Combining Mass Spectrometry, Surface Acoustic Wave Interaction Analysis, and Cell Viability Assays for Characterization of Shiga Toxin Subtypes of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Bacteria.

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) as a human pathogenic subgroup of STEC are characterized by releasing Stx AB5-toxin as the major virulence factor. Worldwide disseminated EHEC strains cause sporadic infections and outbreaks in the human population and swine pathogenic STEC strains represent greatly feared pathogens in pig breeding and fattening plants. Among the various Stx subtypes, Stx1a and Stx2a are of eminent clinical importance in human infections being associated with life-threatening hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome, whereas Stx2e subtype is associated with porcine edema disease with a generalized fatal outcome for the animals. Binding toward the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer) is a common feature of all Stx subtypes analyzed so far. Here, we report on the development of a matched strategy combining (i) miniaturized one-step affinity purification of native Stx subtypes from culture supernatant of bacterial wild-type strains using Gb3-functionalized magnetic beads, (ii) structural analysis and identification of Stx holotoxins by electrospray ionization ion mobility mass spectrometry (ESI MS), (iii) functional Stx-receptor real-time interaction analysis employing the surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology, and (iv) Vero cell culture assays for determining Stx-caused cytotoxic effects. Structural investigations revealed diagnostic tryptic peptide ions for purified Stx1a, Stx2a, and Stx2e, respectively, and functional analysis resulted in characteristic binding kinetics of each Stx subtype. Cytotoxicity studies revealed differing toxin-mediated cell damage ranked with Stx1a > Stx2a > Stx2e. Collectively, this matched procedure represents a promising clinical application for the characterization of life-endangering Stx subtypes at the protein level.

Potent immune responses induced by a Salmonella ghost delivery system that expresses the recombinant Stx2eB, FedF, and FedA proteins of the Escherichia coli-producing F18 and Shiga toxin in a murine model and evaluation of its protective effect as a porcine vaccine candidate.

BACKGROUND: In the pathogenicity of porcine edema disease (ED), which is caused by the Escherichia coli-producing F18 and Shiga toxin, F18+ fimbrial adhesins and Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e) play pivotal roles in the colonization and enterotoxicity of this pathogen. OBJECTIVE: To develop a vaccine candidate against ED by combining three selected antigens of F18+ E. coli. METHODS: Genetically engineered Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) ghosts that express Stx2eB, FedF, and FedA were individually inserted in a ghost plasmid cassette, and the resultant plasmids were transformed into an attenuated ST (JOL912). The individual expression of Stx2eB, FedF, and FedA in JOL912 was validated by using an immunoblotting assay. RESULTS: Immunization of the ghosts in BALB/c mice led to a significant increase in antigen-specific secretory IgA and serum IgG. Significantly marked elevation of the CD3+CD4+ T cell subpopulation and lymphocyte proliferating activity in the primed splenocytes were also observed. Furthermore, mRNA of IL-4 and IFN-γ were highly upregulated in in vitro stimulated splenic T cells. Subsequently, the immunized mice showed significant protection efficacy against a lethal dose 50 of a virulent strain, resulting in approximately 85% and 92% survival rates in mice with a single- and double-dose immunization, respectively, compared to only 40% of the non-immunized controls. CONCLUSION: A mixture of the ghosts expressing these three antigens is a potential vaccine candidate for protection against the porcine edema disease.

Improved porcine model for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection by deprivation of colostrum feeding in newborn piglets.

Porcine edema disease (ED) is a toxemia caused by enteric infection with Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). ED occurs most frequently during the weaning period and is manifested as emaciation associated with high mortality. In our experimental infection with a specific STEC strain, we failed to cause the suppression of weight gain in piglets, which is a typical symptom of ED, in two consecutive experiments. Therefore, we examined the effects of deprivation of colostrum on the sensitivity of newborn piglets to STEC infection. Neonatal pigs were categorized into two groups: one fed artificial milk instead of colostrum in the first 24 h after birth and then returned to the care of their mother, the other breastfed by a surrogate mother until weaning. The oral challenge with 1011  colony-forming units of virulent STEC strain on days 25, 26 and 27 caused suppression of weight gain and other ED symptoms in both groups, suggesting that colostrum deprivation from piglets was effective in enhancing susceptibility to STEC. Two successive STEC infection experiments using colostrum-deprived piglets reproduced this result, leading us to conclude that this improved ED piglet model is more sensitive to STEC infection than the previously established models.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Subclinical Infection in Pigs: Bacteriological and Genotypic Characterization and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is the major pathogen responsible for neonatal diarrhea, postweaning diarrhea, and edema disease in pigs. Although it can be harmless, ETEC is also present in the intestines of other animal species and humans, causing occasional diarrhea outbreaks. The evaluation of this pathogen's presence in food sources is becoming an increasingly important issue in human health. In order to determine the prevalence of ETEC in nondiarrheic pigs, 990 animals from 11 pig farms were sampled. Using end-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), eltA, estI genes, or both, were detected in 150 (15.2%) animals. From the positive samples, 40 (26.6%) ETEC strains were isolated, showing 19 antibiotic-resistance patterns; 52.5% of these strains had multiple antibiotic resistances, and 17.5% carried the intI2 gene. The most prevalent genotypes were rfb(O157)/estII/aidA (32.5%) and estI/estII (25.0%). The estII gene was identified most frequently (97.5%), followed by estI (37.5%), astA (20.0%), and eltA (12.5%). The genes coding the fimbriae F5, F6, and F18 were detected in three single isolates. The aidA gene was detected in 20 ETEC strains associated with the estII gene. Among the isolated ETEC strains, stx(2e)/estI, stx(2e)/estI/estII, and stx(2e)/estI/estII/intI2 genotypes were identified. The ETEC belonged to 12 different serogroups; 37.5% of them belonged to serotype O157:H19. Isolates were grouped by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR into 5 clusters with 100.0% similarity. In this study, we demonstrated that numerous ETEC genotypes cohabit and circulate in swine populations without clinical manifestation of neonatal diarrhea, postweaning diarrhea, or edema disease in different production stages. The information generated is important not only for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes, but also for understanding the dynamics and ecology of ETEC in pigs in different production stages that can be potentially transmitted to humans from food animals.

A globotetraosylceramide (Gb4) receptor-based ELISA for quantitative detection of Shiga toxin 2e.

Currently, no simple assays are available for routine quantitative detection of Escherichia coli-produced Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e) that causes porcine edema disease. Here, we present a novel quantitative detection method for Stx2e based on the measurement of Stx2e binding to the specific globotetraosylceramide (Gb4) receptor by ELISA (Gb4-ELISA). No cross-reactivity was found with the other Shiga toxins Stx1 and Stx2, indicating high specificity. When the recombinant Stx2e B subunit (Stx2eB) was used, the absorbance measured by Gb4-ELISA increased linearly with Stx2eB concentration in the range of 20-2,500 ng/ml. The Gb4-ELISA method can be easily performed, suggesting that it would be a useful diagnostic tool for porcine edema disease.

Real-time PCR for differentiation of F18 variants among enterotoxigenic and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from piglets with diarrhoea and oedema disease.

One-step real-time PCR using one set of primers and four probes was developed for differentiation of F18 variants (F18 common, F18ab, F18ac, F18new variant) of enterotoxigenic (ETEC) and Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) Escherichia coli from piglets with diarrhoea and oedema disease. The limits of detection for F18common, F18ab, F18ac, and F18new variant were 10(7), 10(7), 10(5) and 10(7)colony forming units/g faeces, respectively. Of 94 Korean isolates of E. coli encoding F18, 70 were F18ac (43 STEC/ETEC, 4 STEC and 23 ETEC), 15 were F18ab (all STEC) and nine were F18new variant (1 STEC/ETEC, 7 STEC, 1 ETEC).

Expression of verocytotoxic Escherichia coli antigens in tobacco seeds and evaluation of gut immunity after oral administration in mouse model.

Verocytotoxic Escherichia (E.) coli strains are responsible for swine oedema disease, which is an enterotoxaemia that causes economic losses in the pig industry. The production of a vaccine for oral administration in transgenic seeds could be an efficient system to stimulate local immunity. This study was conducted to transform tobacco plants for the seed-specific expression of antigenic proteins from a porcine verocytotoxic E. coli strain. Parameters related to an immunological response and possible adverse effects on the oral administration of obtained tobacco seeds were evaluated in a mouse model. Tobacco was transformed via Agrobacteium tumefaciens with chimeric constructs containing structural parts of the major subunit FedA of the F18 adhesive fimbriae and VT2e B-subunit genes under control of a seed specific GLOB promoter. We showed that the foreign Vt2e-B and F18 genes were stably accumulated in storage tissue by the immunostaining method. In addition, Balb-C mice receiving transgenic tobacco seeds via the oral route showed a significant increase in IgA-positive plasma cell presence in tunica propria when compared to the control group with no observed adverse effects. Our findings encourage future studies focusing on swine for evaluation of the protective effects of transformed tobacco seeds against E. coli infection.

[Genotypic characterization of toxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhea (PWD) and edema disease (ED)]. / Caracterización genotípica de aislamientos de Escherichia coli obtenidos de cerdos con diarrea posdestete y enfermedad de los edemas.

The purpose of this work was to characterize 47 Escherichia coli strains isolated from 32 pigs diagnosed with postweaning diarrhea and three pigs with edema disease by PCR. Forty two (95.5 %) of the strains isolated from diarrheic pigs were characterized as enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and 2 (4.5 %) as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Fourteen (33.3 %) ETEC strains were positive for est/estII/fedA genes. The most complex genotype was eltA/estI/faeG/aidA. Strains isolated from pigs with ED were classified as porcine STEC and were stx2e/aidA carriers. Eleven (25 %) strains carried the gene encoding adhesin protein AIDA-I. However, genes coding for F5, F6, F41, intimin and Paa were not detected. The development of vaccines generating antibodies against prevalent E. coli adhesins in Argentina could be useful for the prevention of PWD and ED.

The flagella of F18ab Escherichia coli is a virulence factor that contributes to infection in a IPEC-J2 cell model in vitro.

Bacterial flagella contribute to pathogen virulence; however, the role of flagella in the pathogenesis of F18ab E. coli-mediated swine edema disease (ED) is not currently known. We therefore evaluated the role of flagella in F18ab E. coli adhesion, invasion, biofilm formation, and IL-8 production using an in vitro cell infection model approach with gene-deletion mutant and complemented bacterial strains. We demonstrated that the flagellin-deficient fliC mutant had a marked decrease in the ability to adhere to and invade porcine epithelial IPEC-J2 cells. Surprisingly, there was no difference in adhesion between the F18 fimbriae-deficient ΔfedA mutant and its parent strain. In addition, both the ΔfedA and double ΔfliCΔfedA mutants exhibited an increased ability to invade IPEC-J2 cells compared to the wild-type strain, although this may be due to increased expression of other adhesins following the loss of F18ab fimbriae and flagella. Compared to the wild-type strain, the ΔfliC mutant showed significantly reduced ability to form biofilm, whereas the ΔfedA mutant increased biofilm formation. Although ΔfliC, ΔfedA, and ΔfliCΔfedA mutants had a reduced ability to stimulate IL-8 production from infected Caco-2 cells, the ΔfliC mutant impaired this ability to a greater extent than the ΔfedA mutant. The results from this study clearly demonstrate that flagella are required for efficient F18ab E. coli adhesion, invasion, biofilm formation, and IL-8 production in vitro.

Caracterización genotipica de aislamientos de Escherichia coli obtenidos de cerdos con diarrea posdestete y enfermedad de los edemas / Genotypic characterization of toxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhea (PWD) and edema disease (ED)

El objetivo del trabajo fue caracterizar mediante PCR 47 aislamientos de Escheríchia coli recuperados de 32 cerdos con diagnóstico clínico de diarrea posdestete (DPD) y de 3 cerdos con enfermedad de los edemas (ED). Sobre 44 aislamientos provenientes de cerdos con DPD, 42 (95,5 %) fueron caracterizados como E. coli enterotoxigénicos (ETEC) y 2 (4,5 %) como E. coli productores de toxina Shiga (STEC). Catorce aislamientos de ETEC (33,3 %) fueron positivos para los genes estl/estlI/fedA. El genotipo más complejo fue eltA/estll/east1/faeG/aidA. Los aislamientos provenientes de cerdos con ED se clasificaron como STEC porcinos y fueron portadores de stxJaidA. Once aislamientos (25 %) fueron portadores del gen que codifica la expresión de la adhesina AIDA-I. Sin embargo, en ningún aislamiento se detectaron los genes que codifican la expresión de las adhesinas F5, F6, F41, de intimina y de "Paa". La prevención de la DPD y de la ED podría realizarse mediante el desarrollo de vacunas que generen anticuerpos contra las adhesinas de las cepas de E. coli prevalentes en la Argentina.

