title: Environmental phosphate differentially affects virulence phenotypes of uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates causative of prostatitis.
abstract: K-12 Escherichia coli cells grown in static media containing a critical phosphate (Pi) concentration ≥25 mM maintained a high polyphosphate (polyP) level in stationary phase, impairing biofilm formation, a phenomenon that is triggered by polyP degradation. Pi concentration in human urine fluctuates according to health state. Here, the influence of environmental Pi concentration on the occurrence of virulence traits in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolated from acute prostatitis patients was evaluated. After a first screening, 3 isolates were selected according to differential biofilm formation profiles depending on media Pi concentration. For each isolate, biofilm positive and negative conditions were established. Regardless of the isolate, biofilm formation capacity was accompanied with curli and cellulose production and expression of some key virulence factors associated with adhesion. When the selected isolates were grown in their non-biofilm-forming condition, low concentrations of nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin induced biofilm formation. Interestingly, similar to laboratory strains, polyP degradation induced biofilm formation in the selected isolates. Data demonstrated the complexity of UPEC responses to environmental Pi and the importance of polyP metabolism in the virulence of clinical isolates.
authors.affiliation: a Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas , INSIBIO (CONICET-UNT) and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia (UNT) ; Tucumán , Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grillo-Puertas
authors.affiliation: a Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas , INSIBIO (CONICET-UNT) and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia (UNT) ; Tucumán , Argentina.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Martínez-Zamora
authors.affiliation: a Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas , INSIBIO (CONICET-UNT) and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia (UNT) ; Tucumán , Argentina.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rintoul
authors.affiliation: b Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB; Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona) ; Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.affiliation: a Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas , INSIBIO (CONICET-UNT) and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia (UNT) ; Tucumán , Argentina.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009268:Nalidixic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D056689:Uropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000187:drug effects; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010710:Phosphates; D037521:Virulence Factors; C077481:Crl protein, Bacteria; D009268:Nalidixic Acid; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: UPEC; biofilm; phosphate; polyphosphate; virulence