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Verocytotoxicogenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) are zoonotic bacterial pathogens, which cause severe human illnesses and have cattle as their main reservoir. Beside verocytotoxin (VT) production, many other virulence factors have been described. However, several key aspects of the pathogenesis of VTEC infection have still to be understood. The development of a new paradigm for VTEC strains, based on their real pathogenic potential, will be pivotal to improve the efficacy of both the diagnostics of human infections and the surveillance of animal reservoirs and the assessment of public health risks.
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The overall objective will be to define the combination of virulence genes and the mechanisms that make a VTEC strain fully pathogenic to humans, govern the evolution of commensal E.coli toward virulence, and contribute to the capability of VTEC to colonise the GI tract of the animal reservoirs. A Task Force of European key scientists will be set up to review Med-Vet-Net expertise and to develop a catalogue of research activities. Then a consultation meeting will be organised to generate a report with recommendations for future research. Finally, joint research proposals will be prepared and submitted to Med-Vet-Net and/or the FP6 for funding.
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<OL> <LI> To review research and surveillance activities on VTEC infections carried out in MVN institutes;
<LI> To debate, reach a consensus and generate recommendations for future research on the pathogenesis of VTEC infections, with particular emphasis on the definition of the virulence factors and the mechanisms that make a VTEC strain fully pathogenic to humans, govern the evolution of commensal E.coli toward virulence and contribute to the capability of VTEC to colonise the GI tract of the animals, which act as natural reservoir
The objective of this Workpackage was to contribute to the definition of virulence genes and the mechanisms that make a verocytoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) strain fully pathogenic to humans, and contribute to the capability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of the animal reservoirs. <P>
In order to set up the Task Force a list of scientists involved in VTEC research in the Med-Vet-Net institutes has been established and is publicly available. <P>
An inventory, or catalogue, of research and surveillance activities carried out within Med-Vet-Net Institutes has been performed using a questionnaire and a catalogue prepared. <P>
A consultation meeting was organized and held in Rome, 5–7 December 2005. A book of abstracts with summary and conclusions from the meeting is publicly available. From this document a review of the meeting outcomes has been published in the peer-reviewed journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases. <P>
A new Med-Vet-Net Workpackage (WP26) on virulotyping of VTEC has been commissioned and initiated. Four of the Med-Vet-Net partners (AFSSA, BfR, ISS, SSI) are taking part in a successful application for a Concerted Action on E. coli O157 (VI FWP, T5.4.6.3). The Concerted Action, called Pathogenic Escherichia coli Network (PEN) is co-ordinated by the Ashtown Food Research Centre of Ireland.
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A list of scientists involved in VTEC research in the Med-Vet-Net institutes has been established and an inventory, or catalogue, of research and surveillance activities carried out within those institutes has been performed using a questionnaire. This catalogue has been prepared and published.. <P>
An international consultation meeting was organised from 5th to 7th December 2005. From this a list of recommendations was published (Alfredo Caprioli, Stefano Morabito, Flemming Scheutz, Henrik Chart, Eric Oswald, Maurizio Brigotti, Leo Monnens, Anna Aspan, Roberto La Ragione, Chris Low, and Diane Newell (2006) Pathogenesis of Verocytotoxin/Shiga Toxin–producing Escherichia coli Infection http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no08/06-0170.htm.) <P>
Four of the partners (AFSSA, BfR, ISS, SSI) took part in a successful application for a FP6 Concerted Action entitled "Pathogenic Escherichia coli Network (PEN)" and co-ordinated by the Ashtown Food Research Centre of Ireland.
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