Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
We are studying the molecular epidemiology, evolution and ecology of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli(STEC) in humans, cattle and other ruminants.
Cover art: Appl Environment Microbiol, 2016
- We have shown that non-O157 STEC strains have increased in Michigan over time and
have surpassed the number of O157 strains, though the latter are more commonly associated
with hospitalization (See: Tseng et al., Epidemiol Infect 2015).
- STEC prevalence varied considerably among cattle herds and specific factors were associated with fecal shedding (See: Venegas-Vargas et al., Appl Environ Microbiol. 2016).
- No association was observed between immune compromising conditions such as infection
with the bovine leukemia virus and STEC shedding (See: Venegas-Vargus et al. J Food Protect 2017).
- We observed a high frequency of STEC and other pathogenic E. coli in white-tailed deer occupying the same environment as cattle, and documented pathogen transmission (See: Singh et al, Frontiers Cell Infect Microbiol 2015).
Some current studies involve comparative genomics of STEC, variation in biofilm production, and characterization of Shiga toxin-encoding bacteriophages.