Autotransporter genes pic and tsh are associated with Escherichia coli strains that cause acute pyelonephritis and are expressed during urinary tract infection.
We have identified two chromosomal open reading frames in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strain CFT073 which are highly homologous to serine protease autotransporters Pic and Tsh. Both cloned determinants were correlated with the presence of 105- to 110-kDa proteins in the culture supernatants. Furthermore, in cellular fractionation experiments, 30-kDa polypeptides were identified in the outer membrane; we speculated that these proteins are the beta-barrel portions of the autotransporter homologues. Furthermore, Pic-containing culture supernatants have serine protease activity. In reverse transcription-PCR analyses, the expression of the pic and tsh genes in E. coli CFT073 was higher in broth cultures grown at 37 degrees C than at 25 degrees C. Moreover, pic and tsh were expressed by bacteria isolated from urine of transurethrally infected mice. The tsh determinant was identified in 63% of our clinical UPEC strain isolates (n = 87) and in 33% of fecal strains (n = 27), whereas pic was present in 31% of the pyelonephritis (n = 67) and 7% of the fecal strains. There was no significant correlation between cystitis strains (n = 20) and the pic determinant.
Heimer
Susan R
SR
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
Rasko
David A
DA
Lockatell
C Virginia
CV
Johnson
David E
DE
Mobley
Harry L T
HL
D000208:Acute Disease; D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D006388:Hemagglutinins; C112027:tsh protein, E coli; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; C100002:hyaluronate lyase