A role for ColV plasmids in the evolution of pathogenic Escherichia coli ST58

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • CJ Reid - (Author)
  • ML Cummins - (Author)
  • S Börjesson - (Author)
  • MSM Brouwer - (Author)
  • H Hasman - (Author)
  • AM Hammerum - (Author)
  • L Roer - (Author)
  • Stefanie Heß - , Chair of General Microbiology (Author)
  • Thomas Ulrich Berendonk - , Chair of Limnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (Author)
  • K Nesporova - (Author)
  • M Haenni - (Author)
  • J-Y Madec - (Author)
  • A Bethe - (Author)
  • GB Michael - (Author)
  • A-K Schink - (Author)
  • S Schwarz - (Author)
  • M Dolejska - (Author)
  • SP Djordjevic - (Author)

Abstract

Escherichia coli ST58 has recently emerged as a globally disseminated uropathogen that often progresses to sepsis. Unlike most pandemic extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), which belong to pathogenic phylogroup B2, ST58 belongs to the environmental/commensal phylogroup B1. Here, we present a pan-genomic analysis of a global collection of 752 ST58 isolates from diverse sources. We identify a large ST58 sub-lineage characterized by near ubiquitous carriage of ColV plasmids, which carry genes encoding virulence factors, and by a distinct accessory genome including genes typical of the Yersiniabactin High Pathogenicity Island. This sub-lineage includes three-quarters of all ExPEC sequences in our study and has a broad host range, although poultry and porcine sources predominate. By contrast, strains isolated from cattle often lack ColV plasmids. Our data indicate that ColV plasmid acquisition contributed to the divergence of the major ST58 sub-lineage, and different sub-lineages inhabit poultry, swine and cattle.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number683
JournalNature Communications
Volume13
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85123974757
PubMed 35115531

Keywords

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Keywords

  • Animals, Cattle, Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics, Escherichia coli/classification, Escherichia coli Infections/diagnosis, Evolution, Molecular, Genome, Bacterial/genetics, Genomic Islands/genetics, Genomics/methods, Host Specificity, Humans, Phylogeny, Plasmids/genetics, Poultry, Species Specificity, Swine, Virulence/genetics, Virulence Factors/genetics