The present study aimed to evaluate bacterial isolates and the microbiome of dairies. The specific aims were: to characterize Staphylococcus spp. isolated from mastitic milk, to evaluate the presence of Lactococcus in mastitic milk as a potential causative agent of mastitis, to evaluate the association between microbiome and milk quality parameters, and to characterize Staphylococcus spp. isolated from production lines of Minas Frescal cheese. The detection of genes encoding virulence factors (enterotoxins (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, selj, selk, sell, selm, seln, selo, selp, seIq, ser, ses, set, selu, selv, and selx), hemolysins (hla, hlb, hld, hlg, and hlgv), exfoliative toxins (eta, etb, and etd), Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), and toxic shock syndrome toxin (tst)), genes encoding antibiotic resistance (resistance to tetracycline (tetK, tetL, and tetM), erythromycin (ermA, ermB, and ermC), methicillin (mecA and mecC), and tobramycin (ant(4\')-Ia)), molecular typing (spa, SCCmec, and agr types), and phenotyping regarding antibiotic resistance were performed in staphylococci isolates from mastitic milk, and from cheese processing plant samples. Staphylococcus aureus was identified in the majority of isolates from both origins. Several virulence factor genes were detected. The distribution of genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (85.0% - 85.7% of isolates were positive for one or more enterotoxin gene) was highlighted and the gene related to H toxin was the most prevalent. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were identified in isolates from mastitic milk (4.1%) and cheese processing (6.0%); the genotyping and phenotyping of these isolates were described. t605 had the highest frequency in the S. aureus population studied. In mastitic milk, Lactococcus was suggested as the causative agent of an outbreak of mastitis in a dairy farm. Using next generation sequencing, the abundance of Lactococcus was observed in microbiome samples. Bacterial isolation and DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Lactococcus lactis and Lactococcus garvieae. The microbiome of environmental samples and bulk tank milk from the dairy farm showed the Lactococcus genus among the most common bacterial taxa, suggesting other sources of this genus. Regarding milk quality parameters, the microbiome of bulk tank milk from several dairy farms was associated with somatic cell count and bacterial count. The core microbiome was described and many genera of importance were identified. Among the associations performed between microbiome and milk quality parameters, the identification of Streptococcus in samples classified with high somatic cell count and high bacterial count was highlighted. Several bacterial taxa with relative abundance significantly higher in samples classified as high and low cell count and bacterial count were shown. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was also performed associated with bacterial diversity, bacterial taxa, and bacterial count. These findings highlight the need to control and prevent bacterial contamination in the dairy industry, from herd to consumers. / O presente estudo apresentou como objetivo avaliar isolados bacterianos e microbioma de lácteos. Os objetivos específicos foram: caracterizar Staphylococcus spp. isolados de leite de vacas com mastite, avaliar a presença de Lactococcus em leite de vacas com mastite como um potencial agente causador de mastite, avaliar a associação entre microbioma de leite de tanque e parâmetros da qualidade de leite, e caracterizar Staphylococcus spp. isolados de linhas de processamento de queijo Minas frescal. A detecção de genes codificadores de fatores de virulência (enterotoxinas (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, selj, selk, sell, selm, seln, selo, selp, seIq, ser, ses, set, selu, selv, e selx), hemolisinas (hla, hlb, hld, hlg, e hlgv), toxinas exfoliativas (eta, etb e etd), leucocidina de Panton-Valentine (pvl), toxina da síndrome