Escherichia coli O8:H8 Carrying a Novel Variant of the Heat-Labile Enterotoxin LT2 Gene Caused Outbreaks of Diarrhea. (14th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ishimaru, Kai; Sasaki, Mari; Narimatsu, Hiroshi; Arimizu, Yoko; Gotoh, Yasuhiro; Nakamura, Keiji; Hayashi, Tetsuya; Ogura, Yoshitoshi
• Is Part Of: Open forum infectious diseases. Volume 7:Number 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-14
• Subjects: colonization factor antigen -- diarrhea outbreak -- heat-labile enterotoxin -- phage -- scherichia coli; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-8957

Abstract

Abstract: No outbreaks caused by Escherichia coli –producing heat-labile enterotoxin LT2 have been reported to date. Here, we revealed that the E. coli O8:H8 strains isolated from patients in 2 independent diarrhea outbreaks were negative for any known virulence determinants in routine microbiological tests, were very closely related, and carried a prophage-encoded gene for a novel LT2 variant (LT2d) and the genes for colonization factor antigen III. We also showed that LT2d has a cytotonic activity similar to LT1. These data indicate the importance of E. coli strains producing LT2d as a human pathogen. Abstract : Two Escherichia coli O8-associated outbreaks of diarrhea were identified in Japan. Genome analysis revealed that both outbreaks were caused by closely related E. coli O8:H8 strains carrying a prophage that encodes a novel variant of heat-labile enterotoxin LT2, named LT2d.