Horizontally acquired papGII-containing pathogenicity islands underlie the emergence of invasive uropathogenic Escherichia coli lineages

Michael Biggel (), Basil B. Xavier, James R. Johnson, Karen L. Nielsen, Niels Frimodt-Møller, Veerle Matheeussen, Herman Goossens, Pieter Moons and Sandra Van Puyvelde ()
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Michael Biggel: University of Antwerp
Basil B. Xavier: University of Antwerp
James R. Johnson: Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Minnesota
Karen L. Nielsen: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet
Niels Frimodt-Møller: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet
Veerle Matheeussen: University of Antwerp
Herman Goossens: University of Antwerp
Pieter Moons: University of Antwerp
Sandra Van Puyvelde: University of Antwerp

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Escherichia coli is the leading cause of urinary tract infection, one of the most common bacterial infections in humans. Despite this, a genomic perspective is lacking regarding the phylogenetic distribution of isolates associated with different clinical syndromes. Here, we present a large-scale phylogenomic analysis of a spatiotemporally and clinically diverse set of 907 E. coli isolates, including 722 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates. A genome-wide association approach identifies the (P-fimbriae-encoding) papGII locus as the key feature distinguishing invasive UPEC, defined as isolates associated with severe UTI, i.e., kidney infection (pyelonephritis) or urinary-source bacteremia, from non-invasive UPEC, defined as isolates associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria or bladder infection (cystitis). Within the E. coli population, distinct invasive UPEC lineages emerged through repeated horizontal acquisition of diverse papGII-containing pathogenicity islands. Our findings elucidate the molecular determinants of severe UTI and have implications for the early detection of this pathogen.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19714-9

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