do choque tóxico (tst)), genes codificadores de resistência a antibióticos (resistência a tetraciclina (tetK, tetL e tetM), eritromicina (ermA, ermB e ermC), meticilina (mecA e mecC) e tobramicina (ant(4\')-Ia)), tipagem molecular (spa, SCCmec e agr types), e fenotipagem quanto à resistência a antibióticos foram realizadas em estafilococos isolados de leite de vacas com mastite e de amostras de planta de processamento de queijo. Staphylococcus aureus foi identificado na maioria dos isolados de ambas as origens. Diversos genes de fatores de virulência foram detectados, com destaque para a distribuição de genes codificadores de enterotoxinas estafilocócicas (85,0%-85,7% dos isolados foram positivos para um ou mais genes codificadores de enterotoxinas), sendo o gene relacionado com a toxina H o mais frequente. Staphylococcus aureus meticilina resistente foram identificados em isolados de leite de vacas com mastite (4.1%) e em processamento de queijo (6.0%); o perfil genotípico e fenotípico destes isolados foram descritos. t605 foi o mais freqüente na população de S. aureus estudada. Em leite de vacas com mastite, Lactococcus foi sugerido como o agente causador de um surto de mastite numa fazenda leiteira. Usando sequenciamento de nova geração, a abundância de Lactococcus foi observada no microbioma das amostras. O isolamento e sequenciamento de DNA confirmaram a presença de Lactococcus lactis e Lactococcus garvieae. O microbioma de amostras ambientais e de leite de tanque da fazenda mostrou o gênero Lactococcus entre os mais comuns, sugerindo outras fontes deste gênero. Contemplando parâmetros da qualidade de leite, o microbioma de leite de tanque de várias fazendas leiteiras foi relacionado com contagem de células somáticas e contagem bacteriana. O core microbiome foi descrito e muitos gêneros bacterianos de importância foram identificados. Dentre as análises realizadas associando microbioma com parâmetros da qualidade de leite, foi destacada a identificação de Streptococcus em amostras classificadas com alta contagem de células somáticas e alta contagem bacteriana. Diversos táxons bacterianos com abundância relativa significativamente maior em amostras classificadas com alta e baixa contagem de células somáticas e contagem bacteriana foram mostrados. Reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real também foi realizada e associada com diversidade bacteriana, táxons bacterianos e contagem bacteriana. Estes levantamentos confirmam a necessidade de controlar e prevenir a contaminação bacteriana na indústria de lácteos, do rebanho leiteiro até os consumidores.

The Gram-negative bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is primarily associatedwith aggressive forms of periodontal disease. Additionally, it has occasionally been found to causemetastatic infections in non-oral sites. This requires the ability to evade the bactericidal activity ofthe complement system of the humoral immune system. Outer membrane proteins, namely,Omp100 and OmpA have been connected to normal human serum resistance for several bacteriaspecies. The objective of this study was to investigate if serum-resistant ompA mutants can beobtained, and to detect changes in OMP expression. We used A. actinomycetemcomitansserotype a strain D7SS and D7SS ompA knockouts. The strains were incubated in 50 % NHS.This resulted in a substantial decrease of survival among D7SS ompA knockouts. D7SS ompAknockouts were exposed to 50 % NHS once more to confirm stable serum resistance. 13 out of14 tested clones showed growth, indicating that serum resistant ompA mutants could begenerated. SDS-PAGE gel of extracted outer membrane vesicles revealed an additional proteinband of approximately 34 kDa in at least 4 of 5 tested serum resistant ompA mutants. This proteinband has been analyzed in the laboratory, and according to LC-MS/MS it contains an OmpAhomologue, which has been named OmpA2. We conclude that OmpA2 expression might be amajor mechanism for serum survival in A. actinomycetemcomitans serotype a strain D7SS ompAknockouts.

