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Aims The objective of this study was to investigate if biofilms may be potential reservoirs for the waterborne pathogen enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ( ETEC) in household water in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods and Results Biofilms formed on submerged glass slides. Mature biofilms were found significantly more often on glass slides collected in the monsoon period between the two annual ETEC peaks in Bangladesh, that is, between May and August than the rest of the year ( P < 0·03). Sixty-four per cent (49/77) of all biofilms analysed by quantitative real-time PCR were positive for ETEC. Significantly more ETEC- PCR positive biofilms were found during the epidemic peaks and during flooding periods than the rest of the year ( P < 0·008). Planktonic ETEC was present in the household water during all seasons, but there was no correlation between presence or numbers of ETEC in water and the epidemic peaks. Conclusions We conclude that ETEC is continuously present in water and biofilms in household water reservoirs in Dhaka, which has a high prevalence of ETEC diarrhoea. The frequency of biofilms with ETEC was significantly associated ( P < 0·008) with seasonal epidemic peaks of ETEC diarrhoea. Significance and impact of the study We show for the first time that enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ( ETEC), the causative agent of acute watery diarrhoea and travellers' diarrhoea is present in biofilms in household water tanks in Dhaka, Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio cholerae causes a dehydrating diarrheal illness that can be rapidly fatal in the absence of specific treatment. The organism is an historic scourge and, like similar infectious diseases, may have influenced the evolution of the human genome. We report here the results of the first candidate gene association study of cholera. In a family-based study of 76 pedigrees from Dhaka, Bangladesh, we evaluated the association between cholera and five candidate genes—the cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor; lactoferrin; long palate, lung and nasal epithelium clone 1 (LPLUNC1); estrogen-related receptor alpha and calcium-activated chloride channel 1. We found a significant association with a marker in the promoter region of LPLUNC1 (rs11906665), a member of a family of evolutionarily conserved innate immunity proteins. An earlier microarray-based study of duodenal biopsies showed significantly increased expression of LPLUNC1 in cholera patients compared with healthy control subjects. Our results suggest that variation in host innate immune responses may influence the outcome of exposure to V. cholerae in an endemic setting.Genes and Immunity (2009) 10, 267–272; doi:10.1038/gene.2009.2; published online 12 February 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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