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Biomedical subjects

H W Moon

Publications and source records attributed to H W Moon.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

In vivo emergence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli variants lacking genes for K99 fimbriae and heat-stable enterotoxin.

Neonatal pigs were inoculated with porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli 431, which carries genes for K99 fimbriae and STaP enterotoxin. Colonies of strain 431 were recovered from feces of pigs for up to 17 days after inoculation and tested for hybridization with gene probes for K99 and STaP. Variants of strain 431 that did not hybridize with the probes were considered to have lost the genes. Variants were recovered from 10 of 13 suckling pigs that survived the infection. Only 0.4% of the isolates recovered during the first 2 days after inoculation were variants. Of the isolates recovered 3 to 5 days after inoculation, 20 to 36% were variants. Variant colonies were detected more frequently among pigs in some litters than in others. The litter with the highest number of variant-shedding pigs had the dam with the highest titer of K99 antibody in her colostrum. Variants also occurred in colostrum-deprived, artificially reared pigs. However, the number of variants detected was lower and they occurred later in the course of the infection in colostrum-deprived pigs than in suckling pigs. More variants were detected and they were detected earlier in colostrum-deprived pigs fed anti-K99 monoclonal antibody than in controls fed anti-K88 monoclonal antibody. Loss of STaP appeared to be secondary to loss of K99 in that some variants lacked only K99 (K99- STaP+) and some lacked both genes (K99- STaP-), but none was of the K99+ STaP- type. Our results confirmed reports of gene loss from enterotoxigenic E. coli during infection. They are consistent with the hypothesis that variants emerge under in vivo selection pressure of K99 antibody and with the speculation that gene loss may be an important component of protection in vaccinated populations. However, the emergence of variants did not appear to play a major role in the recovery of individual pigs from clinical disease.

Animals↗

F41 pili as protective antigens of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli that produce F41, K99, or both pilus antigens.

Pigs suckling dams that have been vaccinated with pilus antigen are protected against challenge with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains that express the same pilus antigen. However, some ETEC strains express more than one pilus antigen. Pregnant swine were vaccinated either with E. coli HB101 that harbored a recombinant plasmid coding for F41 expression (F41+) or with the HB101 parent strain that carries the pHC79 vector (F41-). Suckling pigs born to vaccinated dams were challenged with ETEC that expressed either K99, F41, or both pilus antigens. Production of F41 in vivo was demonstrated by immunofluorescence assay of sections of ileum and by seroconversion against F41 antigen by pigs challenged with F41+ and K99+ F41+ ETEC strains. The F41+ vaccine protected against challenge with an F41+ ETEC strain. In contrast, F41+ vaccination did not protect against challenge with K99+ or K99+ F41+ ETEC strains. The F41- vaccine did not protect against challenge with any strain used. The results indicate that K99+ F41+ ETEC strains produce F41 antigen in the small intestine during disease and that F41+ vaccination can be a protective antigen if the challenge strain expresses only F41 antigen, but that F41+ vaccination may not protect against strains that produce both K99 and F41 antigens.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗

Effects of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin b on small intestinal villi in pigs, rabbits, and lambs.

Culture supernates from two strains of E. coli were placed into different ligated intestinal sections (loops) of each animal. The two bacterial strains were identical except that one contained a plasmid carrying the heat-stable toxin b (STb) gene, while the other did not. Morphometric techniques were used to assess villous epithelial surface areas and mucosal volumes in both intestinal segments exposed to STb-positive (test) and to STb-negative (control) supernates. In pigs whose intestines were exposed to STb-positive supernatants for 2 hours, both villous epithelial surface area and mucosal volume were significantly smaller in test loops than in control loops (P less than 0.02). In test loops of pigs incubated for 1 hour, and in test loops of lambs incubated for 2 hours, there was a decrease in villous epithelial surface area which approached the test for significance but did not meet it (0.05 less than P less than 0.10). Rabbit test loops did not differ from rabbit control loops in either villous epithelial surface area or mucosal volume. Histological examination of the tissues from all three species revealed epithelial changes in porcine and ovine tissues only. In porcine and ovine tissues, epithelium at villous tips was seen to be cuboidal or squamous, or even to be absent. Villi with similarly altered epithelium were seen in control loops, but were seen much more frequently in test loops. These epithelial changes were seen as early as 30 minutes of incubation in pigs. Intestinal tissues from these pigs were examined by transmission electron microscopy, but no difference between test and control tissues was seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Attaching and effacing bacteria in the intestines of calves and cats with diarrhea.

Histopathologic and electron microscopic examination of intestines of three calves and two cats revealed attaching effacing bacteria characteristic of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in ileum, cecum, and colon. The attaching effacing bacteria in one of the calves contained bacteriophages, and an E. coli isolate from that calf was shown to produce Shiga-like toxin. These findings contribute to emerging evidence that attaching effacing intestinal bacteria are globally distributed pathogens in a variety of host species and that bacteriophage-mediated production of Shiga-like toxin is related to the virulence of such bacteria.

Animals↗

Shiga-like toxin production and attaching effacing activity of Escherichia coli associated with calf diarrhea.

Four hundred twenty-nine isolates of Escherichia coli from calves were tested for the production of HeLa cell cytotoxin(s). Isolates that produced enough cytotoxin to be detected in culture supernatants of iron-depleted broth were considered to produce increased amounts of cytotoxins. Isolates also were tested for homology with a DNA probe for a gene that encodes localized adherence of human enteropathogenic E coli. Four isolates produced increased amounts of cytotoxin that was neutralized by Shiga antitoxin (toxin designated as Shiga-like toxin-I [SLT-I]). A 5th isolate produced increased amounts of cytotoxin (SLT+) that was not neutralized by the Shiga antitoxin, but was neutralized by antitoxin against a variant of SLT (toxin designated as SLT-II). None of the isolates hybridized with the probe for the localized adherence gene. Three of the SLT+ isolates belonged to human enteropathogenic E coli serogroups O26 and O111. All 5 of the SLT+ isolates were from calves with diarrhea, but none of the 5 SLT+ isolates contained genes for classic heat-labile or heat-stable enterotoxins, for K99 fimbriae, or for invasiveness; neither did any of them adhere to HeLa cells in culture. Three of the 5 SLT+ isolates had attaching and effacing activities when inoculated into ligated intestinal loops of rabbits. One of the isolates with attaching and effacing activity in rabbits was originally isolated from a calf with lesions characteristic of those produced by attaching effacing E coli (AEEC). Calves inoculated with this SLT+ AEEC isolate developed focal colonic lesions characteristic of those produced by AEEC, but did not develop diarrhea.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cloning of chromosomal DNA encoding the F41 adhesin of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and genetic homology between adhesins F41 and K88.

The genetic determinant for production of the adhesive antigen F41 was isolated from a porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain by cosmid cloning. The cloned DNA included sequences homologous to those of hybridization probes prepared from the K88 adhesive antigen operon. Transposon insertions which inactivated F41 production mapped to the same region of DNA showing homology with the K88 genes, demonstrating the genetic relatedness of F41 and K88. Hybridization of a K88 gene probe to plasmid and total DNA from the porcine E. coli isolate from which the F41 gene was cloned indicated that F41 is chromosomally encoded by this strain. This observation was extended to other F41-producing animal isolates. A large number of animal E. coli isolates were examined with K88, F41, and K99 gene probes and for mannose-resistant hemagglutination of human group O erythrocytes and K88 and F41 antigen production. All K88 and F41 antigen producers possessed genetic homology with the K88 and F41 gene probes. Most, but not all, F41-producing strains possessed homology to the K99 gene probe, reflecting the previously observed association of F41 and K99 antigen production. In the strains examined, homology with the K99 gene probe was plasmid associated, whereas homology with the F41 gene probe was chromosomal. The K88 antigen-producing strains showed no homology with the K99 probe. A number of strains possessed homology with the K88 and F41 gene probes and were mannose-resistant hemagglutination positive, but did not produce K88 or F41 antigens. This suggests that there are adhesins among animal isolates of E. coli which are genetically related to but antigenically distinct from K88 and F41.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗

Hybridization of bovine Escherichia coli isolates with gene probes for four enterotoxins (STaP, STaH, STb, LT) and one adhesion factor (K99).

