Comparative phenotypic characterization of hybrid Shiga toxin-producing / uropathogenic Escherichia coli, canonical uropathogenic and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.

Hybrid Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains are phylogenetically positioned between STEC and UPEC and can cause both diarrhea and urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, their virulence properties and adaptation to different host milieu in comparison to canonical UPEC and STEC strains are unknown. We determined phenotypes of the STEC/UPEC hybrid with respect to virulence including acid resistance, motility, biofilm formation, siderophore production, and adherence to human colonic Caco-2 and bladder T24 cells and compared to phenotypes of commensal strain MG1655, UPEC strain 536, and STEC strains B2F1 and Sakai. Moreover, we assessed the adaptation of the hybrid to artificial urine medium (AUM) and simulated colonic environment medium (SCEM). Overall acid resistance at pH 2.5 was high except in strains B2F1 and hybrid 05-00787 which showed reduced and extremely low acid resistance, respectively. Motility was reduced in hybrid 05-00787 and 09-05501 but strong in the remaining hybrids. While some hybrids showed high biofilm formation in LB, overall biofilm formation in SCEM and AUM were low and non-existent, respectively. All strains tested showed siderophore activity at equilibrium. All strains except MG1655 adhered to Caco-2 cells with the hybrid having similar adherence when compared to 536 but exhibited 2 and 3 times lower adherence when compared to B2F1 and Sakai, respectively. All Stx-producing strains adhered stronger to T24 cells than strains 536 and MG1655. Overall growth in LB, SCEM and AUM was consistent within the hybrid strains, except hybrid 05-00787 which showed significantly different growth patterns. Our data suggest that the hybrid is adapted to both, the intestinal and extraintestinal milieu. Expression of phenotypes typical of intestinal and extraintestinal pathogens thereby supports its potential to cause diarrhea and UTI.

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