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Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli senses low biotin status in the large intestine for colonization and infection

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  • Bin Yang

    (TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA
    Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education)

  • Lu Feng

    (TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA
    Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education
    Tianjin Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics
    State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University)

  • Fang Wang

    (TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA
    Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education)

  • Lei Wang

    (TEDA Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Nankai University, TEDA
    Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education
    Tianjin Key Laboratory of Microbial Functional Genomics
    State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University)

Abstract

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an important foodborne pathogen that infects humans by colonizing the large intestine. Here we identify a virulence-regulating pathway in which the biotin protein ligase BirA signals to the global regulator Fur, which in turn activates LEE (locus of enterocyte effacement) genes to promote EHEC adherence in the low-biotin large intestine. LEE genes are repressed in the high-biotin small intestine, thus preventing adherence and ensuring selective colonization of the large intestine. The presence of this pathway in all nine EHEC serotypes tested indicates that it is an important evolutionary strategy for EHEC. The pathway is incomplete in closely related small-intestinal enteropathogenic E. coli due to the lack of the Fur response to BirA. Mice fed with a biotin-rich diet show significantly reduced EHEC adherence, indicating that biotin might be useful to prevent EHEC infection in humans.

Suggested Citation

  • Bin Yang & Lu Feng & Fang Wang & Lei Wang, 2015. "Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli senses low biotin status in the large intestine for colonization and infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7592
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7592
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    Cited by:

    1. Bin Liu & Lingyan Jiang & Yutao Liu & Hongmin Sun & Jun Yan & Chenbo Kang & Bin Yang, 2023. "Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli utilizes host- and microbiota-derived L-malate as a signaling molecule for intestinal colonization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.

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