THE STRUCTURE OF THE INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA AND THE FREQUENCY OF DETECTION OF PATHOGENICITY GENES (STXI, STX2, BFP) IN...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Pathogenesis

Background:

• Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common gut bacterium, but certain strains cause severe diseases.
• Shiga toxins (Stx) produced by STEC and bundle-forming pili (bfp) from EPEC are key virulence factors.
• Genetic exchange in the gut can lead to E. coli acquiring pathogenic traits, potentially classifying them as pathobionts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence of virulence genes in E. coli strains isolated from children with gastrointestinal disorders.
• To determine if the co-occurrence of Shiga toxin (stx) and bundle-forming pilus (bfp) genes enhances E. coli pathogenicity.

Main Methods:

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed to detect stx1, stx2, and bfp genes.
• Sixty-eight E. coli strains with normal enzymatic activity were analyzed.
• Strains were isolated from children experiencing functional gastrointestinal problems.

Main Results:

• The study identified E. coli strains carrying genes for Shiga toxin synthesis (stx1 and stx2) and bundle-forming pili (bfp).
• Detection of specific amplicons for stx1 and bfp genes was observed.
• The presence of these genes correlated with increased pathogenicity in the examined E. coli strains.

Conclusions:

• The findings indicate that E. coli strains possessing both stx and bfp genes may exhibit enhanced virulence.
• This suggests a potential role for these genetic elements in the pathogenicity of E. coli strains found in children with gastrointestinal issues.
• Further research is warranted to understand the implications of these pathobiont-like strains in human health.