L’ostréiculture constitue l'une des principales composantes de l’aquaculture. Cependant, ce secteur est confronté à des épisodes de mortalités anormales survenant aussi bien en écloseries que dans le milieu naturel, affectant les huîtres diploïdes et triploïdes et à différents stades de leur vie. Pendant les épisodes de mortalité des mollusques bivalves en France, des bactéries, initialement classées dans le groupe de V. harveyi, ont été régulièrement isolées à coté des virus de type herpès, V. splendidus ou de V. aestuarianus. Afin d'affiner l’affiliation taxonomique de ces isolats, une caractérisation génotypique et phénotypique a été réalisée. Les isolats bactériens, initialement classés dans le groupe de V. harveyi, se sont révélés génétiquement plus proches de souches du groupe V. tubiashii, reconnues comme agents pathogènes affectant larves et juvéniles de mollusques aux Etats-Unis et en Angleterre. Des outils de diagnostic ont été élaborés pour évaluer la propagation de cette espèce lors des périodes de mortalité depuis 2007, supportant cette première description de V. tubiashii en France. La virulence des isolats et la toxicité de leurs produits extracellulaires (ECPs) ont été confirmés par infections expérimentales sur des larves et des juvéniles de C. gigas. Les essais in vitro ont révélé la capacité des ECPs de V. tubiashii à perturber des fonctions immunitaires hémocytaires probablement via la dégradation de certaines protéines structurales. Finalement, des analyses protéomiques et transcriptomiques ont révélé la conjonction de multiples facteurs de virulence, y compris les métalloprotéases dans la virulence des souches françaises de V. tubiashii. / The oyster farming constitutes one of the major components of the global aquaculture. However, this sector is facing abnormal mortalities outbreaks that affect diploid and triploid oyster at their different life stages, in the hatcheries and in the field. During bivalve molluscs mortality events in France, bacteria initially classified into Harveyi group, were regularly isolated along with herpes virus, V. splendidus or V. aestuarianus. In order to fine tune the taxonomic affiliation of those isolates, a genotypic and phenotypic approach was used. The bacterial isolates, initially misclassified into the Harveyi clade, were shown to be genetically closed to V. tubiashii strains already recognized as the main causative agents of larvae and juvenile mollusc mortalities in America and in England. A diagnostic tool was developed to evaluate its spread in mortality events since 2007, supporting this first description of V. tubiashii in France. Moreover, the virulence of isolates and the toxicity of their extracellular products (ECPs) were confirmed on C. gigas larvae and juveniles by experimental infections. Using in vitro assays, French V. tubiashii ECPs revealed their ability to alter some hemocytes immune defense probably through the degradation of matrix structural proteins. Finally, proteomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed the conjunction of multiples virulence factors including metalloproteases in the virulence of the French V. tubiashii strains.

Streptococcus pyogenes (Streptocoque du Groupe A (SGA)) est un germe humain responsable d’un large éventail de pathologies invasives et non-invasives, mais aucun attribut génétique ne rend compte à lui seul de cette diversité. Notre objectif a été de rechercher des liens entre génotype, présence de gènes de virulence et caractère invasif des souches par une approche d’épidémiologie moléculaire. Une association entre génotypes et présence de certains gènes de virulence a été établie sur une collection de souches françaises de SGA responsables d’infections invasives chez des adultes. De même, la présence du locus sil, codant un système de quorum-sensing, est liée au génotype des souches, mais non à leur caractère invasif. Concernant la réponse immunitaire innée, contrairement aux souches emm1, emm4 et emm28, les souches invasives emm3 et emm89 sont plus phagocytées par les macrophages que leurs homologues non-invasives. Les souches emm89 sont plus phagocytées et survivent plus longtemps dans les macrophages que les souches des autres génotypes. Par ailleurs, les souches emm3 induisent l’apoptose des macrophages. Enfin, la cinétique de production des médiateurs pro et anti-inflammatoires est dépendante du génotype. La souche de colonisation d’un cas groupé, incluant aussi une souche invasive, présente une mutation originale dans covS (codant le senseur d’un système de régulation à deux composants). La protéine CovSY39H répond peu aux signaux de l’environnement, correspondant à une protéine CovS constitutive. Le phénotype de ce mutant, résultant de l’expression de certains gènes de virulence, est favorable à la colonisation. Sa survie dans les macrophages et sa virulence sont altérées. / Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus (GAS)) is a human pathogen responsible for a wide range of diseases including non-invasive and invasive infections. To date no specific GAS attribute has been associated with a type of infection although a link between genetic background and tissue tropism has been demonstrated. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between genotype, the presence of genes encoding virulence factors and invasive strains by molecular epidemiology approach. An association between genotypes and the presence of genes encoding virulence factors has been established among a collection of French strains responsible for invasive GAS infections in adults. Similarly, the presence of sil locus, encoding a quorum sensing system, is related to genotype, but not to the invasive status of the GAS strains. Regarding the innate immune response, unlike emm1, emm4 and emm28 strains, invasive emm3 and emm89 strains are more phagocytosed by macrophages than their non-invasive counterparts. The emm89 strains are phagocytosed and survive longer in macrophages than strains belonging to any other genotype. Moreover, emm3 strains induce macrophage apoptosis. Finally, the kinetics of production of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators are genotype-dependent. A colonization strain belonging to a cluster that also includes an invasive strain, has a unique mutation in covS (encoding the sensor of a two-component system). The CovSY39H protein responds less to some environmental signals, corresponding to a constitutive CovS protein. The phenotype of the mutant, resulting in the expression of certain genes encoding virulence factors, favors a colonization state. Survival in macrophages and virulence are also altered.

Orientador: Marcelo Palma Sircili / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T15:41:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Higa_JulianaSuyama_M.pdf: 2740628 bytes, checksum: 20ced0f2848628f2541d4313632cfc0b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Escherichia coli (E.coli) enteropatogênica (EPEC), é um dos agentes causadores de diarreia em crianças, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento. EPEC pode ser dividida em típica (tEPEC) ou atípica (aEPEC) pela presença ou ausência do plasmídeo EAF, respectivamente e, mais precisamente pela expressão da fímbria Bfp. Uma característica de EPEC é a capacidade de causar uma lesão histopatológica denominada "attaching and effacing" (lesão A/E) no epitélio intestinal e os genes responsáveis pela formação da lesão A/E estão localizados na ilha de patogenicidade LEE (locus of enterocyte effacement). Outra característica de EPEC é a formação de microcolônias que possibilitam a formação de biofilme. Um dos mecanismos de regulação da formação de biofilme envolve a molécula sinalizadora Bis-(3'-5')-monofosfato de guanosina cíclico (c-di-GMP), um mensageiro secundário universal em bactérias que está envolvido na regulação de uma grande variedade de processos celulares. Para exercer sua função, c-di-GMP precisa se ligar e alterar alostericamente a estrutura de uma molécula efetora. Um dos receptores conhecidos para c-di-GMP é YcgR, uma proteína de domínio PilZ que possui um sítio de ligação para c-di-GMP e está envolvida diretamente na regulação do movimento flagelar através da ligação do complexo YcgR-c-di-GMP às proteínas da base do motor flagelar. Existem poucos dados na literatura sobre as funções de YcgR, todos focados apenas no seu papel na regulação da motilidade. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência de YcgR na motilidade, formação de biofilme, adesão e formação de lesão A/E em um amostra de aEPEC do sorotipo O55:H7. O gene ycgR foi deletado da amostra selvagem através da técnica de recombinação homóloga proposta por Datsenko e Wanner (2000). A complementação da amostra mutante foi realizada através da clonagem do gene ycgR no plasmídeo de expressão pBAD Myc HisA. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a deleção do gene ycgR reduz a motilidade e aumenta a formação do biofilme inicial na amostra O55:H7. Além disso, a adesão em células epiteliais e a formação da lesão A/E também foram reduzidas em comparação à amostra selvagem. Os resultados fenotípicos corroboram os observados na análise transcricional dos genes eae, ler e espA, que participam da formação da lesão A/E, e dos genes bscA, fimA e csgD, envolvidos na formação do biofilme inicial. Com exceção do gene csgD que apresentou um aumento na transcrição na amostra mutante, todos os outros genes avaliados apresentaram uma menor transcrição em relação à amostra selvagem. Poucos trabalhos na literatura demonstram o papel do mensageiro secundário em amostras de E. coli patogênicas, assim, estes resultados são os primeiros descritos para uma amostra de aEPEC e possibilitam que no futuro novos estudos possam analisar com mais detalhes a participação de c-di-GMP na regulação de fatores de virulência não só de aEPEC mas também de outras E.coli patogênicas / Abstract: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a causative agent of diarrhea in children, especially in developing