Open AccessInvasion of differentiated intestinal C aco‐2 cells is a sporadic property among atypical enteropathogenic E scherichia coli strains carrying common intimin subtypes
Author(s) -
Pacheco Veronica C.R.,
Yamamoto Denise,
Abe Cecilia M.,
Hernandes Rodrigo T.,
Mora Azucena,
Blanco Jorge,
Gomes Tânia A.T.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.983
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2049-632X
DOI - 10.1111/2049-632x.12112
Subject(s) - intimin , enteropathogenic escherichia coli , escherichia coli , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacterial adhesin , enterobacteriaceae , virology , enterocyte , genetics , gene , small intestine , biochemistry
Atypical enteropathogenic E scherichia coli (a EPEC ) strains produce attaching–effacing ( AE ) lesions on enterocytes due to the interaction of the adhesin intimin with its translocated receptor. a EPEC strain 1551‐2 was previously shown to invade HeLa and T84 cells by means of the uncommon intimin subtype omicron. Other a EPEC strains carrying uncommon intimin subtypes have also been shown to invade differentiated T84 intestinal cells. In this study, seven a EPEC strains carrying the most common EPEC intimin subtypes (alpha, beta, and gamma) were evaluated regarding the ability to invade differentiated intestinal C aco‐2 cells. Although all strains adhered to and promoted AE lesions, the numbers of cell‐associated bacteria varied significantly between the different strains regardless of the intimin subtype ( P < 0.05). Gentamicin protection assay and transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that in comparison with the invasive strain 1551‐2, only one strain (a EPEC EC 423/03, intimin beta) was invasive ( P = 0.05). Although both strains persisted intracellularly until 48 h, the number of viable bacteria of EC 423/03 decreased, whereas that of 1551‐2 increased significantly up to 24 h and then decreased. In conclusion, invasiveness is a sporadic property among a EPEC strains carrying some common intimin subtypes.