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Distribution of papA and papG Variants among Escherichia coli Genotypes: Association with Major Extraintestinal

Valentina Fernández-Yáñez1,2, Patricio Suazo2, Claudia Hormazábal1,2

  • 1Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago 9170022, Chile.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

This study maps the distribution of P fimbria variants (papA and papG) in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC). Common variants are linked to specific ExPEC genotypes and found in human and animal strains, suggesting cross-transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Pathogen Evolution

Background:

  • The pyelonephritis-associated fimbria (P fimbria) is a key adhesion factor in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC).
  • While numerous variants of the papA and papG genes exist, their distribution across diverse ExPEC strains remains incompletely understood.
  • Understanding this distribution is crucial for elucidating ExPEC pathogenicity mechanisms and tracking the evolution of clinically relevant ExPEC lineages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively map the distribution of papA and papG variants within the diversity of ExPEC genotypes.
  • To identify associations between specific P fimbria variants and prevalent ExPEC phylogroups and sequence types.
  • To investigate the presence of these variants in strains from human and animal sources and in a specific cohort of Chilean uropathogenic E. coli.

Main Methods:

  • A large-scale descriptive study analyzing genomic sequences from the NCBI Assembly Refseq database.
  • Detection and characterization of papA and papG variants across various E. coli genotypes.
  • Analysis of 17 genomes from Chilean uropathogenic E. coli strains for variant distribution and associations.

Main Results:

  • Common papA variants (F11, F10, F48, F16, F12, F7-2) and papG variants (papGII, papGIII) were significantly associated with major ExPEC genotypes (phylogroups B2, D; STs 95, 131, 127, 69, 12, 73).
  • Some strains, particularly ST12, harbored multiple papA and papG variants. These variants were also found in strains from humans and animals (poultry, bovine, dogs).
  • In Chilean uropathogenic E. coli, ST12 and ST73 were predominant, with detected papA and papG variants showing significant associations with sequence types, mirroring findings in the broader database.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides a comprehensive landscape of P fimbria variant distribution in ExPEC, highlighting key associations with virulent genotypes.
  • The findings support the role of P fimbria variants in ExPEC pathogenicity and suggest potential cross-transmission between humans and animals.
  • The detailed characterization aids future studies on P fimbria-mediated adherence and provides a basis for ExPEC typing and epidemiological surveillance.
Keywords:
P fimbriaextraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia colipapApapG

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