Escherichia coli-Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance and Quorum Sensing in Bovine Mastitis: A Mini-Review

Authors

  • Sarmila Muthukrishnan Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Raisa Sabeeha Alam Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/stem.vol7no1.3

Keywords:

Bovine mastitis, Escherichia coli, Quorum sensing, Autoinducers and Antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

The dairy industry worldwide is facing great economic loss. One of the primary reasons is the inflammatory disease of the mammary gland of the cattle, more commonly known as bovine mastitis. A major causative agent for this disease among other implicated pathogens is Escherichia coli. It causes both clinical and subclinical mastitis in the dairy cattle. The pathogenesis of E. coli in the cattle occurs through quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms through the autoinducers signaling. The Autoinducer-1 (AI-1) pathway controls the main virulence factors of the bacteria that are biofilm formation, secretion of toxin and colonization of host tissue. The conventional management of bovine mastitis relies heavily on antibiotics, yet this practice has inadvertently driven the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The presence of multidrug-resistant E. coli in cattle milk highlights the zoonotic risk posed to consumers. This mini review seeks to provide an overview of E. coli quorum sensing mechanism in bovine mastitis and its growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. 

 

References

Akers, R. M. and Nickerson, S. C. (2011). Mastitis and its Impact on Structure and Function in the Ruminant Mammary Gland. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, 16(4), 275–289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-011-9231-3

Bellissimo, K.A., Septer, A.N., Whistler, C.A., Rodríguez, C. and Stabb, E.V. (2024). Deletion of luxI increases luminescence of Vibrio fischeri. mBio, 15(10), e02446-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02446-24

Bezabih, Y. M., Sabiiti, W., Alamneh, E., Bezabih, A., Peterson, G. M., Bezabhe, W. M. and Roujeinikova, A. (2021). The global prevalence and trend of human intestinal carriage of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in the community. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 76(1), 22–29. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkaa399

Bush, K. and Jacoby, G. A. (2010). Updated Functional Classification of Lactamases. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 54(3), 969–976. https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.01009-09

Cheng, W. N. and Han, S. G. (2020). Bovine mastitis: Risk factors, Therapeutic strategies, and Alternative Treatments — a Review. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 33(11), 1699–1713. PubMed Central. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.20.0156

Cox, C. R., Chen, C. Y. and McClure, J. (2006). Interactions between quorum sensing signals and host intestinal epithelia: Escherichia coli signal interception. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 256(1), 15–22.

de Jong, E., McCubbin, K. D., Speksnijder, D., Dufour, S., Middleton, J. R., Ruegg, P. L., Lam, T. J. G. M., Kelton, D. F., McDougall, S., Godden, S. M., Lago, A., Rajala-Schultz, P. J., Orsel, K., De Vliegher, S., Krömker, V., Nobrega, D. B., Kastelic, J. P. and Barkema, H. W. (2023). Invited review: Selective treatment of clinical mastitis in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 106(6), 3761–3778. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22826

Eckel, E. F. and Ametaj, B. N. (2020). Bacterial Endotoxins and Their Role in Periparturient Diseases of Dairy Cows: Mucosal Vaccine Perspectives. Dairy, 1(1), 61–90. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy1010006.

Editorial. (2024). Antimicrobial resistance: a silent pandemic. Nature Communications, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50457-z

El-sayed M, S., M Soliman, S., Abdel-Azim Fayed, A. and Abd El-hamid Ahmed, S. (2021). Relationship between Phenotypic and Genotypic Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Isolates from Mastitic Milk. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 9(8). https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.aavs/2021/9.8.1223.1232

Fitzgerald, D. C., Meade, K. G., McEvoy, A. N., Lillis, L., Murphy, E. P., MacHugh, D. E. and Baird, A. W. (2007). Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) increases nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activity in and interleukin-8 (IL-8) release from bovine mammary epithelial cells. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 116(1-2), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2006.12.008

Goulart, D. B. and Mellata, M. (2022). Escherichia coli Mastitis in Dairy Cattle: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Challenges. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.928346.

