Harmless or deadly? New study examines evolution of E. coli bacteria
Genetic material from E. coli bacteria in farm animals could be
contributing to the evolution of deadly strains of E. coli in humans.

Date:
March 1, 2022
Source:
University of Technology Sydney
Summary:
A new study suggests genetic material from E. coli bacteria in
farm animals could be contributing to the evolution of deadly
strains of E.

coli in humans.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Genetic material from E. coli bacteria in farm animals could be
contributing to the evolution of deadly pandemic strains of E. coli in
humans, new research shows.


==========================================================================
E. coli usually live as harmless bacteria in the gastrointestinal tracts
of birds and mammals, including humans. They also reside, independent
of a host, in environments such as water and soil, and in food products including chicken and turkey meat, raw milk, beef, pork and mixed salad.

These bacteria can cause disease if they possess or acquire factors that
allow them survive in areas of the human body outside the gut.

E. coli is the primary source of urinary tract infections, a common
reason for hospital admissions. It can also lead to sepsis, which kills
11 million people globally each year, and meningitis, an infection that
affects the brain and spinal cord.

Dr Cameron Reid, from the University of Technology Sydney, said the aim
of the study, recently published inNature Communications, was to better understand the evolution and genomic characteristics of an emerging
strain of E. coli known as ST58.

ST58 has been isolated from bloodstream infections in patients around
the world, including France, where the number of infections with this
strain was shown to have doubled over a 12 year period. ST58 is also
more drug resistant than other strains.



==========================================================================
"Our team analysed E. coli ST58 genomes from more than 700 human,
animal and environmental sources around the world, to look for clues as
to why it is an emerging cause of sepsis and urinary tract infections,"
said Dr Reid.

"We found that E. coli ST58 from pigs, cattle and chickens contain pieces
of genetic material, called ColV plasmids, which are characteristic of
this strain of disease causing E. coli," he said.

Plasmids are tiny double-stranded DNA molecules, separate from the
bacterial chromosome, that can replicate independently and transfer
across different E.

coli strains, aiding the evolution of virulence.

Acquisition of ColV plasmids may prime E. coli strains to cause extra- intestinal infections in humans, and also increase the likelihood of antimicrobial resistance, the research suggests.

"Zoonosis, particularly in relation to E. coli, should not be viewed
simply as the transfer of a pathogen from an animal to a human," said
research co-author Professor Steven Djordjevic.



========================================================================== "Rather, it should be understood as a complex phenomenon arising from
a vast network of interactions between groups of E. coli (and other
bacteria), and the selective pressures they encounter in both humans
and animals," he said.

The findings suggest all three major sectors of food animal production
(cattle, chickens and pigs), have acted as backgrounds for the evolution
and emergence of this pathogen.

"The contribution of non-human sources to infectious disease in
humans is typically poorly understood and its potential importance under-appreciated, as the debate regarding the ecological origins of
the SARS-CoV2 virus attest," said Dr Reid.

"In a globalised world, eminently susceptible to rapid dissemination
of pathogens, the importance of pro-active management of microbial
threats to public health cannot be understated." The study has broad implications for public health policy that spans across food industry, veterinary and clinical settings.

"To date, infectious disease public health has been a reactive discipline, where action can only be taken after a pathogen has emerged and done
some damage," said Dr Reid.

"Ideally, with the advent and widespread uptake of genome sequencing technology, future infectious disease public health can transition to a primarily pro-active discipline, where genomic surveillance systems are
able to predict pathogen emergence and inform effective interventions."
Dr Reid said for such a system to work, it requires ongoing research and collaboration with government, public health bodies, food producers and clinicians, and it would involve surveillance of a variety of non-human
sources of microbes.

"This would include domestic and wild animals -- particularly birds
-- food products, sewerage and waterways, in what is referred to as a
'One Health' approach. Some microbes, like ST58 E. coli, know very few
barriers between these increasingly interconnected hosts and environments.

"A One Health genomic pathogen surveillance system would be a
revolution within public health and do much to break down historically human-centric approaches devoid of connection with the world around us." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Technology_Sydney. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Cameron J. Reid, Max L. Cummins, Stefan Bo"rjesson, Michael S. M.

Brouwer, Henrik Hasman, Anette M. Hammerum, Louise Roer,
Stefanie Hess, Thomas Berendonk, Kristina Nesporova', Marisa
Haenni, Jean-Yves Madec, Astrid Bethe, Geovana B. Michael,
Anne-Kathrin Schink, Stefan Schwarz, Monika Dolejska, Steven
P. Djordjevic. A role for ColV plasmids in the evolution of
pathogenic Escherichia coli ST58. Nature Communications, 2022; 13
(1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28342-4 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220301093707.htm

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