Identification of genes involved in virulence of Escherichia coli mastitis by signature tagged mutagenesis
Authors: Shpigel Nahum Y. , Schukken Ynte , Rosenshine Ilan 
Published: March 2022

Mastitis, an inflammatory response of the mammary tissue to invading pathogenic bacteria, is the largest health problem in the dairy industry and is responsible for multibillion dollar economic losses. E. coli are a leading cause of acute mastitis in dairy animals worldwide and certainly in Israel and North America. The species E. coli comprises a highly heterogeneous group of pathogens, some of which are commensal residents of the gut, infecting the mammary gland after contamination of the teat skin from the environment. As compared to other gut microflora, mammary pathogenic E. coli (MPEC) may have undergone evolutionary adaptations that improve their fitness for colonization of the unique and varied environmental niches found within the mammary gland. These niches include competing microbes already present or accompanying the new colonizer, soluble and cellular antimicrobials in milk, and the innate immune response elicited by mammary cells and recruited immune cells. However, to date, no specific virulence factors have been identified in E. coli isolates associated with mastitis. The original overall research objective of this application was to develop a genome-wide, transposon-tagged mutant collection of MPEC strain P4 and to use this technology to identify E. coli genes that are specifically involved in mammary virulence and pathogenicity. In the course of the project we decided to take an alternative genome-wide approach and to use whole genomes bioinformatics analysis. Using genome sequencing and analysis of six MPEC strains, our studies have shown that type VI secretion system (T6SS) gene clusters were present in all these strains. Furthermore, using unbiased screening of MPEC strains for reduced colonization, fitness and virulence in the murine mastitis model, we have identified in MPEC P4-NR a new pathogenicity island (PAI-1) encoding the core components of T6SS and its hallmark effectors Hcp, VgrG and Rhs. Next, we have shown that specific deletions of T6SS genes reduced colonization, fitness and virulence in lactating mouse mammary glands. Our long-term goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions in the mammary gland and to relate these mechanisms to disease processes and pathogenesis. We have been able to achieve our research objectives to identify E. coli genes that are specifically involved in mammary virulence and pathogenicity. The project elucidated a new basic concept in host pathogen interaction of MPEC, which for the best of our knowledge was never described or investigated before. This research will help us to shed new light on principles behind the infection strategy of MPEC. The new targets now enable prevalence and epidemiology studies of T6SS in field strains of MPEC which might unveil new geographic, management and ecological risk factors. These will contribute to development of new approaches to treat and prevent mastitis by MPEC and perhaps other mammary pathogens. The use of antibiotics in farm animals and specifically to treat mastitis is gradually precluded and thus new treatment and prevention strategies are needed. Effective mastitis vaccines are currently not available, structural components and effectors of T6SS might be new targets for the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics.