Authors

Andrea Garretto, Loyola University Chicago
Taylor Miller-Ensminger, Loyola University Chicago
Adriana Ene, Loyola University Chicago
Zubia Merchant, Loyola University Chicago
Aashaka Shah, Loyola University Chicago
Athina Gerodias, Loyola University Chicago
Anthony Biancofiori, Loyola University Chicago
Stacey Canchola, Loyola University Chicago
Stephanie Canchola, Loyola University Chicago
Emanuel Castillo, Loyola University Chicago
Tasnim Chowdhury, Loyola University Chicago
Nikita Gandhi, Loyola University Chicago
Sarah Hamilton, Loyola University Chicago
Kyla Hatton, Loyola University Chicago
Syed Hyder, Loyola University Chicago
Koty Krull, Loyola University Chicago
Demetrios Lagios, Loyola University Chicago
Thinh Lam, Loyola University Chicago
Kennedy Mitchell, Loyola University Chicago
Christine Mortensen, Loyola University Chicago
Amber Murphy, Loyola University Chicago
Joseph Richburg, Loyola University Chicago
Meghan Rokas, Loyola University Chicago
Suzanne Ryclik, Loyola University Chicago
Pauline Sulit, Loyola University Chicago
Thomas Szwajnos, Loyola University Chicago
Manuel Widuch, Loyola University Chicago
Jessica Willis, Loyola University Chicago
Mary Woloszyn, Loyola University Chicago
Bridget Brassil, Loyola University Chicago
Genevieve Johnson, Loyola University Chicago
Rita Mormando, Loyola University Chicago
Laura Maskeri, Loyola University Chicago
Mary Batrich, Loyola University Chicago
Nicole Stark, Loyola University Chicago
Jason W. Shapiro, Loyola University Chicago
Cesar Montelongo Hernandez, Loyola University Chicago
Swarnali Banerjee, Loyola University ChicagoFollow
Alan J. Wolfe, Loyola University ChicagoFollow
Catherine Putonti, Loyola University ChicagoFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-4-2020

Publication Title

Frontiers in Microbiology

Volume

11

Pages

13

Publisher Name

Frontiers Media S.A.

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common human bacterial infections. While UTIs are commonly associated with colonization by Escherichia coli, members of this species also have been found within the bladder of individuals with no lower urinary tract symptoms (no LUTS), also known as asymptomatic bacteriuria. Prior studies have found that both uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains and E. coli isolates that are not associated with UTIs encode for virulence factors. Thus, the reason(s) why E. coli sometimes causes UTI-like symptoms remain(s) elusive. In this study, the genomes of 66 E. coli isolates from adult female bladders were sequenced. These isolates were collected from four cohorts, including women: (1) without lower urinary tract symptoms, (2) overactive bladder symptoms, (3) urgency urinary incontinence, and (4) a clinical diagnosis of UTI. Comparative genomic analyses were conducted, including core and accessory genome analyses, virulence and motility gene analyses, and antibiotic resistance prediction and testing. We found that the genomic content of these 66 E. coli isolates does not correspond with the participant’s symptom status. We thus looked beyond the E. coli genomes to the composition of the entire urobiome and found that the presence of E. coli alone was not sufficient to distinguish between the urobiomes of individuals with UTI and those with no LUTS. Because E. coli presence, abundance, and genomic content appear to be weak predictors of UTI status, we hypothesize that UTI symptoms associated with detection of E. coli are more likely the result of urobiome composition.

Comments

Author Posting © Garretto et al., 2020. This article is posted here by permission of Garretto et al. for personal use, not for redistribution. The article was published in Frontiers in Microbiology, September 2020, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.02094

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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