Disruption of transepithelial resistance by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Transepithelial resistance and tight junction protein localization in porcine intestinal epithelial cells were evaluated as a function of infection with porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolates differing in adhesin and enterotoxin profiles. Robust heat-labile enterotoxin-independent reduction of host transepithelial resistance was observed in the absence of tight junction protein mislocalization.