Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) are nowadays among the most important emerging group of food-borne pathogens (VTEC strains cause gastroenteritis that can be complicated by the hemorrhagic colitis or hemolytic uremic syndrome, HUS). Escherichia coli 026 producing verotoxin 2 was isolated and its identity confirmed by examination of phenotype and genotype; the strain was first described in Slovakia in association with the development of HUS in a 4-year-old girl.

• MeSH
• Escherichia coli classification   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Feces microbiology   MeSH
• Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Escherichia coli Infections diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Serotyping MeSH
• Shiga Toxins biosynthesis   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Case Reports MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Shiga Toxins MeSH

One hundred and four enterotoxin producing Escherichia coli strains of wide geographical origin were tested for the expression of curli fimbriae by transmission electronmicroscopy and by ELISA using curli-specific antibodies, as well as for the presence of curli-specific gene sequences by PCR. All isolates, irrespective of the production of the fimbriae, carried sequences specific for the structure (csgA) and for one of the regulator genes (crl) of curli expression, respectively. Curli fimbriae were detected in 56 strains (53.8 %). Thirty-six strains expressed curli only when growing at 30 degrees C, 4 isolates were weakly curliated at 37 degrees C only, while on 16 strains curli was observed at both temperatures. On isolates carrying curli at both temperatures the expression of the fimbria was significantly stronger at 30 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. Curli proficiency significantly, but not completely, correlated with the binding of the Congo Red dye. The expression of curli did not confer epithelial cell invasiveness to ETEC strains but, once expressed at 30 degrees C, it facilitated the adherence of the bacteria to plastic surfaces. Curli present in more than half of the ETEC strains and expressed preferentially at low temperatures could be a factor facilitating the environmental survival of this food- and water-borne pathogen.

• MeSH
• Bacterial Adhesion MeSH
• Fimbriae, Bacterial * ultrastructure   MeSH
• Genes, Bacterial MeSH
• Bacterial Proteins analysis   MeSH
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay MeSH
• Enterotoxins biosynthesis   MeSH
• Escherichia coli genetics   isolation & purification   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Congo Red metabolism   MeSH
• Escherichia coli Proteins chemistry   genetics   immunology   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial MeSH
• Genes, Regulator MeSH
• Temperature MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Transmission MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bacterial Proteins MeSH
• Crl protein, Bacteria MeSH Browser
• csgA protein, E coli MeSH Browser
• Enterotoxins MeSH
• Congo Red MeSH
• Escherichia coli Proteins MeSH

Susceptibility of 62 clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae to 15 aminoglycosides, beta-lactams and fluoroquinolones was determined. The isolates originating from 3 intensive care units (neonatal, pediatric, and surgical) and the Department of Infant Internal Medicine of the Children's University Hospital City Center in Munich (Germany) were collected in August 1999, and March and October 2000. Transferability of antibiotic resistance from donors to their E. coli transconjugants was also demonstrated. The majority of isolates were resistant to ampicillin, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and azthreonam but they were susceptible to cefepime, meropenem, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. The occurrence of beta-lactamases and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) was also shown. In August 1999 75% of isolates produced beta-lactamases and 15% ESBL, in March 2000 95% of isolates produced beta-lactamases and 9% ESBL; in October 2000 all isolates produced beta-lactamases and only 5% produced ESBL. Plasmid DNA analysis in randomly chosen isolates and their transconjugants revealed the presence of plasmids ranging from 19 to 136 kb; in the majority of isolates a 120-kb plasmid was observed. Further analysis using restriction endonuclease suggested a dissemination and persistence of an endemic plasmid at all 4 wards of the large pediatric hospital in the City Center of Munich which may be responsible for resistance to beta-lactams among Enterobacteriaceae isolates.

• MeSH
• beta-Lactamases metabolism   MeSH
• beta-Lactam Resistance * MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Enterobacteriaceae drug effects   enzymology   genetics   MeSH
• Cross Infection microbiology   MeSH
• Conjugation, Genetic MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Plasmids * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• beta-Lactamases MeSH

To determine the association of enteroaggregative (EAEC) and cell-detaching (CDEC) Escherichia coli with diarrhea of unknown origin among children from Wrocław (Poland), E. coli strains isolated from stool specimens of children with diarrhea were examined for mannose-resistant adherence to HEp-2 cells. EAEC were isolated from 10 of 39 (26%) children examined with diarrhea and 4 of 20 (20%) age-matched controls. CDEC were present in 14 (36%) cases of diarrhea and 7 (35%) healthy subjects. Cell-detaching activity was distinctly associated with hemolysin production. Among hemolytic CDEC strains cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) synthesis prevailed among isolates obtained from cases of diarrhea (57%) in comparison with isolates obtained from healthy controls (14.3%). Although neither EAEC nor CDEC E. coli strains were associated with diarrhea of children in this setting, there were differences among EAEC and CDEC strains isolated from children with and without diarrhea.

• MeSH
• Bacterial Adhesion MeSH
• Bacterial Toxins metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Adhesion MeSH
• Cytotoxins metabolism   MeSH
• Escherichia coli classification   metabolism   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Feces microbiology   MeSH
• HeLa Cells MeSH
• Hemolysin Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular MeSH
• Escherichia coli Infections diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Escherichia coli Proteins * MeSH
• Diarrhea diagnosis   microbiology   MeSH
• Virulence MeSH
• Check Tag
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Poland MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bacterial Toxins MeSH
• cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 MeSH Browser
• Cytotoxins MeSH
• Hemolysin Proteins MeSH
• Escherichia coli Proteins * MeSH

The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) was determined among isolates of Escherichia coli (n = 63) isolated from hospitalized (43) and healthy (20) children. Ten isolates (21%) were ESBL-positive for two screening tests, the double disk-synergy test and the Oxoid Combination Disk method. One ESBL-positive isolate came from a healthy child. The transfer frequency of oxyimino-beta-lactam resistance from ESBL-producing isolates to E. coli K12 C600 recipient strain ranged from 10(-8) to 10(-5) per donor cell. Donor strains and transconjugants displayed susceptibility patterns typical of ESBL producers. They were resistant to oxyimino-beta-lactams but susceptible to clavulanic acid and carbapenems. Seven out of the 10 ESBL-positive isolates were found to produce MR/MS fimbria, which may play an important role in the colonization of the human intestinal mucosa.

• MeSH
• beta-Lactamases metabolism   MeSH
• beta-Lactam Resistance MeSH
• beta-Lactams pharmacology   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Escherichia coli classification   enzymology   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Hospitalization * MeSH
• Escherichia coli Infections epidemiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Diarrhea epidemiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Intestinal Mucosa microbiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• beta-Lactamases MeSH
• beta-Lactams MeSH