1887

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Volume 72, Issue 2

Detection and characterization of hybrid uropathogenic strains among isolates causing community-acquired urinary tract infection No Access

Abstract

. The main aetiological agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) is , categorized as uropathogenic (UPEC). The genome of UPEC shows a high degree of plasticity, which leads to the emergence of ‘intermediary strains’ with different traits from the parental pathotypes.

. We aimed to assess the frequency and types of the hybrid UPEC among isolates causing UTI and characterize virulence properties of these hybrid isolates molecularly and phenotypically.

. After detection of intestinal pathogenic (IPEC) virulence markers among 200 UPEC isolates, they were assessed for the presence of 40 virulence genes (VGs) of extraintestinal, uropathogenic and diarrhoeagenic , phylogenetic group typing, phenotypic traits including biofilm formation, adherence and invasion to HeLa cells, haemolysis activity and antimicrobial resistance.

. The analysis showed 21 (10.5 %) UPEC isolates carried enteroaggregative (EAEC) and enteropathogenic (EPEC) virulence markers. Twenty isolates carried the (EAEC) and one the and genes (EPEC), which were classified as hybrid strains. The most commonly identified genes were (71.5 %), (66.7 %), (62 %), (57.1) and (47.6 %). Biofilm production, adhesion and invasion were found among 17 (81), 18 (85.7) and 11 (52.4 %) hybrids, respectively. Investigation of the genetic characteristics, phylogenetic group and virulence profile of the detected hybrids revealed that they have genetic diversity and do not belong to a particular clonal lineage.

. The present study reveals that some UPEC may carry virulence markers of IPEC pathotypes. EAEC and EPEC seem to have a greater tendency to form hybrids and cause UTI. Further studies are needed to elucidate what factors contributed to survival in the urinary tract system and facilitate infection and whether these combinations lead to an increase in pathogenicity or not.

  • Received:
  • Accepted:
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Keyword(s): enteroaggregative Escherichia coli , enteropathogenic Escherichia coli , hybrid , intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli , urinary tract infection and uropathogenic Escherichia coli
© 2023 The Authors
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/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001660
2023-02-08
2024-05-22
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Detection and characterization of hybrid uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains among E. coli isolates causing community-acquired urinary tract infection
J. Med. Microbiol. 72, 001660 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001660
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001660
/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001660
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