UPEC

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), often reoccur due to the formation of intracellular bacterial colonies (IBCs) and antibiotic resistance. Given the significance of YadC for UPEC infection in our previous study, we developed D-xylose-decorated ɛ-poly-L-lysine (εPL)-based carbon dots (D-xyl@εPLCDs) that can be traced, and employed multi-step approaches to elucidate the functional roles of D-xyl@εPLCDs in UPEC infection. Compared to undecorated particles, D-xyl@εPLCDs demonstrate YadC-dependent bacterial targeting and exhibit enhanced bactericidal activities both intracellularly and extracellularly...

Traditional folk treatments for the prevention and management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other infectious diseases often include plants and plant extracts that are rich in phenolic compounds. These have been ascribed a variety of activities, including inhibition of bacterial interactions with host cells. Here, we tested a panel of four well-studied phenolic compounds-caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), resveratrol, catechin, and epigallocatechin gallate-for the effects on host cell adherence and invasion by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)...

Acute pyelonephritis (APN) is most frequently caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), which ascends from the bladder to the kidneys during a urinary tract infection. Patients with APN have been reported to have reduced renal concentration capacity under challenged conditions, polyuria and increased aquaporin-2 (AQP2) excretion in the urine. We have recently shown increased AQP2 accumulation in the plasma membrane in cell cultures exposed to E. coli lysates and in the apical plasma membrane of inner medullary collecting ducts in a 5-day APN mouse model...

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common bacterial agent associated with urinary tract infections, threatening public health systems with elevated medical costs and high morbidity rates. The successful establishment of the infection is associated with virulence factors encoded in its genome, in addition to antibacterial resistance genes, which could limit the treatment and resolution of the infection. In this sense, plant extracts from the genus Echeveria have traditionally been used to treat diverse infectious diseases...

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) commonly afflict people with diabetes. To better understand the mechanisms that predispose diabetics to UTIs, we employ diabetic mouse models and altered insulin signaling to show that insulin receptor (IR) shapes UTI defenses. Our findings are validated in human biosamples. We report that diabetic mice have suppressed IR expression and are more susceptible to UTIs caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Systemic IR inhibition increases UPEC susceptibility, while IR activation reduces UTIs...

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the leading causes of multidrug-resistance (MDR) spread and infection-related deaths. Escherichia coli is by far the main causative agent. We conducted a prospective study on complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) i) to monitor the high-risk clones that could be compromising the therapeutic management and ii) to compare the cUTI etiology with uncomplicated infections (uUTIs) occurring in the same period and health area. METHODS: 154 non-duplicated E...

This study was conducted to identify the distribution of virulence determinants in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolates obtained from kidney transplant (KTP) and non-transplant patients (non-KTP) with urinary tract infections (UTI). Additionally, the (GTG)5 fingerprinting technique was used to investigate the genetic diversity of Extended-Spectrum B-Lactamase (ESBL)-positive isolates. In this case-control study, 111 urine isolates were obtained from non-KTPs and KTPs, respectively. The presence of genetic markers encoding adhesion proteins, toxins and major E...

BACKGROUND: Region-specific immune environments in the epididymis influence the immune responses to uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) infection, a relevant cause of epididymitis in men. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are essential to orchestrate immune responses against bacterial infections. The epididymis displays region-specific inflammatory responses to bacterial-derived TLR agonists, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS; TLR4 agonist) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA; TLR2/TLR6 agonist), suggesting that TLR-associated signaling pathways could influence the magnitude of inflammatory responses in epididymitis...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are globally prevalent infectious diseases, predominantly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). The misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of several drug-resistant strains. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has its own advantages in the treatment of UTIs. HJ granules is a herbal formula used for the treatment of UTIs. However, its mechanism of action is not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action of HJ granules in a rat model of UTI caused by Escherichia coli (E coli) CFT073...

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study aims to determine the incidence and potential risk factors associated with biofilm-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) nosocomial strains from a tertiary care hospital and to examine the prospective correlation between biofilm generation and antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes. METHODS: A total of 130 UPEC nosocomial isolates were identified, their biofilm formation was quantified using a modified microtiter plate assay, and their antibiotic susceptibilities were assessed utilizing the disc diffusion method...

