Bioluminescent avian pathogenic Escherichia coli for monitoring colibacillosis in experimentally infected chickens.
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) are responsible for significant economic losses in the poultry industry. In this study, a model for investigating the pathogenesis of APEC infections was established. APEC strain CH2 (O78) was marked with the luciferase operon (luxCDABE) using a Tn7 transposon and tissues of experimentally infected chickens were analysed for a correlation between the bioluminescent signal and the number of bacteria. Transposition of the lux operon into the chromosome of the APEC isolate did not affect sensitivity to lytic bacteriophages and there was no effect on virulence in an intratracheal infection model in 1-day-old chicks, although results with a subcutaneous infection model were inconclusive. A correlation between the number of bacteria and the luminescent signal was found in liquid medium, as well as in homogenised heart, liver, spleen and lung of 4-week-old experimentally infected chickens. This study showed that lux could be used for identification of the infecting strain after experimental infection with APEC in poultry.
Department of Biosystems, Division of Gene Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of General Bacteriology, Centrum voor Onderzoek in Diergeneeskunde en Agrochemie-Centre d'Etude et de Recherches Vétérinaires et Agrochimiques (CODA-CERVA), Groeselenberg 99, Brussels 1180, Belgium. Electronic address: leon.oosterik@gmail.com.
Leon H
LH
Oosterik
Department of Biosystems, Division of Gene Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Huruma N
HN
Tuntufye
Department of Biosystems, Division of Gene Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium.
Jessica
J
Tsonos
Department of Biosystems, Division of Gene Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Tom
T
Luyten
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Sam
S
Noppen
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Sandra
S
Liekens
Department of Biosystems, Division of Gene Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Rob
R
Lavigne
Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
Patrick
P
Butaye
Department of Biosystems, Division of Gene Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Bruno M
BM
Goddeeris
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D008156:Luciferases
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli; Bacterial luciferase; Bioluminescence; Domestic fowl