Association between the presence of class 1 integrons, virulence genes, and phylogenetic groups of Escherichia coli isolates from river water.
Ninety-six class 1 integron-positive and 96 integron-negative Escherichia coli isolates cultured from the water of the Warta River, Poland, were characterized for their phylogenetic group affiliation and for the presence of genes associated with virulence. Most strains belonged to phylogenetic group A, but phylogenetic group affiliation was not related with the presence of integrons. The occurrence of heat-stable toxin gene of enterotoxigenic E. coli, S fimbriae subunit gene sfaS, and siderophore receptor genes, fyuA and iutA, was associated with the presence of class 1 integrons. Moreover, virulence factor score (the total number of virulence-associated genes) was associated with the presence of integrons in groups. The results bring new insight into relations between the presence of integrons in E. coli, virulence traits, as well as phylogenetic group affiliation.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, ul. Umultowska 89, 61-614, Poznań, Poland. koczma@amu.edu.pl
Ryszard
R
Koczura
Joanna
J
Mokracka
Agata
A
Barczak
Natalia
N
Krysiak
Adam
A
Kaznowski
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D032023:Integrons / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011044:Poland; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014871:Water Microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors