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It is widely known that pathogenic E. coli germs have ability to survive inside fresh vegetable produce such as spinach, lettuce and sprouts, where they are protected against disinfection. This ability may be a key factor explaining the transmission of the E. coli strain in the dreadful (and still ongoing) German outbreak.
A new article has just come out dissecting how related EHEC E. coli bacteria attach to plant surfaces. They have remarkable complex adhesion abilities that enable the to persist inside plant tissue cavities and on plant surfaces. These consist of various different surface protein hooks that are given names like pili, curli, and flagella.
Although we know that EHEC and EAEC bacteria are a bit different to one another, this new work on EHEC E. coli teaches us a lot about the possible routes of transmission of the German HUS germ? for example through seeds.
A scientific summary on the mechanisms of the EHEC germ attachment to plants is given below. The paper provides access to the latest research on this topic.
(The term STpEAEC which means Shigatoxin producing EAEC is now being used to describe the German outbreak strain; see previous GMO Pundit post for the latest news about STpEAEC)
Surface structures involved in plant stomata and leaf colonization by Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7
Zeus Salda?a, Ethel S?nchez, Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Jose Luis Puente and Jorge A. Gir?n
Fronteers in Microbiology Volune 2 Art 119 Original Research Article published: 27 May 2011 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00119
A new article has just come out dissecting how related EHEC E. coli bacteria attach to plant surfaces. They have remarkable complex adhesion abilities that enable the to persist inside plant tissue cavities and on plant surfaces. These consist of various different surface protein hooks that are given names like pili, curli, and flagella.
Although we know that EHEC and EAEC bacteria are a bit different to one another, this new work on EHEC E. coli teaches us a lot about the possible routes of transmission of the German HUS germ? for example through seeds.
A scientific summary on the mechanisms of the EHEC germ attachment to plants is given below. The paper provides access to the latest research on this topic.
(The term STpEAEC which means Shigatoxin producing EAEC is now being used to describe the German outbreak strain; see previous GMO Pundit post for the latest news about STpEAEC)
Surface structures involved in plant stomata and leaf colonization by Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7
Zeus Salda?a, Ethel S?nchez, Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes, Jose Luis Puente and Jorge A. Gir?n
Fronteers in Microbiology Volune 2 Art 119 Original Research Article published: 27 May 2011 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00119