The purpose of this work was to characterize 47 Escherichia coli strains isolated from 32 pigs diagnosed with postweaning diarrhea and tree pigs with edema disease by PCR. Forty two (95.5 %) of the strains isolated from diarrheic pigs were characterized as enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and 2 (4.5 %) as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Fourteen (33.3 %) ETEC strains were positive for est/estll/fedA genes. The most complex genotype was eltA/estl/faeG/aidA. Strains isolated from pigs with ED were classified as porcine STEC and were stxjaidA carriers. Eleven (25 %) strains carried the gene encoding adhesln protein AIDA-I. However, genes coding for F5, F6, F41, intimin and Paa were not detected. The development of vaccines generating antibodies against prevalent E. coli adhesins in Argentina could be useful for the prevention of PWD and ED.

Escherichia coli strains causing edema disease in northern Vietnam share an identical verotoxin 2e.

Edema disease (ED) is a common fatal disease in newly weaned piglets. To develop an effective control program for ED, we carried out a study to better understand the incidence and spread of the disease and the characteristics of the causative agent. In our study, 69 Escherichia coli strains, isolated from 92 piglets showing clinical signs of ED from 13 provinces in northern Vietnam, were positive for both the VT2e toxin and the F18 major fimbrial subunit gene fedA. Of these, 40 strains (58%) were positive for AIDA and 16 isolates carried one or more enterotoxins. Forty-six (67%) of the 69 VT2e(+)/F18(+) E. coli isolates belonged to classical serotypes (O139:K82, O141: K85, O138:K81, and O149:K91) while the remaining strains did not belong to the common serotypes in pig. Seropathotype 0139:K82(+)/VT2e(+)/F18(+)/AIDA(+) (21 isolates) was the most frequently detected ED-causing E. coli strain. High prevalence of resistance was observed to the common drugs of tetracycline, streptomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and spectinomycin. Multiple resistances were widely distributed with 84% of isolates resistant to five antibiotics. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the VT2e toxin is identical among E. coli strains causing ED in pig.

Design and evaluation of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the simultaneous identification of genes for nine different virulence factors associated with Escherichia coli that cause diarrhea and edema disease in swine.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay was developed for detection and characterization of pathogenic Escherichia coli that cause diarrhea and edema disease in swine. The mPCR assay was designed as a single reaction for detecting 5 different adhesins (K88, K99, 987P, F41, and F18), 3 enterotoxins (LT, STaP, and STb), and the Shiga toxin (Stx2e) associated with porcine pathogenic E. coli. The specificity of the mPCR assay was evaluated by comparison with results from previous analysis of 100 porcine isolates characterized by colony blot hybridization with DNA probes for the 5 adhesins and 4 toxin genes. There was complete agreement between the 2 methods. The mPCR assay for E. coli pathogens isolated from swine was further evaluated by examination of strains containing virulence factors that are known to have different antigenic subtypes or DNA sequence variations. It was found that the mPCR assays targeting genes encoding for K88 and F18 amplified products with the appropriate sizes from strains containing genes for different K88 and F18 antigenic subtypes; mPCR assays targeting the gene encoding for STaP amplified product from only STaP-positive but not STaH-positive isolates; and mPCR assays targeting the gene encoding for the Stx2 amplified products from only Stx2-positive and not Stx1-positive isolates. Similarly, mPCR assays targeting the gene encoding for LTI did not produce the appropriate product from strains containing genes for LTII. The mPCR assays are simple to perform, and they should be useful for diagnosis of porcine colibacillosis, including the genotypic characterization of E. coli isolates from pigs with diarrhea or edema disease.

Analysis of the AIDA-I gene sequence and prevalence in Escherichia coli isolates from pigs with post-weaning diarrhoea and oedema disease.

Three hundred and twenty-four strains of Escherichia coli isolated from weaned pigs with diarrhoea or oedema disease in Eastern China were screened by multiplex PCR for the presence of the gene encoding adhesin involved in diffuse adhesion I (AIDA-I). Two AIDA-I positive strains were subjected to analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the complete orfA and orfB of the AIDA gene. The AIDA-I positive E. coli isolates were also assessed for five fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41) by monoclonal antibodies and for toxin genes (STa, STb, LT, EAST1, Stx2e) by PCR. Twenty-one (6.5%) of the isolates possessed AIDA-I genes. Of these isolates, two carried AIDA-I genes as the only demonstrated virulence factors, and the remaining isolates carried other virulence factor genes. Comparing the AIDA-I sequence from porcine and human sources, a high homology of orfA both in porcine E. coli and human E. coli was observed. However, each orfB of the two porcine E. coli isolates was 3864 nucleotides long compared with 3861 for the E. coli 2787 orfB, and showed 96.5% homology to E. coli 2787. The data indicated (1) that AIDA-I may be an occasional virulence factor in post-weaning diarrhoea and oedema disease in pigs, (2) that it has the potential to transfer between porcine and human E. coli, and (3) that there is a genetic diversity in orfB between human and porcine E. coli.

Molecular characterization of shiga like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from pigs oedema.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: An oedema outbreak occurred in a Guwahati pig farm. Escherichia coli isolates from different necropsy samples collected from the dead piglets with oedema were characterized to confirm the virulence. METHODS: Haemolytic E. coli isolates recovered from liver, lung and intestine of pigs with oedema were examined for presence of genes encoding pathogroups such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), (eae/bfpA), enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC), (eagg), enterotoxigive Escherichia coil (ETEC), (elt/est) and shiga like toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), (stx1/ stx2) by PCR and molecular typing by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR). RESULTS: The three haemolytic E. coli recovered from diseased pigs were STEC because of presence of the stx2 and eae genes. Analysis by RAPD-PCR indicated that two of the three isolates were genetically related. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The isolation of STEC isolates from pigs with oedema was shown. Although the three isolates were untypable, presence of eae and stx2 genes clearly indicated these as prime cause of pig oedema disease. Further, demonstration of STEC in pigs becomes a public health concern, as pigs are potential reservoir of such agents, which may cause human illness.

Phenotyping of E. coli serotypes associated to oedema disease.

BACKGROUND: Oedema disease is a severe disease, mainly affecting recently weaned pigs. It is caused by E. coli strains that express fimbriae F18 and produce verotoxin 2e, mainly belonging to serotype O138, O139 or O141. The aim of this study was to compare E. coli isolates within these serotypes with respect to diversity. METHODS: Faecal E. coli strains belonging to serotypes O138, O139 and O141 isolated during the period 1994-1998 from Swedish pigs aged less than 12 weeks were compared using a biochemical fingerprinting system. Aiming to compare the results obtained over time, also strains isolated during 1964-67 and 1975-80 were included in the study. The study comprised 129, 263 and 95 isolates of E. coli serotype O138, O139 and O141, respectively. RESULTS: Biochemical phenotypes (BPTs) were defined. At each sampling occasion each herd could only contribute with one isolate per BPT. Consequently, all but one of identical BPTs identified at a specific sampling occasion was omitted. The final number of isolates from 1994-98 that was compared included 64, 182 and 41 isolates of serotypes O138, O139 and O141, respectively. Within each serotype, the dominating BPT included over 65% of the compared isolates, demonstrating a large dominance of one BPT per serotype. These dominating BPTs were also demonstrated in the material from the 1960ies and the 1970ies. Still, the presence of other common BPTs (especially within serotype O138 and O139) demonstrated a certain variation within serotype. In a herd severely affected by oedema disease, E. coli serotype O139 was easily demonstrated in diseased pigs but only rarely in apparently healthy weaners CONCLUSION: The results obtained demonstrate the presence of dominating BPTs within the oedema disease inducing serotypes. A stability of these BPTs over time was observed, presumably at least partly due to a never-ending access to naïve pigs. Still, the presence of other common BPTs indicates a variation over time, which visualises the importance of monitoring for this. Such studies should focus on pigs affected by oedema disease, because oedema disease inducing strains of E. coli were only rarely demonstrated in healthy pigs in a herd affected by oedema disease.

The effect of intramuscular administration of colistin on the development and course of experimentally induced oedema disease in weaned piglets.

Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC) strains that produce Shiga toxin Stx2e cause oedema disease in weaned piglets. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of Stx2e released in mesenteric lymph nodes on disease pathogenesis. Colistin and ampicillin were intramuscularly administered to piglets of the experimental group simultaneously challenged with STEC strain, type O139:F18ab, Stx2e+. Piglets of the control group were challenged with STEC only. The strain was naturally resistant to ampicillin and susceptible to colistin. After the challenge, colonisation of the intestines was observed in both antibiotic-treated piglets and control piglets without antibiotic treatment. Histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy revealed sporadic colonisation of the small intestine in the piglets. STEC was detected in the mesenteric lymph nodes of untreated piglets. The clinical manifestations of oedema disease were observed in both groups. In the antibiotic-treated group (11 piglets), oedema disease developed in 10 piglets, eight of which died or were euthanized ante finem. In the untreated group (11 piglets), oedema disease developed in five piglets, four of which died or were euthanized ante finem. We therefore propose that the STEC lysed by colistin suddenly released the toxin from bacterial cells immediately after their passage through the intestinal wall. That could explain a more severe course of oedema disease in the treated piglets. Even though high amounts of STEC were present in the lymph nodes of untreated piglets, the toxin was not released abruptly because the bacterial cells were not damaged.

