AUTHOR=Hirakawa Hidetada , Suzue Kazutomo , Uchida Motoyuki , Takita Ayako , Kamitani Wataru , Tomita Haruyoshi 

TITLE=A Macroporous Magnesium Oxide-Templated Carbon Adsorbs Shiga Toxins and Type III Secretory Proteins in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Which Attenuates Virulence

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.883689

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.883689

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Enterohemorrhagic <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> (EHEC) is one of the most common foodborne pathogens. However, no drug that prevents the severe complications caused by this bacterium has been approved yet. This study showed that a macroporous magnesium oxide (MgO)-templated carbon material (MgOC<sub>150</sub>) adsorbs Shiga toxins, and Type III secretory EspA/EspB proteins responsible for EHEC pathogenesis, and decreases the extracellular levels of these proteins. On the other hand, this material did not affect the growth of EHEC. <italic>Citrobacter rodentium</italic> traditionally used to estimate Type III secretion system-associated virulence in mice is highly virulent. The survival period of infected mice was prolonged when MgOC<sub>150</sub> was administered. This adsorbent disturbed neither mammalian cells nor normal intestinal bacteria, such as <italic>Enterococcus hirae</italic>, <italic>Lactobacillus acidophilus</italic>, and <italic>Lactobacillus casei</italic>. In contrast, MgOC<sub>150</sub> adsorbed antimicrobial agents, including β-lactams, quinolones, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. However, fosfomycin and amikacin were not adsorbed. Thus, MgOC<sub>150</sub> can be used with fosfomycin and amikacin to treat infections. MgOC<sub>150</sub> is used for industrial purposes, such as an electrode catalyst, a bioelectrode, and enzyme immobilization. The study proposed another potential application of MgOC<sub>150</sub>, assisting anti-EHEC chemotherapy.</p>