Genomic and Phenomic Study of Mammary Pathogenic Escherichia coli

Invited review: Mastitis Escherichia coli strains-Mastitis-associated or mammo-pathogenic?

Bovine mastitis remains a major concern for dairy farmers, mainly because of its effect on the economy of their activity and on animal welfare. Because Escherichia coli is considered a major mastitis pathogen, the diversity of E. coli strains isolated from mastitis cases has been studied for decades, with the aim to discover new ways to fight this infection. With the recent advances in whole-genome sequencing, a detailed view of the peculiarities of mastitis E. coli strains has emerged. This review aims to bring together the knowledge garnered over the years with the more recent results of whole-genome analyses. Whereas the concept of a mammary pathogenic E. coli has been proposed, because a common set of virulence genes cannot be identified among mastitis E. coli strains, we prefer the use of mastitis-associated E. coli (MAEC), with MAEC being more an "ecotype" rather than a "pathotype." Indeed, data available so far suggest that a common feature of MAEC would rather be an enrichment in fitness capabilities that makes them well-suited for survival and rapid adaptation to changing biotopes in the mammary gland, which we qualify as intramammary ecotopes.

Virulence of Bacteria Causing Mastitis in Dairy Cows: A Literature Review

Bovine mastitis, a prevalent disease in dairy farms, exerts a profound negative influence on both the health and productivity of dairy cattle, leading to substantial economic losses for the dairy industry. The disease is associated with different bacterial agents, primarily Gram-positive cocci (e.g., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.) and Gram-negative bacilli (e.g., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae). These pathogens induce mastitis through diverse mechanisms, intricately linked to the virulence factors they carry. Despite previous research on the virulence factors of mastitis-causing bacteria in dairy cattle, there remains a significant gap in our comprehensive understanding of these factors. To bridge these gaps, this manuscript reviews and compiles research on the virulence factors of these pathogens, focusing on their roles in mammary tissue infection, immune evasion, adherence to mammary epithelial cells, and invasion and colonization of the mammary gland. These processes are analyzed in depth to provide a comprehensive framework to promote a deeper understanding of dairy pathogenic bacteria and their pathogenic mechanisms and to provide new insights into the control of mastitis in dairy cattle.

Genes associated with fitness and disease severity in the pan-genome of mastitis-associated Escherichia coli

Introduction

Bovine mastitis caused by Escherichia coli compromises animal health and inflicts substantial product losses in dairy farming. It may manifest as subclinical through severe acute disease and can be transient or persistent in nature. Little is known about bacterial factors that impact clinical outcomes or allow some strains to outcompete others in the mammary gland (MG) environment. Mastitis-associated E. coli (MAEC) may have distinctive characteristics which may contribute to the varied nature of the disease. Given their high levels of intraspecies genetic variability, virulence factors of commonly used MAEC model strains may not be relevant to all members of this group.

Methods

In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 96 MAEC strains isolated from cattle with clinical mastitis (CM). We utilized clinical severity data to perform genome-wide association studies to identify accessory genes associated with strains isolated from mild or severe CM, or with high or low competitive fitness during in vivo competition assays. Genes associated with mastitis pathogens or commensal strains isolated from bovine sources were also identified.

Results

A type-2 secretion system (T2SS) and a chitinase (ChiA) exported by this system were strongly associated with pathogenic isolates compared with commensal strains. Deletion of chiA from MAEC isolates decreased their adherence to cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Discussion

The increased fitness associated with strains possessing this gene may be due to better attachment in the MG. Overall, these results provide a much richer understanding of MAEC and suggest bacterial processes that may underlie the clinical diversity associated with mastitis and their adaptation to this unique environment.

Flagella are an important virulence factor in the subclinical persistence of Escherichia coli in bovine mammary gland

We compared the virulence profile and REP-PCR genotypes of Escherichia coli strains isolated from subclinical and clinical mastitis cases and dairy farm environments in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, to determine virulence factors and genotypes potentially associated with subclinical persistence in the udder. The virulence profile was obtained by the search for three virulence genes: lpfA (long polar fimbriae), fliC (flagella), and escN (type III secretion system). Subclinical isolates exhibited mainly the fliC gene (33.33%) and fliC + escN genes (30.30%). Clinical isolates exhibited mainly fliC + escN genes (50%) and environmental isolates the lpfA + escN genes (58.04%). Strains isolated from subclinical mastitis showed 6.75 times more positivity to fliC than environmental isolates. Thirty-four genotypes were observed in the REP-PCR analysis, and clinical mastitis isolates indicated more genetic proximity to dairy farm environment isolates than subclinical mastitis isolates. In conclusion, the results suggested that flagella may be an important virulence factor for mammary persistent E. coli infection in cattle, however, none of the E. coli REP-PCR genotypes were associated with subclinical infection.

The Diversity of Escherichia coli Pathotypes and Vaccination Strategies against This Versatile Bacterial Pathogen

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a gram-negative bacillus and resident of the normal intestinal microbiota. However, some E. coli strains can cause diseases in humans, other mammals and birds ranging from intestinal infections, for example, diarrhea and dysentery, to extraintestinal infections, such as urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, meningitis, and sepsis. In terms of morbidity and mortality, pathogenic E. coli has a great impact on public health, with an economic cost of several billion dollars annually worldwide. Antibiotics are not usually used as first-line treatment for diarrheal illness caused by E. coli and in the case of bloody diarrhea, antibiotics are avoided due to the increased risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome. On the other hand, extraintestinal infections are treated with various antibiotics depending on the site of infection and susceptibility testing. Several alarming papers concerning the rising antibiotic resistance rates in E. coli strains have been published. The silent pandemic of multidrug-resistant bacteria including pathogenic E. coli that have become more difficult to treat favored prophylactic approaches such as E. coli vaccines. This review provides an overview of the pathogenesis of different pathotypes of E. coli, the virulence factors involved and updates on the major aspects of vaccine development against different E. coli pathotypes.

Novel Proteoliposome-Based Vaccine against E. coli: A Potential New Tool for the Control of Bovine Mastitis

Simple Summary

Mastitis is a highly prevalent disease in dairy cattle, affecting animal welfare and generating economic losses for the dairy industry. Control measures for coliform mastitis are limited, due to the constant exposure of the teat to bacteria and the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, making vaccination an important strategy for control of mastitis. However, currently available vaccines show limited efficacy, which could be attributed to inactivation processes that alter the antigenic preservation of the vaccines. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a novel vaccine against mastitis using proteoliposomes obtained from E. coli in a murine model of coliform mastitis. We demonstrated that the proteoliposome vaccine was safe, immunogenic and effective against an experimental model of E. coli mastitis, decreasing bacterial count and tissue damage. This proteoliposome vaccine is a potential new tool for prevention of mastitis.

Abstract

Escherichia coli is an important causative agent of clinical mastitis in cattle. Current available vaccines have shown limited protection. We evaluated the efficacy of a novel vaccine based on bacterial proteoliposomes derived from an E. coli field strain. Female BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with two doses of the vaccine, 3 weeks apart. Between days 5 and 8 after the first inoculation, the females were mated. At 5–8 days postpartum, the mice were intramammary challenged with the same E. coli strain. Two days after bacterial infection, mice were euthanized, and the mammary glands were examined and removed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the vaccine as well as the immune response generated by the new formulation. The vaccinated mice showed mild clinical symptoms and a lower mammary bacterial load as compared to non-vaccinated animals. The vaccination induced an increase in levels of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a against E. coli in blood and mammary glands that showed less inflammatory infiltration and tissue damage, as compared to the control group. In summary, the vaccine based on bacterial proteoliposomes is safe, immunogenic, and effective against E. coli, constituting a new potential tool for mastitis control.

Escherichia coli Mastitis in Dairy Cattle: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Challenges

Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the udder tissue parenchyma that causes pathological changes in the glandular tissue and abnormalities in milk leading to significant economic losses to the dairy industry across the world. Mammary pathogenic Escherichia (E.) coli (MPEC) is one of the main etiologic agents of acute clinical mastitis in dairy cattle. MPEC strains have virulence attributes to resist the host innate defenses and thrive in the mammary gland environment. The association between specific virulence factors of MPEC with the severity of mastitis in cattle is not fully understood. Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics to treat mastitis has resulted in antimicrobial resistance to all major antibiotic classes in MPEC. A thorough understanding of MPEC’s pathogenesis and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern is required to develop better interventions to reduce mastitis incidence and prevalence in cattle and the environment. This review compiles important information on mastitis caused by MPEC (e.g., types of mastitis, host immune response, diagnosis, treatment, and control of the disease) as well as the current knowledge on MPEC virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance, and the dilemma of MPEC as a new pathotype. The information provided in this review is critical to identifying gaps in knowledge that will guide future studies to better design diagnostic, prevent, and develop therapeutic interventions for this significant dairy disease.

Selenomethionine alleviates NF-κB-mediated inflammation in bovine mammary epithelial cells induced by Escherichia coli by enhancing autophagy

Autophagy is crucial for the maintenance of homeostasis under stimuli related to infection. Selenium (Se) plays variable roles in defence against infection and Selenomethionine (Se-Met) is a common Se supplementation. This study aimed to understand whether Se-Met could regulate the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway through autophagy. Mammary alveolar cell-T (MAC-T) was challenged with Escherichia coli (E. coli). Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to detect the protein expression and mRNA expression of cytokines. Immunofluorescence assays were performed to observe the expression of intracellular LC3. The results showed that E. coli inhibited autophagy by decreasing the LC3-Ⅱ protein levels, and the Atg5 and Beclin1 protein levels were increased after 4 h. Infection also decreased the number of LC3 puncta. E. coli increased the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα protein. Concomitantly, the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA increased at 3 and 4 h post-infection. We further explored the regulatory role of autophagy on NF-κB-mediated inflammation with autophagy modulators and shAtg5. The results indicated that the autophagy activator reduced the phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα and the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. Additionally, activating autophagy weakened the adhesion to MAC-T of E. coli. Autophagy inhibitors exacerbated NF-κB-mediated inflammation and strengthened the adhesion of E. coli to cells. We then examined the effects of Se-Met on NF-κB-mediated inflammation through autophagy. The data suggested that Se-Met enhanced LC3-II expression, inhibited the E. coli-induced phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα, and suppressed the adhesion ability of E. coli to MAC-T and that the effects of Se-Met in attenuating NF-κB-mediated inflammation were partially blocked by an autophagy inhibitor. In summary, Se-Met alleviated NF-κB-mediated inflammation induced by E. coli by enhancing autophagy in bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Correlation between Polymerase Chain Reaction Identification of Iron Acquisition Genes and an Iron-Deficient Incubation Test for Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Bovine Mastitis

We investigated the correlation between the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification of six virulence genes associated with siderophore activation and the iron-uptake system (iron-acquisition genes; iucA, entB, fepA, ybtS, psn, and kfu) in mastitis-associated Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). The growth of 37 K. pneumoniae isolates from the milk of cows with mild mastitis reared on Japanese dairy farms between October 2012 and December 2014 was examined by incubation in an iron-deficient medium. entB-, fepA-, or ybtS-positive isolates grew significantly better than entB-, fepA-, or ybtS-negative isolates after incubating in an iron-deficient medium for three days. Interestingly, the growth of isolates with 0 and ≥4 PCR-positive iron-acquisition genes in the iron-deficient medium were significantly different by day 2, while isolates with 2, 3, and ≥4 PCR-positive iron-acquisition genes grew significantly better than those with no PCR-positive iron-acquisition genes by day 3. Based on the correlation between the results of PCR and iron-deficient incubation tests, iron-deficient incubation for three days can be used to estimate the presence or absence of iron-acquisition genes in mastitis-associated K. pneumoniae.

The microbial ecology of Escherichia coli in the vertebrate gut

Escherichia coli has a rich history as biology's 'rock star', driving advances across many fields. In the wild, E. coli resides innocuously in the gut of humans and animals but is also a versatile pathogen commonly associated with intestinal and extraintestinal infections and antimicrobial resistance-including large foodborne outbreaks such as the one that swept across Europe in 2011, killing 54 individuals and causing approximately 4000 infections and 900 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Given that most E. coli are harmless gut colonizers, an important ecological question plaguing microbiologists is what makes E. coli an occasionally devastating pathogen? To address this question requires an enhanced understanding of the ecology of the organism as a commensal. Here, we review how our knowledge of the ecology and within-host diversity of this organism in the vertebrate gut has progressed in the 137 years since E. coli was first described. We also review current approaches to the study of within-host bacterial diversity. In closing, we discuss some of the outstanding questions yet to be addressed and prospects for future research.

An overview on mastitis-associated Escherichia coli: Pathogenicity, host immunity and the use of alternative therapies

Escherichia coli is one of the leading causes of bovine mastitis; it can cause sub-clinical, and clinical mastitis characterized by systemic changes, abnormal appearance of milk, and udder inflammation. E. coli pathogenicity in the bovine udder is due to the interaction between its virulence factors and the host factors; it was also linked to the presence of a new pathotype termed mammary pathogenic E. coli (MPEC). However, the presence of this pathotype is commonly debated. Its main virulence factor is the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is responsible for causing an endotoxic shock, and inducing a strong immune response by binding to the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and stimulating the expression of chemokines (such as IL-8, and RANTES) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6, and IL-1β). This strong immune response could be used to develop alternative and safe approaches to control E. coli causing bovine mastitis by targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines that can damage the host tissue. The need for alternative treatments against E. coli is due to its ability to resist many conventional antibiotics, which is a huge challenge for curing ill animals. Therefore, the aim of this review was to highlight the pathogenicity of E. coli in the mammary gland, discuss the presence of the new putative pathotype, the mammary pathogenic E. coli (MPEC) pathotype, study the host's immune response, and the alternative treatments that are used against mastitis-associated E. coli.

Virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolated from bovine clinical mastitis in some selected dairy farms of Bangladesh

E. coli is one of the major significant pathogens causing mastitis, the most complex and costly diseases in the dairy industry worldwide. Present study was undertaken to isolate, detect the virulence factors, phylogroup, antimicrobial susceptibility and antimicrobial resistance genes in E. coli from cows with clinical mastitis. A total of 68 milk samples comprising 53 from clinical mastitis and 15 from apparently healthy cattle were collected from four different established dairy farms in Bangladesh. E. coli was isolated from the milk samples and identified by PCR targeting malB gene and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. E. coli isolates were screened by PCR for the detection of major virulence genes (stx, eae and cdt) of diarrheagenic E. coli followed by phylogenetic grouping. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the E. coli isolates was determined by disk diffusion test and E. coli showing resistance was further screened for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. E. coli was isolated from 35.8% of the mastitis milk samples but none from the apparently healthy cattle milk. All the E. coli isolates were negative for stx, eae and cdt genes and belonged to the phylogenetic groups A and B1 which comprising of commensal E. coli. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed 84.2% (16/19) of the isolates as multidrug resistant. Highest resistance was observed against amoxicillin (94.5%) followed by ampicillin (89.5%) and tetracycline (89.5%). E. coli were found resistant against all the classes of antimicrobials used at the farm level. Tetracycline resistance gene (tetA) was detected in 100% of the tetracycline resistant E. coli and blaTEM-1 was present in 38.9% of the E. coli isolates. Findings of this study indicate a potential threat of developing antimicrobial resistance in commensal E. coli and their association with clinical mastitis. Occurrence of multidrug resistant E. coli might be responsible for the failure of antibiotic therapies in clinical mastitis as well as pose potential threat of transmitting and development of antibiotic resistance in human.

