Open AccessUropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains may carry virulence properties of diarrhoeagenic E. coli
Author(s) -
Abe Cecilia M.,
Salvador Fábia A.,
Falsetti Ivan N.,
Vieira Mônica A.M.,
Blanco Jorge,
Blanco Jesús E.,
Blanco Miguel,
Machado Antônia M.O.,
Elias Waldir P.,
Hernandes Rodrigo T.,
Gomes Tânia A. T.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2008.00388.x
Subject(s) - virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , escherichia coli , enteroaggregative escherichia coli , gene , pathogenicity island , enterobacteriaceae , genetics
To analyze whether Escherichia coli strains that cause urinary tract infections (UPEC) share virulence characteristics with the diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) pathotypes and to recognize their genetic diversity, 225 UPEC strains were examined for the presence of various properties of DEC and UPEC (type of interaction with HeLa cells, serogroups and presence of 30 virulence genes). No correlation between adherence patterns and serogroups was observed. Forty‐five serogroups were found, but 64% of the strains belonged to one of the 12 serogroups (O1, O2, O4, O6, O7, O14, O15, O18, O21, O25, O75, and O175) and carried UPEC virulence genes ( pap , hly , aer , sfa , cnf ). The DEC genes found were: aap , aatA , aggC , agg3C , aggR , astA , eae , ehly , iha , irp2 , lpfA O113 , pet , pic , pilS , and shf . Sixteen strains presented aggregative adherence and/or the aatA sequence, which are characteristics of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), one of the DEC pathotypes. In summary, certain UPEC strains may carry DEC virulence properties, mostly associated to the EAEC pathotype. This finding raises the possibility that at least some faecal EAEC strains might represent potential uropathogens. Alternatively, certain UPEC strains may have acquired EAEC properties, becoming a potential cause of diarrhoea.