Entero-Aggregative- Haemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EAHEC) Serotype O104:H4 -The Evolving "Superbug".

Authors

  • CM Biju Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gondar
  • AY Befekadu Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gondar
  • SD Reji Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar
  • K Afework Department of Medical Microbiology,Faculty of Medicine, University of Gondar
  • WC Lan Victoria Hospital, Bute Medical School, University of St Andrews, Scotland
  • JB John Methodist Research Institute, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v11i1.9815

Keywords:

EHEC outbreak, EAHEC, Shiga toxin, gastroenteritis

Abstract

The rare, E.coli strain O104:H4 has been identified as the causative agent of one of the largest ever reported food-borneoutbreaks of gastroenteritis and Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) in Germany this year. This hypervirulent pathotype possess a unique combination of two pathogens: enterohemorrhagicE.coli (EHEC) and enteroaggregative E.coli (EAEC) strains. The serotype has rarely been described previously in humans and never associated with any earlier large scale EHEC outbreaks. It is now being referred to as the Entero-Aggregative-Haemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EAHEC).Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies helped in rapid complete genome sequencing of the outbreak strains by different laboratories.Comparison of the genome sequence of the outbreak strain with other diarrhea-associated EAEC serotype O104:H4 indicate that the chromosome of the outbreak strain is most similar to that of an early isolated EAEC strain 55989 and has evolved to become more virulent by the acquisition of a Shiga toxin 2 encoding prophage, a plasmid encoding CTX-M beta-lactamases, and substituting the aggregative adherence fimbria III (AAF/III)with the rarer aggregative adherence fimbria I (AAF/I). The present article reviews the virulent traits ofthe outbreak strain, and also presents an update of the different intervention strategies that are being tested for the treatment of infections by such highly pathogenic strains.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v11i1.9815

BJMS 2012; 11(1): 4-11

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How to Cite

Biju, C., Befekadu, A., Reji, S., Afework, K., Lan, W., & John, J. (2012). Entero-Aggregative- Haemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EAHEC) Serotype O104:H4 -The Evolving "Superbug". Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 11(1), 4–11. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v11i1.9815

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2012)

Section

Review Article

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