肠出血性大肠杆菌O157∶H7变种Q蛋白对志贺毒素表达的影响

1株肠出血性大肠杆菌O157∶H7变种EC169菌株,携带stx基因但不表达志贺毒素。通过高效热不对称交错聚合酶链式反应（high-efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction,hiTAIL-PCR）hiTAILPCR扩增得到EC169 stx1及其上游核苷酸片段并克隆测序,结果表明：EC169 q基因与标准株sakai q基因相比存在6个SNP位点。通过PCR扩增O157∶H7高毒株EC150 q基因全长,并构建表达载体pkk223-q分别转化EC169和低毒株EC157。反转录荧光定量PCR实验结果表明,外源q基因在EC169和EC157重组菌中可高效表达,并引起EC157stx转录水平上调,但EC169重组菌stx转录水平不变。反向乳胶凝集实验结果亦证实EC157重组菌志贺毒素表达量提高,而EC169重组菌志贺毒素表达量不变。Q蛋白变异可能并非EC169志贺毒素不表达的主要原因。     

食品中大肠杆菌O157的PCR检测与wzy基因的测序分析

大肠杆菌O157:H7 和O157:H- 是重要食品致病菌。从食品中分离得到一株O157:H7 菌株EC5。将该菌株PCR 扩增wzy 基因全长并克隆测序。结果表明,wzy 基因序列与大肠杆菌O157:H7 标准株EDL933 有100% 同源性。从NCBI GenBank 数据库下载O157 菌株wzy 基因序列,针对保守序列设计引物并扩增O157 菌株和非O157 菌株。PCR 结果表明,wzy 基因特异性强,可作为检测O157 菌株的标志基因。本研究为开发大肠杆菌O157 的分子检测技术提供新的研究思路。     

食品中非O157大肠杆菌志贺毒素基因序列分析

对一株从食品中分离的非O157产志贺毒素1型大肠杆菌(EC6)进行研究。将该菌株所产志贺毒素Stx1用 PCR扩增stx1 基因全长并克隆测序,其stx1 基因与GenBank 数据库收录的stx1 基因最高同源性为99%,表明EC6 发生了一定程度的基因突变。采用邻位相连法构建进化树,结果表明EC6 为stx1 基因亚型。     

大肠杆菌O157志贺毒素1胶乳凝集试剂的研制

根据大肠杆菌933W志贺毒素1(STX1)基因的序列,设计合成寡核苷酸引物,以国内分离的大肠杆菌O157菌株94H的DNA为摸板,经PCR扩增志贺毒素1A亚基基因,扩增的基因克隆到原核表达载体pET-28a,在E.coliBL21中进行表达。用表达的STX1A产物免疫兔子,制备STX1A抗血清,从中提取IgG。合成胶乳,用提取的IgG与胶乳交连反应,研制出了敏感和简便的检测大肠杆菌O157STX1产生的胶乳检测试剂。     

食品中产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的多重PCR检测

针对产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的stx2、wzy、hlyA的保守序列,设计特异性的引物,建立一种新的多重PCR检验方法.结果显示,该方法特异性强,扩增结果与各参考菌株基因型一致,并能良好的区分出O157菌株和非O157型产志贺毒素大肠杆菌.该方法能用于食品样品的检测和流行病学分离株的快速鉴定.     

武汉肉类食品中大肠杆菌O157∶H7分离株stx亚型和毒力特征分析

从22 家市场销售的117 份肉类食品中分离出4 株大肠杆菌O157∶H7菌株,经PCR检测这4 株菌的stx、hly、 eae毒力基因均为阳性。采用聚合酶链式反应（polymerase chain reaction,PCR）法对这4 株菌的stx亚型进行鉴定。 3 株菌同时携带stx1、stx2基因,且均为stx1a、stx2a亚型。菌株EC5.11仅携带stx2基因,但在所有的stx2分型PCR反 应中都为阴性。用PCR扩增该菌株stx2基因全长并克隆测序,序列分析结果表明EC5.11志贺毒素基因为stx2c亚型。 采用Vero细胞毒性实验检测这4 株菌产志贺毒素的状况,结果显示这些菌株都具有一定的Vero细胞毒性。     

