Research advances on the contamination of vegetables by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli: pathways, processes and interaction

Abstract

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli is considered one of the primary bacterial pathogens that cause foodborne diseases because it can survive in meat, vegetables and so on. Understanding of the effect of vegetable characteristics on the adhesion and proliferation process of EHEC is necessary to develop control measures. In this review, the amount and methods of adhesion, the internalization pathway and proliferation process of EHEC have been described during the vegetable contamination. Types, cultivars, tissue characteristics, leaf age, and damage degree can affect EHEC adhesion on vegetables. EHEC cells contaminate the root surface of vegetables through soil and further internalize. It can also contaminate the stem scar tissue of vegetables by rain or irrigation water and internalize the vertical axis, as well as the stomata, necrotic lesions and damaged tissues of vegetable leaves. After EHEC adhered to the vegetables, they may further proliferate and form biofilms. Leaf and fruit tissues were more sensitive to biofilm formation, and shedding rate of biofilms on epidermis tissue was faster. Insights into the mechanisms of vegetable contamination by EHEC, including the role of exopolysaccharides and proteins responsible for movement, adhesion and oxidative stress response could reveal the molecular mechanism by which EHEC contaminates vegetables.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Adhesion pathway
• Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
• interaction
• proliferation
• vegetable

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Collaborative Innovation Center of the Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (KJCX201915), the Special Training Program for Outstanding Scientists of the Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (JKZX202213), the Scientific and Technological Innovation Ability Foundation of Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (KJCX20200208) and China Agriculture Research System (CARS-23).