title: Characterization of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli of clinical origin from the pediatric population in Pakistan.
abstract: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is one of the leading causes of watery diarrhea among children.
  
  
  
  In this study EPEC isolates from the pediatric population of Pakistan (2010-2012) were subjected to phylotyping, antibiotic susceptibility, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) profiling and evaluation of one representative strain from each panel of phylotypesin Galleria mellonella, infection model.
  
  
  
  A total of 46/225 (20.4%) stool samples were positive for EPEC. Isolates mainly belong to D phylogroup (18, 39%) followed by nontypeable (10, 22%), B1 (9, 20%), B2 (8, 17%) and A (1, 2%). High resistance was observed for ampicillin (42, 91%), erythromycin (41, 89%), cefaclor (37, 80%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (36, 78%), tetracycline (36, 78%). Among nalidixic acid resistant isolates 13 (28%) showed presence of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in parC (C330-T330) whereas 1 (2%) isolate showed gyrB (A660-T660) SNP. Furthermore, 27 (59%) isolates were ESBL producers. Representative isolates of phlyotypes A and B2 showed enhance killing of G. mellonella compared to ones belonging to phylotypes B1 and D.
  
  
  
  Non-typeable EPEC strains were frequently observed. ESBL production in ESBL producers was found to be plasmid mediated. No significant association of antibiotic resistance profile with specific phylogroup of EPEC was found, however G. mellonella infection model differentiated representative phylotypes.
authors: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Park Road, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors: Mahwish
authors: M
authors: Younas
authors: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Park Road, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors: Fariha
authors: F
authors: Siddiqui
authors: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Park Road, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors: Zobia
authors: Z
authors: Noreen
authors: Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors: Syeda Sadia
authors: SS
authors: Bokhari
authors: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors: Oscar G
authors: OG
authors: Gomez-Duarte
authors: Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: Brendan W
authors: BW
authors: Wren
authors: Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Park Road, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan habib@comsats.edu.pk.
authors: Habib
authors: H
authors: Bokhari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D054308:Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007239:Infections; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009036:Moths / Q000382:microbiology; D010154:Pakistan; D010372:Pediatrics; D010802:Phylogeny; D010957:Plasmids; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors; D001618:beta-Lactamases
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli; Extended spectrum beta-lactamases; Galleria mellonella; Phylogroups; Single nucleotide polymorphism