Several studies reported increased numbers of mucosa-associated Escherichia coli strains in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The majority of E. coli strains possess type 1 fimbriae, whose tip fibrillum protein, FimH, naturally undergoes amino acid replacements, an important process in the adaptation of commensal E. coli strains to environmental changes, like those observed in IBD and urinary tract infections. In this study, we analyzed mutational patterns in the fimH gene of 52 mucosa-associated E. coli strains isolated from IBD and non-IBD pediatric patients, in order to investigate microevolution of this genetic trait. FimH-positive strains were also phylogenetically typed and tested for their adhesive ability on Caco-2 cells. Specific FimH alleles for each grouping feature were found. Mutations G66S and V27A were related to CD, while mutations A242V, V163A, and T74I were attributed to UC. Otherwise, the G66S, N70S, and S78N mutations were specifically attributed to B2/D phylogroups. The N70S and A119V mutations were related to adhesive E. coli strains. Phylogroup B2, adhesive, and IBD E. coli strains showed a higher site substitution rate (SSR) in the fimH gene, together with a higher number of mutations. The degree of naive mucosal inflammation was related to specific FimH alleles. Moreover, we could suggest that the V27A mutation is pathoadaptive for the CD intestinal habitat, while we could also suggest that both the N70S and S78N mutations are related to the more virulent E. coli B2 phylogroup. In conclusion, we found some FimH variants that seem to be more involved than others in the evolution of IBD pathogenesis.

Microevolution in fimH gene of mucosa-associated Escherichia coli strains isolated from pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease / Iebba, Valerio; Conte, Maria Pia; DI NARDO, Giovanni; Santangelo, Floriana; Aloi, Marina; Totino, Valentina; Longhi, Catia; Cucchiara, Salvatore; Schippa, Serena; Lepanto, MARIA STEFANIA; Checchi, Monica Proietti. - In: INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. - ISSN 0019-9567. - ELETTRONICO. - 80:4(2012), pp. 1408-1417. [10.1128/iai.06181-11]

Microevolution in fimH gene of mucosa-associated Escherichia coli strains isolated from pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease

IEBBA, VALERIO;CONTE, Maria Pia;DI NARDO, Giovanni;SANTANGELO, FLORIANA;ALOI, MARINA;Totino, Valentina;LONGHI, Catia;CUCCHIARA, Salvatore;SCHIPPA, Serena;LEPANTO, MARIA STEFANIA;
2012

Abstract

Several studies reported increased numbers of mucosa-associated Escherichia coli strains in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The majority of E. coli strains possess type 1 fimbriae, whose tip fibrillum protein, FimH, naturally undergoes amino acid replacements, an important process in the adaptation of commensal E. coli strains to environmental changes, like those observed in IBD and urinary tract infections. In this study, we analyzed mutational patterns in the fimH gene of 52 mucosa-associated E. coli strains isolated from IBD and non-IBD pediatric patients, in order to investigate microevolution of this genetic trait. FimH-positive strains were also phylogenetically typed and tested for their adhesive ability on Caco-2 cells. Specific FimH alleles for each grouping feature were found. Mutations G66S and V27A were related to CD, while mutations A242V, V163A, and T74I were attributed to UC. Otherwise, the G66S, N70S, and S78N mutations were specifically attributed to B2/D phylogroups. The N70S and A119V mutations were related to adhesive E. coli strains. Phylogroup B2, adhesive, and IBD E. coli strains showed a higher site substitution rate (SSR) in the fimH gene, together with a higher number of mutations. The degree of naive mucosal inflammation was related to specific FimH alleles. Moreover, we could suggest that the V27A mutation is pathoadaptive for the CD intestinal habitat, while we could also suggest that both the N70S and S78N mutations are related to the more virulent E. coli B2 phylogroup. In conclusion, we found some FimH variants that seem to be more involved than others in the evolution of IBD pathogenesis.
2012
Adhesins, Escherichia coli; Adolescent; Amino Acid Sequence; Bacterial Adhesion; Base Sequence; Caco-2 Cells; Child; Colitis, Ulcerative; Crohn Disease; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Fimbriae Proteins; Fimbriae, Bacterial; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Mutation; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Evolution, Molecular; Immunology; Microbiology; Parasitology; Infectious Diseases
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Microevolution in fimH gene of mucosa-associated Escherichia coli strains isolated from pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease / Iebba, Valerio; Conte, Maria Pia; DI NARDO, Giovanni; Santangelo, Floriana; Aloi, Marina; Totino, Valentina; Longhi, Catia; Cucchiara, Salvatore; Schippa, Serena; Lepanto, MARIA STEFANIA; Checchi, Monica Proietti. - In: INFECTION AND IMMUNITY. - ISSN 0019-9567. - ELETTRONICO. - 80:4(2012), pp. 1408-1417. [10.1128/iai.06181-11]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/443055
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