Mohsen Tabasi1, Mohammad Reza Asadi Karam2, Mehri Habibi2, Ehsan Mostafavi3, Saeid Bouzari4. 1. Student, Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Pasteur Ave., Tehran-13164, Iran . 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Pasteur Ave., Tehran-13164, Iran . 3. Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Pasteur Ave., Tehran-13164, Iran . 4. Professor, Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Pasteur Ave., Tehran-13164, Iran .
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are among the most common infections worldwide. It is well-documented that the pathogenesis of UPEC is mediated by the production of a wide variety of Virulence Factors (VFs). Thus, detection of these VFs and evaluation of their association with different clinical types of UTIs could help to understand the role of these factors in pathogenesis of UPEC isolates. AIM: To investigate the genotypic characteristics of UPEC isolates and to examine the relationship between VFs and different clinical symptoms of UTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted at Pasteur Institute of Iran, a total of 156 UPEC isolated from outpatients and inpatients (symptomatic and asymptomatic UTI patients) visiting general and private hospitals in Tehran, Iran between March 2014 and February 2015 were included. Among them, 49 patients experienced at least one episode of recurrent UTI. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect the presence of different VFs in the isolates. Moreover, Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to characterize clonal relationships among UPEC isolates. RESULTS: The prevalence of virulence genes ranged from 0% for cdtB to 100% for fimH. The papEF, hlyA and aer genes were found to be significantly more frequent in UPEC isolated from patients with pyelonephritis, while the afa gene, the only indicator of recurrent UTIs, was more prevalent in UPEC isolated from patients with cystitis. In the present study, 34 PFGE clonal groups were found in the UPEC genome. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that from outpatients and patients with pyelonephritis, isolates were more virulent than those isolated from inpatients and cystitis patients, respectively. PFGE displayed a large diversity in the UPEC isolates that could be considered as an evolutionary strategy in the survival of the bacteria.
INTRODUCTION: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are among the most common infections worldwide. It is well-documented that the pathogenesis of UPEC is mediated by the production of a wide variety of Virulence Factors (VFs). Thus, detection of these VFs and evaluation of their association with different clinical types of UTIs could help to understand the role of these factors in pathogenesis of UPEC isolates. AIM: To investigate the genotypic characteristics of UPEC isolates and to examine the relationship between VFs and different clinical symptoms of UTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted at Pasteur Institute of Iran, a total of 156 UPEC isolated from outpatients and inpatients (symptomatic and asymptomatic UTI patients) visiting general and private hospitals in Tehran, Iran between March 2014 and February 2015 were included. Among them, 49 patients experienced at least one episode of recurrent UTI. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect the presence of different VFs in the isolates. Moreover, Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to characterize clonal relationships among UPEC isolates. RESULTS: The prevalence of virulence genes ranged from 0% for cdtB to 100% for fimH. The papEF, hlyA and aer genes were found to be significantly more frequent in UPEC isolated from patients with pyelonephritis, while the afa gene, the only indicator of recurrent UTIs, was more prevalent in UPEC isolated from patients with cystitis. In the present study, 34 PFGE clonal groups were found in the UPEC genome. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that from outpatients and patients with pyelonephritis, isolates were more virulent than those isolated from inpatients and cystitispatients, respectively. PFGE displayed a large diversity in the UPEC isolates that could be considered as an evolutionary strategy in the survival of the bacteria.
Entities:
Keywords:
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; Urinary tract infection; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Gloria Luz Paniagua-Contreras; Eric Monroy-Pérez; Areli Bautista; Rogelio Reyes; Andrea Vicente; Felipe Vaca-Paniagua; Clara Estela Díaz; Stephanía Martínez; Pablo Domínguez; Luis Rey García; Alina Uribe-García; Sergio Vaca Journal: Pathog Glob Health Date: 2018-11-15 Impact factor: 2.894