Degradation of the intestinal mucus layer by the ETEC protease EatA is species specific determined by the structure of the MUC2 mucin

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections are a leading cause of diarrheal illness, responsible for an estimated 100,000 deaths annually. ETEC pathogenesis is driven by various virulence factors, including toxins, adhesins, and noncanonical factors such as the protease EatA. The first line of host defense against intestinal pathogenic bacterial infections is the protective intestinal mucus layer. Here, we demonstrate the mechanism by which EatA facilitates access to the epithelial cell surface by degrading the core mucus component MUC2, thereby aiding to the infection. We identify the specific cleavage site region localized at the C-terminal of MUC2. EatA’s protease activity depends on the interaction between two distinct domains, which are uniquely spaced in human MUC2, contributing to species specificity. This was confirmed using a novel chimeric mouse model solely expressing human MUC2, which allowed us to study the role of the mucus layer in the infection of human intestinal pathogens. These findings highlight how ETEC has adapted to specifically degrade the mucus layer of its human host.