Antibiotic resistance, virulence factors, phenotyping, and genotyping of E. coli isolated from the feces of healthy subjects

Raimondi, Stefano (author), Righini, Lucia (author), Candeliere, Francesco (author), Musmeci, Eliana (author), Bonvicini, Francesca (author), Gentilomi, Giovanna (author), Starčič Erjavec, Marjanca (author), Amaretti, Alberto (author), Rossi, Maddalena (author)

Escherichia coli may innocuously colonize the intestine of healthy subjects or may instigate infections in the gut or in other districts. This study investigated intestinal E. coli isolated from 20 healthy adults. Fifty-one strains were genotyped by molecular fingerprinting and analyzed for genetic and phenotypic traits, encompassing the profile of antibiotic resistance, biofilm production, the presence of surface structures (such as curli and cellulose), and their performance as recipients in conjugation experiments. A phylogroup classification and analysis of 34 virulence determinants, together with genes associated to the pks island (polyketide-peptide genotoxin colibactin) and conjugative elements, was performed. Most of the strains belonged to the phylogroups B1 and B2. The different phylogroups were separated in a principal coordinate space, considering both genetic and functional features, but not considering pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Within the B2 and F strains, 12 shared the pattern of virulence genes with potential uropathogens. Forty-nine strains were sensitive to all the tested antibiotics. Strains similar to the potential pathogens innocuously inhabited the gut of healthy subjects. However, they may potentially act as etiologic agents of extra-intestinal infections and are susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics. Nevertheless, there is still the possibility to control infections with antibiotic therapy.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Escherichia coli, typing, gut microbiota, PFGE, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, virulence, antibiotic resistance, conjugation, curli, co-occurrence
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2019
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 7, iss. 8, art. 251
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-132789
• UDC: 579
• ISSN on article: 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7080251
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5151311
• Publication date in RUL: 03.11.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Microorganisms
• Shortened title: Microorganisms
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2076-2607
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523277081

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 10.08.2019