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Rimbi PT, O'Boyle N, Douce GR, Pizza M, Rosini R, Roe AJ. Enhancing a multi-purpose artificial urine for culture and gene expression studies of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae067. [PMID: 38486355 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
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. Transcriptomic analysis of UPEC strains cultured in enhanced artificial urine (enhanced AU) and PHU showed that the gene expression profiles are similar, with <7% of genes differentially expressed between the two conditions. CONCLUSIONS Enhancing an MP-AU with metabolites identified in PHU allows the enhanced AU to be used as a substitute for the culture and in vitro gene expression studies of UPEC strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia T Rimbi
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Nicky O'Boyle
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork T12 K8AF, Ireland
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork T12 K8AF, Ireland
| | - Gillian R Douce
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew J Roe
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
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Hullahalli K, Dailey KG, Hasegawa Y, Torres E, Suzuki M, Zhang H, Threadgill DW, Navarro VM, Waldor MK. Genetic and immune determinants of E. coli liver abscess formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310053120. [PMID: 38096412 PMCID: PMC10743367 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310053120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic infections can yield distinct outcomes in different tissues. In mice, intravenous inoculation of Escherichia coli leads to bacterial replication within liver abscesses, while other organs such as the spleen clear the pathogen. Abscesses are macroscopic necrotic regions that comprise the vast majority of the bacterial burden in the animal, yet little is known about the processes underlying their formation. Here, we characterize E. coli liver abscesses and identify host determinants of abscess susceptibility. Spatial transcriptomics revealed that liver abscesses are associated with heterogenous immune cell clusters comprised of macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, and T-cells that surround necrotic regions of the liver. Abscess susceptibility is heightened in the C57BL lineage, particularly in C57BL/6N females. Backcross analyses demonstrated that abscess susceptibility is a polygenic trait inherited in a sex-dependent manner without direct linkage to sex chromosomes. As early as 1 d post infection, the magnitude of E. coli replication in the liver distinguishes abscess-susceptible and abscess-resistant strains of mice, suggesting that the immune pathways that regulate abscess formation are induced within hours. We characterized the early hepatic response with single-cell RNA sequencing and found that mice with reduced activation of early inflammatory responses, such as those lacking the LPS receptor TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4), are resistant to abscess formation. Experiments with barcoded E. coli revealed that TLR4 mediates a tradeoff between abscess formation and bacterial clearance. Together, our findings define hallmarks of E. coli liver abscess formation and suggest that hyperactivation of the hepatic innate immune response drives liver abscess susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Hullahalli
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Katherine G. Dailey
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Yuko Hasegawa
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Encarnacion Torres
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Masataka Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Hailong Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - David W. Threadgill
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX76549
- Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX76549
| | - Victor M. Navarro
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Matthew K. Waldor
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA02115
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3
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Vautrin N, Dahyot S, Leoz M, Caron F, Grand M, Feldmann A, Gravey F, Legris S, Ribet D, Alexandre K, Pestel-Caron M. Are Escherichia coli causing recurrent cystitis just ordinary Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains? BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.08.566351. [PMID: 37986820 PMCID: PMC10659292 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.08.566351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Specific determinants associated with Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) causing recurrent cystitis are still poorly characterized. The aims of this study were (i) to describe genomic and phenotypic traits associated with recurrence using a large collection of recurrent and paired sporadic UPEC isolates, and (ii) to explore within-host genomic adaptation associated with recurrence using series of 2 to 5 sequential UPEC isolates. Whole genome comparative analyses between 24 recurrent cystitis isolates (RCIs) and 24 phylogenetically paired sporadic cystitis isolates (SCIs) suggested a lower prevalence of putative mobile genetic elements (MGE) in RCIs, such as plasmids and prophages. The intra-patient evolution of the 24 RCI series over time was characterized by SNP occurrence in genes involved in metabolism or membrane transport, and by plasmid loss in 5 out of the 24 RCI series. Genomic evolution occurred early in the course of recurrence, suggesting rapid adaptation to strong selection pressure in the urinary tract. However, RCIs did not exhibit specific virulence factor determinants and could not be distinguished from SCIs by their fitness, biofilm formation, or ability to invade HTB-9 bladder epithelial cells. Taken together, these results suggest a rapid but not convergent adaptation of RCIs that involves both strain- and host-specific characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Vautrin
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Sandrine Dahyot
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, CHU Rouen, department of microbiology, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Marie Leoz
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - François Caron
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, CHU Rouen, department of infectious diseases, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Maxime Grand
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Audrey Feldmann
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - François Gravey
- Université de Caen Normandie, Univ Rouen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, F-14000 Caen, France
| | - Stéphanie Legris
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - David Ribet
- Univ Rouen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, ADEN UMR 1073, Nutrition, inflammation and microbiota-gut-brain axis, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Kévin Alexandre
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, CHU Rouen, department of infectious diseases, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Martine Pestel-Caron
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, Normandie Univ, DYNAMICURE UMR 1311, CHU Rouen, department of microbiology, F-76000 Rouen, France
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4
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Hullahalli K, Dailey KG, Hasegawa Y, Suzuki M, Zhang H, Threadgill DW, Waldor MK. Genetic and immune determinants of E. coli liver abscess formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.11.543319. [PMID: 37398354 PMCID: PMC10312621 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.11.543319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Systemic infections can yield distinct outcomes in different tissues. In mice, intravenous inoculation of E. coli leads to bacterial replication within liver abscesses while other organs such as the spleen largely clear the pathogen. Abscesses are macroscopic necrotic regions that comprise the vast majority of the bacterial burden in the animal, yet little is known about the processes underlying their formation. Here, we characterize E. coli liver abscesses and identify host determinants of abscess susceptibility. Spatial transcriptomics revealed that liver abscesses are associated with heterogenous immune cell clusters comprised of macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, and T-cells that surround necrotic regions of the liver. Susceptibility to liver abscesses is heightened in the C57BL/6 lineage, particularly in C57BL/6N females. Backcross analyses demonstrated that abscess susceptibility is a polygenic trait inherited in a sex-dependent manner without direct linkage to sex chromosomes. As early as one day post infection, the magnitude of E. coli replication in the liver distinguishes abscess-susceptible and abscess-resistant strains of mice, suggesting that the immune pathways that regulate abscess formation are induced within hours. We characterized the early hepatic response with single-cell RNA sequencing and found that mice with reduced activation of early inflammatory responses, such as those lacking the LPS receptor TLR4, are resistant to abscess formation. Experiments with barcoded E. coli revealed that TLR4 mediates a tradeoff between abscess formation and bacterial clearance. Together, our findings define hallmarks of E. coli liver abscess formation and suggest that hyperactivation of the hepatic innate immune response drives liver abscess susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Hullahalli
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Katherine G Dailey
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Yuko Hasegawa
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Masataka Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Hailong Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - David W Threadgill
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics and Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 76549, USA
| | - Matthew K Waldor
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
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5
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Zou Z, Potter RF, McCoy WH, Wildenthal JA, Katumba GL, Mucha PJ, Dantas G, Henderson JP. E. coli catheter-associated urinary tract infections are associated with distinctive virulence and biofilm gene determinants. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e161461. [PMID: 36512427 PMCID: PMC9977300 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.161461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary catheterization facilitates urinary tract colonization by E. coli and increases infection risk. Here, we aimed to identify strain-specific characteristics associated with the transition from colonization to infection in catheterized patients. In a single-site study population, we compared E. coli isolates from patients with catheter-associated asymptomatic bacteriuria (CAASB) to those with catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). CAUTI isolates were dominated by a phylotype B2 subclade containing the multidrug-resistant ST131 lineage relative to CAASB isolates, which were phylogenetically more diverse. A distinctive combination of virulence-associated genes was present in the CAUTI-associated B2 subclade. Catheter-associated biofilm formation was widespread among isolates and did not distinguish CAUTI from CAASB strains. Preincubation with CAASB strains could inhibit catheter colonization by multiple ST131 CAUTI isolates. Comparative genomic analysis identified a group of variable genes associated with high catheter biofilm formation present in both CAUTI and CAASB strains. Among these, ferric citrate transport (Fec) system genes were experimentally associated with enhanced catheter biofilm formation using reporter and fecA deletion strains. These results are consistent with a variable role for catheter biofilm formation in promoting CAUTI by ST131-like strains or resisting CAUTI by lower-risk strains that engage in niche exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongsen Zou
- Center for Women’s Infectious Diseases Research
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
| | - Robert F. Potter
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, and
