title: A single gene of a commensal microbe affects host susceptibility to enteric infection.
abstract: Indigenous microbes inside the host intestine maintain a complex self-regulating community. The mechanisms by which gut microbes interact with intestinal pathogens remain largely unknown. Here we identify a commensal Escherichia coli strain whose expansion predisposes mice to infection by Vibrio cholerae, a human pathogen. We refer to this strain as 'atypical' E. coli (atEc) because of its inability to ferment lactose. The atEc strain is resistant to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proliferates extensively in antibiotic-treated adult mice. V. cholerae infection is more severe in neonatal mice transplanted with atEc compared with those transplanted with a typical E. coli strain. Intestinal ROS levels are decreased in atEc-transplanted mice, favouring proliferation of ROS-sensitive V. cholerae. An atEc mutant defective in ROS degradation fails to facilitate V. cholerae infection when transplanted, suggesting that host infection susceptibility can be regulated by a single gene product of one particular commensal species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Bae
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang-Mu
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Yujin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Yaeseul
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Taek
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Keehoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: ChunLab Inc., Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Jongsik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: ChunLab Inc., Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Yong
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: ChunLab Inc., Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Insuk
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Yeong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.|Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Sun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000382:microbiology*; D004760:Enterocolitis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000069467:Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics*; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C102664:hydroperoxidase II; D002374:Catalase; D007785:Lactose