Abstract
BackgroundPhylogenetic group D Escherichia coli clones (ST69, ST393, ST405) are increasingly reported as multidrug resistant strains causing extra-intestinal infections. We aim to characterize inter- and intraclonal diversity of a broad sample (isolates from different geographic locations and origins with variable antibiotic resistance profiles, 1980-2010) and their ability to adhere and form biofilm by both a modified quantitative biofilm producing assay and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM).ResultsHigh virulence scores were observed among ST69 (median 14/range 9–15) and ST393 (median 14/range 8–15) clones, particularly enriched in pap alleles, iha, kpsMTII-K5 and ompT, in contrast with ST405 (median 6/range 2–14) isolates, exhibiting frequently fyuA, malX and traT. All ST69 and ST393 and only two ST405 isolates were classified as ExPEC. Biofilm production was detected in two non-clinical ST69 and three ST393 isolates from different origins showing variable virulence profiles. Within each clonal group, and despite the high diversity of PFGE-types observed, isolates from different countries and recovered over large periods of time were clustered in a few groups sharing common virulence gene profiles among ST69 (n = 10 isolates) and ST393 (n = 9 isolates) (fimH-iha-iutA-kpsMTII-K5-(traT)-sat-(ompT)-papA-papEF-papGII-papC) or ST405 (n = 6 isolates) (fimH-traT-fyuA-malX).ConclusionsThis study highlights the circulation of highly transmissible ST69, ST393 and ST405 variants among different settings. Biofilm production seems not to be directly correlated with their epidemiological success.
Highlights
Phylogenetic group D Escherichia coli clones (ST69, ST393, ST405) are increasingly reported as multidrug resistant strains causing extra-intestinal infections
We aim to characterize the intraclonal diversity of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) isolates from phylogenetic group D (ST69, ST393, ST405) isolated from different geographic locations and sources, and to assess their ability to adhere and form biofilm on abiotic surfaces in order to evidence a possible contribution of biofilm formation to their persistence and epidemicity
On the basis of their virulence scores, all ST69 (n = 13/13; median = 14/range = 9-15) and all ST393 (n = 11/11; median = 14/range = 8-15), and only sporadic ST405 (n = 2/11; median = 6/range = 2-14) isolates were classified as ExPEC (Table 2)
Summary
Phylogenetic group D Escherichia coli clones (ST69, ST393, ST405) are increasingly reported as multidrug resistant strains causing extra-intestinal infections. We aim to characterize inter- and intraclonal diversity of a broad sample (isolates from different geographic locations and origins with variable antibiotic resistance profiles, 1980-2010) and their ability to adhere and form biofilm by both a modified quantitative biofilm producing assay and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Multidrug resistant Escherichia coli clones of the phylogenetic group D causing extraintestinal human infections are increasingly reported all over the world [1,2,3,4]. We aim to characterize the intraclonal diversity of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) isolates from phylogenetic group D (ST69, ST393, ST405) isolated from different geographic locations and sources, and to assess their ability to adhere and form biofilm on abiotic surfaces in order to evidence a possible contribution of biofilm formation to their persistence and epidemicity
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