title: Interactions of neuropathogenic Escherichia coli K1 (RS218) and its derivatives lacking genomic islands with phagocytic Acanthamoeba castellanii and nonphagocytic brain endothelial cells.
abstract: Here we determined the role of various genomic islands in E. coli K1 interactions with phagocytic A. castellanii and nonphagocytic brain microvascular endothelial cells. The findings revealed that the genomic islands deletion mutants of RS218 related to toxins (peptide toxin, α -hemolysin), adhesins (P fimbriae, F17-like fimbriae, nonfimbrial adhesins, Hek, and hemagglutinin), protein secretion system (T1SS for hemolysin), invasins (IbeA, CNF1), metabolism (D-serine catabolism, dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, and glyoxylate metabolism) showed reduced interactions with both A. castellanii and brain microvascular endothelial cells. Interestingly, the deletion of RS218-derived genomic island 21 containing adhesins (P fimbriae, F17-like fimbriae, nonfimbrial adhesins, Hek, and hemagglutinin), protein secretion system (T1SS for hemolysin), invasins (CNF1), metabolism (D-serine catabolism) abolished E. coli K1-mediated HBMEC cytotoxicity in a CNF1-independent manner. Therefore, the characterization of these genomic islands should reveal mechanisms of evolutionary gain for E. coli K1 pathogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farzana Abubakar
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Yousuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zuhair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yousuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Junaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ruqaiyyah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hafsa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Naveed Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000166:cytology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D048168:Escherichia coli K12 / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D044404:Genomic Islands / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D056265:Microbial Interactions / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009420:Nervous System / Q000382:microbiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis