title: Heteropathogenic virulence and phylogeny reveal phased pathogenic metamorphosis in Escherichia coli O2:H6.
abstract: Extraintestinal pathogenic and intestinal pathogenic (diarrheagenic) Escherichia coli differ phylogenetically and by virulence profiles. Classic theory teaches simple linear descent in this species, where non-pathogens acquire virulence traits and emerge as pathogens. However, diarrheagenic Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O2:H6 not only possess and express virulence factors associated with diarrheagenic and uropathogenic E. coli but also cause diarrhea and urinary tract infections. These organisms are phylogenetically positioned between members of an intestinal pathogenic group (STEC) and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. STEC O2:H6 is, therefore, a 'heteropathogen,' and the first such hybrid virulent E. coli identified. The phylogeny of these E. coli and the repertoire of virulence traits they possess compel consideration of an alternate view of pathogen emergence, whereby one pathogroup of E. coli undergoes phased metamorphosis into another. By understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of bacterial pathogens, rational strategies for counteracting their detrimental effects on humans can be developed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bielaszewska
authors.forename: Roswitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiller
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lammers
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauwens
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fruth
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Middendorf
authors.forename: M Alexander
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Phillip I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Tarr
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dobrindt
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karch
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mellmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D022621:Shiga Toxin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D014709:Vero Cells; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D022621:Shiga Toxin