High occurrence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): first report of blaIMI and blaVIM type genes from livestock in Tunisia

We aimed to study the antibiotic susceptibility and possible occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)/carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli isolates collected from rabbits in Tunisia. In all, 35 faecal samples from healthy rabbits were collected from one farm and E. coli were isolated from three media: antibiotic-free TBX agar, TBX+2 mg l^-1 cefotaxime and TBX+1 mg l^-1 imipenem. In total, 39 E. coli isolates were recovered; the majority showed resistance to at least one antibiotic and none was ESBL producer. Carbapenem resistance was detected in 16 isolates from either selective or un-selective media. Phenotypic methods used to detect carbapenemase production showed two positive isolates by Modified Hodge Test, six metallo-carbapenemase producers (Imipenem disc+EDTA) and all were temocillin resistant (possible OXA-48 carbapenemase). bla_VIM and bla_IMP type genes were detected in two and one isolates, respectively; one of them harboured both genes. Isolates contained common genes encoding resistance to sulphonamides (sul1, sul2), tetracycline (tetA, tetB, tetC) and fluoroquinolones (qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr). Class 1 and 2 integrons were detected in five and four isolates, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of rabbit production as reservoir of carbapenem-resistant E. coli and argument the first report of bla_VIM and bla_IMP genes in livestock in Tunisia.

Genome based phylogeny and virulence factor analysis of mastitis causing Escherichia coli isolated from Indian cattle

Mastitis is a highly infectious disease prevalent in dairy cattle and it is majorly caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). The objective of present study is to investigate the occurrence of virulence genes, antimicrobial susceptibility and comparative analysis of E. coli (IVRI KOL CP4 and CM IVRI KOL-1) isolates from mastitis infected animal. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using a PacBio RS II system and de novo assembled using Hierarchical Genome Assembly Process (HGAP3). Bacterial Pan Genome Analysis Pipeline (BPGA) was used for pangenome analysis. A set of 50 E. coli isolates were used for comparative analysis (48 collected from the database and 2 reference sequences). Core genes were further concatenated for phylogenetic analyses. In silico analysis was performed for antibiotic resistance and virulence gene identification. Both of the E. coli isolates carried many resistance genes including, b-lactamase, quinolones, rifampicin, macrolide, aminoglycoside and phenicols resistance. We detected 39 virulence genes in IVRI KOL CP4 and 52 in CM IVRI KOL-1 which include toxins, adhesions, invasins, secretion machineries or iron acquisition system. High prevalence of mastitis strains belongs to phylogroups A, although few isolates were also assigned to phylogenetic groups B1 and B2. In conclusion, the present study reported the presence of genes involved in Adherence, Iron acquisition, secretion system and toxins which shown to be crucial in MPEC pathogenicity. This is the first whole genome analysis of MPEC strains to be carried out in Indian isolate to highlights the spread of resistance and virulence genes in food animals.

Comparative genomic analysis of Escherichia coli isolates from cases of bovine clinical mastitis identifies nine specific pathotype marker genes

Escherichia coli is a major causative agent of environmental bovine mastitis and this disease causes significant economic losses for the dairy industry. There is still debate in the literature as to whether mammary pathogenic E. coli (MPEC) is indeed a unique E. coli pathotype, or whether this infection is merely an opportunistic infection caused by any E. coli isolate being displaced from the bovine gastrointestinal tract to the environment and, then, into the udder. In this study, we conducted a thorough genomic analysis of 113 novel MPEC isolates from clinical mastitis cases and 100 bovine commensal E. coli isolates. A phylogenomic analysis indicated that MPEC and commensal E. coli isolates formed clades based on common sequence types and O antigens, but did not cluster based on mammary pathogenicity. A comparative genomic analysis of MPEC and commensal isolates led to the identification of nine genes that were part of either the core or the soft-core MPEC genome, but were not found in any bovine commensal isolates. These apparent MPEC marker genes were genes involved with nutrient intake and metabolism [adeQ, adenine permease; nifJ, pyruvate-flavodoxin oxidoreductase; and yhjX, putative major facilitator superfamily (MFS)-type transporter], included fitness and virulence factors commonly seen in uropathogenic E. coli (pqqL, zinc metallopeptidase, and fdeC, intimin-like adhesin, respectively), and putative proteins [yfiE, uncharacterized helix-turn-helix-type transcriptional activator; ygjI, putative inner membrane transporter; and ygjJ, putative periplasmic protein]. Further characterization of these highly conserved MPEC genes may be critical to understanding the pathobiology of MPEC.

