Thesis
Interaction of pathogenic and non-pathogenic E. coli strains with gut epithelium
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Master of Science, University of the Sunshine Coast
2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00359
Abstract
E. coli is the normal inhabitant of the intestinal tract of healthy individuals. In the gut, these bacteria can increase in number, adhering to the gut epithelium, invading and crossing this barrier to appear in the otherwise sterile extra-intestinal sites, a process that is known as bacterial translocation. However, reports on the population structure of faecal E. coli and their possible role in translocation and development of extra-intestinal diseases such as sepsis, are very limited. In this study, it was hypothesised that dominant E. coli strains in the gut of healthy individuals may have virulence properties that enable them to adhere to, invade and translocate across the human gut epithelial cells. To investigate this hypothesis, a collection of 696 E. coli strains previously isolated and typed from 45 subjects were grouped into dominant (if they constituted ≥50% of the isolates tested from each individual) and non-dominant strains in the samples tested. These strains were analysed for their interaction with Caco-2 cells including their adhesion, invasion and translocation as well as biofilm formation and finally their virulence gene profiles. The results of this study showed that strains belonging to dominant types adhered, invaded and translocated significantly more than non-dominant strains. Moreover, dominant strains showed the ability to form significantly more biofilm than non-dominant strains. Some virulence genes such as kpsMTII, papC and papG allele III were also found to be significantly higher among dominant than non-dominant strains. These data suggest that E. coli strains dominating the gut may potentially be capable of translocating through gut epithelium under predisposing conditions of the host.
Details
- Title
- Interaction of pathogenic and non-pathogenic E. coli strains with gut epithelium
- Authors
- Bahareh Owrangi
- Contributors
- Mohammad Katouli (Supervisor)
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Degree awarded
- Master of Science
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00359
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451251202621
- Output Type
- Thesis
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