Distribution of the serine protease autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae among extraintestinal clinical isolates of Escherichia coli.
Urinary tract infections continue to be among the most common extraintestinal diseases. Cystitis in women is by far the most common urinary tract infection; pyelonephritis in both sexes and prostatitis in men are more severe but less frequent complaints. Escherichia coli is by far the most common cause of urinary tract infection. It is believed that uropathogenic E. coli is adept at colonizing the urinary tract via the production of specific virulence factors. Recently, a novel virulence determinant, Vat, was described for the prototypical uropathogenic E. coli strain CFT073. Vat is a member of the SPATE (serine protease autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae) subfamily of the autotransporters. Previously, SPATEs have been described for all pathovars of E. coli, but until recently their presence had been noticeably absent in nonpathogenic E. coli. In this report we describe the prevalence and phylogenetic distribution of the SPATEs among uropathogenic E. coli and the ECOR collection, demonstrating an association between the presence of the SPATEs, including Vat, and uropathogenic E. coli phylogroups. In addition, we describe the distribution of SPATEs among nonpathogenic E. coli.
Parham
Nick J
NJ
Bacterial Pathogenesis and Genomics Unit, Division of Immunity and Infection, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Pollard
Samantha J
SJ
Desvaux
Mickaël
M
Scott-Tucker
Anthony
A
Liu
Chengjie
C
Fivian
Amanda
A
Henderson
Ian R
IR
D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000201:enzymology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases