No description available.

yes / Background The roles of diffusely-adherent Escherichia coli (DAEC) and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) in disease are not well understood, in part because of the limitations of diagnostic tests for each of these categories of diarrhoea-causing E. coli. A HEp-2 adherence assay is the Gold Standard for detecting both EAEC and DAEC but DNA probes with limited sensitivity are also employed. Results We demonstrate that the daaC probe, conventionally used to detect DAEC, cross-reacts with a subset of strains belonging to the EAEC category. The cross hybridization is due to 84% identity, at the nucleotide level, between the daaC locus and the aggregative adherence fimbriae II cluster gene, aafC, present in some EAEC strains. Because aaf-positive EAEC show a better association with diarrhoea than other EAEC, this specific cross-hybridization may have contributed to an over-estimation of the association of daaC with disease in some studies. We have developed a discriminatory PCR-RFLP protocol to delineate EAEC strains detected by the daaC probe in molecular epidemiological studies. Conclusions A PCR-RFLP protocol described herein can be used to identify aaf-positive EAEC and daaC-positive DAEC and to delineate these two types of diarrhoeagenic E. coli, which both react with the daaC probe. This should help to improve current understanding and future investigations of DAEC and EAEC epidemiology. / Food Standards Agency

The genome of Escherichia coli harbors several catabolic operons involved in the utilization of a wide variety of natural compounds as carbon sources. The chitobiose (chu) operons of E.coli Is involved in the utilization of chitobiose(disaccharide of N-acety1-D-glucosamine) and cellbiose (disaccharide of glucose) derived from the two most abundant naturally occurring carbon sources on earth, chitin and cellulose respectively. The operon consists of the chbBCARFG genes coding for transport, regulation and hydrolysis functions required to utilize these compounds; the chuyBCA genes code for a multi-subuni PTS transporter ; the chuR codes for a dual function repressor/activator of the operon; the chbF codes for a phospho-glucosidase and the chbG codes for a protein of unknown function. The chu operon Is regulated by three transcription factors; NagC, a key regulator of the nag genes involved in amino sugar metabolism; ChbR, a dual function operon-specific regulator; and CRP_cAMP. The operon is repressed by NagC and ChbR in the absence of catabolic substrate. In the presence of chitobiose, expression is induced by the abrogation of NagC-mediated repression by GlcNAc-6-P generated by the hydrolysis of chitobiose-6-P and subsequent activation of transcription by ChbR and CPR-cAMP. Wild type E.coli connot utilize cellbiose due to the inability of cellbiose to induce expression from the operon. The simultaneous presence of a loss of function mutation in nagC and a gain –of-function mutation in chbR is necessary and sufficient to allow cellbiose to induce expression and confer on E.coli the ability to utilize cellbiose. The activation step by ChbR and CPR-cAMP requires an inducer that is recognized by ChbR. The chemical identity of the inducer and the mechanism of transcriptional activation by ChbR and CPR-cAMP are not understood. The studies described in the chapter 2 shows that chbG is essential for the utilization of the acetylated sugars chitobiose and chitotriose while it is dispensable for the sugars lacking the acety1group such as cellobiose and chitosan dimer, a disaccharide of N-glucosamine. ChbG is produced as a cytosolic protein and removes one acety1 group from chitobiose and chitotriose thus shows a mono-decetylase activity. Taken together, the observing suggest that ChbG deacetylates chitobiose-6-P and chitotriose-6-P producing the mono-decetylated from of the sugars. The deacetylateion is necessary for their recognition both as inducers by ChbR to activate transcription along with CRP-cAMP and as substractes by phosop-glucosidase ChbF. Cellobiose positive(Cel+) mutants carrying nagC delection and different gain-of-function mutations in chbR are independent of chbG for induction by chitobiose suggesting that the mutations in ChbR can allow it to recognize the acetylated form of chitobiose-6-P. Despite normal induction, the mutants to grow on chitobiose without chbG are consistant with the requirement of deacetylation for hydrolysis by ChbF. The prediction active site of chbG was validated by demonstrating the loss of chbG function upon alanine substitution of the putative metal binding residues. Vibro cholerace ChbG can complement the function of E.coli ChbG indicating that ChbG is conserved in both the organisms. The studies presented in chapter 3 address the mechanism of transcriptional activation of the chb operon by ChbR and CPR-cAMP. ChbR and CPR-cAMP function in a synergistic manner in response to the induction signal. The synergy is not because of their cooperative binding to the DNA. The role of CRP as a class I activator via the known mechanism involving interaction between the Activation region1 (AR1) and the C-terminal domain of the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase (CTD) was not crucial for the chb operon. A direct interaction between the two activators in virto was observed. Based on these results and the close spacing of the synergy is due to interaction between the two regulators bound to DNA that is enhanced in the presence of the inducer, binding about an optimal confirmation in ChbR required to interact with RNA polymerase. ChbR contacts different residues in the subunit in response to cellbiose and chitobiose; whereas it utilizes the known residues in the presence cellbiose, it appears to require different and unknown residues for induction in the presence of chitobiose. In conclusion, the studies reported in chapter 2 and 3 provide an understanding of the regulation of the chitin oligosaccharides utilization in E.coli at different levels. The broad implications of these studies and possible future directions are discussed in chapter 4. ChbG is an evolutionary conserved protein found in both prokaryotes and enkayotes including humans. ChbG homologs have been implicated in inflammatory bowel disorders in humans and development in metazoans. Therefore, the studies on chbG described in this thesis have been broader significance.

Bacteria have developed specialized responses that involve the expression of particular genes present in a given regulon. Sigma factors provide regulatory mechanisms to respond to stress by acting as transcriptional initiation factors. This work focuses on σ32 during oxidative stress in Escherichia coli. The differential response of key heat shock (HS) genes was investigated during HS and oxidative stress using qPCR techniques. While groEL and dnaJ experienced increases in transcriptional response to H2O2 (10 mM), HS (42°C), and paraquat (50 mM) exposure, the abundance of dnaK over the co-chaperones was apparent. It was hypothesized that DnaK undergoes oxidative modification by reactive carbonyls at its Lys-rich C-terminus, accounting for the differential response during oxidative stress. A σ32-mediated β-galactosidase reporter was devised to detect the activity of wild-type DnaK and DnaKV634X modified to lack the Lys-rich C-terminus. Under unstressed conditions and HS, σ32 was bound at the same rate in both strains. When subjected to H2O2, the WT DnaK strain produced significantly higher β-galactosidase than DnaKV634X (one-tailed Student’s t test p=0.000002, α=0.05) and approached the same level of output as the lacZ positive control. The β-galactosidase assay indicates that DnaK undergoes Lys modification in the WT strain, preventing the protein from binding σ32, increasing the activity of σ32, and resulting in higher β-galactosidase activity than the DnaKV634X strain. In the DnaKV634X strain DnaK continues to bind σ32 so that σ32 could not promote the production of β-galactosidase. These findings demonstrate how DnaK is oxidatively modified, hindering the interaction with σ32 in manner distinct from HS.

