1. Differences in virulence gene expression between atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic and healthy ruminants
- Author
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Carrión Herrero, Francisco Javier, Horcajo Iglesias, María Del Pilar, Domínguez Bernal, Gustavo Ramón, Fuente López, Ricardo De La, Ruiz Santa Quiteria Serrano De La Cruz, José Antonio, Orden Gutiérrez, José Antonio, Carrión Herrero, Francisco Javier, Horcajo Iglesias, María Del Pilar, Domínguez Bernal, Gustavo Ramón, Fuente López, Ricardo De La, Ruiz Santa Quiteria Serrano De La Cruz, José Antonio, and Orden Gutiérrez, José Antonio
- Abstract
Differences in the pathogenicity of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains may be due, at least partially, to different expression patterns of some virulence genes. To investigate this hypothesis, the virulence gene expression patterns of 6 atypical EPEC strains isolated from healthy and diarrheic ruminants were compared using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction after growing the bacteria in culture medium alone or after binding it to HeLa epithelial cells. Some virulence genes in strains from diarrheic animals were upregulated relative to their expression in strains from healthy animals. When bacteria were cultured in the presence of HeLa cells, the ehxA and efa1/lifA genes, previously associated with the production of diarrhea, were expressed at higher levels in strains from diarrheic animals than in strains from healthy animals. Thus, the expression levels of some virulence genes may help determine which atypical EPEC strains cause diarrhea in ruminants., Universidad Complutense de Madrid-Santander, INBAVET 920338, Depto. de Sanidad Animal, Fac. de Veterinaria, TRUE, pub
- Published
- 2024