title: Molecular characterization of Escherichia coli strains that cause symptomatic and asymptomatic urinary tract infections.
abstract: The differences between Escherichia coli strains associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain to be properly determined. Here we examined the prevalence of plasmid types and bacteriocins, as well as genetic relatedness, in a defined collection of E. coli strains that cause UTIs. Comparative analysis identified a subgroup of strains with a high number of virulence genes (VGs) and microcins M/H47. We also identified associations between microcin genes, VGs, and specific plasmid types.
authors.affiliation: Microbiological Diseases and Diagnostic Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, New South Wales,Australia. m.schembri@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Toni A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Amanda N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Mabbett
authors.forename: Makrina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Totsika
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schembri
mesh_terms: D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D058889:Molecular Typing; D010957:Plasmids / Q000032:analysis; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001430:Bacteriocins; D037521:Virulence Factors