Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb
Abstract
Among foodborne pathogens, diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli is of major concern because of its commensal status, abundance in the natural environment, and ability to acquire virulence determinants by horizontal gene transfer from other microbes. From enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains to the more virulent enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), the mechanisms of pathogenicity within this species are intriguing. Recent advances in molecular diagnostics are providing novel tools for improved rapid detection and quantification of this and other pathogenic bacteria from clinical, food, and environmental specimens. These include simple and inexpensive colorimetric and immunological methods to more elaborate nucleic acid-based assays that combine extreme specificity to unparalleled sensitivity and high sample throughput. This review summarizes the current state of E. coli pathogenesis with emphasis on the need for incorporating detection and surveillance tools as part of pre- and post-harvest food safety ideals.Patogena bakterija Escherichia coli, koja uzrokuje dijareju, najopasniji je patogeni mikroorganizam u hrani zbog svoje rasprostranjenosti u prirodnom okolišu i sposobnosti prisvajanja virulentnosti horizontalnim transferom gena iz drugih mikroba. Mehanizmi njezine patogenosti su intrigantni, počevši od enterotoksigenog soja E. coli (ETEC) pa sve do virulentnijeg eneterohemoragijskog soja (EHES). Napredak u molekularnoj dijagnostici doveo je do razvoja novih metoda brzog određivanja prisutnosti i broja te bakterije i sličnih patogenih bakterija u kliničkim uzorcima, hrani i okolišu. U tu svrhu mogu se primijeniti jednostavne i jeftine kolorimetrijske i imunološke metode ili kompliciranije metode dokazivanja nukleinskih kiselina koje su vrlo specifične i osjetljive pa se pomoću njih može analizirati veliki broj uzoraka. Ovaj revijalni prikaz donosi pregled patogeneze E. coli, a ističe nužnost određivanja njezine prisutnosti te nadzor prije i nakon žetve radi procjene zdravstvene ispravnosti hrane
