title: OxyR contributes to the virulence of a Clonal Group A Escherichia coli strain (O17:K+:H18) in animal models of urinary tract infection, subcutaneous infection, and systemic sepsis.
abstract: The oxidative stress response regulator OxyR was assessed as both a urinary and extra-urinary virulence factor in Escherichia coli strain UCB34 (O17:K+:H18), a representative of the emergent Clonal Group A (CGA). Compared to UCB34, the isogenic oxyR mutant exhibited increased H2O2 sensitivity, indistinguishable in vitro growth, and attenuated virulence in rodent models of urinary tract, subcutaneous infection, and systemic sepsis. Complemented mutants showed virulence levels comparable to parent strains in all models. These findings uniquely fulfill molecular Koch's postulates for a putative virulence factor of CGA, provide experimental evidence of an extra-urinary virulence promoting trait in CGA, and document a role for OxyR in local and systemic extra-urinary E. coli infections.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA; University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Drawz
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clabots
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kuskowski
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D051379:Mice; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C499299:oxyR protein, E coli
keywords: Clonal Group A; Escherichia coli infections; Extra-urinary infections; OxyR; Urinary tract infections; Virulence