The ibeA gene is located on a genomic island, GimA, which is involved in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis Escherichia coli (NMEC) and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). The prevalence of ibeA in the APEC collection in China was investigated, and 20 of 467 strains (4.3%) were positive. In addition, analysis of the association of the E. coli reference (ECOR) groups with positive strains revealed that ibeA was linked to group B2. The ibeA gene in DE205B was analyzed and compared to those of APEC and NMEC, which indicated that the specificity of ibeA was not consistent along pathotypes. The invasion of chicken embryo fibroblast DF-1 cells by APEC DE205B and RS218 was observed, which suggested that DF-1 cells could be a model to study the mechanism of APEC invasion. The inactivation of ibeA in APEC DE205B led to the reduced capacity to invade DF-1 cells, defective virulence in vivo , and decreased biofilm formation compared to the wild-type strain. In addition, strain AAEC189 expressing ibeA exhibited enhanced invasion capacity and biofilm formation. The results of the quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and animal system infection experiments indicated that the loss of ibeA decreased the colonization and proliferation capacities of APEC in the brain during system infection.

Avian pathogenic E. coli and human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli serotypes O1, O2 and O18 strains isolated from different hosts are generally located in phylogroup B2 and ST complex 95, and they share similar genetic characteristics and pathogenicity, with no or minimal host specificity. They are popular objects for the study of ExPEC genetic characteristics and pathogenesis in recent years. Here, we investigated the evolution and genetic blueprint of APEC pathotype by performing phylogenetic and comparative genome analysis of avian pathogenic E. coli strain IMT5155 (O2:K1:H5; ST complex 95, ST140) with other E. coli pathotypes. Phylogeny analyses indicated that IMT5155 has closest evolutionary relationship with APEC O1, IHE3034, and UTI89. Comparative genomic analysis showed that IMT5155 and APEC O1 shared significant genetic overlap/similarities with human ExPEC dominant O18:K1 strains (IHE3034 and UTI89). Furthermore, the unique PAI I₅₁₅₅ (GI-12) was identified and found to be conserved in APEC O2 serotype isolates. GI-7 and GI-16 encoding two typical T6SSs in IMT5155 might be useful markers for the identification of ExPEC dominant serotypes (O1, O2, and O18) strains. IMT5155 contained a ColV plasmid p1ColV₅₁₅₅, which defined the APEC pathotype. The distribution analysis of 10 sequenced ExPEC pan-genome virulence factors among 47 sequenced E. coli strains provided meaningful information for B2 APEC/ExPEC-specific virulence factors, including several adhesins, invasins, toxins, iron acquisition systems, and so on. The pathogenicity tests of IMT5155 and other APEC O1:K1 and O2:K1 serotypes strains (isolated in China) through four animal models showed that they were highly virulent for avian colisepticemia and able to cause septicemia and meningitis in neonatal rats, suggesting zoonotic potential of these APEC O1:K1 and O2:K1 isolates.

Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) is an intracellular sensor of cytoplasmic viral DNA created during virus infection, which subsequently activates the stimulator of interferon gene (STING)-dependent type I interferon response to eliminate pathogens. In contrast, viruses have developed different strategies to modulate this signalling pathway. Pseudorabies virus (PRV), an alphaherpesvirus, is the causative agent of Aujeszky’s disease (AD), a notable disease that causes substantial economic loss to the swine industry globally. Previous reports have shown that PRV infection induces cGAS-dependent IFN-β production, conversely hydrolysing cGAMP, a second messenger synthesized by cGAS, and attenuates PRV-induced IRF3 activation and IFN-β secretion. However, it is not clear whether PRV open reading frames (ORFs) modulate the cGAS–STING-IRF3 pathway. Here, 50 PRV ORFs were screened, showing that PRV UL13 serine/threonine kinase blocks the cGAS–STING-IRF3-, poly(I:C)- or VSV-mediated transcriptional activation of the IFN-β gene. Importantly, it was discovered that UL13 phosphorylates IRF3, and its kinase activity is indispensable for such an inhibitory effect. Moreover, UL13 does not affect IRF3 dimerization, nuclear translocation or association with CREB-binding protein (CBP) but attenuates the binding of IRF3 to the IRF3-responsive promoter. Consistent with this, it was discovered that UL13 inhibits the expression of multiple interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) induced by cGAS–STING or poly(I:C). Finally, it was determined that PRV infection can activate IRF3 by recruiting it to the nucleus, and PRVΔUL13 mutants enhance the transactivation level of the IFN-β gene. Taken together, the data from the present study demonstrated that PRV UL13 inhibits cGAS–STING-mediated IFN-β production by phosphorylating IRF3.