Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Corner Lynnwood and Roper Roads, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
Food Microbiol. 2019 Sep;82:363-370. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2019.03.018. Epub 2019 Mar 19.
Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is a leading cause of foodborne illness associated with intestinal disease. While known over the years that contamination of food sources occurs via the oral faecal-route, the mechanisms underlying its persistence within the open environments including the food chain remains virtually unknown. Therefore, in this mini-review we will shed light on bacterial processes such as initial attachment, biofilm formation, horizontal gene transfer and response to environmental stresses. These factors may enable persistence of DEC as well as the emergence of potentially more virulent strains within the agricultural and food production environment. Mechanistic studies in clinical microbiology and immunology have elucidated infection pathways in the human and other animal bodies leading to diagnostic and treatment solutions. Therefore, understanding DEC behaviour in the agricultural and food production environment is crucial for ensuring food safety and public health by reducing the burden of foodborne illnesses.
肠致病性大肠杆菌（DEC）是与肠道疾病相关的食源性疾病的主要原因。尽管多年来已知食物源的污染是通过口腔粪便途径发生的，但在包括食物链在内的开放环境中其持续存在的机制实际上尚不清楚。因此，在这篇迷你综述中，我们将重点介绍细菌的初始附着、生物膜形成、水平基因转移和对环境压力的反应等过程。这些因素可能使 DEC 以及在农业和食品生产环境中可能出现的毒力更强的菌株得以持续存在。临床微生物学和免疫学的机制研究阐明了人类和其他动物体内的感染途径，从而为诊断和治疗方法提供了依据。因此，了解农业和食品生产环境中的 DEC 行为对于通过减少食源性疾病的负担来确保食品安全和公共卫生至关重要。
