title: Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli clinical isolates from northern Colombia, South America.
abstract: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are major causes of childhood diarrhea in low and middle income countries including Colombia, South America. To understand the diversity of ETEC strains in the region, clinical isolates obtained from northern Colombia children were evaluated for multiple locus sequencing typing, serotyping, classical and nonclassical virulence genes, and antibiotic susceptibility. Among 40 ETEC clinical isolates evaluated, 21 (52.5%) were positive for LT gene, 13 (32.5%) for ST gene, and 6 (15%) for both ST and LT. The most prevalent colonization surface antigens (CS) were CS21 and CFA/I identified in 21 (50%) and 13 (32.5%) isolates, respectively. The eatA, irp2, and fyuA were the most common nonclassical virulence genes present in more than 60% of the isolates. Ampicillin resistance (80% of the strains) was the most frequent phenotype among ETEC strains followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance (52.5%). Based on multiple locus sequencing typing (MLST), we recognize that 6 clonal groups of ETEC clinical isolates circulate in Colombia. ETEC clinical isolates from children in northern Colombia are highly diverse, yet some isolates circulating in the community belong to well-defined clonal groups that share a unique set of virulence factors, serotypes, and MLST sequence types.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-2581, USA.
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-2581, USA.
authors.forename: Yesenia C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Romero-Herazo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología, Grupo de Microbiología Clínica y Ambiental, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia.
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arzuza
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-2581, USA.
authors.forename: Oscar G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Gómez-Duarte
mesh_terms: D000668:Ampicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D054307:Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D014296:Trimethoprim Resistance / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C527466:FyuA protein, E coli; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C483578:EatA protein, E coli; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases