# Growth dynamics and protein-expression of Escherichia coli serotypes O26:H11, O111:H8 and O145:NM in the bovine rumen

## TL;DR

This study compares how non-O157 STEC strains survive and express proteins in the bovine rumen, finding they behave similarly to non-STEC E. coli and differently from STEC O157.

## Contribution

The study reveals that non-O157 STEC strains share survival and protein expression patterns in the rumen, differing from STEC O157 and non-STEC E. coli.

## Key findings

- Non-O157 STEC strains showed similar survival and protein expression patterns in rumen fluid.
- In vivo conditions better reflect STEC survival than in vitro, which showed greater bacterial reduction.
- Non-O157 STEC expressed proteins for ruminal adaptation, including the virulence protein intimin.

## Abstract

To adapt to the ruminal environment, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 (O157) expresses proteins involved in survival rather than virulence. Additionally, STEC O157 strains exhibit distinct in vitro but shared in vivo survival patterns in rumen fluids that sets them apart from non-STEC, commensal E. coli. To determine if similar responses would be observed with other STEC, we evaluated three non-O157 serotypes, O26:H11, O111:H8 and O145:NM, along with a non-STEC E. coli, under the growth conditions used for STEC O157: (i) anaerobically, in vitro, in rumen fluid from cattle on a lactation (low fiber, high protein) or maintenance (high fiber, low protein) diet, at 39oC for 48 hr and (ii) in vivo for 48 hr within the rumen of cattle on the same diets using a non-terminal, rumen-fistulated animal model that allows for introduction of bacteria without ruminal contamination. On the lactation diet, the ruminal pH was acidic ranging from 5.2–6.0 and the total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, 141–230 μM/ml. On the maintenance diet, the ruminal fluid pH was close to neutral ranging from 6.0–7.0, with a total VFA of 87–190 μM/ml. Unlike STEC O157, the three non-O157 serotypes demonstrated survival patterns similar to each other and the control non-STEC E. coli. A greater reduction in viable STEC counts was observed in vitro in rumen fluid from cattle fed the lactation diet than in vivo, corroborating previous reports that in vitro conditions cannot mimic those observed in vivo. Like STEC O157, the non-O157 serotypes mainly expressed proteins supporting ruminal adaptation although not all proteins matched those expressed by STEC O157, and included the virulence protein, intimin. Explorative studies such as this could provide insights into common conditions/ targets that may have application in broader STEC control in cattle.

This study demonstrates that non-O157 serotypes O26:H11, O111:H8, O145:NM have similar survival and protein expression patterns in rumen fluid with variations being influenced primarily by rumen fluid composition associated with diet. Unlike STEC O157, under in vivo conditions, the growth dynamics of the non-O157 serotypes were comparable to that of non-STEC, commensal E. coli. Hence, exploring bacterial protein expression within the host is critical in discerning therapeutic targets, unique to/shared between STEC, for broad control strategies. In addition, this study further validates the value of using a non-terminal animal model for rumen studies that reduces number of animals used for an experiment.