[Expression of GST-3B fusion protein of Escherichia coli of Ee strain producing SLT-IIe toxin and study on its biological activities and immunogenicity].

Three copies of DNA fragment encoding the truncated SLT-IIeB of Ee strain which was responsible for the edema disease in piglets in Hubei province were fused to the downstream of glutathione S-transferase (GST) of pGEX-KG expression vector, resulting in the fusion expression plasmid pK3 B. After transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) and induced by IPTG, the results of SDS-PAGE showed that the GST-3B fusion protein was expressed in high level. Western blot was performed to confirm that the expressed fusion protein could specifically react with antiserum against diseases of edema of swine. The fusion protein was further purified and used as an antigen for receptor-binding inhibition assay. The receptor-binding inhibition assay showed GST-3B fusion protein had more strong biological activities than GST-B. The fusion protein of GST-3B or GST-B was purified and emulsified with Freund' s incomplete adjuvant in equal volumes to get subunit bacterin. Groups of SPF KM mice were vaccinated subcutaneously at 0 week with 25 micrograms and at 2 weeks with 25 micrograms of purified GST-3B or GST-B and challenged intraperitoneally with volume of 5 x OD50 Ee strain. Serological tests were performed one week interval with ELISA. The IgG titres against SLT-IIeB in the sera collected at the same period from the Group GST-3B were higher than in the Group GST-B and the immune protection rate against Ee strain was respectively 60% and 40%. These results show the fusion protein GST-3B had more strong biological activities, immunogenicity and better protection against Ee strain, which built a good foundation for the further research of high efficacy vaccine against porcine edema disease.

Virulence and fitness gene patterns of Shiga toxin-encoding Escherichia coli isolated from pigs with edema disease or diarrhea in Germany.

Fecal Escherichia coli isolates (n = 3,218) from piglets with edema disease or diarrhea were screened for the genes of Stx2 and Stx2 variants. A total of 283 E. coli isolates (8.8%) proved exclusively positive for Stx2e and most of these (85.1%) harbored genes for F18 fimbria. No recognized adhesins were detectable in 14.5% of the isolates. Genes for heat-stable or heat-labile E. coli enterotoxins were found in F18+ as well as F18 isolates (51.9% and 33.3%, respectively). Five isolates also harbored fyuA and irp2 genes which are indicative of a high pathogenicity island in E. coli. All Stx2e+ isolates lacked genes for intimin, EHEC hemolysin, STEC autoagglutinating adhesin, subtilase cytotoxin, serine protease Espl. The majority of Stx2e+ isolates belonged to phylogenetic groups A (59.3%) and D (38.9%) and only few isolates were classified as B1 and B2 (1.8%). The results suggest that Stx2e-producing E. coli strains are highly prevalent in diseased pigs in Germany. Despite their significant diversity, most strains possess all typical features (Stx2e, F18) of porcine edema disease E. coli. However, a considerable portion of porcine strains resembles published human Stx2e+ strains in that they lack any recognized pig-associated adhesin. Thus, a zoonotic potential cannot be excluded for these strains.

DNA microarray-based identification of serogroups and virulence gene patterns of Escherichia coli isolates associated with porcine postweaning diarrhea and edema disease.

Escherichia coli strains causing postweaning diarrhea (PWD) and edema disease (ED) in pigs are limited to a number of serogroups, with O8, O45, O138, O139, O141, O147, O149, and O157 being the most commonly reported worldwide. In this study, a DNA microarray based on the O-antigen-specific genes of all 8 E. coli serogroups, as well as 11 genes encoding adhesion factors and exotoxins associated with PWD and ED, was developed for the identification of related serogroups and virulence gene patterns. The microarray method was tested against 186 E. coli and Shigella O-serogroup reference strains, 13 E. coli reference strains for virulence markers, 43 E. coli clinical isolates, and 12 strains of other bacterial species and shown to be highly specific with reproducible results. The detection sensitivity was 0.1 ng of genomic DNA or 10(3) CFU per 0.3 g of porcine feces in mock samples. Seventeen porcine feces samples from local hoggeries were examined using the microarray, and the result for one sample was verified by the conventional serotyping methods. This microarray can be readily used to screen for the presence of PWD- and ED-associated E. coli in porcine feces samples.