Colony hybridizations with 4 enterotoxins (STaP, STaH, STb, and LT) and 1 adherence factor (K99) gene probes were done on Escherichia coli isolated from calves. Agreement between the K99 probing and a serologic assay to detect the K99 antigen was 99% for the identification of K99+ and K99- isolates. Ninety-five of the isolates (22%) hybridized with at least 1 enterotoxin gene probe (Ent+ isolates), and 82 (19%), with the K99 gene probe. The majority of Ent+ isolates (85%) reacted with probes for STaP and K99 genes. The STaP gene was present by itself in 4 of the Ent+ isolates (4%) and with the STb gene in 6 of the Ent+ isolates (6%). Five of the Ent+ isolates (5%) carried the STb and LT genes, and none (0%) of the isolates carried the STaH gene. All but 2 of the isolates with the K99 gene also had the STaP gene. Twenty-eight isolates shown to produce STa enterotoxin in previous studies failed to hybridize with any of the enterotoxin gene probes. These 28 isolates were also phenotypically negative when the tests for enterotoxin production were repeated. These isolates probably lost their genes for enterotoxin production during storage in the laboratory.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗

Comparative prevalence of four enterotoxin genes among Escherichia coli isolated from swine.

Presence of Escherichia coli enterotoxin genes LT (heat-labile enterotoxin), STaP (heat-stable enterotoxin a, porcine genotype), STaH (heat-stable enterotoxin a, human genotype), and STb (heat-stable enterotoxin b) among 874 swine isolates of E coli was determined, using DNA probes and the DNA colony hybridization technique. Of the 874 isolates evaluated, 45% hybridized with at least one of the enterotoxin gene probes and were designated as enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC). Eighty-five percent of the ETEC were from pigs with enteric colibacillosis. The remaining 15% were from pigs with edema disease or various other diseases, and from healthy swine. Seventy-four percent of the ETEC hybridized with the STb probe, 52% with STaP, and 31% with LT; ETEC did not hybridize with the STaH probe. Most of the ETEC hybridized with more than one enterotoxin gene probe. Isolates that hybridized with the LT probe also hybridized with STb. The most prevalent gene combination was LT-STb. However, 35% of the ETEC from neonatal (less than or equal to 1 week old) swine with enteric colibacillosis were of the STaP-only genotype, and 33% of the ETEC from older swine with enteric colibacillosis were of the STb-only genotype.

Animals↗

Microscopic alterations in jejunal epithelium of 3-week-old pigs induced by pig-specific, mouse-negative, heat-stable Escherichia coli enterotoxin.

The objective of this study was to determine whether exposure of swine jejunum to crude culture filtrates containing Escherichia coli pig-specific, mouse-negative, heat-stable enterotoxin (STb) induces structural alterations in the jejunal mucosa of pigs. Two ligated intestinal loops in each of twelve 3-week-old pigs were exposed for 2 hours to sterile E coli culture filtrates from each of the following strains: 431 (STa-producing), 1261 (STa and STb-producing), and 1790 (STb-producing); recombinant strain HB101-pRAS-1 (STb-producing); the nontoxigenic K-12 variant HB101; or trypticase soy broth. Formalin-fixed sections from these loops were examined for sloughed cells around villi, and a lesion score was determined, indicating a change in villous epithelium from columnar to cuboidal or squamous cell types or to discontinuous epithelium. Villous lengths and crypt depths also were determined. For loops exposed to culture filtrates containing STa and STb or containing only STb, lesion scores and numbers of sloughed cells were greater (P less than 0.05) and villous length was shorter (P less than 0.01) than in loops not exposed to toxin. For loops exposed to culture filtrates containing STa, lesion scores, villus lengths, and numbers of sloughed cells were not different from those of loops not exposed to toxin. Therefore, exposure of swine jejunum to STb induced structural alterations in intestinal mucosa (ie, loss of villous absorptive cells and partial atrophy of villi) that were consistent with those causing compromised absorptive capacity.

Animals↗

Effects of microbial and host variables on the interaction of rotavirus and Escherichia coli infections in gnotobiotic calves.

Naturally occurring mixed infections with Escherichia coli and rotavirus have been associated with fatal diarrhea of calves about 1 week old. Experiments were designed to reproduce this syndrome in gnotobiotic calves. Clinical, microbiological, and pathologic data were used to assess severity of disease and mechanisms of the interaction between the 2 infections. An initial study involved 5- to 8-day-old gnotobiotic calves inoculated with a strain of enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC) and a strain of rotavirus. Calves were observed for 2 days after they were inoculated; fatal diarrhea was not produced. In later studies, variables were tested to identify those that might contribute to fatal diarrhea. Variables which did not result in fatal or severe diarrhea or which did not cause disease that was more severe in dually inoculated calves than that in monoinoculated calves were increasing feed to 2 times base line, increasing dose of ETEC to 10 times base line, inoculating calves when they were 2 days old, using a strain of E coli that causes colisepticemia, and using a different strain of rotavirus. When the observation period was extended from 2 days to 6 days after calves were inoculated, severe, watery, fatal diarrhea occurred in 6 of 12 calves by 32 to 72 hours after dual inoculation was given. Fatal diarrhea was associated with intensive colonization by the ETEC in the caudal half of the small intestine. Microscopic lesions were similar between dually inoculated and rotavirus-monoinoculated calves, except there was more severe atrophy of ileal villi of dually inoculated calves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Elicitation of enteroluminal neutrophils by enterotoxigenic and nonenterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli in swine.

In intact neonatal piglets, two strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), which could adhere to epithelial cells and thus colonize the small intestine, attracted greater numbers of neutrophils into the lumen and wall of the intestine than did a nonenteropathogenic strain of E. coli. Ligated loops of small intestine in 8-week-old pigs were used in attempts to identify the attributes of ETEC involved in stimulating an increased enteroluminal migration of neutrophils. A nonenteropathogenic strain of E. coli did not attract neutrophils into the intestinal lumen in this model. However, three of the five ETEC strains tested did so. The three positive strains all produced heat-stable enterotoxin type b (STb). Neither of the negative ETEC strains produced STb. An STb-containing culture supernatant prepared from a strain of E. coli which contained an STb plasmid did not attract significantly more neutrophils than did a control supernatant prepared from the same strain of E. coli without the plasmid. The ETEC strains which attracted neutrophils in loops did not associate intimately with loop villi more consistently, nor did they grow to higher numbers in loops than strains which did not. It was concluded that there are increased numbers of neutrophils in the intestinal lumen during ETEC infection of newborn pigs. However, attempts to identify the attribute(s) of ETEC responsible for eliciting enteroluminal neutrophils were not successful.

Adhesiveness↗

Effect of virus-induced destruction of villous epithelium on intestinal secretion induced by heat-stable Escherichia coli enterotoxins and prostaglandin E1 in swine.

Villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia were induced in the jejunal epithelium of thirteen 3-week-old pigs by inoculation with transmissible gastroenteritis virus. The responses (changes in net fluid movement) induced in ligated intestinal loops of these pigs by intraloop injections of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or Escherichia coli broth culture filtrates containing either or both E coli heat-stable enterotoxins (STa and STb) were compared with the responses induced by these preparations in littermates not inoculated with virus. Villous atrophy was associated with a marked decrease in response to preparations containing STa, STb, or STa + STb, but the response to PGE1 was undiminished. These results were consistent with the reports of others that the response to cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated secretogogues (PGE1) is a function of crypt epithelium; however, the present results also suggest that the secretory response to STa and to STb is dependent on the integrity of the villous epithelium. In the present study, loss of villous epithelium was associated with loss of response to STa and STb, but not to PGE1.

Alprostadil↗

Experimental tracheal and conjunctival infections with Cryptosporidium sp. in pigs.

Tracheal and conjunctival infections with Cryptosporidium were established in pigs by inoculation of oocysts into the trachea and onto the conjunctival sacs. The protozoa were found attached to epithelial cells by an electron-dense band and a folded, vacuolated feeder organelle. They were situated in a parasitophorous vacuole surrounded by a double-layered membrane covered by glycocalyx. Trophozoites, schizonts, merozoites, macrogametes and oocysts could be demonstrated. In addition to normal stages of the life-cycle, degenerate stages were found. The infections with Cryptosporidium were characterized by focal destruction and loss of epithelial cells. Numerous intraepithelial lymphocytes were associated with affected foci, as were infiltrations with lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages.

Animals↗

Enteric lesions and diarrhea in gnotobiotic calves monoinfected with Cryptosporidium species.

The pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium species was studied by inoculation of two gnotobiotic calves with cryptosporidial oocysts that had been decontaminated by treatment with peracetic acid. Two control calves were inoculated with similar material from which the oocysts had been removed by filtration. Oocyst-inoculated animals shed Cryptosporidium in their feces and developed depression, weakness, anorexia, and diarrhea. At necropsy five days after inoculation, endogeneous stages of Cryptosporidium were found in association with epithelial cells throughout the small and large intestines of these animals. The parasites were most numerous in the lower small intestine. Atrophic villi, disordered and degenerate villous epithelium, and hyperplastic crypt epithelium were associated with infection in the small intestine. Control animals remained normal. Extraneous agents were not detected in any of the calves. The results indicate that Cryptosporidium can destroy intestinal epithelial cells and cause diarrhea in monoinfected gnotobiotic calves.

Animals↗

Type 1 pili (F1) of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: vaccine trial and tests for production in the small intestine during disease.

This study was performed to determine whether the F1 (type 1) pili of a porcine strain of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are protective antigens and whether they are produced in the pig small intestine during disease caused by an enterotoxigenic E. coli. Reciprocal cross-absorption experiments with antisera prepared against F1 pili purified from enterotoxigenic E. coli 431 (O101:K30,99:H-:F1) and P14 (O149:K91,88ac:8H+:F1) demonstrated that the F1 antigens of the two strains were closely related or identical. Pregnant swine vaccinated with a vaccine prepared from strain P14 (F1+) responded with a significant increase in antibody against F1 in their serum and colostrum. However, the vaccinated dams did not significantly protect their suckling pigs against fatal challenge with strain 431. There was no evidence of F1 pilus production in the strain 431-infected pigs, as determined by immunofluorescent staining of ileal sections, direct electron microscopic examination of bacteria from ilea, and titration of serum agglutinins in convalescent pigs. It was concluded that strain 431 did not produce F1 in the small intestine during disease and that F1 was not a protective antigen in this system.

Agglutination Tests↗

Persistent Cryptosporidium infection in congenitally athymic (nude) mice.

Nude (nu/nu) BALB/c mice and their white (nu/+) littermates were experimentally infected with Cryptosporidium sp. at 6 days of age. In white mice, the infection was transient, but in nude mice a persistent infection developed that was characterized by diarrhea and, occasionally, death. There were villus atrophy and crypt hyperplasia in the small intestine of infected nude and white mice necropsied at 11 days of age. Persistently infected nude mice had, in addition to the above small intestinal lesions, diffuse cystic mucosal hyperplasia and crypt abscesses in the large intestine at 56 days of age. These results suggest that T cells are required for recovery from the Cryptosporidium infection but are not required for epithelial cell loss in cryptosporidiosis. Both nude and white mice appeared to be relatively more resistant to Cryptosporidium infection at 42 days of age than at 6 days of age.

Aging↗

Capsule reduces adherence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to isolated intestinal epithelial cells of pigs.

Previous reports have demonstrated that heat-stable (A-type) capsule on piliated enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli enhances colonization of enterotoxigenic E. coli in the small intestine and enhances virulence of enterotoxigenic E. coli. In this report, four encapsulated enterotoxigenic E. coli strains and one encapsulated nonenterotoxigenic strain of E. coli and their nonencapsulated mutants were tested for adhesion to isolated intestinal epithelial cells or brush borders from neonatal pigs. The enterotoxigenic E. coli also expressed the K99 pilus antigen. The nonencapsulated mutants of the four enterotoxigenic E. coli adhered in higher numbers than did the encapsulated parental strains. Both the encapsulated and nonencapsulated forms of enterotoxigenic E. coli 431 grown at 18 degrees C (K99 production suppressed) adhered poorly to the isolated cells. The nonenterotoxigenic E. coli 1793 which does not express K99 antigen also adhered poorly in both encapsulated and nonencapsulated forms. Fab fragments of anticapsular immunoglobulin G failed to block the effect of capsule on adherence of strain 431. The results indicated that K99 was the principal mediator of in vitro adhesion of the enterotoxigenic E. coli strains and that capsule impedes the in vitro adhesion. They also suggested that the capsular enhancement of colonization by such strains in vivo probably is by some mechanism other than enhanced adhesion to epithelium.

Adhesiveness↗