A bactéria Escherichia coli é responsável por perdas econômicas significativas mundialmente, incluindo-se aquelas que ocorrem na produção avícola. O controle e a prevenção da colibacilose aviária são complexos, pois envolve a distinção de isolados que comumente habitam o trato gastrointestinal das aves daquelas consideradas patogênicas. Embora tenha sido assumido que a maioria dos isolados não possui potencial zoonótico, estudos recentes têm sugerido que isolados isoladas de humanos e de aves poderiam compartilhar o maquinário genético necessário para causar a doença no hospedeiro. Desta forma, os animais de produção poderiam atuar como reservatórios de estirpes potencialmente patogênicas para humanos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a caracterização molecular em grupos filogenéticos de E. coli isoladas de aves (APEC) e de humanos (UPEC) e propor um futuro acompanhamento da flutuação da patogenicidade dos isolados APEC em planteis avícolas. Foram selecionadas 450 isolados UPEC e 460 APEC para classificação em quatro grupos filogenéticos (A, B1, B2 e D) através de um protocolo de multiplex-PCR. Estes resultados foram comparados com a presença ou ausência de 38 genes associados à virulência e com o índice de patogenicidade in vivo estabelecido para cada isolado em estudo anterior. Em relação aos isolados APEC, 31,1% foram classificadas no grupo D, 25,2% no grupo B2, 24,1% no grupo B1 e 19,6% no grupo A. Entre os isolados UPEC, 53,6% das foram classificadas no grupo B2, 25,3% no grupo D, 15,1% no grupo A e apenas 6,0% no grupo B1. Os isolados virulentos geralmente classificam-se no grupo B2, porém algumas podem ser classificadas no grupo D. Enquanto que os isolados comensais em geral pertencem aos grupos A e B1. Observou-se associação entre determinados genes e os grupos filogenéticos, tanto para isolados APEC quanto UPEC. Observou-se diferença significativa entre os índices de patogenicidade conforme a fonte de isolamento, sendo que os isolados de lesões apresentaram os maiores índices. Também foi observada uma associação direta entre os índices de patogenicidade obtidos in vivo e os grupos filogenéticos. Os isolados do grupo B2 e D apresentaram maiores índices em relação aos isolados B1 e A. Uma vez que a distribuição dos isolados APEC nos grupos filogenéticos apresentou associação significativa com a patogenicidade, o multiplex-PCR torna-se uma importante ferramenta disponível para o screening da patogenicidade das amostras isoladas na cadeia avícola. / Escherichia coli is responsible for significant economic losses, including those occurring in poultry production. The control and prevention of avian colibacillosis are complex because it involves the distinction of pathogenic strains and those that are commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract flora of health birds. Although it has been assumed that most strains do not have zoonotic potential, recent studies have suggested that strains isolated from humans and poultry could share the genetic machinery needed to cause the disease in the host. Therefore, production animals could act as reservoirs of strains potentially pathogenic to humans. The aim of this study was to carry out the molecular characterization in phylogenetic groups of strains of E. coli isolated from poultry (APEC) and humans (UPEC), and to propose a future monitoring of the pathogenicity of APEC strains in poultry farms. A total of 450 UPEC and 460 APEC strains were selected for classification into four phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) using a multiplex-PCR protocol. These results were compared with the presence or absence of 38 virulence-associated genes and the in vivo pathogenicity index established for each strain in a previous study. Regarding the APEC strains, 31.1% were classified in group D, 25.2% in group B2, 24.1% in group B1 and 19.6% in group A. Among the UPEC strains, 53.6% were classified in group B2, 25.3% in group D, 15.1% in group A and only 6.0% in group B1. Virulent strains are generally classified in group B2, but some may be classified in group D. While commensal isolates generally belong to groups A or B1. It was observed an association between certain genes and phylogenetic groups, both for APEC and UPEC strains. A significant difference was observed among pathogenicity indices according to the source of isolation, and the strains isolated from lesions presented the highest indices. A direct association between pathogenicity indices obtained in vivo and phylogenetic groups was also observed. Strains of groups B2 and D showed higher indices compared to strains from B1 and A. Since the distribution of APEC strains in phylogenetic groups showed a significant association with pathogenicity, multiplex-PCR becomes an important tool available for screening pathogenicity of the isolated samples in the poultry chain.

