EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a pathogen that causes diarrhea that can be subdivided into typical (tEPEC) and atypical (aEPEC), based on the production of an adhesin termed Bundle-Forming Pilus (BFP) in the former group. aEPEC is one of the main bacterial pathogens isolated from indivi...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1617101/full |
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| author | Henrique Orsi Henrique Orsi Daiany R. P. de Lira Ivana G. Castilho Guilherme F. R. de Souza Tugce Onur Rosa M. Chura-Chambi Cecilia M. Abe Enéas Carvalho Luis F. dos Santos David A. Rasko David A. Rasko Mark A. Schembri Mark A. Schembri Mark A. Schembri Angela S. Barbosa Waldir P. Elias Rodrigo T. Hernandes |
| author_facet | Henrique Orsi Henrique Orsi Daiany R. P. de Lira Ivana G. Castilho Guilherme F. R. de Souza Tugce Onur Rosa M. Chura-Chambi Cecilia M. Abe Enéas Carvalho Luis F. dos Santos David A. Rasko David A. Rasko Mark A. Schembri Mark A. Schembri Mark A. Schembri Angela S. Barbosa Waldir P. Elias Rodrigo T. Hernandes |
| author_sort | Henrique Orsi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a pathogen that causes diarrhea that can be subdivided into typical (tEPEC) and atypical (aEPEC), based on the production of an adhesin termed Bundle-Forming Pilus (BFP) in the former group. aEPEC is one of the main bacterial pathogens isolated from individuals with diarrhea, and some serotypes have been implicated in diarrheal outbreaks in Brazil, such as the O2:H16. A comparative genomic analysis of aEPEC of this serotype led to the identification of a gene encoding a previously uncharacterized autotransporter protein. In the present study, this novel autotransporter protein was characterized and named EPEC Autotransporter Adhesin (Eaa). The Eaa-encoding gene (eaa) is located in a chromosomal prophage region of 17,014 base pairs, organized in 20 open reading frames and inserted downstream to the threonine-tRNA. A recombinant plasmid termed pIC (pBAD/Myc-His A harboring the eaa gene from aEPEC BA92) was transformed in the MS427 host bacteria, and the MS427(pIC) was used in phenotypic assays. Immunogold-labelling transmission electron microscopy, using anti-Eaa antibodies, showed the presence of Eaa in the cell surface of the wild-type BA92 and MS427(pIC) strains. Subsequently, we demonstrated that Eaa mediates bacterial autoaggregation, biofilm formation and binding to several components of the extracellular matrix, including fibrinogen, plasma and cellular fibronectin, type I, III as well as V collagen and laminin. In summary, we demonstrated that Eaa harbors several adherence properties and may contribute to the pathogenicity of some aEPEC isolates by mediating the interaction of this pathogen with biotic and abiotic surfaces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49da7e5a100e48a6b4214099ae35dba3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-49da7e5a100e48a6b4214099ae35dba32025-08-20T03:07:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-08-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.16171011617101EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coliHenrique Orsi0Henrique Orsi1Daiany R. P. de Lira2Ivana G. Castilho3Guilherme F. R. de Souza4Tugce Onur5Rosa M. Chura-Chambi6Cecilia M. Abe7Enéas Carvalho8Luis F. dos Santos9David A. Rasko10David A. Rasko11Mark A. Schembri12Mark A. Schembri13Mark A. Schembri14Angela S. Barbosa15Waldir P. Elias16Rodrigo T. Hernandes17Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Botucatu, BrazilLaboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Botucatu, BrazilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Botucatu, BrazilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Botucatu, BrazilSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaLaboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, BrazilCentro de Bacteriologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United StatesInstitute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United StatesSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaInstitute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaAustralian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaLaboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Botucatu, BrazilEnteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a pathogen that causes diarrhea that can be subdivided into typical (tEPEC) and atypical (aEPEC), based on the production of an adhesin termed Bundle-Forming Pilus (BFP) in the former group. aEPEC is one of the main bacterial pathogens isolated from individuals with diarrhea, and some serotypes have been implicated in diarrheal outbreaks in Brazil, such as the O2:H16. A comparative genomic analysis of aEPEC of this serotype led to the identification of a gene encoding a previously uncharacterized autotransporter protein. In the present study, this novel autotransporter protein was characterized and named EPEC Autotransporter Adhesin (Eaa). The Eaa-encoding gene (eaa) is located in a chromosomal prophage region of 17,014 base pairs, organized in 20 open reading frames and inserted downstream to the threonine-tRNA. A recombinant plasmid termed pIC (pBAD/Myc-His A harboring the eaa gene from aEPEC BA92) was transformed in the MS427 host bacteria, and the MS427(pIC) was used in phenotypic assays. Immunogold-labelling transmission electron microscopy, using anti-Eaa antibodies, showed the presence of Eaa in the cell surface of the wild-type BA92 and MS427(pIC) strains. Subsequently, we demonstrated that Eaa mediates bacterial autoaggregation, biofilm formation and binding to several components of the extracellular matrix, including fibrinogen, plasma and cellular fibronectin, type I, III as well as V collagen and laminin. In summary, we demonstrated that Eaa harbors several adherence properties and may contribute to the pathogenicity of some aEPEC isolates by mediating the interaction of this pathogen with biotic and abiotic surfaces.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1617101/fullautotransporter proteinadhesinatypical EPECbacterial pathogenesisbiofilmfibronectin |
| spellingShingle | Henrique Orsi Henrique Orsi Daiany R. P. de Lira Ivana G. Castilho Guilherme F. R. de Souza Tugce Onur Rosa M. Chura-Chambi Cecilia M. Abe Enéas Carvalho Luis F. dos Santos David A. Rasko David A. Rasko Mark A. Schembri Mark A. Schembri Mark A. Schembri Angela S. Barbosa Waldir P. Elias Rodrigo T. Hernandes EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology autotransporter protein adhesin atypical EPEC bacterial pathogenesis biofilm fibronectin |
| title | EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli |
| title_full | EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli |
| title_fullStr | EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli |
| title_full_unstemmed | EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli |
| title_short | EPEC autotransporter adhesin (Eaa): a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli |
| title_sort | epec autotransporter adhesin eaa a novel adhesin identified in atypical enteropathogenic escherichia coli |
| topic | autotransporter protein adhesin atypical EPEC bacterial pathogenesis biofilm fibronectin |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1617101/full |
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