Molecularly defined extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli status predicts virulence in a murine sepsis model better than does virotype, individual virulence genes, or clonal subset among E. coli ST131 isolates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Escherichia coli ST131, mainly its H30 clade, is the leading cause of extraintestinal E. coli infections but its correlates of virulence are undefined.

Materials and methods

We tested in a murine sepsis model 84 ST131 isolates that differed by country of origin (Spain vs. USA), clonal subset, resistance markers, and virulence genes (VGs). Virulence outcomes, including illness severity score (ISS) and "killer" status (>80% mouse lethality), were compared statistically with clonal subset, individual and combined VGs, molecularly defined extraintestinal and uropathogenic E. coli (ExPEC, UPEC) status, and country of origin.

Results

Virulence varied widely by strain. Univariable correlates of median ISS and percent "killer" (outcomes

SUBMITTER: Merino I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7161687 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature