Comparative virulotyping and phylogenomics of Escherichia coli isolates from urine samples of men and women suffering urinary tract infections

Abstract

<em><strong>Objective(s):</strong></em> Escherichia coli strains are common pathogens that can cause urinary tract infections (UTI). This study aimed to assess E. coli phylogroups and virulence types in male and female UTI patients.<br /><em><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong></em> In the present study, 160 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates (from both sexes) were assigned to phylogroups/types and some extraintestinal virulence factors were detected within them by multiplex-PCR.<br /><em><strong>Results:</strong></em> The isolates from women and men were predominantly distributed within phylogroup B2 and D, respectively. The presence of D2 phylotype was higher in men isolates than women, significantly (P=0.045). In male isolates papEF and sfa/focDE are more prevalent in B2 group than D, significantly (P=0.048; P=0.035). The prevalence of hly in B2 group is significantly higher than D (P=0.034) in female isolates.<br /><em><strong>Conclusion:</strong></em> This study highlighted different features of E. coli genotypes from phylogenetic and virulence point of view implicated in UTI's in both human genders.