Applied Proteomics in 'One Health'

‘One Health’ summarises the idea that human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of ecosystems. The purpose of proteomics methodologies and studies is to determine proteins present in samples of interest and to quantify changes in protein expression during pathological conditions. The objectives of this paper are to review the application of proteomics technologies within the One Health concept and to appraise their role in the elucidation of diseases and situations relevant to One Health. The paper develops in three sections. Proteomics Applications in Zoonotic Infections part discusses proteomics applications in zoonotic infections and explores the use of proteomics for studying pathogenetic pathways, transmission dynamics, diagnostic biomarkers and novel vaccines in prion, viral, bacterial, protozoan and metazoan zoonotic infections. Proteomics Applications in Antibiotic Resistance part discusses proteomics applications in mechanisms of resistance development and discovery of novel treatments for antibiotic resistance. Proteomics Applications in Food Safety part discusses the detection of allergens, exposure of adulteration, identification of pathogens and toxins, study of product traits and characterisation of proteins in food safety. Sensitive analysis of proteins, including low-abundant ones in complex biological samples, will be achieved in the future, thus enabling implementation of targeted proteomics in clinical settings, shedding light on biomarker research and promoting the One Health concept.

Draft Genome Sequences of 113 Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Intramammary Infections in Dairy Cattle

Escherichia coli is one of the most common etiological agents responsible for clinical bovine mastitis. Here, we report the draft genome sequences and annotations of 113 E. coli strains that were isolated from Holstein cows with intramammary infections in Canada.

Escherichia coli is one of the most common etiological agents responsible for clinical bovine mastitis. Here, we report the draft genome sequences and annotations of 113 E. coli strains that were isolated from Holstein cows with intramammary infections in Canada.

Survey and Sequence Characterization of Bovine Mastitis-Associated Escherichia coli in Dairy Herds

Escherichia coli is frequently associated with mastitis in cattle. "Pathogenic" and "commensal" isolates appear to be genetically similar. With a few exceptions, no notable genotypic differences have been found between commensal and mastitis-associated E. coli. In this study, 24 E. coli strains were isolated from dairy cows with clinical mastitis in three geographic regions of Australia (North Queensland, South Queensland, and Victoria), sequenced, then genomically surveyed. There was no observed relationship between sequence type (ST) and region (p = 0.51). The most common Multi Locus Sequence Type was ST10 (38%), then ST4429 (13%). Pangenomic analysis revealed a soft-core genome of 3,463 genes, including genes associated with antibiotic resistance, chemotaxis, motility, adhesion, biofilm formation, and pili. A total of 36 different plasmids were identified and generally found to have local distributions (p = 0.02). Only 2 plasmids contained antibiotic resistance genes, a p1303_5-like plasmid encoding multidrug-resistance (trimethoprim, quaternary ammonium, beta-lactam, streptomycin, sulfonamide, and kanamycin) from two North Queensland isolates on the same farm, while three Victorian isolates from the same farm contained a pCFSAN004177P_01-like plasmid encoding tetracycline-resistance. This pattern is consistent with a local spread of antibiotic resistance through plasmids of bovine mastitis cases. Notably, co-occurrence of plasmids containing virulence factors/antibiotic resistance with putative mobilization was rare, though the multidrug resistant p1303_5-like plasmid was predicted to be conjugative and is of some concern. This survey has provided greater understanding of antibiotic resistance within E. coli-associated bovine mastitis which will allow greater prediction and improved decision making in disease management.

Physiological response of mammary glands to Escherichia coli infection:A conflict between glucose need for milk production and immune response

The mammary immune and physiological responses to distinct mammary-pathogenic E. coli (MPEC) strains were studied. One gland in each of ten cows were challenged intra-mammary and milk composition (lactose, fat, total protein, casein), biochemical (glucose, glucose-6-phosphate (Glu6P), oxalate, malate, lactate, pyruvate and citrate, malate and lactate dehydrogenases, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), nitrite, lactic peroxidase, catalase, albumin, lactoferrin, immunoglobulin) and clotting parameters were followed for 35 days post-challenge. Challenge lead to clinical acute mastitis, with peak bacterial counts in milk at 16-24 h post-challenge. Biochemical and clotting parameters in milk reported were partially in accord with lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis, but increased Glu6P and LDH activity and prolonged lactate dehydrogenase and Glu6P/Glu alterations were found. Some alterations measured in milk resolved within days after challenge, while others endured for above one month, regardless of bacterial clearance, and some reflected physiological responses to mastitis such as the balance between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism (citrate to lactate ratios). The results suggest that E. coli mastitis can be divided into two stages: an acute, clinical phase, as an immediate response to bacterial infection in the mammary gland, and a chronic phase, independent of bacteria clearance, in response to tissue damage caused during the acute phase.

cis-9, trans-11-Conjugated Linoleic Acid Exerts an Anti-inflammatory Effect in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells after Escherichia coli Stimulation through NF-κB Signaling Pathway

The anti-inflammatory effects of cis-9, trans-11-conjugated linoleic acid ( cis-9, trans-11-CLA) in diverse cells have been demonstrated in recent studies. The present study was conducted to observe the anti-inflammatory effects and involved mechanisms of CLA in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) exposed to Escherichia coli. According to the gene expression of IL-6, to optimize the treatment period and dose of CLA, 50 and 100 μM CLA were chosen to pretreat the cells for a period of 48 h. BMECs were exposed to 1 × 10⁷ /mL E. coli for 6 h (ECO group), and cells were pretreated with 50 and 100 μM CLA for 48 h followed by E. coli challenge (C50 and C100 groups). After E. coli challenge, compared with that in the CON group (control group), the gene expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6), chemokines (IL-8 and CCL-20), and antimicrobial peptide BNBD5 were increased, while the gene expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was decreased significantly; CLA reversed this inflammation effect. Pretreatment with CLA also repressed the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α from BMECs in the culture medium following E. coli challenge. Therefore, cis-9, trans-11-CLA exerted anti-inflammatory effects in BMECs. The cells that were pretreated with CLA expressed remarkably lower levels of phospho-p65, phospho-IκB, and TLR4 and a higher level of PPARγ after E. coli challenge at the gene and protein levels. Compared to that in the ECO group, the nuclear translocation of phospho-p65 was suppressed when CLA was added. Combined with the above results, 50 μM CLA showed a better anti-inflammatory effect. In conclusion, CLA can reduce inflammation caused by E. coli in bovine mammary epithelial cells, and this effect is mediated through the TLR4-NF-κB pathway and PPARγ participation.

Application of pancreatic phospholipase A2 for treatment of bovine mastitis

Recent findings have indicated that secreted phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) have anti-inflammatory functions, including relief of symptoms in a mouse model of mastitis. This prompted us to investigate the therapeutic application of sPLA2, PLA2G1B, for bovine mastitis. Initial testing of PLA2G1B's effect on bovine mammary epithelial cell (bMEC) line PS revealed no changes in cell viability or cytokine-secretion pattern. However, when cells were first treated with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) or live bacteria (Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus), incubation with PLA2G1B significantly improved cell viability, suggesting involvement of sPLA2s in protecting membranes from lipid-peroxidation damage, rather than a bactericidal action. When PLA2G1B was applied simultaneously with LPS, a significant short-term reduction in interleukin-8 secretion was observed compared with bMECs treated only with LPS, supporting previous reports that PLA2G1B affects interleukin-8 signaling in similar cells. Following the favorable outcome of the in vitro experiments, we tested PLA2G1B in vivo by mammary infusion into infected glands. In one of a small sample (n = 4) of lactating cows chronically infected with Streptococcus dysgalactiae, a single PLA2G1B treatment completely cleared inflammation and bacteria, demonstrating its potential to cure subclinical mastitis. PLA2G1B treatment did not affect coagulase-negative staphylococci infection. These types of mastitis may involve formation of a resistant biofilm, and its elimination may relate to sPLA2s' characteristic ability to aggregate with cellular debris, facilitating their internalization by macrophages. In a bovine model of clinical mastitis based on introduction of E. coli via the streak canal, a single mammary infusion of PLA2G1B led to faster recovery to pre-infection milk-yield levels and decrease of somatic cell counts. In this case, all of sPLA2s' modes of resolving inflammation may apply, including competitive binding of the sPLA2s’ receptor, the inactivation of which confers resistance to endotoxic shock. Hence, this study strongly supports further research into PLA2G1B as a cure for bovine mastitis.

Postgenomics Characterization of an Essential Genetic Determinant of Mammary Pathogenic Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli are major bacterial pathogens causing bovine mastitis, a disease of great economic impact on dairy production worldwide. This work aimed to study the virulence determinants of mammary pathogenic E. coli (MPEC). By whole-genome sequencing analysis of 40 MPEC and 22 environmental (“dairy-farm” E. coli [DFEC]) strains, we found that only the fec locus (fecIRABCDE) for ferric dicitrate uptake was present in the core genome of MPEC and that it was absent in DFEC genomes (P < 0.05). Expression of the FecA receptor in the outer membrane was shown to be citrate dependent by mass spectrometry. FecA was overexpressed when bacteria were grown in milk. Transcription of the fecA gene and of the inner membrane transport component fecB gene was upregulated in bacteria recovered from experimental intramammary infection. The presence of the fec system was shown to affect the ability of E. coli to grow in milk. While the rate of growth in milk of fec-positive (fec⁺) DFEC was similar to that of MPEC, it was significantly lower in DFEC lacking fec. Furthermore, deletion of fec reduced the rate of growth in milk of MPEC strain P4, whereas fec-transformed non-mammary gland-pathogenic DFEC strain K71 gained the phenotype of the level of growth in milk observed in MPEC. The role of fec in E. coli intramammary pathogenicity was investigated in vivo in cows, with results showing that an MPEC P4 mutant lacking fec lost its ability to induce mastitis, whereas the fec⁺ DFEC K71 mutant was able to trigger intramammary inflammation. For the first time, a single molecular locus was shown to be crucial in MPEC pathogenicity.

Bovine mastitis is the major infectious disease in dairy cows and the leading cause of economic loss to the global dairy industry, directly contributing to the price of dairy products on supermarket shelves and the financial hardships suffered by dairy farmers. Mastitis is also the leading reason for the use of antibiotics in dairy farms. Good farm management practices in many countries have dramatically reduced the incidence of contagious mastitis; however, the problems associated with the incidence of environmental mastitis caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli have proven intractable. E. coli bacteria cause acute mastitis, which affects the health and welfare of cows and in extreme cases may be fatal. Here we show for the first time that the pathogenicity of E. coli causing mastitis in cows is highly dependent on the fecIRABCDE ferric citrate uptake system that allows the bacterium to capture iron from citrate. The Fec system is highly expressed during infection in the bovine udder and is ubiquitous in and necessary for the E. coli bacteria that cause mammary infections in cattle. These results have far-reaching implications, raising the possibility that mastitis may be controllable by targeting this system.

