2020 journal article

Comparative Genomics of Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli from Kittens and Children Identifies Bacterial Factors Associated with Virulence in Kittens

INFECTION AND IMMUNITY, 89(3).

By: V. Watson n, T. Hazen*, D. Rasko*, M. Jacob n, J. Elfenbein n, S. Stauffer n, J. Gookin n

author keywords: enteropathogenic E. coli; EPEC; animal model; phylogenetic analysis
MeSH headings : Adolescent; Animals; Cats / genetics; Child; Child, Preschool; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / genetics; Escherichia coli Infections / genetics; Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology; Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics; Female; Genetic Variation; Genomics; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Serogroup; Serotyping; Virulence / genetics
TL;DR: Kittens are identified as a host for aEPEC where intestinal epithelial colonization was associated with diarrheal disease and death and may provide a needed comparative animal model for the study of aEP EC pathogenesis. (via Semantic Scholar)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: March 15, 2021

Typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC) is a leading cause of diarrhea and associated death in children worldwide. Atypical EPEC (aEPEC) lacks the plasmid encoding bundle-forming pili and is considered less virulent, but the molecular mechanism of virulence is poorly understood.