Open AccessIdentification of a Modular Pathogenicity Island That Is Widespread among Urease-Producing Uropathogens and Shares Features with a Diverse Group of Mobile Elements
Author(s) -
Erika L. Flannery,
Lona Mody,
Harry L. T. Mobley
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.00705-09
Subject(s) - biology , proteus mirabilis , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogenicity island , mobile genetic elements , providencia , genomic island , enterobacteriaceae , genetics , bacteria , gene , staphylococcus aureus , genome , escherichia coli
Pathogenicity islands (PAIs) are a specific group of genomic islands that contribute to genomic variability and virulence of bacterial pathogens. Using a strain-specific comparative genomic hybridization array, we report the identification of a 94-kb PAI, designated ICEPm1 , that is common toProteus mirabilis ,Providencia stuartii , andMorganella morganii . These organisms are highly prevalent etiologic agents of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (caUTI), the most common hospital acquired infection. ICEPm1 carries virulence factors that are important for colonization of the urinary tract, including a known toxin (Proteus toxic agglutinin) and the high pathogenicity island ofYersinia spp. In addition, this PAI shares homology and gene organization similar to the PAIs of other bacterial pathogens, several of which have been classified as mobile integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). Isolates from this study were cultured from patients with caUTI and show identical sequence similarity at three loci within ICEPm1 , suggesting its transfer between bacterial genera. Screening for the presence of ICEPm1 amongP. mirabilis colonizing isolates showed that ICEPm1 is more prevalent in urine isolates compared toP. mirabilis strains isolated from other body sites (P < 0.0001), further suggesting that it contributes to niche specificity and is positively selected for in the urinary tract.