Hughes, D. T., Clarke, M. B. and Sperandio, V. (2010). Escherichia coli SdiA senses acyl homoserine lactones and regulates acid resistance. Journal of Bacteriology, 192(1), 82–93.

Jeena, S., Venkateswaramurthy, N. and Sambathkumar, R. (2020). Antibiotic residues in milk products: Impacts on human health. Research journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, 12(1), 15-20.

Kendall, M. M. and Sperandio, V. (2007). Quorum sensing by enteric pathogens. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, 23(1), 10–15.

Khan, M. Z., Khan, A., Xiao, J., Ma, J., Ma, Y., Chen, T., Shao, D. and Cao, Z. (2020). Overview of Research Development on the Role of NF-κB Signaling in Mastitis. Animals, 10(9), 1625. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091625

Lee, J., Bansal, T., Jayaraman, A., Bentley, W. E. and Wood, T. K. (2007). Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli biofilms are inhibited by 7-hydroxyindole and stimulated by indole via SdiA. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73(13), 4029–4036.

Lees, P., Pelligand, L., Giraud, E. and Toutain, P. (2020). A history of antimicrobial drugs in animals: Evolution and revolution. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 44(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.12895.

Martin, M. J., Thottathil, S. E. and Newman, T. B. (2015). Antibiotics Overuse in Animal Agriculture: A Call to Action for Health Care Providers. American Journal of Public Health, 105(12), 2409–2410. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2015.302870

Mayer, F.Q. et al. (2025). Regulatory effects on virulence and phage susceptibility revealed by sdiA mutation in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1562402

Morales-Ubaldo, A. L., Rivero-Perez, N., Valladares-Carranza, B., Velázquez-Ordoñez, V., Delgadillo-Ruiz, L. and Zaragoza-Bastida, A. (2023). Bovine mastitis, a worldwide impact disease: Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and viable alternative approaches. Veterinary and Animal Science, 21, 100306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2023.100306

Moreira, M., Felipe Carlos Dubenczuk, Dayanne Araújo Melo, Nascimento, C., Marcela Barlette Mendes, Elina Beatriz Reinoso, Mattos, S. and Irene Silva Coelho. (2024). Antimicrobial therapy approaches in the mastitis control driven by one health insights. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 46, e002624–e002624. https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm002624

Mramba, R. P. and Mohamed, M. A. (2024). The prevalence and factors associated with mastitis in dairy cows kept by small-scale farmers in Dodoma, Tanzania. Heliyon, 10(13), e34122–e34122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34122.

Patra, M., Gupta, A.K., Kumar, D. and Kumar B. (2025). Antimicrobial Resistance: A Rising Global Threat to Public Health. Infection and Drug Resistance, 18, 5419-5437. https://doi:0.2147/IDR.S530557

Pedersen, R. R., Krömker, V., Bjarnsholt, T., Dahl-Pedersen, K., Buhl, R. and Jørgensen, E. (2021). Biofilm Research in Bovine Mastitis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.656810

Rowe, S., Kabera, F., Dufour, S., Godden, S., Roy, J.-P. and Nydam, D. (2023). Selective dry-cow therapy can be implemented successfully in cows of all milk production levels. Journal of Dairy Science, 106, 1953-1967. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22547

Ruegg, P. L. (2017). A 100-Year Review: Mastitis detection, management, and prevention. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(12), 10381–10397. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13023

Ruegg, P. L. (2018). Making Antibiotic Treatment Decisions for Clinical Mastitis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 34(3), 413–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2018.06.002

Salam, M. A., Al-Amin, M. Y., Salam, M. T., Pawar, J. S., Akhter, N., Rabaan, A. A. and Alqumber, M. A. A. (2023). Antimicrobial Resistance: a Growing Serious Threat for Global Public Health. Healthcare, 11(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11131946.

