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Researchers at The University of Queensland and Mater Research recently made a groundbreaking discovery about the virulence of certain strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.
This discovery, published in the journal Nature Communications, sheds light on how mutations in these bacteria allow them to cause severe and potentially fatal diseases in humans.
Researchers at The University of Queensland and Mater Research identify a mutation in E. coli, enhancing its virulence and posing a significant threat amidst antibiotic resistance concerns.
What makes bacteria dangerous?
The team, led Professor Mark Schembri and Dr. Nhu Nguyen of The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Associate Professor Sumaira Hasnain of Mater Research, discovered a mutation in E. coli bacteria’s cellulose-making machinery.
This mutation, they found, makes certain strains of E. coli significantly more virulent, resulting in diseases like sepsis, neonatal meningitis, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Professor Schembri explains that it is like these bacteria are equipped with a green light to wreak havoc in the human body. “Our discovery explains why some strains of E. coli can cause life-threatening sepsis, neonatal meningitis, and urinary tract infections (UTIs), while other E. coli bacteria can live in our bodies without causing harm,” Professor Schembri said.
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The Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
The study’s findings are especially important in light of antibiotic resistance, a growing global health concern. In 2019, over 1.2 million people died as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, with millions more potentially at risk.
E. coli is a major cause of bacterial antibiotic resistance. Understanding how specific strains of E. coli become more dangerous is critical in combating this threat.
The researchers investigated the mechanisms underlying the bacteria’s increased virulence. They discovered that the mutation that affects cellulose production causes increased inflammation in the intestinal tract, leading to the breakdown of the intestinal barrier. This breakdown allows the bacteria to spread more efficiently throughout the body, infecting critical organs like the liver, spleen, and brain.
Associate Professor Hasnain emphasizes the importance of this understanding in infection prevention: “Our finding helps explain why certain types of E. coli become more dangerous and provides an explanation for the emergence of different types of highly virulent and invasive bacteria.”
Researchers from several institutions collaborated on the project, including UQ’s School of Biomedical Sciences and Griffith University’s School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences. They worked together to analyze genetic data from hundreds of E. coli bacteria, focusing on a subtype known to cause severe human infections.
The study has broader implications for understanding bacterial adaptation and virulence than just E. coli. The researchers discovered similar mutations affecting cellulose production in other virulent bacteria, including Shigella and Salmonella.
This implies that the ability to adapt modifying cellulose production may be a common strategy among various harmful bacteria, contributing to the emergence of highly virulent strains.
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