Enterococcal surface protein transiently aggravates Enterococcus faecium-induced urinary tract infection in mice.
The role that the enterococcal surface protein Esp plays in the capacity of Enterococcus faecium to adhere to uroepithelial cells and the role that it plays in urinary tract infection and peritonitis was investigated in vitro and in vivo, respectively, using Esp-expressing E. faecium (E1162) and its isogenic Esp-deficient mutant (E1162 Delta esp). Esp expression enhanced in vitro binding to bladder and kidney epithelial cells. In mice, higher numbers of E1162 were cultured from kidneys and bladders after the induction of urinary tract infection, compared with E1162 Delta esp numbers. This was accompanied by a higher frequency of bacteremia, higher cytokine levels in kidney tissue, and renal insufficiency. Esp had no effect on the course of E. faecium peritonitis.
Leendertse
Masja
M
Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. m.leendertse@amc.uva.nl
Heikens
Esther
E
Wijnands
Lucas M
LM
van Luit-Asbroek
Miranda
M
Teske
Gwendoline J D
GJ
Roelofs
Joris J T H
JJ
Bonten
Marc J M
MJ
van der Poll
Tom
T
Willems
Rob J L
RJ
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D011485:Protein Binding; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C116707:enterococcal surface protein, esp