Adherence of Enterohemorrhagic <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157, O26, and O111 Strains to Bovine Intestinal Explants Ex Vivo

Abstract

We used bovine intestinal organ culture to study infection by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serogroups O157, O26, and O111. We show colonization and attaching and effacing lesion formation on explants derived from the ileum, colon, and rectum. Intimin and Tir were detected at the sites of adherent bacteria; Tir was essential for colonization.