Identification and characterization of "pathoadaptive mutations" of the cadBA operon in several intestinal Escherichia coli.
The dysenteric Shigella spp. and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) have evolved from commensal E. coli by the acquisition of a virulence plasmid and inactivation of genes of the cad locus encoding lysine decarboxylase (LDC) by so-called pathoadaptive mutation. As horizontal gene transfer and recombination occurs frequently in E. coli we were interested to see if similar pathoadaptive mutations are commonly present in other intestinal pathotypes. Therefore, we examined 140 intestinal E. coli strains of various pathotypes and the ECOR collection for their ability to decarboxylate lysine, and identified 25 strains that were unable to do so. Complementation of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and two enteropathogenic E. coli strains, both LDC-negative, with the intact cad locus restored LDC activity and resulted in a reduction in adherence to tissue culture cells. We investigated the cad locus for possible alterations by using hybridization and PCR techniques and compared the results with the alterations reported for Shigella spp. and EIEC strains. Interestingly, the alterations of the cad genes were similar to those previously reported, pointing towards a parallel evolution of LDC silencing in different intestinal E. coli pathotypes.
Jores
Joerg
J
Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Freie Universität Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, D-10115 Berlin, Germany. jores@web.de
Torres
Alfredo G
AG
Wagner
Sylke
S
Tutt
Christopher B
CB
Kaper
James B
JB
Wieler
Lothar H
LH
D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017920:Antiporters / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009876:Operon; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012760:Shigella / Q000235:genetics
D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems; D017920:Antiporters; C490242:CadB protein, E Coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; C021520:lysine decarboxylase; D008239:Lysine