TY - GEN T1 - Heteropathogenic virulence and phylogeny reveal phased pathogenic metamorphosis in Escherichia coli O2:H6 AU - Bielaszewska, Martina AU - Schiller, Roswitha AU - Lammers, Lydia AU - Bauwens, Andreas AU - Fruth, Angelika AU - Middendorf, Barbara AU - Schmidt, Alexander AU - Tarr, Phillip I. AU - Dobrindt, Ulrich AU - Karch, Helge AU - Mellmann, Alexander AB - Extraintestinal pathogenic and intestinal pathogenic (diarrheagenic) Escherichia coli differ phylogenetically and by virulence profiles. Classic theory teaches simple linear descent in this species, where non-pathogens acquire virulence traits and emerge as pathogens. However, diarrheagenic Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O2:H6 not only possess and express virulence factors associated with diarrheagenic and uropathogenic E. coli but also cause diarrhea and urinary tract infections. These organisms are phylogenetically positioned between members of an intestinal pathogenic group (STEC) and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. STEC O2:H6 is, therefore, a ‘heteropathogen,’ and the first such hybrid virulent E. coli identified. The phylogeny of these E. coli and the repertoire of virulence traits they possess compel consideration of an alternate view of pathogen emergence, whereby one pathogroup of E. coli undergoes phased metamorphosis into another. By understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of bacterial pathogens, rational strategies for counteracting their detrimental effects on humans can be developed. KW - heteropathogenicity KW - phased metamorphosis KW - phylogeny KW - Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli KW - uropathogenic Escherichia coli KW - 610 Medizin PY - 2014 LA - eng PB - Robert Koch-Institut, Infektionskrankheiten / Erreger VL - 6 IS - 3 DO - 10.1002/emmm.201303133 ER -