About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Mechanism of Gut Bacterial Resources Hijacking to Promote Intestinal Illnesses

by Himabindu Venkatakrishnan on December 11, 2014 at 10:21 AM
Font : A-A+

 Mechanism of Gut Bacterial Resources Hijacking to Promote Intestinal Illnesses

A key bacteria in the gut has been identified whose resources are hijacked to spread harmful foodborne E. coli infections and other intestinal illnesses, by the Southwestern Medical Center microbiologists.

Though many E. coli bacteria are harmless and critical to gut health, some E. coli species are harmful and can be spread through contaminated food and water, causing diarrhea and other intestinal illnesses. Among them is enterohemorrhagic E. coli or EHEC, one of the most common foodborne pathogens linked with outbreaks featured in the news, including the multistate outbreaks tied to raw sprouts and ground beef in 2014.

Advertisement

The UT Southwestern team discovered that EHEC uses a common gut bacterium called Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron to worsen EHEC infection. B. thetaiotaomicron is a predominant species in the gut's microbiota, which consists of tens of trillions of microorganisms used to digest food, produce vitamins, and provide a barrier against harmful microorganisms.

"EHEC has learned to how to steal scarce resources that are made by other species in the microbiota for its own survival in the gut," said lead author Dr. Meredith Curtis, Postdoctoral Researcher at UT Southwestern.
Advertisement

The research team found that B. thetaiotaomicron causes changes in the environment that promote EHEC infection, in part by enhancing EHEC colonization, according to the paper, appearing in the journal Cell Host Microbe.

"We usually think of our microbiota as a resistance barrier for pathogen colonization, but some crafty pathogens have learned how to capitalize on this role," said Dr. Vanessa Sperandio, Professor of Microbiology and Biochemistry at UT Southwestern and senior author.

EHEC senses changes in sugar concentrations brought about by B. thetaiotaomicron and uses this information to turn on  virulence genes that help the infection colonize the gut, thwart recognition and killing by the host immune system, and obtain enough nutrients to survive. The group observed a similar pattern when mice were infected with their equivalent of EHEC, the gut bacterium Citrobacter rodentium. Mice whose gut microbiota consisted solely of B. thetaiotaomicron were more susceptible to infection than those that had no gut microbiota. Once again, the research group saw that B. thetaiotaomicron caused changes in the environment that promoted C. rodentium infection.

"This study opens up the door to understand how different microbiota composition among hosts may impact the course and outcome of an infection," said Dr. Sperandio, whose lab studies how bacteria recognize the host and how this recognition might be exploited to interfere with bacterial infections. "We are testing the idea that differential gastrointestinal microbiota compositions play an important role in determining why, in an EHEC outbreak, some people only have mild diarrhea, others have bloody diarrhea and some progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome, even though all are infected with the same strain of the pathogen."

Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Research News

 Brain Region Linking Short-term to Long-term Memory Discovered
The model for memory consolidation claims that the hippocampus forms new memories and, as time goes on, trains the cortex to store enduring memories.
What Are the Effects of T Cells on Blood Pressure and Inflammation?
A new study explored the link between T immune cells in ill patients and mortality risk.
How Does a New Procedure Help Patients Avoid Leg Amputation?
Limb savage procedure benefits patients with severe vascular disease who are at risk for amputation of their limbs.
Omega-3 Can Save Alzheimer's Patients from Vision Loss
Does omega-3 help Alzheimer's patients? A new form of omega-3 helped restore specific markers of eye health in mice bred with aspects of early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Why Is Asthma Linked to Increased Risk of Osteoarthritis?
Drugs used to inhibit the physiological responses for allergic reactions lessen osteoarthritis risk, revealed research.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Mechanism of Gut Bacterial Resources Hijacking to Promote Intestinal Illnesses Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests