Abstract
BackgroundA set of 1181 E. coli strains of human fecal origin isolated in the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic was collected during the years 2007–2010. Altogether, 17 virulence determinants and 31 bacteriocin-encoding genes were tested in each of them.ResultsThe occurrence of bacteriocin-encoding genes was found to be positively correlated with the occurrence of E. coli virulence factors. Based on the presence of virulence factors and their combinations, E. coli strains were classified as non-pathogenic E. coli (n = 399), diarrhea-associated E. coli (n = 179) and ExPEC strains (n = 603). Non-pathogenic and diarrhea-associated E. coli strains had a low frequency of bacteriocinogeny (32.6% and 36.9%, respectively). ExPEC strains encoding S-fimbriae (sfa), P-fimbriae (pap) and having genes for aerobactin biosynthesis (aer, iucC), α-hemolysis (α-hly) and cytotoxic necrosis factor (cnf1) were often bacteriocinogenic (73.8%), had a high prevalence of bacteriocin multi-producers and showed a higher frequency of genes encoding microcins H47, M, V, B17 and colicins E1, Ia and S4.ConclusionsThe occurrence of bacteriocin-encoding genes and ExPEC virulence determinants correlate positively in E. coli strains of human fecal origin. Bacteriocin synthesis appears to modulate the ability of E. coli strains to reside in the human intestine and/or the virulence of the corresponding strains.
Highlights
A set of 1181 E. coli strains of human fecal origin isolated in the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic was collected during the years 2007–2010
Bacteriocin synthesis appears to modulate the ability of E. coli strains to reside in the human intestine and/or the virulence of the corresponding strains
Our results have revealed that the frequency of bacteriocinogeny in E. coli strains positively correlates with the detected number of virulence determinants
Summary
A set of 1181 E. coli strains of human fecal origin isolated in the South Moravia region of the Czech Republic was collected during the years 2007–2010. Intestinal microflora prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria, either by competing for nutrient sources, or through. E. coli is a highly diverse species with respect to its gene content, phenotype and virulence [4]. Based on different virulence factors, E. coli strains can be classified into three main groups: commensal, intestinal pathogenic and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) [5]. It has been shown that intestinal and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strains can develop from commensal strains by acquisition of virulence factors [6,7]
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