EspFu nucleic acids and proteins and uses thereof
Disclosed are EspF U (EspF-like polypeptide encoded by a gene of the cryptic prophage CP-933U of enterohemorrhagic E. coli ) polypeptides, fragments thereof, nucleic acids that encode EspF U polypeptides, or fragments thereof, and cells including the polypeptides, fragments, and/or nucleic acids. Also disclosed are model systems, kits, and methods for screening that use, for example, EspF U polypeptides and nucleic acids. Also included are pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions and methods of diagnosis and treatment of EHEC infections.
1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide that:
(i) comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID No.: 4 and
(ii) binds to a neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) polypeptide or restores actin pedestal formation activity of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strain KC12.
2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID No.: 2.
3. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID No.: 4.
4. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No.: 4.
5. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises a sequence that is at least 97% identical to SEQ ID No.: 2.
6. A vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim 1 .
7. A host cell comprising the vector of claim 6 .
8. A bacterium comprising the nucleic acid of claim 1 .
9. The bacterium of claim 8 , wherein the bacterium is an Escherichia coli bacterium.
10. The bacterium of claim 8 , wherein the bacterium is an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC).
11. A method of diagnosing or detecting an enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection, the method comprising:
providing a sample suspected of having an EHEC infection; and
detecting an EspF U nucleic acid in the sample.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sample is obtained from a subject.
13. A method of diagnosing and treating an enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection, the method comprising
performing the method of claim 12 ; and
if an EspF U nucleic acid is detected in the sample, treating the subject with a treatment that does not enhance production of Shiga-like toxin.
14. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ESpF U nucleic acid encodes a polypeptide that:
(i) comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID No.: 4; and
(ii) binds to a neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) polypeptide or restores actin pedestal formation activity of enteropathogenic Esoherichia coli (EPEC) strain KC12.
16. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID No.: 3.
17. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID No.: 1.