Genome-Wide Identification of Fitness Factors in Mastitis-Associated Escherichia coli

Virulence factors of mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli (MPEC) have not been identified, and it is not known how bacterial gene content influences the severity of mastitis. Here, we report a genome-wide identification of genes that contribute to fitness of MPEC under conditions relevant to the natural history of the disease. A highly virulent clinical isolate (M12) was identified that killed Galleria mellonella at low infectious doses and that replicated to high numbers in mouse mammary glands and spread to spleens. Genome sequencing was combined with transposon insertion site sequencing to identify MPEC genes that contribute to growth in unpasteurized whole milk, as well as during G. mellonella and mouse mastitis infections. These analyses show that strain M12 possesses a unique genomic island encoding a group III polysaccharide capsule that greatly enhances virulence in G. mellonella Several genes appear critical for MPEC survival in both G. mellonella and in mice, including those for nutrient-scavenging systems and resistance to cellular stress. Insertions in the ferric dicitrate receptor gene fecA caused significant fitness defects under all conditions (in milk, G. mellonella, and mice). This gene was highly expressed during growth in milk. Targeted deletion of fecA from strain M12 caused attenuation in G. mellonella larvae and reduced growth in unpasteurized cow's milk and lactating mouse mammary glands. Our results confirm that iron scavenging by the ferric dicitrate receptor, which is strongly associated with MPEC strains, is required for MPEC growth and may influence disease severity in mastitis infections.IMPORTANCE Mastitis caused by E. coli inflicts substantial burdens on the health and productivity of dairy animals. Strains causing mastitis may express genes that distinguish them from other E. coli strains and promote infection of mammary glands, but these have not been identified. Using a highly virulent strain, we employed genome-wide mutagenesis and sequencing to discover genes that contribute to mastitis. This extensive data set represents a screen for mastitis-associated E. coli fitness factors and provides the following contributions to the field: (i) global comparison of genes required for different aspects of mastitis infection, (ii) discovery of a unique capsule that contributes to virulence, and (iii) conclusive evidence for the crucial role of iron-scavenging systems in mastitis, particularly the ferric dicitrate transport system. Similar approaches applied to other mastitis-associated strains will uncover conserved targets for prevention or treatment and provide a better understanding of their relationship to other E. coli pathogens.

Comparison of the immune responses associated with experimental bovine mastitis caused by different strains of Escherichia coli

We studied the mammary immune response to different mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli (MPEC) strains in cows, hypothesising that the dynamics of response would differ. E. coli is a major aetiologic agent of acute clinical bovine mastitis of various degrees of severity with specific strains being associated with persistent infections. We compared challenge with three distinct pathogenic MPEC strains (VL2874, VL2732 and P4), isolated from different forms of mastitis (per-acute, persistent and acute, respectively). A secondary objective was to verify the lack of mammary pathogenicity of an environmental isolate (K71) that is used for comparison against MPEC in genomic and phenotypic studies. Twelve cows were challenged by intra-mammary infusion with one of the strains. Cellular and chemokine responses and bacterial culture follow-up were performed for 35 d. All cows challenged by any of the MPEC strains developed clinical mastitis. Differences were found in the intensity and duration of response, in somatic cell count, secreted cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17) and levels of milk leucocyte membrane Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). A sharp decrease of TLR4 on leucocytes was observed concomitantly to peak bacterial counts in milk. Intra-mammary infusion of strain K71 did not elicit inflammation and bacteria were not recovered from milk. Results suggest some differences in the mammary immune response to distinct MPEC strains that could be correlated to their previously observed pathogenic traits. This is also the first report of an E. coli strain that is non-pathogenic to the bovine mammary gland.

Escherichia coli mastitis strains: In vitro phenotypes and severity of infection in vivo

Mastitis remains a major infection of dairy cows and an important issue for dairy farmers and the dairy industry, in particular infections due to Escherichia coli strains. So far, properties specific to E. coli causing mastitis remain ill defined. In an attempt to better understand the properties required for E. coli to trigger mastitis, we used a range of in vitro assays to phenotypically characterize four E. coli strains, including the prototypical E. coli mastitis strain P4, possessing different relative abilities to cause mastitis in a mouse model. Our results indicate that a certain level of serum resistance might be required for colonization of the mammary gland. Resistance to neutrophil killing is also likely to contribute to a slower clearance of bacteria and higher chances to colonize the udder. In addition, we show that the four different strains do induce a pro-inflammatory response by mammary epithelial cells but with different intensities. Interestingly, the prototypical mastitis strain P4 actually induces the less intense response while it is responsible for the most severe infections in vivo. Altogether, our results suggest that different strategies can be used by E. coli strains to colonize the mammary gland and cause mastitis.

No evidence for a bovine mastitis Escherichia coli pathotype

Background

Escherichia coli bovine mastitis is a disease of significant economic importance in the dairy industry. Molecular characterization of mastitis-associated E. coli (MAEC) did not result in the identification of common traits. Nevertheless, a mammary pathogenic E. coli (MPEC) pathotype has been proposed suggesting virulence traits that differentiate MAEC from commensal E. coli. The present study was designed to investigate the MPEC pathotype hypothesis by comparing the genomes of MAEC and commensal bovine E. coli.