countries. EPEC can be categorized in 2 subgroups termed typical (tEPEC) or atypical (aEPEC) by the presence or absence of the EAF plasmid respectively, and more precisely by the expression of the Bfp fimbriae. One characteristic of EPEC is the ability to cause a histopathological lesion on epithelial cells called "attaching and effacing" (A/E lesion). The genes responsible for the production of the A/E lesion are encoded in a pathogenicity island named "locus of enterocyte effacement" (LEE). Another feature of EPEC is the formation of microcolonies, which allow biofilm formation. One of the regulation mechanisms of biofilm formation involves the signaling molecule bis- (3'-5') cyclic guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), a ubiquitous second messenger in bacteria that participates in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular processes. To perform its function, c-di-GMP needs to bind and alter allosterically the structure of an effector molecule. One of the known (many?) receptors for c-di-GMP is YcgR, a Pilz domain protein that has a c-di-GMP binding site and is involved directly in the regulation of flagellar movement through the binding of the YcgR-c-di-GMP complex to flagellar motor proteins. There are few published data on the YcgR functions and they focus mainly on the role of the YcgR in motility regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of YcgR in motility, biofilm formation, adhesion and A/E lesion formation in an aEPEC strain serotype O55:H7. ycgR gene deletion was performed by homologous recombination as proposed by Datsenko and Wanner (2000). Complementation of O55:H7 mutant strain was achieved by cloning ycgR in pBAD/Myc-HisA plasmid. The results indicate that the deletion of ycgR gene decreases the motility and increases the formation of initial biofilm on O55:H7 strain. Moreover, the adhesion on epithelial cells and the A/E lesion formation were also diminished in comparision to the wild type strain. The phenotypic results are consistent with the transcriptional analysis of eae, ler and espA genes involved in A/E lesion formation, and of bcsA, fimA and csgD genes involved in the initial steps of biofilm formation. With the exception of csgD gene that showed an increased transcription level in the mutant strain, all other analysed genes showed a decrease in transcription when compared to the wild type strain. Few studies demonstrate the role of a second messenger molecule in Escherichia coli pathogenic samples, and therefore, these results are the first report in this regard for an aEPEC strain. This work should encourage further studies in order to analyze in more detail the involvement of c-di GMP in the regulation of virulence factors not only in aEPEC, but also in other pathogenic Escherichia coli pathotypes / Mestrado / Microbiologia / Mestra em Genética e Biologia Molecular

Fímbrias do tipo IV estão associadas a diversos fenótipos em bactérias gram-negativas, e o presente estudo consistiu na caracterização da fímbria Pil e investigação de seu papel na adesão bacteriana de isolados de EPEC atípica. Por PCR e RT-PCR foram investigadas a presença e a funcionalidade do operon Pil e os resultados demonstraram que este está sendo transcrito somente nos isolados BA558 e BA956. Os genes pilS e pilV foram clonados em vetor de expressão para obtenção das proteínas Pil recombinantes e produção de anticorpos policlonais. A análise qualitativa dos testes de inibição da adesão utilizando os soros anti-PilS e anti-PilV juntos demonstraram que o isolado BA558 apresentou mudança de fenótipo de adesão. Esses resultados nos permitem concluir que o operon Pil está funcional em BA558 e BA956, e a expressão da fímbria Pil nessas cepas não está relacionada à formação de biofilme e autoagregação, porém a proteína fimbrial PilS juntamente com a adesina PilV parecem exercer uma função acessória importante na interação de BA558 às células HEp-2. / Type IV fimbriae are associated with several phenotypes in gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this study was the characterization of the Pil fimbria and its role in the interaction of atypical EPEC isolates in bacterial adhesion. Using PCR and RT-PCR, we investigated the presence and functionality of the pil operon genes. The results showed that these genes are transcribed only in the BA558 and BA956 isolates. The pilS and pilV genes were cloned into an expression vector for recombinant proteins and polyclonal antibodies production. Qualitative analysis of the adherence inhibition assays using both rabbit sera changed to localized-like the phenotype of BA558 isolate adhesion. Together, these results allow us to conclude that the Pil operon is functional only in the BA558 and BA956 isolates and that the expression of Pil fimbriae in aEPEC is not related to biofilm formation and autoaggregation but, the fimbrial PilS protein together with PilV adhesin seem to play an important accessory function in the interaction between the BA558 and epithelial cells in vitro.

Of the eleven species of bacteria that comprise the genus Yersinia of the family Enterobacteriaceae, three species are pathogenic for humans. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica usually cause a mild, self-limiting mesenteric lymphadenitis or ileitis. Yersinia pestis causes a highly invasive often fatal disease known as plague. All three elaborate a type three secretion system that is essential for virulence and encoded on closely related plasmids. In Y. pestis, all the effectors, structural components and chaperones are encoded on the 70kb plasmid, pCD1. Of these, LcrV from Y. enterocolitica has been implicated in playing an immunosuppressive role through its interaction with host Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and induction of IL-10. Through expression and purification of recombinant LcrV from Escherichia coliwe show that only high molecular weight species of rLcrV are able to stimulate TLR2. In a highly sensitive subcutaneous mouse infection model we demonstrate no difference in the time to death between TLR2-sufficient or deficient mice. Analysis of cytokine levels between these two genotypes also shows no significant difference between splenic IL-10 and IL-6 or levels of bacteria. We conclusively show that this interaction, if it does occur, plays no significant role in vivo. In a separate set of experiments, we also determined that the expression of F1, a peptide shown to be responsible for 37°C-dependent inhibition of invasion by Y. pestis in vitro, was significantly decreased under high oxygen conditions. This led us to re-examine the invasion phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. These results give new insights into virulence gene expression in Y. pestis by environmental cues other than temperature.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The impact of tobacco smoking on human health is well documented. The influence of smoking on tooth loss and cardiovascular diseases was investigated in the current study via both epidemiology and in vitro studies. From analyzing the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2006 BRFSS) database, we confirmed that smoking was significantly associated with the number of teeth lost in a dose-dependent manner and smoking cessation reduced the risk when compared to those subjects continuing to smoke. In addition, the virulence factors related to caries were compared between Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus gordonii in response to cigarette smoking condensate (CSC) treatment. We observed that S. gordonii was more susceptible to CSC treatment than S. mutans. CSC significantly enhanced S. mutans sucrose-dependent and independent adherence. Western blot assays revealed that several bacterial surface proteins including glucosyltransferase (GTF), glucan-binding proteins and antigen I/II, were significantly upregulated for the treated S. mutans. These findings suggested that the oral environment with CSC may favor a cariogenic dominant composition, which may increase the risk for smokers to develop caries. We also found that smoking and oral health status modified each other and synergistically increased the risk of CVD and this joint effect was more pronounced among the youngest age group using the 2006 BRFSS database. To further understand the joint effect, we conducted an in vitro study to investigate bacterial attachment to fibronectin and endothelial cells in response to smoking condensate treatment. Our study clearly demonstrated CSC significantly enhanced S. mutans attachment to both soluble and immobilized fibronectin as well as endothelial cells. Furthermore, our data suggested that bacteria possessed several adhesins that bound to host tissues and endothelial cells also had multiple receptors for bacterial attachment. Among these adhesins, antigen I/II seemed essential for bacterial attachment to endothelial cells without CSC. The knowledge of bacterial attachment to host tissues in the presence of CSC may help in developing different preventive or therapeutic strategies against attachment and colonization of the host by S. mutans.

