Escherichia coli diseases in Latin America—a ‘One Health’ multidisciplinary approach

Abstract

The emergence and evolution of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains associated with animal and human infections continues being a topic of active investigation in recent years. Latin America has responded to this thread establishing the Latin American Coalition for Escherichia coli Research (LACER), a multidisciplinary group of scientists applying principles of the One Health initiative. LACER is integrating animal, human and environmental health for the mutual benefit of all, while reducing the impact of human disease. Here, I depict the usefulness of this approach by providing three examples from several priority areas in E. coli research and comparing them to the activities performed by LACER, which are enhancing collaborative efforts in biomedical research and providing a translational platform to connect with epidemiological studies and public health policy makers. The manuscript concludes with a brief historical description regarding the establishment of LACER, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between health professionals of different international organizations and not only across one specific country, to effectively combat current and future E. coli infections. The benefits of utilizing 'One Health' concepts in the establishment of LACER should encourage other professionals studying zoonotic or environmentally acquired human infections to implement effective international collaborations to combat common problems.

Brazilian Indigenous Children as Carriers of Diarrheagenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> Pathotypes

“…In our study, ETEC presented low prevalence and was only isolated from children without diarrhea, suggesting that this pathotype does not represent a relevant etiological agent for diarrhea in the indigenous Guarani population. The virulence genotype detected, codifying for both classes of enterotoxin, has been detected in ETEC isolates from non-indigenous children without diarrhea, which is in accordance with our findings [9] [11] [12]. ETEC clinical isolates frequently exhibit diverse adhesins capable of mediating the bacterial adherence with the surface of intestinal cells, contributing in this way to the full expression of the enteroinfection [9] [12].…”

“…Phylogrouping assays classified the ETEC isolates as belonging to group A. These results are in accordance with previous findings, which revealed that phylogroup A is associated with clinical isolates of ETEC obtained from asymptomatic individuals, commensals of environmental origin or even of low virulence potential[9] [12][14] [15][37]. Our results from adherence assays revealed that the ETEC isolates were adherent, exhibiting the aggregative phenotype, typically observed in EAEC, and undefined patterns.…”

“…Diarrheal disease remains a relevant cause of morbidity and mortality among Several studies have shown the relevance of Escherichia coli in the etiology of diarrheal disease worldwide. Intestinal E. coli pathotypes (or diarrheagenic E. coli, DEC) cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide in children under 5 years of age, especially in the developing world [9] [10] [11]. DEC comprises important agents of endemic and epidemic diarrhea worldwide, associated with asymptomatic carriage or clinically symptomatic disease related to acute and persistent diarrhea [9] [11] [12] [13].…”

“…In addition to enterotoxins, the astA gene is recognized as an accessory gene for pathogenic E. coli populations, including diarrheagenic pathotypes such as ETEC and extra-intestinal lineages[9] [15][32] [34][35]. However, in our study the detection of this gene among bacterial isolates obtained from asymptomatic individuals may be explained as a consequence of a continuous process of genetic exchange, between pathogenic and non-pathogenic E. coli populations and/or other bacterial genes which share the same ecological niche[28] [30][36].…”

Cytotoxic effects of Shiga toxin-2 on human extravillous trophoblast cell lines

“…In this sense, virulence factors secreted by pathogens may also impair the correct placentation. STEC are foodborne bacteria that, once ingested, colonize the intestine and promote the production and absorption of Stx responsible for triggering cell death in target organs (Torres 2017). We propose that Stx may mediate EVT impairment leading to pregnancy complications.…”