Abstract
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is defined by its characteristic aggregative adherence (AA) pattern to HEp-2 cells. The AA phenotype is mediated by plasmid-encoded aggregative adhesion fimbriae (AAF) and regulated by the pAA plasmid-encoded transcriptional activator AggR. Strains containing the AggR regulon are referred to as typical EAEC, in contrast, atypical EAEC strains lack…