High-throughput fitness screening and transcriptomics identify a role for a type IV secretion system in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease-associated Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) are pathogenic bacteria frequently isolated from patients who have Crohn's disease (CD). Despite the phenotypic differences between AIEC and commensal E. coli, comparative genomic approaches have been unable to differentiate these two groups, making the identification of key virulence factors a challenge. Here, we conduct a high-resolution, in vivo genetic screen to map AIEC genes required for intestinal colonization of mice. In addition, we use in vivo RNA-sequencing to define the host-associated AIEC transcriptome. We identify diverse metabolic pathways required for efficient gut colonization by AIEC and show that a type IV secretion system (T4SS) is required to form biofilms on the surface of epithelial cells, thereby promoting AIEC persistence

SUBMITTER: Elhenawy W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8016931 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature