Molecular characterisation of Escherichia coli isolated from hospitalised children and adults with urinary tract infection

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common amongst children and recurs in 10-30 % of cases. The differences between Escherichia coli strains causing UTI among hospitalised children and adults remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we examined the genetic relatedness and virulence gene (VG) profiles of a collection of E. coli causing UTI among hospitalised children and adults. Genetic relatedness among the strains was investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and the strains were characterised using a combination of phylogenetic grouping, the ability to form biofilm and the presence of antigen 43 (Ag43) and its five known alleles, as well 20 VGs associated with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). RAPD analysis resolved six major clusters, with two clusters (A and B) consisting almost exclusively of E. coli isolated from children. Isolates from children had a higher prevalence of alpha-haemolysin (hlyA, p < 0.05) and group II capsular polysaccharide synthesis genes (kpsMT II, p < 0.01) than adults. In contrast, E. coli strains from adults had a higher prevalence of invasive ibeA (p < 0.05) and Ag43 (agn43) (p < 0.05) genes, and produced significantly (p < 0.001) more biofilm than E. coli from children. Adult isolates also carried significantly (p < 0.05) more agn43 allele RS218 compared to isolates from children, which carried significantly (p < 0.05) more of the agn43 allele bCFT073. Our results suggest that bacterial virulence factors play an important role in UTI among hospitalised children; however, further research will determine whether these findings apply to a larger cohort and other clinical settings for UTI in children and adults.

Detection of virulence factors, phylogroups, serogroups and biofilm formation among CTX-M-1 positive Escherichia coli isolated from patients with pyelonephritis

“…In Jahrom city, the prevalence of papG, afaC, sfa, fimH, ibeA, and iucD were 53.3%, 51.7%, 53.3%, 56.7%, 20%, and 73.3%, respectively which were mostly similar to findings of the present survey [27]. There was a difference between children and adults regarding the prevalence of hlyA, kpsMII and ibeA among UPEC [28], but this was concluded in our study. Momtaz in Shahrekord found that fimH virulence gene was detected in 86.17% of UPEC isolates, and 2.43% of them belonged to the O1, O2, O6, O7 and O16 serogroups [29].…”

Incorporation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in Preformed Biofilms by Escherichia coli Isolated From Drinking Water of Swine Farms

“…Escherichia coli isolated from drinking water were screened for the presence of selected virulence genes usually associated with the E. coli strains responsible for extra-intestinal infections, including: fyuA (yersiniabactin receptor), kpsMTII (capsular polysaccharide genes), and papC [P fimbriae, ( 30 )]. In order to detect the genes agn 43 [antigen 43, ( 31 )], fimH [minor component of type 1 fimbriae, ( 32 )], hlyA [haemolysin, ( 33 )], and afa [afimbrial adhesins, ( 30 )] a multiplex PCR was designed with the following conditions: 94°C for 5 min followed by 40 cycles of 30 sec at 94°C, 1 min at 60°C and 1 min at 68°C with a final elongation step at 72°C for 10 min. For the sequences of the primers see Table 1 .…”

Detection of virulence genes in ESBL producing, quinolone resistant commensal Escherichia coli from rural Indian children

“…In our study fluB gene, associated with reduced cell aggregation and less biofilm production, was carried by a single commensal E. coli isolate. Vollmerhausen and Katouli reported agn43b, coded by flu B gene was prevalent among E. coli isolates in hospitalized children with urinary tract infections from Australia [23]. Our study tested only two extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) associated virulence markers and it is a limitation of our study.…”