title: Role of deoxyribose catabolism in colonization of the murine intestine by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains.
abstract: We previously suggested that the ability to metabolize deoxyribose, a phenotype encoded by the deoK operon, is associated with the pathogenic potential of Escherichia coli strains. Carbohydrate metabolism is thought to provide the nutritional support required for E. coli to colonize the intestine. We therefore investigated the role of deoxyribose catabolism in the colonization of the gut, which acts as a reservoir, by pathogenic E. coli strains. Molecular and biochemical characterization of 1,221 E. coli clones from various collections showed this biochemical trait to be common in the E. coli species (33.6%). However, multivariate analysis evidenced a higher prevalence of sugar-metabolizing E. coli clones in the stools of patients from countries in which intestinal diseases are endemic. Diarrhea processes frequently involve the destruction of intestinal epithelia, so it is plausible that such clones may be positively selected for in intestines containing abundant DNA, and consequently deoxyribose. Statistical analysis also indicated that symptomatic clinical disorders and the presence of virulence factors specific to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli were significantly associated with an increased risk of biological samples and clones testing positive for deoxyribose. Using the streptomycin-treated-mouse model of intestinal colonization, we demonstrated the involvement of the deoK operon in gut colonization by two pathogenic isolates (one enteroaggregative and one uropathogenic strain). These results, indicating that deoxyribose availability promotes pathogenic E. coli growth during host colonization, suggest that the acquisition of this trait may be an evolutionary step enabling these pathogens to colonize and persist in the mammalian intestine.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Pathogénie Bactérienne des Muqueuses, F-75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinez-Jéhanne
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: du Merle
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernier-Fébreau
authors.forename: Codruta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Usein
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gassama-Sow
authors.forename: Abdul-Aziz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wane
authors.forename: Malika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gouali
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damian
authors.forename: Awa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aïdara-Kane
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Germani
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontanet
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coddeville
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guérardel
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Bouguénec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003855:Deoxyribose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D009876:Operon; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D003855:Deoxyribose