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Foster-Nyarko E, Pallen MJ. OUP accepted manuscript. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6522174. [PMID: 35134909 PMCID: PMC9075585 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli has a rich history as biology's ‘rock star’, driving advances across many fields. In the wild, E. coli resides innocuously in the gut of humans and animals but is also a versatile pathogen commonly associated with intestinal and extraintestinal infections and antimicrobial resistance—including large foodborne outbreaks such as the one that swept across Europe in 2011, killing 54 individuals and causing approximately 4000 infections and 900 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Given that most E. coli are harmless gut colonizers, an important ecological question plaguing microbiologists is what makes E. coli an occasionally devastating pathogen? To address this question requires an enhanced understanding of the ecology of the organism as a commensal. Here, we review how our knowledge of the ecology and within-host diversity of this organism in the vertebrate gut has progressed in the 137 years since E. coli was first described. We also review current approaches to the study of within-host bacterial diversity. In closing, we discuss some of the outstanding questions yet to be addressed and prospects for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebenezer Foster-Nyarko
- Corresponding author: Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. E-mail:
| | - Mark J Pallen
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7AL, United Kingdom
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TU, United Kingdom
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Liu CW, Wang P, Cao GN, Zou QH. Complete genome sequence and virulence characterization of a neonatal meningitis Escherichia coli isolate. Microb Pathog 2021; 160:105199. [PMID: 34560248 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening disease in newborns, and neonatal meningitis Escherichia coli (NMEC) is the second most frequent bacteria causing this disease worldwide. In order to further understand the characteristics of this pathogen, an E. coli isolate W224 N from newborns with meningitis was sequenced for detailed genetic characterization and the virulence was tested by a series of phenotypic experiments. W224 N has a circular chromosome and three plasmids. It belongs to ST95 and the serotype is O18:H7. Comparative genomic analysis showed that W224 N was closely related to E. coli neonatal meningitis isolates RS218 and NMEC O18. There are 11 genomic islands in W224 N and most of the GIs are specific to W224 N. W224 N has most of the virulence factors other neonatal meningitis isolates have. The virulence genes located both on the genome and plasmid. At the same time, we found a virulence factor cdiA only present in W224 N but absent in the other five genomes analyzed. In vitro experiment showed that W224 N has strong serum resistance ability, low biofilm formation ability and high flagellar motility. It also has a very strong toxicity to mice and amoeba. The whole genome as well as in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that W224 N is a high virulent strain. The results can help us better learn about the pathogenicity of neonatal meningitis E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cun-Wei Liu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guang-Na Cao
- Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Qing-Hua Zou
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Melendez D, Roberts MC, Greninger AL, Weissman S, No D, Rabinowitz P, Wasser S. Whole-genome analysis of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) MDR ST73 and ST127 isolated from endangered southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca). J Antimicrob Chemother 2020; 74:2176-2180. [PMID: 31032855 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited studies have investigated the microbial diversity of wild marine mammals. OBJECTIVES This study characterized Escherichia coli isolates collected from fresh faecal samples of endangered southern resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) located by detection dogs. METHODS WGS of each strain was done to determine ST (using MLST), clonotype (C:H), antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile. Conjugation experiments were done to determine the mobility of the tet(B) tetracycline resistance gene. RESULTS All isolates belonged to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) clonal lineages ST73 (8/9) and ST127 (1/9), often associated with human community-acquired urinary tract disease. Clonotyping using fumC and fimH alleles showed divergence in clonal lineages, with ST73 isolates belonging to the C24:H10 clade and the ST127 isolate belonging to C14:H2. The eight ST73 isolates carried multiple acquired antibiotic resistance genes, including aadA1, sul1 and tet(B), encoding aminoglycoside, sulphonamide and tetracycline resistance, respectively. Conjugative transfer of the resistance gene tet(B) was observed for three of the eight isolates. ST127 did not carry any of these acquired resistance genes. Virulence-associated genes identified included those encoding adhesins (iha, papC, sfaS), toxins (sat, vat, pic, hlyA, cnf1), siderophores (iutA, fyuA, iroN, ireA), serum survival/protectins (iss, ompT), capsule (kpsM) and pathogenicity island marker (malX). CONCLUSIONS Orca whales can carry antibiotic-resistant potentially pathogenic strains of E. coli. Possible sources include contamination of the whale's environment and/or food. It is unknown whether these isolates cause disease in southern resident killer whales, which could contribute to the ongoing decline of this critically endangered population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daira Melendez
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Marilyn C Roberts
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | | | - David No
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Peter Rabinowitz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Samuel Wasser
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Pokharel P, Habouria H, Bessaiah H, Dozois CM. Serine Protease Autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs): Out and About and Chopping It Up. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E594. [PMID: 31766493 PMCID: PMC6956023 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7120594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autotransporters are secreted proteins with multiple functions produced by a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. In Enterobacteriaceae, a subgroup of these autotransporters are the SPATEs (serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae). SPATEs play a crucial role in survival and virulence of pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Shigella spp. and contribute to intestinal and extra-intestinal infections. These high molecular weight proteases are transported to the external milieu by the type Va secretion system and function as proteases with diverse substrate specificities and biological functions including adherence and cytotoxicity. Herein, we provide an overview of SPATEs and discuss recent findings on the biological roles of these secreted proteins, including proteolysis of substrates, adherence to cells, modulation of the immune response, and virulence in host models. In closing, we highlight recent insights into the regulation of expression of SPATEs that could be exploited to understand fundamental SPATE biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pravil Pokharel
- Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada; (P.P.); (H.H.); (H.B.)
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine et Avicole (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Hajer Habouria
- Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada; (P.P.); (H.H.); (H.B.)
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine et Avicole (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Hicham Bessaiah
- Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada; (P.P.); (H.H.); (H.B.)
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine et Avicole (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Charles M. Dozois
- Institut National de Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada; (P.P.); (H.H.); (H.B.)
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie Porcine et Avicole (CRIPA), Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- Institut Pasteur International Network, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
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Najafi S, Rahimi M, Nikousefat Z. Extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli from human and avian origin: Detection of the most common virulence-encoding genes. VETERINARY RESEARCH FORUM : AN INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY JOURNAL 2019; 10:43-49. [PMID: 31183015 PMCID: PMC6522195 DOI: 10.30466/vrf.2019.34307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic Escherichia coli strains cause a wide range of extra intestinal infections including urinary tract infection in humans and colibacillosis in poultry. They are classified into uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) with genetic similarities and variations. Their pathogenicity is related to the virulence-encoding genes like sfa, papG II, ompT, iutA, and iss with zoonotic potentials. One hundred isolated E. coli from patients with urinary tract infection and 100 E. coli from chickens with colibacillosis were evaluated for the presence of the most common virulence-encoding genes including sfa, papG II, ompT, iutA, and iss by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. While the frequency of sfa, papG II, ompT, iutA and iss encoding genes in APEC isolates were respectively 0.00%, 67.00%, 63.00%, 89.00% and 89.00%, the frequency of these encoding genes in UPEC isolates were 18.00%, 40.00%, 40.00%, 74.00% and 48.00%, respectively. Except for sfa, the frequencies of other encoding genes in APEC were more than those in UPEC isolates. The iutA as the most common UPEC encoding gene and iss as the most common APEC encoding gene were the most prevalent virulence factors in the examined E. coli isolates. Finding out the distribution of virulence-associated genes could be helpful to identify similarities and differences between APEC and UPEC isolates in order to provide more substantial evidence of their common virulence traits and potential zoonotic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Najafi
- Student of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Morad Rahimi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Zahra Nikousefat
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
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Diversity and Population Overlap between Avian and Human Escherichia coli Belonging to Sequence Type 95. mSphere 2019; 4:4/1/e00333-18. [PMID: 30651401 PMCID: PMC6336079 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00333-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
APEC causes a range of infections in poultry, collectively called colibacillosis, and is the leading cause of mortality and is associated with major economic significance in the poultry industry. A growing number of studies have suggested APEC as an external reservoir of human ExPEC, including UPEC, which is a reservoir. ExPEC belonging to ST95 is considered one of the most important pathogens in both poultry and humans. This study is the first in-depth whole-genome-based comparison of ST95 E. coli which investigates both the core genomes as well as the accessory genomes of avian and human ExPEC. We demonstrated that multiple lineages of ExPEC belonging to ST95 exist, of which the majority may cause infection in humans, while only part of the ST95 cluster seem to be avian pathogenic. These findings further support the idea that urinary tract infections may be a zoonotic infection. Avian-pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a subgroup of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) presumed to be zoonotic and to represent an external reservoir for extraintestinal infections in humans, including uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) causing urinary tract infections. Comparative genomics has previously been applied to investigate whether APEC and human ExPEC are distinct entities. Even so, whole-genome-based studies are limited, and large-scale comparisons focused on single sequence types (STs) are not available yet. In this study, comparative genomic analysis was performed on 323 APEC and human ExPEC genomes belonging to sequence type 95 (ST95) to investigate whether APEC and human ExPEC are distinct entities. Our study showed that APEC of ST95 did not constitute a unique ExPEC branch and was genetically diverse. A large genetic overlap between APEC and certain human ExPEC was observed, with APEC located on multiple branches together with closely related human ExPEC, including nearly identical APEC and human ExPEC. These results illustrate that certain ExPEC clones may indeed have the potential to cause infection in both poultry and humans. Previously described ExPEC-associated genes were found to be encoded on ColV plasmids. These virulence-associated plasmids seem to be crucial for ExPEC strains to cause avian colibacillosis and are strongly associated with strains of the mixed APEC/human ExPEC clusters. The phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct branches consisting of exclusively closely related human ExPEC which did not carry the virulence-associated plasmids, emphasizing a lower avian virulence potential of human ExPEC in relation to an avian host. IMPORTANCE APEC causes a range of infections in poultry, collectively called colibacillosis, and is the leading cause of mortality and is associated with major economic significance in the poultry industry. A growing number of studies have suggested APEC as an external reservoir of human ExPEC, including UPEC, which is a reservoir. ExPEC belonging to ST95 is considered one of the most important pathogens in both poultry and humans. This study is the first in-depth whole-genome-based comparison of ST95 E. coli which investigates both the core genomes as well as the accessory genomes of avian and human ExPEC. We demonstrated that multiple lineages of ExPEC belonging to ST95 exist, of which the majority may cause infection in humans, while only part of the ST95 cluster seem to be avian pathogenic. These findings further support the idea that urinary tract infections may be a zoonotic infection.
