A Newly Identified Group of P-like (PL) Fimbria Genes from Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) Encode Distinct Adhesin Subunits and Mediate Adherence to Host Cells

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.01421-21
• Publication Date: 2022-06-27T13:00:40Z
• Authors: Hajer Habouria; Hicham Bessaiah; Pravil Pokharel; Sabin Dhakal; Ségolène Maris; Julie Buron; Sébastien Houle; Charles M. Dozois
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Avian; pilus; 570; Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli; Fimbria; 610; hemagglutination; fimbriae; Poultry; biofilm; Bacterial Adhesion; Fimbriae; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; pathogenic E. coli; Escherichia coli; Animals; Humans; Pathogenic E. Coli; adherence; extraintestinal diseases; Adhesins, Bacterial; Escherichia coli Infections; fimbria; Adhesins, Escherichia coli; avian; Biofilm; Hemagglutination; poultry; Pili; adhesins; Adhesins; Pilus; Urinary Tract Infection; 3. Good health; Extraintestinal Diseases; Adherence; Fimbriae, Bacterial; pili; Fimbriae Proteins; urinary tract infection

Fimbrial adhesins promote bacterial adherence and biofilm formation. Sequencing of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strain QT598 identified new fimbriae belonging to the π group, which we named PL (P-like) since genetic organization sequence are similar those P related fimbriae. Genes encoding located on IncF plasmids present in diverse E. isolates from poultry, human systemic infections, other sources. As with fimbriae, exhibit divergence adhesin-encoding genes could be divided into 5 classes based differences PlfG adhesin. plf two predominant adhesin classes, class I (PlfGI) PlfGII, were cloned. visualized by electron microscopy, associated increased biofilm, demonstrated distinct hemagglutination profiles, promoted bladder kidney epithelial cells. The hybrid comprised plfQT598, wherein plfG was replaced papG; also functional mediated cells, demonstrating compatibility between components these types Deletion did not reduce colonization mouse urinary tract a single-strain infection model. In contrast, loss significantly reduced competitive kidneys. Furthermore, gene expression over 40-fold compared during vitro culture. Overall, represent group both similarities host cells improved kidney. IMPORTANCE Fimbriae important factors many species. identification type encoded some investigated. Genomic sequences fimbrial clusters have diversity, particularly gene. Functional studies specificity, although Plf under study A mutant showed decreased kidneys may previously unrecognized that contribute specificity tissue tropism strains.