Whole genome sequencing reveals the distribution of resistance and virulence genes of pathogenic Escherichia coli CCHTP from giant panda

Abstract

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common pathogen causing urinary tract infection in animals. We investigated the antibiotic resistance and virulence genes of pathogenic E. coli CCHTP derived from urine with occult blood of the giant panda by whole genome sequencing. The flanking sequencing of resistance and virulence genes in genomic islands were also analyzed. Our results demonstrate that E. coli CCHTP contains different families of antibiotic resistance genes, most of which are efflux pump related genes, including multiple drug resistance efflux pump genes mdfA, emrE, and mdtN. A total of 166 virulence factors and 563 virulence genes were identified, and the most virulence factors and related genes are involved in host cell attachment and invasion processes. Furthermore, sequence analysis of 19 genomic islands revealed that antibiotic and virulence genes are associated with mobile genetic elements (transposon and insertion sequence) in GIs011 and GIs017. These structures can mediate horizontal transfer of antibiotic and virulence genes. Our work described the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes in E. coli CCHTP, which may provide an important guidance for treatment and rational drug use of E. coli CCHTP infection in the giant panda.