AIMS: The main objective of this study was to modify a recently reported multi-purpose artificial urine (MP-AU) for culture and gene expression studies of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to identify and adjust the metabolic profile of MP-AU closer to that of pooled human urine (PHU). Modification in this way facilitated growth of UPEC strains with growth rates similar to those obtained in PHU...

PURPOSE: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common human bacterial infections primarily caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). Empiric treatment in UTI cause emergence of multidrug resistance and limit treatment options. Understanding UTI at the molecular level with respect to the causative pathogen as well as subsequent host response pose an absolute necessity towards appropriate clinical management. This study aimed to investigate host cytokine response in mouse UTI model with respect to bacterial colonization and associated virulence gene expression upon infection...

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a ubiquitous infectious condition, and uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the predominant causative agent of UTI. Copper (Cu) is implicated in innate immunity, including against UPEC. Cu is a trace element utilized as a co-factor, but excess Cu is toxic due to mismetalation of non-cognate proteins. E. coli precisely regulates Cu homeostasis via efflux systems. However, Cu import mechanisms into the bacterial cell are not clear. We hypothesized that Cu import defective mutants would exhibit increased resistance to Cu...

Low-abundance members of microbial communities are difficult to study in their native habitat. This includes Escherichia coli , a minor, but common inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract and opportunistic pathogen, including of the urinary tract, where it causes most infections. While our understanding of the interactions between uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) and the bladder is increasing, comparatively little is known about UPEC in its pre-infection reservoir, partly due to its low abundance there (<1% relative abundance)...

The multidrug-resistant clone identified as Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (E. coli ST131) has spread world-wide. This study sought to ascertain the frequency and biofilm formation of E. coli ST131 isolated from children with various malignancies. A total of 60 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates from children without cancer and 30 UPEC isolates from children with cancer were assessed in this study. The microdilution method was used to investigate the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics. The microtiter plate (MTP) approach was used to phenotypically assess biofilm formation...

BACKGROUND: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main etiological agent behind community-acquired and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are among the most prevalent human infections. The management of UPEC infections is becoming increasingly difficult owing to multi-drug resistance, biofilm formation, and the possession of an extensive virulence arsenal. This study aims to characterize UPEC isolates in Tanta, Egypt, with regard to their antimicrobial resistance, phylogenetic profile, biofilm formation, and virulence, as well as the potential associations among these factors...

Extraintestinal urinary tract infections are mainly caused by uropathogenic strains of E. coli. UPECs are a heterogeneous group of strains possessing various genes associated with virulence traits. It was demonstrated that changes in the composition of the o454-nlpD region and genetic variation in the mutS-rpoS chromosomal region in ExPEC strains are correlated with their virulence, particularly in those with the pattern III o454-nlpD region and belonging to phylogenetic group B2. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of the o454-nlpD genomic polymorphism in our collection of 124 uropathogenic E...

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we examine the prevalence of phylogenetic groups, O-serogroups, adhesin genes, antimicrobial resistance, the level of gene expression associated with biofilm formation, and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) in UPEC strains isolated from both pediatric and adult patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 156 UPEC isolates were collected from UTI patients. ESBL-producing isolates were detected using the double-disc synergy (DDS) method, and biofilm formation was assessed through a microplate assay...

For a long time, urine has been considered sterile in physiological conditions, thanks to the particular structure of the urinary tract and the production of uromodulin or Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) by it. More recently, thanks to the development and use of new technologies, i.e., next-generation sequencing and expanded urine culture, the identification of a microbial community in the urine, the so-called urobiota, became possible. Major phyla detected in the urine are represented by Firmicutes , Bacteroidetes , Proteobacteria , and Actinobacteria...

Sensory systems allow pathogens to differentiate between different niches and respond to stimuli within them. A major mechanism through which bacteria sense and respond to stimuli in their surroundings is two-component systems (TCSs). TCSs allow for the detection of multiple stimuli to lead to a highly controlled and rapid change in gene expression. Here, we provide a comprehensive list of TCSs important for the pathogenesis of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). UPEC accounts for >75% of urinary tract infections (UTIs) worldwide...