Results

We sequenced the genomes of eight E. coli isolated from bovine mastitis cases and six fecal commensal isolates from udder-healthy cows. We analyzed the phylogenetic history of bovine E. coli genomes by supplementing this strain panel with eleven bovine-associated E. coli from public databases. The majority of the isolates originate from phylogroups A and B1, but neither MAEC nor commensal strains could be unambiguously distinguished by phylogenetic lineage. The gene content of both MAEC and commensal strains is highly diverse and dominated by their phylogenetic background. Although individual strains carry some typical E. coli virulence-associated genes, no traits important for pathogenicity could be specifically attributed to MAEC. Instead, both commensal strains and MAEC have very few gene families enriched in either pathotype. Only the aerobactin siderophore gene cluster was enriched in commensal E. coli within our strain panel.

Conclusions

This is the first characterization of a phylogenetically diverse strain panel including several MAEC and commensal isolates. With our comparative genomics approach we could not confirm previous studies that argue for a positive selection of specific traits enabling MAEC to elicit bovine mastitis. Instead, MAEC are facultative and opportunistic pathogens recruited from the highly diverse bovine gastrointestinal microbiota. Virulence-associated genes implicated in mastitis are a by-product of commensalism with the primary function to enhance fitness in the bovine gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, we put the definition of the MPEC pathotype into question and suggest to designate corresponding isolates as MAEC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3739-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Whole-Genome Draft Sequences of Six Commensal Fecal and Six Mastitis-Associated Escherichia coli Strains of Bovine Origin

The bovine gastrointestinal tract is a natural reservoir for commensal and pathogenic Escherichia coli strains with the ability to cause mastitis. Here, we report the whole-genome sequences of six E. coli isolates from acute mastitis cases and six E. coli isolates from the feces of udder-healthy cows.

Genomic content typifying a prevalent clade of bovine mastitis-associated Escherichia coli

E. coli represents a heterogeneous population with capabilities to cause disease in several anatomical sites. Among sites that can be colonised is the bovine mammary gland (udder) and a distinct class of mammary pathogenic E. coli (MPEC) has been proposed. MPEC are the principle causative agents of bovine mastitis in well-managed dairy farms, costing producers in the European Union an estimated €2 billion per year. Despite the economic impact, and the threat this disease presents to small and medium sized dairy farmers, the factors which mediate the ability for E. coli to thrive in bovine mammary tissue remain poorly elucidated. Strains belonging to E. coli phylogroup A are most frequently isolated from mastitis. In this paper, we apply a population level genomic analysis to this group of E. coli to uncover genomic signatures of mammary infectivity. Through a robust statistical analysis, we show that not all strains of E. coli are equally likely to cause mastitis, and those that do possess specific gene content that may promote their adaptation and survival in the bovine udder. Through a pan-genomic analysis, we identify just three genetic loci which are ubiquitous in MPEC, but appear dispensable for E. coli from other niches.

Genomic Comparative Study of Bovine Mastitis Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli, one of the main causative agents of bovine mastitis, is responsible for significant losses on dairy farms. In order to better understand the pathogenicity of E. coli mastitis, an accurate characterization of E. coli strains isolated from mastitis cases is required. By using phylogenetic analyses and whole genome comparison of 5 currently available mastitis E. coli genome sequences, we searched for genotypic traits specific for mastitis isolates. Our data confirm that there is a bias in the distribution of mastitis isolates in the different phylogenetic groups of the E. coli species, with the majority of strains belonging to phylogenetic groups A and B1. An interesting feature is that clustering of strains based on their accessory genome is very similar to that obtained using the core genome. This finding illustrates the fact that phenotypic properties of strains from different phylogroups are likely to be different. As a consequence, it is possible that different strategies could be used by mastitis isolates of different phylogroups to trigger mastitis. Our results indicate that mastitis E. coli isolates analyzed in this study carry very few of the virulence genes described in other pathogenic E. coli strains. A more detailed analysis of the presence/absence of genes involved in LPS synthesis, iron acquisition and type 6 secretion systems did not uncover specific properties of mastitis isolates. Altogether, these results indicate that mastitis E. coli isolates are rather characterized by a lack of bona fide currently described virulence genes.

Bovine mastitis disease/pathogenicity: evidence of the potential role of microbial biofilms

Bovine mastitis (BM) is a disease with high incidence worldwide and one of the most relevant bovine pathologies and the most costly to the dairy industry. BM is an inflammation of the udder and represents one of the most difficult veterinary diseases to control. Biofilm formation is considered a selective advantage for pathogens causing mastitis, facilitating bacterial persistence in the udder. In fact, recently some authors drew attention to the biofilm formation ability presented by several mastitis causing pathogens and to its possible relation with recurrent mastitis infections and with the increased resistance to antimicrobial agents and host immune defence system. Actually, up to now, several researchers reported the potential role of cells in this mode of growth in the previous facts mentioned. As a consequence of the presence of biofilms, the infection here focused is more difficult to treat and eradicate, making this problem a more relevant pressing issue. Thus, we believe that a deeper knowledge of these structures in mastitis can help to determine the best control strategy to be used in veterinary practice in order to reduce losses in the dairy industry and to ensure milk safety and quality. The aim of this paper was to review the existing research and consequently to provide an overview of the role of biofilms in BM infections.