Comparison of virulence-associated traits between a UPEC strain HEC4 and a APEC strain E058.
Since avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and human uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) may encounter similar challenges when establishing infection in the extra-intestinal locations of the hosts, they may share a similar content of virulence genes and capacity to cause disease. One APEC and one UPEC isolates were compared by their content of virulence genes and other traits. The two strains showed overlap in terms of their virulence genotypes, including their possession of certain genes associated with a large transmissible plasmid of APEC, and also shared some biochemical activities. Study of the pathogenicity of UPEC in chicks showed the similar symptoms and lesions compare to those caused by APEC. Based on these results, the potential whether APEC might serve as a reservoir of plasmid-linked and virulence genes for UPEC should be considered.
Key Laboratory of Animal Infectious Diseases of Ministry of Agriculture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China. coocean@126.com
Hai-Xia
HX
Huan
Qiong
Q
Zhou
Li-Xiang
LX
Zhao
Song
S
Gao
Xiu-Fan
XF
Liu
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005285:Fermentation; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence
D007785:Lactose