Chromosomal replication is a source of spontaneous DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In E. coli, DSBs are repaired by homologous recombination using an undamaged sister template. During repair, the RecA protein polymerizes on single-stranded DNA generated at the site of the DSB and catalyses the search for sequence homologies on the undamaged sister template. This study utilized fluorescence microscopy to investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of the RecA protein at the site of a replication-dependent DSB generated at the lacZ locus of the E. coli chromosome. The DSB was generated by SbcCD-mediated cleavage of a hairpin DNA structure formed on the lagging strand template of the replication fork by a long palindromic sequence. The tandem insertion of a recA-mCherry gene with the endogenous recA gene at the natural chromosomal locus produced no detectable effect on cell viability in the presence of DSB formation. During repair, the fluorescently-labelled RecA protein formed a transient focus, which was inferred to be the RecA nucleoprotein filament at the site of the replication-dependent DSB. The duration of the RecA focus at the site of the DSB was modestly reduced in a ΔdinI mutant and modestly increased in a ΔuvrD or ΔrecX mutant. Most cells underwent a period of extended cohesion of the sister lacZ loci after disappearance of the RecA focus. Segregation of the sister lacZ loci was followed by cell division, with each daughter cell obtaining a copy of the fluorescently-labelled lacZ locus. The RecA focus at the site of the DSB was observed predominantly between the mid-cell and the 1⁄4 position. In the absence of DSB formation, the lacZ locus exhibited dynamic movement between the mid-cell and the 1⁄4 position until the onset of segregation. Formation of the DSB and initiation of repair occurred at the spatial localization for replication of the lacZ locus while the downstream repair events occurred very close to the mid-cell. Genomic analysis of RecA-DNA interactions by ChIP-seq was used to demonstrate that the RecA focus at the lacZ locus was generated by the repair of the palindrome-induced DSB and not the repair of one-ended DSBs emanating from stalled replication forks at the repressor-bound operator arrays. This study has shown that the repair of a replication-dependent DSB occurs exclusively during the period of cohesion of the sister loci and the repair is efficiently completed prior to segregation of the two sister loci.

The aromatic beta-glucosides of plant origin, salicin and arbutin, serve as carbon sources for the sustenance of bacteria when ‘preferred’ sugars are absent in the environment. In the family Enterobacteriaceae, there are varied patterns for utilization of these beta-glucosides, wherein, in some members the ability to utilize salicin or arbutin is cryptic while in others it is completely absent. Escherichia coli harbors silent or cryptic genetic systems for the utilization of arbutin and salicin, which are activated by spontaneous mutation(s). Of these systems, the bgl operon of E.coli has been used as a paradigm for silent genes and extensive studies have been carried out to understand its silencing and activating mechanisms. Mutational activation of the wild type bgl operon in E.coli leads to the acquisition of the ability to utilize both arbutin and salicin. Preliminary studies have shown that aromatic beta-glucoside utilization in Shigella sonnei, which is evolutionarily related to E.coli, shows a two-step activation process wherein the wild type strain first becomes Arb+, which subsequently mutates to Sal+. The genetic systems responsible for beta-glucoside utilization, including the bgl operon, are conserved in S.sonnei to a large extent. A major difference is that the bglB gene encoding the phosphor-β-glucosidase B is insertionally inactivated in S.sonnei. As a result, activation of the bgl operon in the first stage leads to expression of the permease, BglF, which along with the phosphor-β-glucosidase A expressed from an unlinked constitutive gene, bglA, confers an Arb+phenotype. Salicin is not a substrate for the enzyme BglA and therefore a second mutational event is required for the acquisition of the Sal+ phenotype. Interestingly, the insertion within bglB is retained in AK102, the Sal+ second step mutant of S.sonnei. Therefore, the locus involved in conferring salicin utilization ability is unknown. However, S.sonnei is not amenable to routine genetic echniques and an E.coli bglB model was generated by creating an insertion in the bglB gene to identify the locus involved in conferring the Sal+ phenotype. Like S.sonnei, this E.coli strain, SD-1.3, also showed a two-step activation process for the utilization of salicin. Utilization of salicin in the Sal+ second step mutant of SD-1.3 could require activation of other silent genetic systems such as the asc operon and the chb operon or mutation in loci such as bglB or bglA. Linkage analysis by P1 transduction showed that activation of the asc operon is required for conferring a Sal+ phenotype in the second step mutant. The asc operon comprises of two genes, ascF encoding a PTS permease and ascB encoding a phosphor-β-glucosidaseB.The Precise mechanism of activation of the asc operon is not known but, it has been speculated that AscG, encoded by an upstream gene, acts as a repressor. Results presented in this thesis show that BglF is responsible for the transport of salicin and AscB provides the phosphor-β-glucosidase B in the Sal+ second step mutant of the E.coli strain SD-1.3. Analysis of the expression of the ascFB operon by measuring the transcripts as well as the activity of phosphor-β-glucosidase B showed that it is enhanced in the Sal+ second step mutant of SD-1.3 in the presence of the inducer. The expression of the ascFB operon is also increased constitutively when ascG is replaced by an antibiotic cassette in the parent strain SD-1.3 and the Arb+ first step mutant, indicating that AscG acts as a repressor for the asc operon. Moreover, inactivation of ascG in the parent leads to utilization of salicin in a single step by the activation of the bgl operon to provide the transport function, indicating that the inactivation of ascG is sufficient to activate the expression of ascB. Similarly, loss of AscG–mediated repression of the asc operon confers salicin utilization ability to the Arb+ first step mutant of SD-1.3. Interestingly, measurement of phosphor-β-glucosidase B activity in a Sal+ second step mutant derivative deleted for ascG showed a constitutive increase in the expression of the ascFB operon. Thus, AscG mediates the induction of the asc operon in response to salicin. In order to study the mechanism of activation of the asc operon, the ascB gene was cloned from the Arb+ first step mutant and the Sal+ second step mutant of SD-1.3 in a low copy number vector. Both these constructs were able to confer a Sal+ phenotype to the Arb+ first step mutant indicating absence of any genetic change in ascB in the Sal+ second step mutant. This was also confirmed by sequencing of ascB gene from the strains that showed no changes in the nucleotide sequence. Absence of any insertions within ascG showed that activation of the ascoperon is not achieved through disruption of ascG in the Sal+ second step mutants analyzed. AscG belongs to the GalR family of repressors in which some members require a mutation to enable the binding of sugar to mediate induction. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that there was no change in the ascG gene in the Sal+ mutants analyzed. However, when the upstream regulatory region of the ascFB operon was analyzed a mutation was found in the -10 sequence of the putative promoter of the ascFB genes. This change leads to a stronger promoter as it brings the -10 sequence closer to the consensus sequence. Therefore, salicin utilization is achieved in the Sal+ second step mutant analyzed by an increase in expression of the asc operon by a promoter-up mutation. The negative effect of binding of AscG on expression of the ascFB operon is relieved in presence of the inducer, salicin. The possible role of the asc operon in salicin utilization in S.sonnei was tested by replacing the ascB gene by anantibiotic cassette in AK102, the Sal+ second step mutant of S. sonnei. This did not lead to loss of salicin utilization. By gene targeting approach it was also found that none of the phosphor-β-glucosidases known in E.coli are involved in degradation of salicin in AK102. A search of the S. sonnei genome database indicated the presence of two putative phosphor-β-glucosidases encoded by glvG and SSO1595. Replacement of glvG gene by anantibiotic cassette in AK102 did not lead to loss of salicin utilization. However, a similar replacement of SSO1595 in AK102 resulted in a Sal+ phenotype indicating that SSO1595 provides the phosphor-β-glucosidase in the Sal+ second step mutant of S. sonnei. A homolog of this enzyme is not present in E.coliorinany of the other members of the Shigella genus. Transcription alanalysis as well as measurement of phosphor-β-glucosidase B activity showed that expression of SSO1595 is enhanced constitutively in AK102. To study the mechanism of mutational activation for achieving salicin utilization in S. sonnei, SSO1595 was cloned from AK101, theArb+ first step mutant and AK102, the Sal+ second step mutant in a low copy numbe rvector. Both these constructs were able to confer a Sal+ phenotype to AK101 indicating an absence of genetic change in SSO1595 in AK102. This was also confirmed by sequencing of SSO1595 gene from the strains. Analysis of the upstream regulatory region of SSO1595 in AK102 indicated a deletion of around 1.0kbp sequence. This was also confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the region. By primer extension analysis it was found that a new transcriptional start site is generated upstream to the deletion in the Sal+ second stepmutant of S.sonnei. Acquisition of the Sal+ phenotype in AK102 is therefore the resultof the SSO1595 gene being brought under a new promoter as a result of a DNA rearrangement. Overall, this study suggests that a high degree of similarity at the genomic level between organisms does not always ensure similarity in genetic mechanisms as two distinct pathways are responsible for conferring utilization of salicinin S. sonnei and E.coli.

Submitted by Nuzia Santos (nuzia@cpqrr.fiocruz.br) on 2016-10-19T12:25:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_BCM_AssmaaElKhal.pdf: 1644167 bytes, checksum: 7bb691d3e4aacbab44aea2489c898875 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos (nuzia@cpqrr.fiocruz.br) on 2016-10-19T12:38:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_BCM_AssmaaElKhal.pdf: 1644167 bytes, checksum: 7bb691d3e4aacbab44aea2489c898875 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-19T12:38:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_BCM_AssmaaElKhal.pdf: 1644167 bytes, checksum: 7bb691d3e4aacbab44aea2489c898875 (MD5) / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil / O crescente surgimento de resistência bacteriana aos antibióticos convencionais é um grave problema que precisa ser enfrentado, seja pela descoberta de novas substâncias antimicrobianas, naturais ou sintéticas, ou através da pesquisa de terapias alternativas que sejam economicamente acessíveis. A terapia de fagos é uma dessas alternativas. Trata-se de uma forma de controle biológico, baseado em vírus específicos que infectam e destroem células bacterianas: os bacteriófagos. No entanto, esta é uma fonte terapêutica ainda pouco explorada. Esse trabalho utilizou o cultivo, isolamento e sequenciamento do genoma, além de técnicas de genômica de alto desempenho para isolar e caracterizar o genoma de bacteriófagos específicos para a linhagem enteroinvasiva de Escherichia coli ATCC 43893, visando o entendimento e a definição do ciclo de infecção desses vírus (líticos ou lisogênicos). A metodologia utilizada nessa pesquisa possibilitou o isolamento de 12 vírus. 8 diferentes linhagens virais tiveram seu material genético extraído e purificado, apresentando bom rendimento e quantidade reduzida de DNA bacteriano contaminante. O sequenciamento do genoma desses 8 vírus foi realizado usando a plataforma de nova geração MiSeq. Foi analisada a diversidade genética desses bacteriófagos e verificou-se que são vírus da ordem Caudovirales, sendo 2 da família Siphoviridae e 6 da família Myoviridae. Apenas um deles mostrou potencial de ter ciclo lisogênico, os outros sete vírus não continham nenhum gene que sugerisse isso. Entretanto, apesar dos bacteriófagos isolados não terem apresentado genes relacionados ao ciclo lisogênico, análises mais aprofundadas devem ser realizadas para comprovar que são realmente exclusivamente líticos, já que muitos não apresentam seu genoma completo e mais de 50% dos genes anotados não têm função definida. / serious problem that needs to be faced, either through the discovery of new antimicrobial substances, natural or synthetic, or by searching for alternative therapies that are affordable. The phage therapy is one of those alternatives. It is a form of biological control based on specific viruses that infect and kill bacterial cells: the bacteriophages. However, this therapeutic source is still poorly explored. This study used the cultivation, isolation and sequencing of the genome, as well as high-performance genomic techniques to isolate and characterize the genome of specific bacteriophages for enteroinvasive Escherichia coli ATCC 43893, for the understanding and the definition of the infection cycle (lytic or lysogenic) of these viruses. The methodology used in this study allowed the isolation of 12 viruses. 8 different viral strains had their genetic material extracted and purified, with good yield and reduced amount of contaminating bacterial DNA. The sequencing of the genome of these 8 viruses was conducted using the new generation MiSeq platform. The the genetical diversity of these bacteriophages was analyzed and it was found that the viruses belong to the Caudovirales order, which 2 belong to the Siphoviridae family and 6 to the Myoviridae family. Only one of them showed the potential to have lysogenic cycle, the other seven viruses contained no gene to suggest that. However, despite the isolated bacteriophages have not presented genes related to lysogenic cycle, further analysis should be conducted to demonstrate that they are really exclusively lytic, since many do not have their genome completed and more than 50% of the annotated genes have no defined function.

A bactéria Escherichia coli é responsável por perdas econômicas significativas mundialmente, incluindo-se aquelas que ocorrem na produção avícola. O controle e a prevenção da colibacilose aviária são complexos, pois envolve a distinção de isolados que comumente habitam o trato gastrointestinal das aves daquelas consideradas patogênicas. Embora tenha sido assumido que a maioria dos isolados não possui potencial zoonótico, estudos recentes têm sugerido que isolados isoladas de humanos e de aves poderiam compartilhar o maquinário genético necessário para causar a doença no hospedeiro. Desta forma, os animais de produção poderiam atuar como reservatórios de estirpes potencialmente patogênicas para humanos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a caracterização molecular em grupos filogenéticos de E. coli isoladas de aves (APEC) e de humanos (UPEC) e propor um futuro acompanhamento da flutuação da patogenicidade dos isolados APEC em planteis avícolas. Foram selecionadas 450 isolados UPEC e 460 APEC para classificação em quatro grupos filogenéticos (A, B1, B2 e D) através de um protocolo de multiplex-PCR. Estes resultados foram comparados com a presença ou ausência de 38 genes associados à virulência e com o índice de patogenicidade in vivo estabelecido para cada isolado em estudo anterior. Em relação aos isolados APEC, 31,1% foram classificadas no grupo D, 25,2% no grupo B2, 24,1% no grupo B1 e 19,6% no grupo A. Entre os isolados UPEC, 53,6% das foram classificadas no grupo B2, 25,3% no grupo D, 15,1% no grupo A e apenas 6,0% no grupo B1. Os isolados virulentos geralmente classificam-se no grupo B2, porém algumas podem ser classificadas no grupo D. Enquanto que os isolados comensais em geral pertencem aos grupos A e B1. Observou-se associação entre determinados genes e os grupos filogenéticos, tanto para isolados APEC quanto UPEC. Observou-se diferença significativa entre os índices de patogenicidade conforme a fonte de isolamento, sendo que os isolados de lesões apresentaram os maiores índices. Também foi observada uma associação direta entre os índices de patogenicidade obtidos in vivo e os grupos filogenéticos. Os isolados do grupo B2 e D apresentaram maiores índices em relação aos isolados B1 e A. Uma vez que a distribuição dos isolados APEC nos grupos filogenéticos apresentou associação significativa com a patogenicidade, o multiplex-PCR torna-se uma importante ferramenta disponível para o screening da patogenicidade das amostras isoladas na cadeia avícola. / Escherichia coli is responsible for significant economic losses, including those occurring in poultry production. The control and prevention of avian colibacillosis are complex because it involves the distinction of pathogenic strains and those that are commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract flora of health birds. Although it has been assumed that most strains do not have zoonotic potential, recent studies have suggested that strains isolated from humans and poultry could share the genetic machinery needed to cause the disease in the host. Therefore, production animals could act as reservoirs of strains potentially pathogenic to humans. The aim of this study was to carry out the molecular characterization in phylogenetic groups of strains of E. coli isolated from poultry (APEC) and humans (UPEC), and to propose a future monitoring of the pathogenicity of APEC strains in poultry farms. A total of 450 UPEC and 460 APEC strains were selected for classification into four phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) using a multiplex-PCR protocol. These results were compared with the presence or absence of 38 virulence-associated genes and the in vivo pathogenicity index established for each strain in a previous study. Regarding the APEC strains, 31.1% were classified in group D, 25.2% in group B2, 24.1% in group B1 and 19.6% in group A. Among the UPEC strains, 53.6% were classified in group B2, 25.3% in group D, 15.1% in group A and only 6.0% in group B1. Virulent strains are generally classified in group B2, but some may be classified in group D. While commensal isolates generally belong to groups A or B1. It was observed an association between certain genes and phylogenetic groups, both for APEC and UPEC strains. A significant difference was observed among pathogenicity indices according to the source of isolation, and the strains isolated from lesions presented the highest indices. A direct association between pathogenicity indices obtained in vivo and phylogenetic groups was also observed. Strains of groups B2 and D showed higher indices compared to strains from B1 and A. Since the distribution of APEC strains in phylogenetic groups showed a significant association with pathogenicity, multiplex-PCR becomes an important tool available for screening pathogenicity of the isolated samples in the poultry chain.

A bactéria Escherichia coli é responsável por perdas econômicas significativas mundialmente, incluindo-se aquelas que ocorrem na produção avícola. O controle e a prevenção da colibacilose aviária são complexos, pois envolve a distinção de isolados que comumente habitam o trato gastrointestinal das aves daquelas consideradas patogênicas. Embora tenha sido assumido que a maioria dos isolados não possui potencial zoonótico, estudos recentes têm sugerido que isolados isoladas de humanos e de aves poderiam compartilhar o maquinário genético necessário para causar a doença no hospedeiro. Desta forma, os animais de produção poderiam atuar como reservatórios de estirpes potencialmente patogênicas para humanos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a caracterização molecular em grupos filogenéticos de E. coli isoladas de aves (APEC) e de humanos (UPEC) e propor um futuro acompanhamento da flutuação da patogenicidade dos isolados APEC em planteis avícolas. Foram selecionadas 450 isolados UPEC e 460 APEC para classificação em quatro grupos filogenéticos (A, B1, B2 e D) através de um protocolo de multiplex-PCR. Estes resultados foram comparados com a presença ou ausência de 38 genes associados à virulência e com o índice de patogenicidade in vivo estabelecido para cada isolado em estudo anterior. Em relação aos isolados APEC, 31,1% foram classificadas no grupo D, 25,2% no grupo B2, 24,1% no grupo B1 e 19,6% no grupo A. Entre os isolados UPEC, 53,6% das foram classificadas no grupo B2, 25,3% no grupo D, 15,1% no grupo A e apenas 6,0% no grupo B1. Os isolados virulentos geralmente classificam-se no grupo B2, porém algumas podem ser classificadas no grupo D. Enquanto que os isolados comensais em geral pertencem aos grupos A e B1. Observou-se associação entre determinados genes e os grupos filogenéticos, tanto para isolados APEC quanto UPEC. Observou-se diferença significativa entre os índices de patogenicidade conforme a fonte de isolamento, sendo que os isolados de lesões apresentaram os maiores índices. Também foi observada uma associação direta entre os índices de patogenicidade obtidos in vivo e os grupos filogenéticos. Os isolados do grupo B2 e D apresentaram maiores índices em relação aos isolados B1 e A. Uma vez que a distribuição dos isolados APEC nos grupos filogenéticos apresentou associação significativa com a patogenicidade, o multiplex-PCR torna-se uma importante ferramenta disponível para o screening da patogenicidade das amostras isoladas na cadeia avícola. / Escherichia coli is responsible for significant economic losses, including those occurring in poultry production. The control and prevention of avian colibacillosis are complex because it involves the distinction of pathogenic strains and those that are commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract flora of health birds. Although it has been assumed that most strains do not have zoonotic potential, recent studies have suggested that strains isolated from humans and poultry could share the genetic machinery needed to cause the disease in the host. Therefore, production animals could act as reservoirs of strains potentially pathogenic to humans. The aim of this study was to carry out the molecular characterization in phylogenetic groups of strains of E. coli isolated from poultry (APEC) and humans (UPEC), and to propose a future monitoring of the pathogenicity of APEC strains in poultry farms. A total of 450 UPEC and 460 APEC strains were selected for classification into four phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) using a multiplex-PCR protocol. These results were compared with the presence or absence of 38 virulence-associated genes and the in vivo pathogenicity index established for each strain in a previous study. Regarding the APEC strains, 31.1% were classified in group D, 25.2% in group B2, 24.1% in group B1 and 19.6% in group A. Among the UPEC strains, 53.6% were classified in group B2, 25.3% in group D, 15.1% in group A and only 6.0% in group B1. Virulent strains are generally classified in group B2, but some may be classified in group D. While commensal isolates generally belong to groups A or B1. It was observed an association between certain genes and phylogenetic groups, both for APEC and UPEC strains. A significant difference was observed among pathogenicity indices according to the source of isolation, and the strains isolated from lesions presented the highest indices. A direct association between pathogenicity indices obtained in vivo and phylogenetic groups was also observed. Strains of groups B2 and D showed higher indices compared to strains from B1 and A. Since the distribution of APEC strains in phylogenetic groups showed a significant association with pathogenicity, multiplex-PCR becomes an important tool available for screening pathogenicity of the isolated samples in the poultry chain.