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Nielsen DW, Klimavicz JS, Cavender T, Wannemuehler Y, Barbieri NL, Nolan LK, Logue CM. The Impact of Media, Phylogenetic Classification, and E. coli Pathotypes on Biofilm Formation in Extraintestinal and Commensal E. coli From Humans and Animals. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:902. [PMID: 29867813 PMCID: PMC5951942 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) include avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC), and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and are responsible for significant animal and human morbidity and mortality. This study sought to investigate if biofilm formation by ExPEC likely contributes to these losses since biofilms are associated with recurrent urinary tract infections, antibiotic resistance, and bacterial exchange of genetic material. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine differences in biofilm formation among a collection of ExPEC and to ascertain if there is a relationship between their ability to produce biofilms and their assignment to phylogenetic groups in three media types - M63, diluted TSB, and BHI. Our results suggest that ExPEC produce relatively different levels of biofilm formation in the media tested as APEC (70.4%, p = 0.0064) and NMEC (84.4%, p = 0.0093) isolates were poor biofilm formers in minimal medium M63 while UPEC isolates produced significantly higher ODs under nutrient-limited conditions with 25% of strains producing strong biofilms in diluted TSB (p = 0.0204). Additionally, E. coli phylogenetic assignment using Clermont's original and revised typing scheme demonstrated significant differences among the phylogenetic groups in the different media. When the original phylogenetic group isolates previously typed as group D were phylogenetically typed under the revised scheme and examined, they showed substantial variation in their ability to form biofilms, which may explain the significant values of revised phylogenetic groups E and F in M63 (p = 0.0291, p = 0.0024). Our data indicates that biofilm formation is correlated with phylogenetic classification and subpathotype or commensal grouping of E. coli strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W. Nielsen
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - James S. Klimavicz
- Interdepartmental Toxicology Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Tia Cavender
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Yvonne Wannemuehler
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Nicolle L. Barbieri
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Lisa K. Nolan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Catherine M. Logue
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Logue CM, Wannemuehler Y, Nicholson BA, Doetkott C, Barbieri NL, Nolan LK. Comparative Analysis of Phylogenetic Assignment of Human and Avian ExPEC and Fecal Commensal Escherichia coli Using the (Previous and Revised) Clermont Phylogenetic Typing Methods and its Impact on Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) Classification. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:283. [PMID: 28280491 PMCID: PMC5322314 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Clermont scheme has been used for subtyping of Escherichia coli since it was initially described in early 2000. Since then, researchers have used the scheme to type and sub-type commensal E. coli and pathogenic E. coli, such as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), and compare their phylogenetic assignment by pathogenicity, serogroup, distribution among ExPEC of different host species and complement of virulence and resistance traits. Here, we compare assignments of human and avian ExPEC and commensal E. coli using the old and revised Clermont schemes to determine if the new scheme provides a refined snapshot of isolate classification. 1,996 E. coli from human hosts and poultry, including 84 human neonatal meningitis E. coli isolates, 88 human vaginal E. coli, 696 human uropathogenic E. coli, 197 healthy human fecal E. coli, 452 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), 200 retail poultry E. coli, 80 crop and gizzard E. coli from healthy poultry at slaughter and 199 fecal E. coli from healthy birds at slaughter. All isolates were subject to phylogenetic analysis using the Clermont et al. (2000, 2013) schemes and compared to determine the effect of the new classification on strain designation. Most of the isolates’ strain designation remained where they were originally assigned. Greatest designation change occurred in APEC where 53.8% of isolates were reclassified; while classification rates among human strains ranged from 8 to 14%. However, some significant changes were observed for UPEC associated strains with significant (P < 0.05) designation changes observed from A to C and D to E or F phylogenetic types; a similar designation change was noted among NMEC for D to F designation change. Among the APEC significant designation changes were observed from A to C and D to E and F. These studies suggest that the new scheme provides a tighter and more meaningful definition of some ExPEC; while the new typing scheme has a significant impact on APEC classification. A comparison of phylogenetic group assignment by content of virulence, resistance, replicon and pathogenicity island genes in APEC suggests that insertion of pathogenicity islands into the genome appears to correlate closely with revised phylogenetic assignment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Logue
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames IA, USA
| | - Yvonne Wannemuehler
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames IA, USA
| | - Bryon A Nicholson
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames IA, USA
| | - Curt Doetkott
- Department of Statistics, North Dakota State University, Fargo ND, USA
| | - Nicolle L Barbieri
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames IA, USA
| | - Lisa K Nolan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames IA, USA
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