Comparative proteomics of uropathogenic Escherichia coli during growth in human urine identify UCA-like (UCL) fimbriae as an adherence factor involved in biofilm formation and binding to uroepithelial cells

Abstract

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the primary cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) in humans. For the successful colonisation of the human urinary tract, UPEC employ a diverse collection of secreted or surface-exposed virulence factors including toxins, iron acquisition systems and adhesins. In this study, a comparative proteomic approach was utilised to define the UPEC pan and core surface proteome following growth in pooled human urine. Identified proteins were investigated for subcellular origin, prevalence and homology to characterised virulence factors. Fourteen core surface proteins were identified, as well as eleven iron uptake receptor proteins and four distinct fimbrial types, including type 1, P, F1C/S and a previously uncharacterised fimbrial type, designated UCA-like (UCL) fimbriae in this study. These pathogenicity island (PAI)-associated fimbriae are related to UCA fimbriae of Proteus mirabilis, associated with UPEC and exclusively found in members of the E. coli B2 and D phylogroup. We further demonstrated that UCL fimbriae promote significant biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces and mediate specific attachment to exfoliated human uroepithelial cells. Combined, this study has defined the surface proteomic profiles and core surface proteome of UPEC during growth in human urine and identified a new type of fimbriae that may contribute to UTI.

Comparison of Gene Expression Profiles of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli CFT073 after Prolonged Exposure to Subinhibitory Concentrations of Different Biocides

“…One could speculate that, in our study, the biocides at these subinhibitory concentrations deplete the bacteria of nitrogen. The DppA protein (periplasmic dipeptide transport protein) was found to be expressed on the surface of E. coli CFT073 and four other reference UPEC strains during in vitro growth in human urine, identified by mass spectrometric analysis of EDTA heat-induced outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) [59].…”

UroPathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) Infections: Virulence Factors, Bladder Responses, Antibiotic, and Non-antibiotic Antimicrobial Strategies

“…High-resolution liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based technology has been applied to identify and characterize the surface proteome of UPEC isolates and of strains grown in human urine (Wurpel et al, 2015 , 2016 ). These studies identified several expressed proteins highly conserved among different strains, thus representing the core surface proteome of UPEC.…”

Genetic and Virulence Characteristics of a Hybrid Atypical Enteropathogenic and Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC/UPEC) Strain

“…Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, affecting both community and hospitalized subjects, resulting in impairment of the patients' life quality (Terpstra and Geerlings, 2016 ; Wurpel et al, 2016 ). Several factors, such as surgical manipulation, diabetes, previous hospitalizations, and catheterization, are related to a higher risk for developing this disease (Saltoglu et al, 2015 ; Redder et al, 2016 ).…”