The objective of this study was to determine the effect of environmental stresses on the cytotoxicity of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). STEC O157:H7 and six non-O157 STEC strains (O26:H11, O103:H1, O10...The objective of this study was to determine the effect of environmental stresses on the cytotoxicity of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). STEC O157:H7 and six non-O157 STEC strains (O26:H11, O103:H1, O104:H4, O111:NM, O121:NM, and O145:NM) were subjected to osmotic (aw 0.95-0.98), acid (pH 4-7), and chlorine (1-5 ppm) stresses. After stress treatments, bacterial populations, expression of virulence-associated genes, and Vero-cytotoxicity were determined. Among the strains, O145:NM survived at aw 0.97 longer than other serotypes, while O111:NM was significantly more sensitive to osmotic stress. At pH 4, O103:H1 was more resistant to the stress, while O26:H11 and O111:NM had significantly less growth. For 2 ppm chlorine stress, O26:H11, O103:H1, and O145:NM had higher populations (>3 log) than other strains. Stressed strains showed a significant increase in relative gene expression levels of stx1, stx2, and eae in O103:H1, O104:H4, and O145:NM than non-stressed control. Additionally, significantly higher Vero-cytotoxicity, as indicated by lactate dehydrogenase assay, of stressed O26:H11, O103:H1, O104:H4, and O145:NM was observed. The results suggest that the growth and cytotoxicity of selected pathogenic E. coli may be enhanced after being exposed to environmental stresses.展开更多
文摘The objective of this study was to determine the effect of environmental stresses on the cytotoxicity of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). STEC O157:H7 and six non-O157 STEC strains (O26:H11, O103:H1, O104:H4, O111:NM, O121:NM, and O145:NM) were subjected to osmotic (aw 0.95-0.98), acid (pH 4-7), and chlorine (1-5 ppm) stresses. After stress treatments, bacterial populations, expression of virulence-associated genes, and Vero-cytotoxicity were determined. Among the strains, O145:NM survived at aw 0.97 longer than other serotypes, while O111:NM was significantly more sensitive to osmotic stress. At pH 4, O103:H1 was more resistant to the stress, while O26:H11 and O111:NM had significantly less growth. For 2 ppm chlorine stress, O26:H11, O103:H1, and O145:NM had higher populations (>3 log) than other strains. Stressed strains showed a significant increase in relative gene expression levels of stx1, stx2, and eae in O103:H1, O104:H4, and O145:NM than non-stressed control. Additionally, significantly higher Vero-cytotoxicity, as indicated by lactate dehydrogenase assay, of stressed O26:H11, O103:H1, O104:H4, and O145:NM was observed. The results suggest that the growth and cytotoxicity of selected pathogenic E. coli may be enhanced after being exposed to environmental stresses.
