Molecular Epidemiology and Presence of Hybrid Pathogenic Escherichia coli among Isolates from Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection

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Nascimento, Jullia A. S. ; Santos, Fernanda F. ; Santos-Neto, Jose F. ; Trovao, Liana O. ; Valiatti, Tiago B. ; Pinaffi, Isabel C. ; Vieira, Monica A. M. ; Silva, Rosa M. ; Falsetti, Ivan N. ; Santos, Ana C. M. ; Gomes, Tania A. T.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MICROORGANISMS; v. 10, n. 2, p. 17-pg., 2022-02-01.

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) affect community and healthcare patients worldwide and may have different clinical outcomes. We assessed the phylogenetic origin, the presence of 43 virulence factors (VFs) of diarrheagenic and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli, and the occurrence of hybrid strains among E. coli isolates from 172 outpatients with different types of UTI. Isolates from phylogroup B2 (46%) prevailed, followed by phylogroups A (15.7%) and B1 (12.2%), with similar phylogenetic distribution in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The most frequent VFs according to their functional category were fimA (94.8%), ompA (83.1%), ompT (63.3%), chuA (57.6%), and vat (22%). Using published molecular criteria, 34.3% and 18.0% of the isolates showed intrinsic virulence and uropathogenic potential, respectively. Two strains carried the eae and escV genes and one the aggR gene, which classified them as hybrid strains. These hybrid strains interacted with renal and bladder cells, reinforcing their uropathogenic potential. The frequency of UPEC strains bearing a more pathogenic potential in the outpatients studied was smaller than reported in other regions. Our data contribute to deepening current knowledge about the mechanisms involved in UTI pathogenesis, especially among hybrid UPEC strains, as these could colonize the host's intestine, leading to intestinal infections followed by UTI. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/14553-8 - Comparative analysis of virulence characteristics of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in strains of e. coli isolated from patients with different types of urinary infection
• Grantee: Júllia Assis da Silva Nascimento
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 19/21685-8 - Studying the presence of virulence markers in Escherichia coli strains isolated from the gut microbiota of patients with urinary tract infection
• Grantee: José Francisco Santos Neto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 17/14821-7 - Exploring novel virulence strategies in Escherichia coli
• Grantee: Tânia Aparecida Tardelli Gomes do Amaral
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/17353-7 - COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VIRULENCE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIARRHEIOGENIC Escherichia coli IN E. coli STRAINS ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF URINARY INFECTION
• Grantee: Tânia Aparecida Tardelli Gomes do Amaral
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants