Specific selection for virulent urinary tract infectious Escherichia coli strains during catheter-associated biofilm formation

Biofilm-associated bacterial infections have a major impact on artificial implants such as urinary catheters, often with devastating consequences. The capacity of a microorganism to form a biofilm on a surface depends on the nature of the surface and its conditioning. When a urinary catheter is exposed to urine, various components adsorb onto the surface and form a conditioning film, which becomes the real interface where microbial interaction takes place. It follows that the material constituting the catheter determines the composition of the conditioning film, which in turn influences which microorganisms can attach. Urinary tract infectious (UTI) Escherichia coli range in pathogenicity and the damage they cause--from benign asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) strains, which inflict no or few problems to the host, to uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains, which are virulent and often cause severe symptoms and complications. We have found that whereas ABU strains produce better biofilms on polystyrene and glass, UPEC strains have a clear competitive advantage during biofilm growth on catheter surfaces. Our results indicate that some silicone and silicone-latex catheters actually select for and promote biofilm formation of the most virulent group of UTI E. coli strains, hardly a desirable situation for the catheterized patient.     

Prevalence of virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from Romanian adult urinary tract infection cases

A total of 78 E. coli strains isolated from adults with different types of urinary tract infections were screened by polymerase chain reaction for prevalence of genetic regions coding for virulence factors. The targeted genetic determinants were those coding for type 1 fimbriae ( fimH ), pili associated with pyelonephritis ( pap ), S and F1C fimbriae ( sfa and foc ), afimbrial adhesins ( afa ), hemolysin ( hly ), cytotoxic necrotizing factor ( cnf ), aerobactin ( aer ). Among the studied strains, the prevalence of genes coding for fimbrial adhesive systems was 86 %, 36%, and 23% for fimH, pap , and sfa/foc , respectively. The operons coding for Afa afimbrial adhesins were identified in 14% of strains. The hly and cnf genes coding for toxins were amplified in 23% and 13% of strains, respectively. A prevalence of 54% was found for the aer gene. The various combinations of detected genes were designated as virulence patterns. The strains isolated from the hospitalized patients displayed a greater number of virulence genes and a diversity of gene associations compared to the strains isolated from the ambulatory subjects. A rapid assessment of the bacterial pathogenicity characteristics may contribute to a better medical approach of the patients with urinary tract infections.     

Impact of Delftia tsuruhatensis and Achromobacter xylosoxidans on Escherichia coli dual-species biofilms treated with antibiotic agents

Recently it was demonstrated that for urinary tract infections species with a lower or unproven pathogenic potential, such as Delftia tsuruhatensis and Achromobacter xylosoxidans, might interact with conventional pathogenic agents such as Escherichia coli. Here, single- and dual-species biofilms of these microorganisms were characterized in terms of microbial composition over time, the average fitness of E. coli, the spatial organization and the biofilm antimicrobial profile. The results revealed a positive impact of these species on the fitness of E. coli and a greater tolerance to the antibiotic agents. In dual-species biofilms exposed to antibiotics, E. coli was able to dominate the microbial consortia in spite of being the most sensitive strain. This is the first study demonstrating the protective effect of less common species over E. coli under adverse conditions imposed by the use of antibiotic agents.     

Role of interspecies interactions in dual-species biofilms developed in vitro by uropathogens isolated from polymicrobial urinary catheter-associated bacteriuria

Most catheter-associated urinary tract infections are polymicrobial. Here, uropathogen interactions in dual-species biofilms were studied. The dual-species associations selected based on their prevalence in clinical settings were Klebsiella pneumoniae–Escherichia coli, E. coli–Enterococcus faecalis, K. pneumoniae–E. faecalis, and K. pneumoniae–Proteus mirabilis. All species developed single-species biofilms in artificial urine. The ability of K. pneumoniae to form biofilms was not affected by E. coli or E. faecalis co-inoculation, but was impaired by P. mirabilis. Conversely, P. mirabilis established a biofilm when co-inoculated with K. pneumoniae. Additionally, E. coli persistence in biofilms was hampered by K. pneumoniae but not by E. faecalis. Interestingly, E. coli, but not K. pneumoniae, partially inhibited E. faecalis attachment to the surface and retarded biofilm development. The findings reveal bacterial interactions between uropathogens in dual-species biofilms ranged from affecting initial adhesion to outcompeting one bacterial species, depending on the identity of the partners involved.     

An in vitro urinary tract catheter system to investigate biofilm development in catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Biofilm development in urinary tract catheters is an often underestimated problem. However, this form of infection leads to high mortality rates and causes significant costs in health care. Therefore, it is important to analyze these biofilms and establish avoiding strategies. In this study a continuous flow-through system for the cultivation of biofilms under catheter-associated urinary tract infection conditions was established and validated. The in vitro urinary tract catheter system implies the composition of urine (artificial urine medium), the mean volume of urine of adults (1 mL min^-1), the frequently used silicone catheter (foley silicon catheter) as well as the infection with uropathogenic microorganisms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Three clinical isolates from urine of catheterized patients were chosen due to their ability to form biofilms, their mobility and their cell surface hydrophobicity. As reference strain P. aeruginosa PA14 has been used. Characteristic parameters as biofilm thickness, specific biofilm growth rate and substrate consumption were observed. Biofilm thicknesses varied from 105 ± 16 μm up to 246 ± 67 μm for the different isolates. The specific biofilm growth rate could be determined with a non invasive optical biomass sensor. This sensor allows online monitoring of the biofilm growth in the progress of the cultivation.     

Marine biofilms on submerged surfaces are a reservoir for Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae

The enteric bacterium and potential human pathogen, Escherichia coli, is known to persist in tropical soils and coastal waters. Vibrio cholerae causes the disease cholera and inhabits marine environments including microbial films on submerged surfaces. The abundances of E. coli and V. cholerae were quantified in biofilm and water-column samples from three harbors in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, which differ in their local and international ship traffic. E. coli and, in some cases V. cholerae, occurred in relatively high abundances in marine biofilms formed on abiotic surfaces, including the exterior hulls of ships. The community fingerprints of the biofilms and the water harboring these pathogens were further analyzed. The community compositions of biofilms from different locations were more similar to each other than to water-column communities from the same locations. These results suggest that biofilms are an overlooked reservoir and a source of dissemination for E. coli and V. cholerae.     

Escherichia coli outer membrane protease OmpT confers resistance to urinary cationic peptides

Escherichia coli OmpT, located in the outer membrane, has been characterized as a plasminogen activator, with the ability to hydrolyze protamine and block its entry. In this investigation, a complex of low molecular weight cationic peptides purified from human urine by a combination of membrane ultrafiltration and weak cation exchange chromatography was characterized. The impact of OmpT on E. coli resistance to urinary cationic peptides was investigated by testing ompT knockout strains. The ompT mutants were more susceptible to urinary cationic peptides than ompT⁺ strains, and this difference was abolished by complementation of the mutants with pUC19 carrying the ompT gene. The urinary protease inhibitor ulinastatin greatly decreased the resistance of the ompT⁺ strains. Overall, the data indicate that OmpT may help E. coli persist longer in the urinary tract by enabling it to resist the antimicrobial activity of urinary cationic peptides.     

风湿性疾病患者尿路感染大肠埃希菌对左氧氟沙星耐药性及危险因素分析

目的研究风湿性疾病中尿路感染大肠埃希菌对左氧氟沙星耐药性及相关危险因素。方法中国医科大学附属第一医院风湿免疫科2009年1月至2013年12月125株住院患者清洁中段尿培养所分离出大肠埃希菌,依据是否耐药分为两组。分析耐药组相关危险因素。结果 5年来大肠埃希菌对左氧氟沙星耐药率呈逐渐上升趋势。耐药组对氨苄西林、环丙沙星、头孢曲松、哌拉西林、复方新诺明的耐药率高于非耐药组,两组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。慢性病程、既往喹诺酮类药物应用史、既往尿路感染、菌株产ESBLs为耐药危险因素。各风湿性疾病间耐药率比较差异未见统计学意义。结论风湿性疾病尿路感染危险因素与其他疾病尿路感染危险因素类似。临床工作中应加强对危险因素监视和控制。     

Proteomic analysis of uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common of bacterial infections in humans. Although a number of Gram-negative bacteria can cause UTIs, most cases are due to infection by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). Genomic studies have shown that UPEC encode a number of specialized activities that allow the bacteria to initiate and maintain infections in the environment of the urinary tract. Proteomic analyses have complemented the genomic data and have documented differential patterns of protein synthesis for bacteria growing ex vivo in human urine or recovered directly from the urinary tracts of infected mice. These studies provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of UPEC pathogenesis and have aided the identification of putative vaccine targets. Despite the substantial progress that has been achieved, many future challenges remain in the application of proteomics to provide a comprehensive view of bacterial pathogenesis in both acute and chronic UTIs.     

Mutator phenotype confers advantage in Escherichia coli chronic urinary tract infection pathogenesis

It has been suggested that mutator phenotype could be associated with an increase in virulence, but to date experimental evidences are lacking. Epidemiological studies have revealed that urinary tract infection isolates encompass the highest proportion of mutator strains within the Escherichia coli species. Using the uropathogenic strain CFT073 and its mutS- mutator mutant, we show that the mutator strain is selected in vitro in urine and in the late stages of infection in a mouse model having urinary tract infection. Thus, we report that, under specific conditions, i.e., urinary tract infection, the mutator phenotype may confer an advantage in pathogenesis.     

Susceptibility of Escherichia coli to L-selenaproline and other L-proline analogues in laboratory culture media and normal human urine

AIMS: The aims of this study were to identify analogues of L-proline which inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli in both laboratory culture media and normal human urine and to study their mechanisms of uptake. METHODS AND RESULTS: The susceptibility of E. coli to L-proline analogues was studied by radial streak assays on agar plates and by minimal inhibitory concentration determinations in liquid media. Only L-selenaproline (SCA) inhibited growth in Mueller-Hinton medium and human urine as well as in glucose minimal medium. L-Proline did not prevent the inhibition of growth by SCA and strains defective in L-proline transport were as susceptible to SCA as wild-type strains. However, E. coli was resistant to SCA in the presence of L-cysteine and L-cystine. Spontaneous mutants selected for resistance to SCA or L-selenocystine were resistant to the other compound and had reduced growth in minimal medium containing L-cysteine or L-cystine as the sole sulfur source. CONCLUSIONS: L-selenaproline inhibited the growth of E. coli under conditions that may occur in the urinary tract and appeared to be taken up by the L-cystine transport system. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Although urinary tract infections caused by E. coli can be treated with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and quinolones, resistance to these antibiotics has been increasing. These results suggest that L-selenaproline may represent a new class of compounds that could be used to treat these infections.     

156例尿路感染大肠埃希菌耐药性分析

目的探讨大肠埃希菌尿路感染的临床发病特点及对抗生素的耐药情况。方法对2001年1月至2005年12月尿路感染患者尿培养分离出的156株大肠埃希菌进行耐药性分析,用纸片扩散法表型确证试验检测ESBLs。结果大肠埃希菌耐药率最低的抗菌药物是亚胺培南、美罗培南、头孢哌酮/舒巴坦、氧哌嗪青霉素/他唑巴坦,分别为1.28%、1.92%、3.21%、5.13%;对氨苄西林、氟喹诺酮类、庆大霉素、复方新诺明耐药率均>70%。产ESBLs的大肠埃希菌对亚胺培南、美罗培南、头孢哌酮/舒巴坦、氧哌嗪青霉素/他唑巴坦的耐药性均<10%,对氨苄西林、头孢菌素类、氟喹诺酮类均表现出很强的耐药性。结论治疗大肠埃希菌感染时,需根据药敏结果选用碳青霉烯类、β-内酰胺类/β-内酰胺酶抑制剂等。     

The anti-biofilm and anti-virulence activities of trans-resveratrol and oxyresveratrol against uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Abstract

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the primary causative agent of urinary tract infections, which are one of the most common infectious disease types in humans. UPEC infections involve bacterial cell adhesion to bladder epithelial cells, and UPEC can also form biofilms on indwelling catheters that are often tolerant to common antibiotics. In this study, the anti-biofilm activities of t-stilbene, stilbestrol, t-resveratrol, oxyresveratrol, ε-viniferin, suffruticosol A, and vitisin A were investigated against UPEC. t-Resveratrol, oxyresveratrol, and ε-viniferin, suffruticosol A, and vitisin A significantly inhibited UPEC biofilm formation at subinhibitory concentrations (10–50?μg ml^?1). These findings were supported by observations that t-resveratrol and oxyresveratrol reduced fimbriae production and the swarming motility in UPEC. Furthermore, t-resveratrol and oxyresveratrol markedly diminished the hemagglutinating ability of UPEC, and enhanced UPEC killing by human whole blood. The findings show that t-resveratrol, oxyresveratrol, and resveratrol oligomers warrant further attention as antivirulence strategies against persistent UPEC infections.     

Role of nutrient limitation in the competition between uropathogenic strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in mixed biofilms

Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli form mixed species biofilms in catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Recently, a detrimental effect of K. pneumoniae over E. coli was observed in mixed species biofilms grown in an artificial urine medium. The mechanism behind this competitive interaction was studied. K. pneumoniae partially outcompeted E. coli in early-stage batch-fed biofilms, whereas both microorganisms co-exist at longer times (K. pneumoniae:E. coli ratio, 55:1), as shown by cell counts and confocal microscopy. E. coli cells were scattered along the K. pneumoniae biofilm. Biofilm supernatants did not appear to contain either antimicrobial or anti-biofilm activities against E. coli. Biofilms grown under continuous flow prevented interspecies competition. K. pneumoniae showed both increased siderophore production and better growth in iron-limited media compared to E. coli. In summary, these results indicate the importance of nutrient (particularly iron) competition in the modulation of the bacterial composition of mixed species biofilms formed by uropathogenic K. pneumoniae and E. coli.     

