Ulcerative Colitis-associated E. coli pathobionts potentiate colitis in susceptible hosts

Hyungjun Hyungjun Yanga*, Hengameh Chloé Lauridsen, Carsten Struve, Joannie M Allaire, Adeline Sivignon, Wayne Vogl, Else S. Bosman, Caixia Ma, Abbas Fotovati, Gregor S. Reid, Xiaoxia Li, Andreas Munk Petersen, Sébastien G. Gouin, Nicolas Barnich , Kevan Jacobson, Hong Bing Yu*, Karen Angeliki Krogfelt*, Bruce Andrew Vallance*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory condition linked to intestinal microbial dysbiosis, including the expansion of E. coli strains related to extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli. These "pathobionts" exhibit pathogenic properties, but their potential to promote UC is unclear due to the lack of relevant animal models. Here, we established a mouse model using a representative UC pathobiont strain (p19A), and mice lacking single immunoglobulin and toll-interleukin 1 receptor domain (SIGIRR), a deficiency increasing susceptibility to gut infections. Strain p19A was found to adhere to the cecal mucosa of Sigirr -/- mice, causing modest inflammation. Moreover, it dramatically worsened dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. This potentiation was attenuated using a p19A strain lacking α-hemolysin genes, or when we targeted pathobiont adherence using a p19A strain lacking the adhesin FimH, or following treatment with FimH antagonists. Thus, UC pathobionts adhere to the intestinal mucosa, and worsen the course of colitis in susceptible hosts.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1847976
JournalGut Microbes
Volume12
Issue number1
ISSN1949-0976
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Dec 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Crohn’s disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • in vivo mouse model
  • intestinal microbiota

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