食源性产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的分离及菌株特征分析

了解不同食品中产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的流行情况、菌株特征及潜在致病性。方法 对我国不同地区采集的355份食品样品进行产志贺毒素大肠杆菌分离鉴定,对菌株进行stx1/stx2基因分型、eae等毒力基因检测,并对菌株进行多位点序列分型(MLST)分析。结果 355份样品中44份stx2基因阳性,共分离出11株非O157 产志贺毒素大肠杆菌,其中3株携带stx2a亚型,3株携带stx2e亚型,1株携带stx2b亚型,4株不能分型;5株携带ehxA、saa毒力基因,2株携带subA基因,1株携带katP基因;MLST将11株菌分为7个不同的ST型,存在与溶血性尿毒综合症患者肠出血性大肠杆菌分离株(HUS-associated enterohemorrhagic E.coli,HUSEC)及主要流行血清群产志贺毒素大肠杆菌亲缘关系较近的ST型别。结论 我国食品中存在一定程度的非O157产志贺毒素大肠杆菌污染,部分菌株具有潜在致病性,应加强对食品中STEC的监测。     

检测产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的菌落PCR方法

针对产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的毒力基因stx 设计特异性引物,并建立一种菌落PCR 方法。菌落PCR 模拟实验证实,该方法特异性强,能良好的扩增出O157 的stx1 和stx2 基因,而普通大肠杆菌、蜡样芽孢杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌则无PCR 扩增产物。应用分子检测初筛、选择性培养、菌落PCR 相结合的方法,检测实际食品样品,分离检测到一株携带 stx1 的产志贺毒素大肠杆菌。本实验建立的菌落PCR 方法可应用于食品检验。     

牛源性非O157大肠杆菌的分离与鉴定

目的:对牛粪及牛肉中的非O157大肠杆菌进行分离、鉴定和毒力基因携带情况进行检测,以了解非O157大肠杆菌的污染状况。方法:参考USDA检测方法,对样品进行选择性增菌,用多重聚合酶链式反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)方法进行初步筛选,检测O抗原(O157、O121、O111、O103、O26),阳性样本用选择性显色培养基rainbow agar分离纯化,可疑菌株用多重PCR方法鉴定O抗原,PCR-限制性片段长度多态性鉴定H抗原,并采用血清凝集实验进行验证,确认的阳性菌株采用多重PCR方法进行毒力基因(stx1、stx2、eae、hly)检测。结果:在153份牛粪和49份牛肉样本中,共40份样品检出1个或多个O血清型阳性,牛粪检出率高于牛肉,非O157阳性率为19.3%,O157的阳性率为0.50%;经分离纯化后,共鉴定出阳性菌株30株,其中O26最多占73.3%,O121、O103、O157分别占16.7%、6.7%、3.3%。毒力基因检测结果显示,分离自牛肉的2株O26:H11,一株stx1、hly阳性,另一株hly阳性,分离自牛粪的1株O26:H11携带hly基因,因此30株菌株中带毒菌株阳性率为10.0%,非O157产志贺毒素大肠杆菌阳性率为3.4%。结论:牛粪和牛肉中非O157大肠杆菌的污染率明显高于O157,尤其是O26:H11血清型最高,且检出含志贺毒素基因的大肠杆菌,这提示零售牛肉市场存在非O157大肠杆菌污染的安全风险,我国应该加强对非O157大肠杆菌的检测和监控。     

谨防乳肉制品中的新型高致病性大肠杆菌

正大肠杆菌是人和动物肠道中的正常栖居菌,一般为非致病菌,但大肠杆菌中某些血清型菌株具有高致病性,可引起腹泻,称为"致病性大肠杆菌"。产志贺毒素大肠杆菌产志贺毒素大肠杆菌就是一类高致病性食源性病原菌,包括大肠杆菌O26,以及O157、O45、O103、O104、O111、O121、O145等150多种其他血清型大肠杆菌。该菌为革兰氏阴性杆     

Characterization of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from foods

The aim of this study was to characterize Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) by PCR using strains isolated from ham, beef, and cattle in Colombia. A total of 189 E. coli strains were tested for the presence of the uidA, stx1, and stx2 genes, and identification was confirmed by the automated PCR BAX system for E. coli O157:H7. Genes encoding Shiga-like toxins (stx) were found in eight (6.06%) of 132 strains previously isolated from minced beef; four (50%) of these strains yielded amplification products for both toxin genes (stx1 and stx2), and four (50%) yielded products only for the stx2 toxin. None of the strains analyzed were positive by PCR for the presence of the single base-pair mutation in the uidA gene from E. coli O157:H7; these results were confirmed by the BAX system analysis. A multiplex PCR assay was standardized for the three genes. Results from this study confirmed previous data about the low prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 and Shiga-like toxins in Colombia and is the first known report of the prevalence of non-O157 enterohemorrhagic E. coli in this country.     

Detection and quantitation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, O111, and O26 in beef and bovine feces by real-time polymerase chain reaction

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 and certain non-O157 EHEC serotypes (such as O26:H11, O26: NM, O11:H8, and O111:NM) have emerged as significant causes of human disease throughout the world. Important virulence attributes of EHEC are the intimin protein (encoded by the eae gene) and Shiga toxins 1 and 2 (encoded by the stx1 and stx2 genes, respectively). Two sets of real-time polymerase chain reaction (R-PCR) assays were developed for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of EHEC through the monitoring of the presence of the eae and stx genes, and these assays were evaluated. In the eaeR-PCR assay, three sets of primers and TaqMan probes were designed for the amplification and real-time detection of a portion of the eae gene specific to the EHEC O26, O111, and O157 serotypes. In the stxR-PCR assay, two sets of primers and TaqMan probes were used to amplify and detect the stx1 and stx2 genes. DNA prepared from 67 bacterial strains carrying known virulence markers was tested to determine the specificities of the two assays. In the eaeR-PCR assay, eaeO157- and eaeO111-specific primer-probe sets identified only EHEC O157 and O111 strains, respectively. The eaeO26-specific primer-probe set identified all EHEC 026 isolates and some Shiga toxin-negative serotypes of enteropathogenic E. coli and rabbit diarrheagenic E. coli. The stxR-PCR assay was able to identify only those strains carrying either or both of the Shiga toxin-encoding genes. The detection range of both R-PCR assays was linear over DNA concentrations corresponding to 10(3) to 10(8) CFU/ml of an EHEC strain. Both assays were able to detect and quantify very low levels (1 to 10 CFU/g of food or feces) of EHEC in feces and ground beef enriched for 16 h in a modified Trypticase soy broth. In conclusion, eae- and stx-based R-PCR assays are reliable and sensitive methods for the rapid screening and specific and quantitative detection of important serotypes of EHEC in cattle and in foods of bovine origin.     

Detection, occurrence, and characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from raw ewe's milk in Spain

A study was carried out in the Castilla y León region of Spain to investigate the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in raw ewe's milk samples collected from several cheese factories during 1 year. All specimens were examined for E. coli O157:H7 by selective enrichment at 41.5 +/- 1.0 degrees C, after both 6 and 22 h of incubation, and then immunomagnetically separated and plated on cefixime-potassium tellurite-sorbitol MacConkey agar. No growth was obtained in the enrichment broth after a 6-h incubation. Presumptive colonies obtained after 22 h of incubation were screened by a multiplex PCR assay for the presence of rfbO157 and fliCH7 genes. Of all the ewe's milk samples studied, three were positive for E. coli O157:H7. The E. coli O157:H7 strains that were positive for the rfbO157 and fliCH7 genes were then analyzed by multiplex PCR for the presence of virulence genes (stx1, stx2, ehxA, and eaeA). All E. coli O157:H7 isolates were Shiga toxigenic and harbored additional genes related to virulence (ehxA and eaeA). The predominant Stx toxin type was stx2. These results demonstrate that raw ewe's milk used in cheesemaking may be sporadically contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 strains that are potentially pathogenic for humans.     

Isolation and characterization of the Shiga toxin gene (stx)-bearing Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 from retail meats in Shandong Province, China, and characterization of the O157-derived stx2 phages

Infection by Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli of non-O157 and O157 serotypes are rare in China, but infection by O157 serotype was found in Shandong Province and three other provinces in China. To understand the reason for these rare infections and to determine the safety of retail meats in Shandong Province, we examined the distribution of Shiga toxin gene (stx)-bearing E. coli in retail meats and characterized the isolated stx-bearing strains. We used hybridization with DNA probes and isolated stx1- and/or stx2-positive E. coli from 31 (58%) of 53 retail meat samples, with beef showing the highest frequency (68%). Of 42 stx-positive isolates, none belonged to O157. Using the O157-specific immunomagnetic bead technique, we isolated E. coli O157 carrying the eae and stx2 genes from eight beef samples (26%). These strains produced little or no Stx2 and carried a unique q gene. Replication of the stx2 phages was detected in these strains, whereas stx2 phage replication was not detected in our previous study in which we examined similar stx2-bearing E. coli O157 strains from other Asian countries. Analysis of E. coli C600 lysogenized with the stx2 phages found in this study suggests that the lack of Stx2 production is due to changes in non-q gene region(s) of the phage genome or chromosomal mutation(s) in the host. Our data and reports by other workers suggest it is necessary to determine if various stx2-bearing E. coli O157 strains producing Stx2 to varying degrees are distributed in meats in various locations in China.     

Polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Escherichia coli O157: H-.

The DNA band patterns generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the du2 primer and template DNAs from various strains of Escherichia coli and non-E. coli bacteria were compared. Among three to five prominent bands produced, the three bands at about 1.8, 2.7, and 5.0 kb were detected in all of the E. coli O157 strains tested. Some nonpathogenic E. coli and all pathogenic E. coli except E. coli O157 showed bands at 1.8 and 5.0 kb. It seems that the band at 2.7 kb is specific to E. coli O157. Sequence analysis of the 2.7-kb PCR product revealed the presence of a DNA sequence specific to E. coli O157:H- and E. coli O157:H7. Since the DNA sequence from base 15 to base 1,008 of the PCR product seems to be specific to E. coli O157, a PCR assay was carried out with various bacterial genomic DNAs and O157-FHC1 and O157-FHC2 primers that amplified the region between base 23 and base 994 of the 2.7-kb PCR product. A single band at 970 bp was clearly detected in all of the strains of E. coli O157:H- and E. coli O157:H7 tested. However, no band was amplified from template DNAs from other bacteria, including both nonpathogenic and pathogenic E. coli except E. coli O157. All raw meats inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at 3 x 10(0) to 3.5 x 10(2) CFU/25 g were positive both for our PCR assay after cultivation in mEC-N broth at 42 degrees C for 18 h and for the conventional cultural method.     

Isolation and characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from retail meats in Argentina

Between February and May 2000, 279 meat samples were collected from 136 retail stores in Gualeguaychú City, Argentina. Samples were assayed for Escherichia coli O157:H7 by selective enrichment in modified EC broth containing novobiocin, followed by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and plating onto both sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and potassium tellurite and a chromogenic medium. Eleven E. coli O157:H7 isolates were detected in 6 (3.8%) of 160 ground beef samples, in 4 (4.8%) of 83 fresh sausages, and in 1 (3.3%) of 30 dry sausages. E. coli O157:H7 was not isolated from five hamburger patties or one barbecue-type fresh sausage assayed. The isolates were tested for virulence-related genes. Ten additional Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 isolates of food origin, recovered from different locations in Argentina, were included for comparison purposes. All 21 isolates harbored both eae and EHEC-hlyA genes, and 12 (57.1%) encoded stx2/stx2vh-a. The isolates were of phage types 87 (seven strains), 14 (four strains), 4 (three strains), and 26 (one strain). Six strains were nontypable by phage typing. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed 19 XbaI-PFGE profiles. Fifteen (71%) strains were grouped in four clusters, which shared more than 80% of DNA restriction fragments. The enrichment culture method with IMS was a sensitive procedure to detect E. coli O157:H7 strains in retail meats. Some of the isolates from different stores presented a high clonal relatedness, as determined by XhaI-PFGE and phage typing, and harbored the virulence factors associated with human illness.     

Detection of virulence-associated genes in Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 isolates from beef cattle, humans, and chickens

Food-producing animals can be reservoirs of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains that can induce diseases in animals or humans. Contamination of food by E. coli O157:H7 raises immediate concerns about public health, although it is not clear whether all E. coli O157 isolates of animal origin are equally harmful to humans. Inversely, the pathogenic potential of atypical E. coli O157 isolates and several non-O157 serotypes often is ignored. We used a DNA microarray capable of detecting a subset of 346 genes to compare the virulence-associated genes present in eight E. coli O157 isolates from human cases, 14 antibiotic-resistant and/or hypermutable E. coli O157 isolates from beef cattle, and four antibiotic-resistant, sorbitol-negative, non-O157 E. coli isolates from healthy broiler chickens. Hybridization on arrays (HOA) revealed that O157 isolates from beef cattle and humans were genetically distinct, although they possessed most of the same subset of virulence genes. HOA allowed discrimination between hypermutable and antibiotic-resistant O157 isolates from beef cattle based on hybridization results for the stx2 and ycgG genes (hypermutable) or ymfL, stx1, stx2, and hlyE(avian) genes (resistant). However, the absence of hybridization to gene yfdR characterized human isolates. HOA also revealed that an atypical sorbitol-fermenting bovine O157 isolate lacked some genes of the type 3 secretion system, plasmid pO157, and the stx1 and stx2 genes. This isolate had a particular pathotype (eaeA(beta) tir(alpha) espA(alpha) espB(alpha) espD(alpha)) not found in typical E. coli O157:H7. HOA revealed that some non-O157 E. coli isolates from healthy chickens carried genes responsible for salmochelin- and yersiniabactin-mediated iron uptake generally associated with pathogenic strains.     

Phage types, virulence genes and PFGE profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from raw beef, soft cheese and vegetables in Lima (Peru)

The present study was conducted in Lima Metropolitana to evaluate the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in raw beef, raw ground beef, soft cheese and fresh vegetables, sampled at different markets in the city. Between October 2000 and February 2001, 407 food samples were collected from different markets in the 42 districts of Lima Metropolitana. Samples were assayed for E. coli O157 by selective enrichment in modified Tryptic Soy Broth containing novobiocin, followed by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and plating onto sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and potassium tellurite. Fifty (12.3%) of 407 food samples resulted positive for E. coli O157 isolation (23 of 102 ground beef; 15 of 102 beef meat; eight of 102 soft cheese and four of 101 fresh vegetables). Thirty-five E. coli O157 isolates were further analysed for the presence of virulence genes. All 35 were positive by PCR for O157 rfbE, fliCh7, eae-gamma1 and ehxA genes. In addition, genes encoding Shiga toxins were detected in 33 of 35 isolates, five isolates (14%) encoded stx(1), stx(2), and 28 (80%) stx2 only. The isolates were of seven different phage types (PT4, PT8, PT14, PT21, PT34, PT54, and PT87) with three phage types accounting for 80% of isolates: PT4 (15 isolates), PT14 (8 isolates), and PT21 (5 isolates). Interestingly, the majority (31 of 35; 89%) of E. coli O157:H7 isolates characterized in this study belonged mainly to the phage types previously found in STEC O157:H7 strains associated with severe human disease in Europe and Canada. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 32 isolates revealed 14 XbaI-PFGE groups (I to XIV) of similarity >85%, with 23 (72%) isolates grouped in five clusters. Some isolates from different districts presented a high clonal relatedness. Thus, PFGE group VIII clustered eleven strains from nine different districts. The broad range of PFGE subtypes found in this study demonstrates the natural occurrence of many genetic variants among STEC O157:H7 spread in Lima.     

Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in the environment

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) (O157 and other serotypes) are zoonotic pathogens linked with severe human illnesses. The main virulence factors of EHEC are the Shiga toxins, among others. Most of the genes coding for these toxins are bacteriophage-encoded. Although ruminants are recognized as their main natural reservoir, water has also been documented as a way of transmission of EHEC. E. coli O157:H7 and other EHEC may contaminate waters (recreational, drinking or irrigation waters) through feces from humans and other animals. Indeed, the occurrence of EHEC carrying the stx2 gene in raw municipal sewage and animal wastewater from several origins has been widely documented. However, the evaluation of the persistence of naturally occurring EHEC in the environment is still difficult due to methodological problems. Methods proposed for the detection and isolation of stx-encoding bacteria, ranging from the classic culture-based methods to molecular approaches, and their application in the environment, are discussed here. Most virulence factors associated with these strains are linked to either plasmids or phages, and consequently they are likely to be subject to horizontal gene transfer between species or serotypes. Moreover, the presence of infectious stx-phages isolated as free particles in the environment and their high persistence in water systems suggest that they may contribute to the spread of stx genes, as they are directly involved in the emergence of new pathogenic strains, which might have important health consequences.