The eae gene of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli encodes a 94-kilodalton membrane protein, the expression of which is influenced by the EAF plasmid.
The production of a characteristic intestinal histopathology called attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major characteristic of EPEC pathogenesis. We previously identified a chromosomal gene (eae) of EPEC necessary for the production of A/E lesions on human tissue culture cells. Using antiserum raised to an Eae-PhoA fusion protein, we found that the eae gene encodes a 94-kDa membrane protein. This antiserum recognized a 94-kDa membrane protein in parent strain E2348/69 and a protein of similar size in E. coli HB101 carrying eae on a plasmid but did not recognize any proteins in E. coli HB101 carrying a plasmid with an internal deletion in the eae gene. Antigenically related proteins of ca. 94 kDa were detected in a collection of EPEC strains representing seven EPEC serogroups and in two EHEC strains of serotype O26:H11. Volunteer sera drawn 28 days after but not before ingestion of strain E2348/69 recognized the 94-kDa Eae protein as well as a 128-kDa Eae-PhoA fusion protein, suggesting that the Eae protein is likely to be a previously reported 94-kDa protein shown to be immunogenic in volunteers. The amount of detectable Eae protein was increased in the presence of a high-molecular-weight plasmid which is associated with the ability to produce localized adherence to tissue culture cells. These data suggest that the virulence plasmid of EPEC strain E2348/69 may have a regulatory role in the production of A/E activity.
Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
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AE
Jerse
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JB
Kaper
D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D010957:Plasmids; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase