This project aims to compare ETEC strains isolated in humans and animals stools. Their toxin and colonisation factor profiles will be screened from their WGS. Toxin variant alleles and new adhesins will be reported at the end of the study

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of cholera-like diarrhoea in traveller's to, and children from developing countries. In Africa, ETEC causes ca. 28.7 million diarrhoea episodes and 42,973 deaths annually. Moreover, ETEC is responsible for diarrhoea and subsequent death of neonatal animals such as, suckling piglets, calves, lambs, camels and goat kids. ETEC usually exhibit their pathogenesis by elaborating plasmid encoded enterotoxins like a heat-labile (LT) toxin and a heat-stable toxin type A (STa) and type B (STb). ETEC have colonisation factor antigens (CFAs)/ adhesive fimbriae that attach to the host intestinal epithelial cells promoting disease instigation and pathogenesis. Colonisation factors play a role in ETEC vaccine development. However, some ETECs lack a known colonisation factor or are otherwise afimbrial. In this study, we propose to investigate molecular epidemiology of Enterotoxigenic E. coli with an emphasis on toxin and colonisation factor diversity among strains from Humans and Animals. We also aim to determine the serogroups and sequence types of ETECs from diverse hosts (mainly Humans, Pigs and ruminants). This study will also investigate plasmids disseminating toxins, colonisation factors and antimicrobial resistance. The study will aim to make use of whole genome analysis strategies to detect new colonisation factors to understand the population structures of ETEC. The study will isolate ETECs strains, screen them for all previously and newly described colonisation factors and use a combination of molecular tools to determine their lineage and compare them with other ETECs from other regions of the world. Isolates will undergo whole genome sequencing, Additionally, extracellular antigen staining, transmission electron microscopy, adhesion assays, immunoblot detection, SDS-PAGE and pili protein purification will be done on strains with novel colonisation factors.