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Journal of Bacteriology, January 2009, p. 178-186, Vol. 191, No. 1
0021-9193/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00822-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Heat-Labile Enterotoxin Promotes Escherichia coli Adherence to Intestinal Epithelial Cells{triangledown}

Amber M. Johnson,1 Radhey S. Kaushik,1 David H. Francis,1 James M. Fleckenstein,2 and Philip R. Hardwidge1*

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Vaccinology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota,1 Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Departments of Medicine and Molecular Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee2

Received 11 June 2008/ Accepted 24 October 2008

Given recent evidence suggesting that the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) provides a colonization advantage for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in vivo, we hypothesized that LT preconditions the host intestinal epithelium for ETEC adherence. To test this hypothesis, we used an in vitro model of ETEC adherence to examine the role of LT in promoting bacterium-host interactions. We present data demonstrating that elaboration of LT promotes a significant increase in E. coli adherence. This phenotype is primarily dependent on the inherent ADP-ribosylation activity of this toxin, with a secondary role observed for the receptor-binding LT-B subunit. Rp-3',5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP), an inhibitor of protein kinase A, was sufficient to abrogate LT's ability to promote subsequent bacterial adherence. Increased adherence was not due to changes in the surface expression of the host receptor for the K88ac adhesin. Evidence is also presented for a role for bacterial sensing of host-derived cAMP in promoting adherence to host cells.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Box 2175, 1119 North Campus Drive, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007. Phone: (605) 688-5259. Fax: (605) 688-6003. E-mail: hardwidg{at}gmail.com

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 31 October 2008.

Journal of Bacteriology, January 2009, p. 178-186, Vol. 191, No. 1
0021-9193/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00822-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Bodero, M. D., Munson, G. P. (2009). Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein-Dependent Repression of Heat-Labile Enterotoxin. Infect. Immun. 77: 791-798 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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