A biomimetic porcine urothelial model for assessing Escherichia coli pathogenicity

Predojević, Luka (author), Keše, Darja (author), Žgur-Bertok, Darja (author), Železnik Ramuta, Taja (author), Veranič, Peter (author), Erdani-Kreft, Mateja (author), Starčič Erjavec, Marjanca (author)

Urinary tract infections can be severe, sometimes fatal, diseases whose etiological pathogens are predominantly uropathogenic strains of E. coli (UPEC). To investigate the UPEC pathogenesis, several models have already been established with minor or major disadvantages. The aim was to develop a simple, fast, and inexpensive biomimetic in vitro model based on normal porcine urothelial (NPU) cells that are genetically and physiologically similar to human bladder urothelium and to perform basic studies of E. coli pathogenicity. Initially, the model was tested using a set of control E. coli strains and, subsequently, with human E. coli strains isolated either from patients with urinary infections or from the feces of healthy individuals. A drop in viability of NPU cells was used as a measure of the pathogenicity of the individual strain tested. To visualize the subcellular events, transmission and scanning electron microscopy was performed. The strains were tested for the presence of different virulence-associated genes, phylogroup, type of core lipid, O-serotype, and type of lipopolysaccharide and a statistical analysis of possible correlations between strains’ characteristics and the effect on the model was performed. Results showed that our model has the discriminatory power to distinguish pathogenic from non-pathogenic E. coli strains, and to identify new, potentially pathogenic strains.

• Language: English
• Keywords: urothelium, virulence-associated genes, infection, electron microscopy, E. coli, UPEC, correlations, pathogenicity groups, primary culture, infection assay
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty; MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 16 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, iss. 4, art. 783
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-137443
• UDC: 579
• ISSN on article: 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040783
• COBISS.SI-ID: 104312323
• Publication date in RUL: 17.06.2022

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: 07.04.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: prašičji urotelij, Escherichia coli, patogenost