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. 2024 Sep 9;206(10):394.
doi: 10.1007/s00203-024-04114-0.

Genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) isolates displaying bacterial interference against multi-drug resistant uropathogenic E. Coli

Ciara Kenneally  1 , Craig P Murphy  1 , Roy D Sleator  1 , Eamonn P Culligan  2
Affiliations

Genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) isolates displaying bacterial interference against multi-drug resistant uropathogenic E. Coli

Ciara Kenneally et al. Arch Microbiol. .

Abstract

Escherichia coli can colonise the urogenital tract of individuals without causing symptoms of infection, in a condition referred to as asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU). ABU isolates can protect the host against symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) by bacterial interference against uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). The aim of this study was to investigate the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of five ABU isolates from midstream urine samples of adults. Comparative genomic and phenotypic analysis was conducted including an antibiotic resistance profile, pangenome analysis, and a putative virulence profile. Based on the genome analysis, the isolates consisted of one from phylogroup A, three from phylogroup B2, and one from phylogroup D. Two of the isolates, PUTS 58 and SK-106-1, were noted for their lack of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes compared to the prototypic ABU strain E. coli 83,972. This study provides insights into the genotypic and phenotypic profiles of uncharacterised ABU isolates, and how relevant fitness and virulence traits can impact their potential suitability for therapeutic bacterial interference.

Keywords: E. Coli; Asymptomatic Bacteriuria; UTI; Urinary microbiome; Urobiome; Uropathogenic E. Coli.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper of which we are aware.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
In vitro antibiotic susceptibility analysis of the ABU isolates PUTS 37, PUTS 58, PUTS 59, S-07-4, and SK-106-1
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree of 73 E. coli isolates from the urinary tract. The maximum likelihood tree was generated on FASTTREE using the core genome alignment and was visualised using iTOL. The five ABU isolates from this study are indicated with pink font. Phylogroups are indicated by the coloured boxes, as identified through EzClermont
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Heatmap indicating the presence or absence of virulence genes. The heatmap is based on the nucleotide percentage identity of virulence genes determined by BLASTN. Virulence genes are grouped according to function. Blue indicates the presence of a gene, yellow indicates the absence of a gene. Reference genomes included the ABU strain E. coli 83,972 and UPEC strain E. coli CFT073
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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