Sharun, K., Dhama, K., Tiwari, R., Gugjoo, M. B., Iqbal Yatoo, Mohd., Patel, S. K., Pathak, M., Karthik, K., Khurana, S. K., Singh, R., Puvvala, B., Amarpal, Singh, R., Singh, K. P. and Chaicumpa, W. (2021). Advances in therapeutic and managemental approaches of bovine mastitis: a comprehensive review. Veterinary Quarterly, 41(1), 107–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2021.1882713

Shimada, T., Gao, L., Yamamoto, K. and Ishihama, A. (2023). The LuxR homolog SdiA regulates csrB small RNA in Escherichia coli. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1105226

Smith, K. L. and Hogan, J. S. (1993). Environmental Mastitis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 9(3), 489–498. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0720(15)30616-2

Stanek, P., Paweł Żółkiewski. and Januś, E. (2024). A Review on Mastitis in Dairy Cows Research: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Agriculture, 14(8), 1292–1292. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081292

Styles, M.J. & Blackwell, H.E. (2021). Chemical Control of Quorum Sensing in E. coli: Identification of Small Molecule Modulators of SdiA and Mechanistic Characterization of a Covalent Inhibitor. ACS Infectious Diseases, 7(1), 83–99. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00654

Surette, M. G. and Bassler, B. L. (1998). Quorum sensing in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 95(12), 7046–7050.

Svennesen, L., Skarbye, A. P., Farre, M., Lærke Boye Astrup, Tariq, Volker Krömker, Denwood, M. and Kirkeby, C. (2023). Treatment of mild to moderate clinical bovine mastitis caused by gram-positive bacteria: A noninferiority randomized trial of local penicillin treatment alone or combined with systemic treatment. Journal of Dairy Science, 106(8), 5696–5714. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22993

Virto, M., Santamarina-García, G., Amores, G. and Hernández, I. (2022). Antibiotics in Dairy Production: Where Is the Problem? Dairy, 3(3), 541–564. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy3030039

Wang, H., Shang, F., Shen, J., Xu, J., Chen, X., Ni, J., Yu, L. and Xue, T. (2021). LsrR, the effector of AI-2 quorum sensing, is vital for the H2O2 stress response in mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli. Veterinary Research, 52(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-021-00998-8

WHO (2023). Global antimicrobial resistance forum launched to help tackle common threat to planetary health. (2023, April 24). www.who.int. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/global-antimicrobial-resistance-forum-launched-to-help-tackle-common-threat-to-planetary-health

Yang, F., Zhang, S., Shang, X., Wang, X., Wang, L., Yan, Z. and Li, H. (2018). Prevalence and characteristics of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from bovine mastitis cases in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17(6), 1246–1251. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2095-3119(17)61830-6

Yao, Y., Martinez-Yamout, M. A., Dickerson, T. J., Brogan, A. P., Wright, P. E. and Dyson, H. J. (2006). Structure of the Escherichia coli quorum sensing protein SdiA: Activation by AHLs. Molecular Microbiology, 60(5), 1351–1361.

Yu, Z. N., Wang, J., Ho, H., Wang, Y. T., Huang, S. N. and Han, R. W. (2019). Prevalence, Antimicrobial-Resistance Phenotypes and Genotypes of Escherichia coli Isolated from Raw Milk Samples from Mastitis Cases in Four Regions of China. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2019.12.016

Zaatout, N. (2022). An overview on mastitis-associated Escherichia coli: Pathogenicity, host immunity and the use of alternative therapies. Microbiological Research, 256, 126960. https://doi:10.1016/j.micres.2021.126960

Zhang, S., Abbas, M., Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Huang, Y.-H., Zhou, R., Gong, S., Yang, H., Chen, S., Wang, M. and Cheng, A. (2020). Dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) via integrons in Escherichia coli: A risk to human health. 266, 115260–115260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115260

Volume 7, No. 1 (2026) : International STEM Journal.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30

Most read articles by the same author(s)