The Cloning, Expression And Function Study Of CglE Of Meningitic E. Coli

Bacterial meningitis has remained associated with high mortality and morbidity despite advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and supportive care. A major contributing factor is the incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of this disease. Escherichia coli is the most common gram-negative bacillus that causes meningitis during the neonatal period, it is known that most cases of bacterial meningitis develop as a result of hematogenous spread, but it is not clear how circulating E. coli could invade the brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It is known that several genes may contribute to E. coli invasion of BMECs and cross the BBB. The ibeA gene previously identified by TnphoA mutagenesis is an invasion determinant contributing to E. coli Kl invasion. A 20.3-kb Genetic island of meningitic E. coli containing ibeA (GimA) is found to be unique to E. coli K1 strains. GimA consists of 15 genes that form 4 operons:ptnIPKC, cglDTEC, gcxKRCI and ibeRAT. The G+C content (46.2%) of the island is substantially different from that (50.8%) of the rest of the E. coli chromosome. And the ibeA gene which is an important determinant for E. coli K1 invasion of BMECs has already been successfully cloned and characterized. Among...