Multispecies bacterial invasion of human host cells

• DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftae012
• Publication Date: 2024-05-25T07:32:05Z
• Authors: Charlotte Abell-King; Alaska Pokhrel; Scott A Rice; Iain G Duggin; Bill Söderström
• Keywords: Enterococcus faecalis

Abstract Urinary tract infection (UTI), one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide, is a typical example an that often polymicrobial in nature. While overall course known on macroscale, behavior not fully understood at cellular level and pathophysiology during multispecies well characterized. Here, using clinically relevant bacteria, human epithelial bladder cells urine, we establish co-infection models combined with high resolution imaging to compare single- multi-species cell invasion events three uropathogens: uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), Klebsiella pneumoniae Enterococcus faecalis. all species invaded cells, under flow conditions Gram-positive E. faecalis was significantly less invasive compared Gram-negative UPEC K. pneumoniae. When introduced simultaneously experiment, sometimes same cell, differing frequencies suggesting complex interactions between cells. Inside host observed encasement colonies specifically by UPEC. During subsequent dispersal from only bacteria underwent infection-related filamentation (IRF). Taken together, our data suggest invasions single are frequent support earlier studies showing intraspecies cooperation biochemical UTI.