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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Meat Safety and Quality » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387908
Research Project: Identification, Genomic Characterization, and Metabolic Modeling of Foodborne Pathogens in the Meat Production Continuum

Location: Meat Safety and Quality

Title: Whole-genome sequencing analysis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O22:H8 isolated from cattle prediction pathogenesis and colonization factors and position in STEC universe phylogeny

Author
item MARQUES DA SILVA, WANDERSON - Instituto Nacional De Tecnologia Agropecuaria
item LARZABAL, MARIANO - Instituto Nacional De Tecnologia Agropecuaria
item FIGUEIRA ABURJAILE, FLAVIA - Federal University Of Minas Gerais
item RIVIERI, NAHUEL - Instituto Nacional De Tecnologia Agropecuaria
item MARTORELLI, LUISINA - Instituto Nacional De Tecnologia Agropecuaria
item Bono, James - Jim
item AMADIO, ARIEL - Instituto Nacional De Tecnologia Agropecuaria
item CATALDI, ANGEL - Instituto Nacional De Tecnologia Agropecuaria

Submitted to: Journal of Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2022
Publication Date: 6/22/2022
Citation: Marques Da Silva, W., Larzabal, M., Figueira Aburjaile, F., Rivieri, N., Martorelli, L., Bono, J.L., Amadio, A., Cataldi, A. 2022. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O22:H8 isolated from cattle prediction pathogenesis and colonization factors and position in STEC universe phylogeny. Journal of Microbiology. 60:689-704. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1616-z.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1616-z

Interpretive Summary: Shiga toxin-containing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157) is a bacterium that causes foodborne illness and is naturally occurring in cattle. Interventions, including vaccines and feed additives, have been developed to prevent cattle from shedding STEC O157 in their feces, however none have been successful. Recently, a STEC isolate belonging to serotype O22:H8 inhibited STEC O157 colonization and growth both in the laboratory and in cattle. To understand what genetic elements were responsible for this result, the complete genome of this isolate was sequenced. A set of genes that appear to enhance bacterial competition for resources might be directly related to the inhibition of STEC O157 in the laboratory and in cattle. These data show that gene acquisition has an essential role in pathogenic and adaptive behavior of STEC strains, which might represent an advantage against endogenous microbiota and other pathogenic bacteria during the infection process.

Technical Abstract: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a pathogen capable of causing illness in humans. In a previous study, our group showed that a STEC isolate belonging to O22:H8 serotype (strain 154) is able to interfere with STEC O157:H7 colonization both in vitro and in vivo. Using whole-genome sequencing and genomic comparative, we predicted a subset of genes acquired by O22:H8 strain 154 through horizontal gene transfer that might be responsible for the phenotype previously described by our group. Among them, were identified genes related to the pathogenesis of Non-LEE STEC, specific metabolic processes, antibiotic resistance and genes encoded by the T6SS-1 that is related to inter-bacterial competition. In addition, we showed that this strain carries stx1c and stx2dact, a mucus-inducible variant. The results obtained in this study provide insights into STEC genomic plasticity and the importance of genomic islands in the adaptation and pathogenesis of this pathogen.