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Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Characterization of a Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain Derived from Oreochromis spp. Farms Using Whole-Genome Sequencing
Published on: December 23, 2022
Transcriptome profiling of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli and the mouse microvascular endothelial cell line bEnd.3
Peili Wang1,2, Xia Meng1,2, Jianji Li1,2
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Background:
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), an important extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, causes colibacillosis, an acute and mostly systemic disease involving multiple organ lesions such as meningitis. Meningitis-causing APEC can invade the host central nervous system by crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is a critical step in the development of meningitis. However, the bacteria-host interaction mechanism in this process remains unclear.
Methods:
In this study, we examined E. coli and bEnd.3 cells transcriptomes during infection and mock infection to investigate the global transcriptional changes in both organisms using RNA sequencing approach.
Results:
When APEC infected the bEnd.3 cells, several significant changes in the expression of genes related to cell junctional complexes, extracellular matrix degradation, actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, immune activation and the inflammatory response in bEnd.3 cells were observed as compared to the mock infection group. Thus, the immune activation of bEnd.3 cells indicated that APEC infection activated host defenses. Furthermore, APEC may exploit cell junction degradation to invade the BBB. In addition, amino acid metabolism and energy metabolism related genes were downregulated and the protein export pathway related genes were upregulated in APEC cultured with bEnd.3 cells, compared to that in control. Thus, APEC may encounter starvation and express virulence factors during incubation with bEnd.3 cells.
Conclusion:
This study provides a comprehensive overview of transcriptomic changes that occur during APEC infection of bEnd.3 cells, and offers insights into the bacterial invasion strategies and the subsequent host defense mechanism.
Insights
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) invades the blood-brain barrier by degrading cell junctions. This study reveals APEC
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathogenesis
- Host-pathogen interactions
Background:
- Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes colibacillosis, a systemic disease in poultry.
- APEC can cause meningitis by crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
- Mechanisms of APEC invasion across the BBB are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate transcriptomic changes in bEnd.3 cells and APEC during BBB invasion.
- To elucidate bacterial invasion strategies and host defense mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing was used to analyze transcriptomes of bEnd.3 cells and APEC.
- Comparative analysis was performed between infected and mock-infected groups.
Main Results:
- APEC infection altered gene expression in bEnd.3 cells, affecting cell junctions, extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, and immune response.
- APEC infection induced immune activation in bEnd.3 cells, indicating host defense activation.
- APEC exhibited downregulated amino acid/energy metabolism and upregulated protein export, suggesting adaptation and virulence factor expression.
Conclusions:
- Transcriptomic analysis provides insights into APEC's BBB invasion strategies.
- Host defense mechanisms are activated during APEC infection of the BBB.
- This study enhances understanding of APEC pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions at the BBB.
