Diffusely Adhering Escherichia Coli

Abstract

Diffusely adhering E. coli strains (DAEC) is one of the seven pathovars of pathogenic E. coli causing intestinal infections in humans. DAEC is a diverse group of strains producing fimbrial or afimbrial adhesins that are responsible for their pathogenicity specific diffuse adherence pattern for epithelial cells. DAEC isolates are detected not only in humans, but also in various groups of animals (dogs, calves, cattle, poultry, pigs). A large variation in the genes that encode the adhesins contributes to the omission of DAEC in the routine diagnosis of gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. 1. Introduction. 2. The Afa/Dr family of adhesins. 3. The division of DAEC strains. 4. Other virulence factors of DAEC. 5. The pathogenicity of DAEC. 5.1. Urinary tract infections. 5.2. Gastrointestinal tract infections. 6. Immunological response in DAEC infections. 7. The pathomechanism of infections caused by DAEC. 7.1. The internalization of DAEC. 8. The epidemiology of DAEC. 9. Diagnosis. 10. Summary