Whole-genome sequence analysis of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli from Mexico

Whole-genome sequence analysis of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli from Mexico GL Paniagua-Contreras,1 E Monroy-Pérez,1 CE Díaz-Velásquez,2 A Uribe-García,1 A Labastida,3 F Peñaloza-Figueroa,3 P Domínguez-Trejo,4 LR García,4 F Vaca-Paniagua,25–6 S Vaca11Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, México; 2Laboratorio Nacional en Salud: Diagnóstico Molecular y Efecto Ambiental en Enfermedades Crónico-
Degenerativas, FES-Iztacala, UNAM, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México, México; 3OMICS Analysis, Ciudad de México, México; 4Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México City, México; 5Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México City, México; 6Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, MéxicoBackground: Escherichia coli is the main bacterium associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs), including cystitis and pyelonephritis. Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) harbors numerous genes that encode diverse virulence factors contributing to its pathogenicity. The treatment of UTIs has become complicated due to the natural selection of E. coli strains that are multiresistant to several groups of antibiotics regularly used in clinical settings such as hospitals. Genomic reports of the global composition and distribution of the antibiotic resistance and virulence genes of these pathogenic strains are lacking in the Mexican population.Purpose and methods: The aim of this study was to globally characterize the genomes of a group of UPEC strains by massive parallel sequencing to determine the prevalence and distribution of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes associated with different serotypes and phylogenetic groups.Results: The strains exhibited 138-197 virulence genes and 29 antibiotic resistance genes related to antibiotics that are commonly used in clinical practice.Conclusions: These findings are relevant to the definition of new strategies for treating urinary tract infections in public hospitals and private practice. To further define the epidemiological distribution and composition of these virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, larger studies are needed.Keywords: whole-genome sequencing, virulence genes, antibiotic resistance genes