| | - William H. McCoy
- Center for Women’s Infectious Diseases Research
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - John A. Wildenthal
- Center for Women’s Infectious Diseases Research
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
| | - George L. Katumba
- Center for Women’s Infectious Diseases Research
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
| | - Peter J. Mucha
- Department of Mathematics, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Gautam Dantas
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, and
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jeffrey P. Henderson
- Center for Women’s Infectious Diseases Research
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
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6
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Phenotypic Assessment of Clinical Escherichia coli Isolates as an Indicator for Uropathogenic Potential. mSystems 2022; 7:e0082722. [PMID: 36445110 PMCID: PMC9765037 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00827-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
For women in the United States, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most frequent diagnosis in emergency departments, comprising 21.3% of total visits. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) causes ~80% of uncomplicated UTIs. To combat this public health issue, it is vital to characterize UPEC strains as well as to differentiate them from commensal strains to reduce the overuse of antibiotics. It has been challenging to determine a consistent genetic signature that clearly distinguishes UPEC from other E. coli strains. Therefore, we examined whether phenotypic data could be predictive of uropathogenic potential. We screened 13 clinical strains of UPEC, isolated from cases of uncomplicated UTI in young otherwise healthy women, in a series of microbiological phenotypic assays using UPEC prototype strain CFT073 and nonpathogenic E. coli strain MG1655 K-12 as controls. Phenotypes included adherence, iron acquisition, biofilm formation, human serum resistance, motility, and stress resistance. By use of a well-established experimental mouse model of UTI, these data were able to predict the severity of the bacterial burden in both the urine and bladders. Multiple linear regression using three different phenotypic assays, i.e., growth in minimal medium, siderophore production, and type 1 fimbrial expression, was predictive of bladder colonization (adjusted R2 = 0.6411). Growth in ex vivo human urine, hemagglutination of red blood cells, and motility modeled urine colonization (adjusted R2 = 0.4821). These results showcase the utility of phenotypic characterization to predict the severity of infection that these strains may cause. We predict that these methods will also be applicable to other complex, genetically redundant, pathogens. IMPORTANCE Urinary tract infections are the second leading infectious disease worldwide, occurring in over half of the female population during their lifetime. Most infections are caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains. These strains can establish a reservoir in the gut, in which they do not cause disease but, upon introduction to the urinary tract, can infect the host and elicit pathogenesis. Clinically, it would be beneficial to screen patient E. coli strains to understand their pathogenic potential, which may lead to the administration of prophylactic antibiotic treatment for those with increased risk. Others have proposed the use of PCR-based genetic screening methods to detect UPEC strains and differentiate them from other E. coli pathotypes; however, this method has not yielded a consistent uropathogenic genetic signature. Here, we used phenotypic characteristics such as growth rate, siderophore production, and expression of fimbriae to better predict uropathogenic potential.
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Li L, Li Y, Yang J, Xie X, Chen H. The immune responses to different Uropathogens call individual interventions for bladder infection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:953354. [PMID: 36081496 PMCID: PMC9445553 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.953354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by uropathogens is the most common infectious disease and significantly affects all aspects of the quality of life of the patients. However, uropathogens are increasingly becoming antibiotic-resistant, which threatens the only effective treatment option available-antibiotic, resulting in higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays, and increased mortality. Currently, people are turning their attention to the immune responses, hoping to find effective immunotherapeutic interventions which can be alternatives to the overuse of antibiotic drugs. Bladder infections are caused by the main nine uropathogens and the bladder executes different immune responses depending on the type of uropathogens. It is essential to understand the immune responses to diverse uropathogens in bladder infection for guiding the design and development of immunotherapeutic interventions. This review firstly sorts out and comparatively analyzes the immune responses to the main nine uropathogens in bladder infection, and summarizes their similarities and differences. Based on these immune responses, we innovatively propose that different microbial bladder infections should adopt corresponding immunomodulatory interventions, and the same immunomodulatory intervention can also be applied to diverse microbial infections if they share the same effective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlong Li
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yangyang Li
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiali Yang
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiang Xie
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Public Center of Experimental Technology, Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Xie, ; Huan Chen,
| | - Huan Chen
- The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Nucleic Acid Medicine of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Xie, ; Huan Chen,
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