As ITU são as mais freqüentes infecções ocasionadas por ExPEC. Entre os fatores de virulência (FV) encontram-se nestas cepas adesinas, invasinas, toxinas, sideróforos, e evasinas, localizados em plasmídios ou ilhas de patogenecidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar 45 cepas de E. coli isoladas de 33 cães e 7 gatos com ITU, quanto aos sorotipos, FV e grupos filogenéticos. Dos sorogrupos relacionados às ITU foram encontrados O6 (20%), O2 (16%), O25 (4%), O4 e O11 (4% cada um). Entre os genes pesquisados, foram encontrados fimH (100%), pap (47%), sfa (33%) e iha (4%); ibeA (29%); cnf1 (31%), hlyA (27%); fyuA (80%), iucD (22%); traT (51%); cvaC (20%) e malX (67%). Os isolados felinos foram agrupados em B2 (89%) e D (11%), enquanto os caninos em A (5,5%), B1 (19,5%), B2 (55,5%) e D (19,5%). Estes resultados sugerem que as ExPEC isoladas de cães e gatos apresentam potencial patogênico para ocasionar doenças mais graves que as ITU, assim como ocorre em humanos. Além disso, a similitude com as amostras humanas reforça a hipótese acerca de seu potencial zoonótico. / The ability of ExPEC to cause extraintestinal infections in humans, dogs, and cats is associated with the expression of a variety of virulence factors (VF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of VF related to ExPEC, serotypes, and phylogenetic groups in 45 strains isolated from 33 dogs and 7 cats with UTI. These strains presented serogroups related with extraintestinal infections, e.g. O6 (20%), O2 (16%), O25 (4%), O4 e O11 (each one) and the following genes: fimH (100%), pap (47%), sfa (33%) e iha (4%); ibeA (29%); cnf1 (31%), hlyA (27%); fyuA (80%), iucD (22%); traT (51%); cvaC (20%) e malX (67%), cvaC (20%), and malX (67%). All feline strains were concentrated in B2 (89%) and D (11%) phylogenetic groups, whereas the canine ones were distributed in the four groups, A (5,5%), B1 (19,5%), B2 (55,5%) and D (19,5%). These findings suggesting that ExPEC isolated from dog and cat contain virulence markers to cause diseases, more severe than UTI, likewise in humans. Besides, these the close similarity between human and animal ExPEC supports the hypotesis of zoonotic potencial of them.

Yersinia enterocolitica es un patógeno Gram-negativo que provoca diversos síndromes gastrointestinales y expresa una panoplia de factores de virulencia, la mayoría regulados por la temperatura. El lipopolisacatido (LPS) es uno de los principales factores de virulencia de las bacterias Gram-negativas patógenas. Además, es una de las moléculas reconocidas por el sistema inmune innato y diana de los péptidos antimicrobianos. Por consiguiente, no es de extrañar que las bacterias modifiquen la estructura de su LPS con el fin de resistir a la defensa del sistema inmune. En esta Tesis Doctoral se han identificado los loci responsables de las modificaciones del lípido A de Y. enterocolitica O:8 (YeO8) y se ha demostrado que están reguladas por la temperatura. Se ha definido un circuito regulatorio complejo en el que intervienen los sistemas PhoP/PhoQ y PmrA/PmrB y en el que RovA y H-NS son piezas centrales. Además se demuestra que el lípido A tiene un papel en la virulencia de YeO8. Por último , se han identificado por primera vez en YeO8 la enzima PmrC, encargada de la adición de fosfoetanolamina al lípido A y la enzima LpxR encargada de la deacilación del lípido A.