社区获得性泌尿系感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的分析社区获得性泌尿系感染病原菌的种类及对常用抗生素的耐药性。方法收集2008年5月至2013年3月分离自社区获得性泌尿系感染患者中段尿的菌株,分析病原菌种类并测试主要病原菌对常用抗生素的体外敏感性。结果在215株细菌中,以革兰阴性杆菌155株（72. 1% ）为主。分离前5位的细菌为大肠埃希菌（48.4% ）、肠球菌属（10. 7% ）、肺炎克雷伯菌（7.4% ）、链球菌属（6. 0% ）、假丝酵母属（6. 0% ）。大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌中,共63株产ESBL,占52. 5%。产ESBL菌株对头孢替坦、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、阿米卡星、呋喃妥因、亚胺培南等5种抗生素的耐药率低于10%,对其他抗生素耐药率则超过70%。不产ESBL的菌株除对氨苄西林、氨苄西林/舒巴坦、环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星和复方新诺明的耐药率超过30%外,对其他常用抗生素的耐药率均在10%以下。肠球菌属和链球菌属分别对呋喃妥因和青霉素的耐药率较低（3/23和0/23）,未发现对万古霉素耐药株。结论引起社区获得性泌尿系感染的病原菌以大肠埃希菌为代表的革兰阴性杆菌为主,但由于不同菌株对抗生素的敏感性差异较大,用药之前进行尿培养是避免因抗生素使用不合理造成感染慢性化的一项重要措施。     

女性糖尿病患者合并尿路感染大肠埃希菌耐药性分析

目的 回顾性分析女性糖尿病(DM)合并尿路感染( UTI)大肠埃希菌的耐药情况及产超广谱β-内酰胺酶(ESBLs)的发生率,以指导临床合理选择抗菌药物.方法 对近4年在浙江大学医学院附属第二医院确诊DM合并UTI女性患者的中段尿标本中分离出的95株大肠埃希菌进行耐药性分析,用纸片扩散法表型确证试验检测ESBLs,以女性非糖尿病患者为对照组,并以年份进行分组分析.结果 95株大肠埃希菌ESBLs阳性率为40.0％,明显高于对照组,糖尿病组对氨苄西林、环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星耐药率较高,均＞60.0％,对环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星、头孢曲松、头孢唑林、头孢吡肟、头孢呋辛耐药率明显高于对照组,早期组与近期组的产ESBLs率及耐药率差异无统计学意义.结论 女性糖尿病伴尿路感染大肠埃希菌对多种抗菌药物的耐药率较高,临床应根据药敏试验结果合理使用抗菌药物.     

Characterization of typical and atypical enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in Kagoshima,Japan: biofilm formation and acid resistance

EAEC is increasingly recognized as an emerging enteric pathogen. Typical EAEC expressing the AggR regulon have been proven to be an important cause of childhood diarrhea in industrialized countries as well as in the developing world, while atypical EAEC without this regulon have not been thoroughly investigated. To investigate the bacteriological characteristics of EAEC, including both typical and atypical strains in Kagoshima, Japan, 2417 E. coli strains from Japanese children with diarrhea were screened by a quantitative biofilm assay to detect possible EAEC strains, resulting in the identification of 102 (4.2%) of these strains by the HEp‐2 cell adherence test. Virulence gene patterns, PFGE analysis and O‐serogrouping demonstrated the heterogeneity of the EAEC. The EAEC strains were classified into two groups: typical EAEC with aggR (74.5%, 76/102) and atypical EAEC without aggR (25.5%, 26/102). There was no significant difference between the typical EAEC strains (median OD₅₇₀= 0.73) and the atypical strains (median OD₅₇₀= 0.61) in biofilm formation (P= 0.17). Incidences of resistance against ampicillin, cefotaxime and tetracycline were significantly higher in the typical EAEC strains than the atypical EAEC strains (84.2% vs. 53.8%, 36.8% vs. 7.7% and 93.4% vs. 73.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). The typical EAEC strains showed significantly higher resistance ratios against HCl and lactate than the atypical strains (94.7% vs. 61.5% and 92.1% vs. 57.7%, respectively, P < 0.001). To investigate the pathogenicity of not only typical but also atypical EAEC, further bacteriological and epidemiologic studies including atypical EAEC are needed.