Open AccessEnteroinvasive Escherichia coli vs. Shigella flexneri : how different patterns of gene expression affect virulence
Author(s) -
Ramos Moreno Ana Carolina,
Gonçalves Ferreira Lucas,
Baquerizo Martinez Marina
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2009.01815.x
Subject(s) - shigella flexneri , virulence , shigella , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , escherichia coli , gene , genetics
Important features of the enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) phenotype and gene expression likely to confer EIEC with a lower ability to cause disease than Shigella flexneri were described here for the first time. To confirm the lower pathogenicity of EIEC, we have analyzed the keratoconjunctivitis developed in guinea‐pigs with EIEC or S. flexneri. Shigella flexneri induced a more pronounced proinflammatory response, whereas EIEC induced a mild form of the disease. EIEC showed a significantly less efficient cell‐to‐cell Caco‐2 dissemination when compared with S. flexneri . Plaques formed by EIEC during intercellular spreading were four times smaller than those formed by S. flexneri . At the molecular level, the lower expression of virulence genes by EIEC during infection of Caco‐2 cells highlighted the importance of effective gene transcription for bacterial pathogenicity.