Pathogenomics of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
Subset of faecal E. coli that can enter, colonize urinary tract and cause infection are known as uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). UPEC strains act as opportunistic intracellular pathogens taking advantage of host susceptibility using a diverse array of virulence factors. Presence of specific virulence associated genes on genomic/pathogenicity islands and involvement of horizontal gene transfer appears to account for evolution and diversity of UPEC. Recent success in large-scale genome sequencing and comparative genomics has helped in unravelling UPEC pathogenomics. Here we review recent findings regarding virulence characteristics of UPEC and mechanisms involved in pathogenesis of urinary tract infection.
Department of Microbiology, CSM Medical University, Lucknow - 226 003, Uttar Pradesh, India.
J
J
Agarwal
S
S
Srivastava
M
M
Singh
D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D044404:Genomic Islands; D006801:Humans; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D056689:Uropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D037521:Virulence Factors