Comparison of Virulence Factors Distribution in Uropathogenic E. coli Isolates From Phylogenetic Groups B2 and D

Urinary tract infections are a significant health problem, with Escherichia coli as a primary pathogen in approximately 80% of cases. The pathogenesis of E. coli in urinary tract infections is attributed to the production of virulence factors and phylogenetic background groups. The aim of this study was to determine differences in prevalence of virulence factors of E. coli isolates from phylogenetic groups B2 and D, collected from patients with urinary tract infections. A total of 100 E. coli isolates were identified by conventional biochemical tests from patients with urinary tracts infections (UTIs) in teaching hospitals of Zabol, Iran. DNA was extracted using the boiling method. Analysis of phylogenetic groups, along with detection of virulence factor genes was performed by the multiplex-PCR method. Associations were assessed between type 1 fimberia-encoding gene, siderophore receptor encoding genes and hemolysin encoding gene among 55 B2 group E. coli isolates and 22 D group E. coli isolates. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 55 and 22 of 100 isolates belonged to the B2 and D phylogenetic groups, respectively. The hlyA, iroN, iucD and fimH genes were present in 29 (52.72%), 22 (40%), 46 (83.63%) and 55 (100%) isolates belonging to the phylogenetic group B2, whereas in 2 (9.09%), 2 (9.09%), 10 (45.45%) and 22 (100%) isolates belonging to the phylogenetic group D, respectively. The comparison showed that there was a significant difference between the presence of hlyA and iroN genes in isolates belonging to the phylogenetic group B2 and D (P ≤ 0.05). This study determined that strains belonging to group B2 are the most important and abundant E. coli strains causing urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections are a significant health problem, with Escherichia coli as a primary pathogen in approximately 80% of cases. The pathogenesis of E. coli in urinary tract infections is attributed to the production of virulence factors and phylogenetic background groups. The aim of this study was to determine differences in prevalence of virulence factors of E. coli isolates from phylogenetic groups B2 and D, collected from patients with urinary tract infections. A total of 100 E. coli isolates were identified by conventional biochemical tests from patients with urinary tracts infections (UTIs) in teaching hospitals of Zabol, Iran. DNA was extracted using the boiling method. Analysis of phylogenetic groups, along with detection of virulence factor genes was performed by the multiplex-PCR method. Associations were assessed between type 1 fimberia-encoding gene, siderophore receptor encoding genes and hemolysin encoding gene among 55 B2 group E. coli isolates and 22 D group E. coli isolates. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 55 and 22 of 100 isolates belonged to the B2 and D phylogenetic groups, respectively. The hlyA, iroN, iucD and fimH genes were present in 29 (52.72%), 22 (40%), 46 (83.63%) and 55 (100%) isolates belonging to the phylogenetic group B2, whereas in 2 (9.09%), 2 (9.09%), 10 (45.45%) and 22 (100%) isolates belonging to the phylogenetic group D, respectively. The comparison showed that there was a significant difference between the presence of hlyA and iroN genes in isolates belonging to the phylogenetic group B2 and D (P ≤ 0.05). This study determined that strains belonging to group B2 are the most important and abundant E. coli strains causing urinary tract infections.