Genomic and phenotypic diversity of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from endophthalmitis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250084
• Publication Date: 2021-04-14T22:28:28Z
• Authors: Gayatri Shankar C...; Hayley R. Nordstrom; Daniel R. Evans; Regis P. Kowalski; Deepinder K. Dhal...; Vishal Jhanji; Robert M. Q. Shanks; Daria Van Tyne
• Keywords: Enterococcus faecalis; Bacterial Genetics

Enterococcus faecalis are hospital-associated opportunistic pathogens and also causative agents of post-operative endophthalmitis. Patients with enterococcal endophthalmitis often have poor visual outcomes, despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. Here we investigated the genomic phenotypic characteristics E. isolates collected from 13 patients treated at University Pittsburgh Medical Center Eye over 19 years. Comparative analysis indicated that were infected belonging to diverse multi-locus sequence types (STs) resembled sampled clinical, commensal, environmental sources. We identified known virulence factors resistance genes in each genome, including conferring aminoglycosides, erythromycin, tetracyclines. assessed all for their cytolysin production, biofilm formation, susceptibility, observed differences between isolates. Fluoroquinolone cephalosporin susceptibilities particularly variable isolates, as formation production. In addition, found evidence adaptation during recurrent by identifying genetic variants arose sequential eight months same patient. a mutation DNA mismatch repair gene mutS was associated an increased rate spontaneous final isolate Overall this study documents variability among causing endophthalmitis, well possible adaptive mechanisms underlying bacterial persistence ocular infection.