Virulence Potential of a Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strain Belonging to the Emerging Clonal Group ST101-B1 Isolated from Bloodstream Infection

Abstract

Escherichia coli EC121 is a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain isolated from a bloodstream infection of an inpatient with persistent gastroenteritis and T-zone lymphoma that died due to septic shock. Despite causing an extraintestinal infection, previous studies showed that it did not have the usual characteristics of an extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. Instead, it belonged to phylogenetic group B1 and harbored few known virulence genes. To evaluate the pathogenic potential of strain EC121, an extensive genome sequencing and in vitro characterization of various pathogenicity-associated properties were performed. The genomic analysis showed that strain EC121 harbors more than 50 complete virulence genetic clusters. It also displays the capacity to adhere to a variety of epithelial cell lineages and invade T24 bladder cells, as well as the ability to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces, and survive the bactericidal serum complement activity. Additionally, EC121 was shown to be virulent in the Galleria mellonella model. Furthermore, EC121 is an MDR strain harboring 14 antimicrobial resistance genes, including blaCTX-M-2. Completing the scenario, it belongs to serotype O154:H25 and to sequence type 101-B1, which has been epidemiologically linked to extraintestinal infections as well as to antimicrobial resistance spread. This study with E. coli strain EC121 shows that clinical isolates considered opportunistic might be true pathogens that go underestimated.

Therapeutic effect of biosynthetic gold nanoparticles on multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Salmonella species isolated from ruminants

“…Our results demonstrated that E. coli was present at a rate of 5.02% in nasal samples, 19.8% in fecal samples, and 37% in milk samples, as shown In this work, the lowest positivity rates for E. coli were 3.8%, 5%, 5.2%, and 6.4% from nasal swabs of sheep, buffaloes, cattle, and goats, respectively (Table -3). This finding is in agreement with the previous studies [32,33] that found that E. coli was present at a low rate of 4.22% in healthy and diseased animals with respiratory signs. In addition, it was reported [34] that the rate of bacteria in the bovine nasopharyngeal tract was very low compared with the rates at other anatomical sites [35].…”

Prevalence, Characteristics and Clonal Distribution of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase- and AmpC β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Following the Swine Production Stages, and Potential Risks to Humans

“…The ST101, a major ST in CC101, has been reported worldwide, although not yet regarded as a member of the pandemic clones. ESBL/AmpC-EC clone type ST101 has attracted renewed global attention in human ESBL/AmpC-producing ExPEC infections given its enhanced virulence and pan-drug resistance ( Yoo et al, 2013 ; Manges et al, 2019 ; Santos et al, 2020 ), and has been reported to cause hemolytic uremic syndrome ( Mellmann et al, 2008 ) and bloodstream infections ( Santos et al, 2020 ). Consistently, in the clonal population structure analysis based on the ExPEC VF profiles and phylogenetic groups using the program STRUCTURE, we also identified a highly virulent profile of ESBL/AmpC-EC ST101 clone.…”

“…The spread of ESBL/AmpC-EC or CP-EC is of great concern because it could aid the emergence and spread of pathogens that are difficult to treat even with an antimicrobial agent of choice regarded as a final treatment option ( Nathisuwan et al, 2001 ; Cortes et al, 2010 ). In addition, as ESBL/AmpC- or CP-producing extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) clones are increasingly reported worldwide, the virulence potential of ESBL/AmpC-EC or CP-EC has also become an issue ( Schaufler et al, 2016 ; Day et al, 2019 ; Santos et al, 2020 ).…”

Genetic and Virulence Characteristics of a Hybrid Atypical Enteropathogenic and Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC/UPEC) Strain

“…Together these methodologies enable the screening of the ExPEC strains that either harbor intrinsic virulence or uropathogenic potential, in diverse sources, like water, food, and gut, favoring the identification of their reservoirs. However, these criteria fail to classify all strains isolated from extraintestinal infections (Spurbeck et al, 2012 ; Santos et al, 2013 , 2020b ; Freire et al, 2020 ) and some clinical lineages with epidemiological importance also do not meet these criteria (Bert et al, 2010 ; Olesen et al, 2012 ; Manges and Johnson, 2015 ; Manges et al, 2017 , 2019 ; Campos et al, 2018 ; Yamaji et al, 2018 ; Santos et al, 2020a , b ).…”