Functional analysis of the type III secretion system in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H45

A mass outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H45 was first reported in Japan in 1998. This pathogen was classified as an enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) O157 because it was characterized by the Shiga toxin gene (stx)-negative and bundle-forming pilus (bfp) gene-positive genotypes. In this study, we investigated the type III secretion system in EPEC O157. Although no type III secreted proteins, Esps (E. colisecreted proteins), in EPEC O157:H45 were detectable in culture supernatant, secreted proteins were induced by the introduction of an EPEC plasmid-encoded regulator, per. In further contrast to EHEC O157:H7, EPEC O157:H45 triggered the accumulation of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins beneath the adherent bacteria. These results suggest that regulation of the type III secretion apparatus and host signal transduction events between E. coli O157:H45 and O157:H7 are completely different.