Skip to main content
Article
Genomic Survey of E. coli From the Bladders of Women With and Without Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Frontiers in Microbiology
  • 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 Chicago
  • Alan J Wolfe, Loyola University Chicago
  • Catherine Putonti, Loyola University Chicago
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-4-2020
Pages
13
Publisher Name
Frontiers Media S.A.
Disciplines
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
Citation Information
Andrea Garretto, Taylor Miller-Ensminger, Adriana Ene, Zubia Merchant, et al.. "Genomic Survey of E. coli From the Bladders of Women With and Without Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms" Frontiers in Microbiology Vol. 11 (2020)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/catherine-putonti/132/