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: December 08, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Tânia Aparecida Tardelli Gomes do Amaral
• Grantee: Juan Josue Puño Sarmiento
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/14821-7 - Exploring novel virulence strategies in Escherichia coli, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/21847-6 - DYSREGULATED MUCIN PRODUCTION ASSESSMENT AS A RESPONSE TO ATYPICAL ENTEROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI (aEPEC) STRAINS INFECTIONS, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Infection of the intestinal epithelium by certain enteropathogens results in a modification in the expression of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines and the production of mucins. Our group demonstrated that some strains of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) significantly increase mucus production when inoculated into ligated rabbit ileal loops in vivo. In the same study, it was evidenced by immunofluorescence that these strains cause an increase in the production of mucins types 2, 3, 4, and 5AC in goblet cells in culture and an increase in the transcription of the mRNA of MUC4 and MUC5AC. There are no studies on potential modifications in the production of cytokines caused by infection with aEPEC strains of human origin during interaction with different models of intestinal cells. Thus, we are interested in understanding the possible correlation between the induction of mucus production by selected aEPEC strains and the altered production of specific cytokines in these models. For that, aEPEC interaction experiments will be carried out in ex vivo rabbit intestinal cell infection models to analyze the increase in mucus production, the change in the cytokine expression profile in these tissues, and the potential correlation between these phenomena. Identifying cellular mechanisms that lead to excessive mucus production resulting from the interaction of some strains of aEPEC with the intestinal mucosa may favor the design of adequate prophylactic measures, thus avoiding severe alterations in this organ.

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)

TROVAO, LIANA DE OLIVEIRA; VIEIRA, MONICA APARECIDA MIDOLLI; SANTOS, ANA CAROLINA DE MELLO; PUNO-SARMIENTO, JUAN JOSUE; NUNES, PEDRO HENRIQUE SOARES; SANTOS, FERNANDA FERNANDES; ROCHA, VICTORIA GALDINO PAVLENCO; KNOBL, TEREZINHA; NAVARRO-GARCIA, FERNANDO; GOMES, TANIA APARECIDA TARDELLI. Identification of a genomic cluster related to hypersecretion of intestinal mucus and mucinolytic activity of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC). FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, v. 14, p. 17-pg., 2024-12-04. (23/03097-7, 22/12006-2, 17/14821-7, 23/05910-7)

ROMAO, FABIANO T.; SANTOS, ANA C. M.; PUNO-SARMIENTO, JUAN J.; SPERANDIO, VANESSA; HERNANDES, RODRIGO T.; GOMES, TANIA A. T.. Expression of the locus of enterocyte effacement genes during the invasion process of the atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 1711-4 strain of serotype O51:H40. MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM, v. 12, n. 10, p. 16-pg., 2024-08-27. (17/14821-7, 22/12006-2, 23/05910-7, 11/12664-5)