Chou, T.-C.T.-C.ChouHAO-CHIEH CHIUKuo, C.-J.C.-J.KuoWu, C.-M.C.-M.WuSyu, W.-J.W.-J.SyuChiu, W.-T.W.-T.ChiuChen, C.-S.C.-S.Chen2021-05-282021-05-28201314625814https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/563417Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) causes life-threatening infections in humans as a consequence of the production of Shiga-like toxins. Lack of a good animal model system currently hinders in vivo study of EHEC virulence by systematic genetic methods. Here we applied the genetically tractable animal, Caenorhabditis elegans, as a surrogate host to study the virulence of EHEC as well as the host immunity to this human pathogen. Our results show that E. coli O157:H7, a serotype of EHEC, infects and kills C. elegans. Bacterial colonization and induction of the characteristic attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions in the intact intestinal epithelium of C. elegans by E. coli O157:H7 were concomitantly demonstrated in vivo. Genetic analysis indicated that the Shiga-like toxin 1 (Stx1) of E. coli O157:H7 is a virulence factor in C. elegans and is required for full toxicity. Moreover, the C. elegans p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, an evolutionarily conserved innate immune and stress response signalling pathway, is activated in the regulation of host susceptibility to EHEC infection in a Stx1-dependent manner. Our results validate the EHEC-C. elegans interaction as suitable for future comprehensive genetic screens for both novel bacterial and host factors involved in the pathogenesis of EHEC infection.en[SDGs]SDG3mitogen activated protein kinase p38; verotoxin 1; article; bacterial colonization; bacterial gene; bacterial immunity; bacterial virulence; Caenorhabditis elegans; colony forming unit; confocal microscopy; controlled study; death; disease model; enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli; enzyme activation; Escherichia coli infection; Escherichia coli O157; fluorescence microscopy; in vivo study; infection sensitivity; innate immunity; intestine epithelium; nonhuman; priority journal; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; stress; transmission electron microscopy; Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Escherichia coli Infections; Escherichia coli O157; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Intestinal Mucosa; Models, Animal; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Shiga Toxin 1; Survival Analysis; Virulence Factors; Animalia; Bacteria (microorganisms); Caenorhabditis elegans; Escherichia colijournal article10.1111/cmi.12030229850852-s2.0-84871076227http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84871076227&partnerID=MN8TOARS27670277