Diversity of biofilm formation in uropathogenic <em>Escherichia coli.</em> — ASN Events
  1. Schedule
  2. Poster Session B
  3. Diversity of biofilm formation in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Diversity of biofilm formation in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. (#334)

Shannon Fenlon 1 2 , Jeremy Webb 2 , Stuart Clarke 2 , Swaine Chen 1 3
  1. Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore
  2. University of Southampton , Southampton, UK
  3. National University of Singapore, Singapore

Urinary tract infections are extremely common with around half of all women experiencing at least one episode in their lifetime1. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are implicated in the majority of UTI cases4. These infections are a major healthcare burden, particularly as 40% of all UTI infections are healthcare associated and 80% of these are Catheter Associated (CAUTI)2 3. 

UPEC virulence is in part due to their ability to form biofilms. UPEC are able to adhere to the catheter surfaces and form complex biofilm structures and bacteria within these biofilms are known to have an increased resistance to antibiotic treatment and are able to evade the host immunity.  One major virulence factor in UPEC is type 1 pili, a surface protein that allows the cells to adhere and invade bladder epithelial cells. Despite strong evidence to show that Type 1 pili are vital in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections5, and their implication in biofilm formation in vitro6, little is known about their role in catheter associated urinary tract infections.

Our initial in vitro analysis of biofilm formation in UPEC strains reveals a difference in the mechanism of biofilm formation at varying temperatures. We show biofilm formation to be dependent on type 1 pili at certain temperatures but independent of type 1 pili at others. This difference in mechanism we have observed is particularly relevant in the case of CAUTI, as different sections of catheters are at different temperatures when they are in clinical use, and raises the possibility that UPEC are able to take advantage of a particular niche along the catheter and create a foothold for infection. 

  1. Foxman B (2002) Epidemiology of urinary tract infections: incidence, morbidity, and economic costs.
  2. Nicolle LE (2008) The prevention of hospital-acquired urinary tract infection.
  3. Lo E, Nicolle L, Classen D, Arias KM, Podgorny K, et al. (2008) Strategies to Prevent Catheter‐Associated Urinary Tract Infections in Acute Care Hospitals
  4. Kucheria R, Dasgupta P, Sacks SH, Khan MS, Sheerin NS (2005) Urinary tract infections: new insights into a common problem.
  5. Wright KJ, Seed PC, Hultgren SJ (2007) Development of intracellular bacterial communities of uropathogenic Escherichia coli depends on type 1 pili
  6. Pratt LA, Kolter R (1998) Genetic analysis of Escherichia coli biofilm formation: roles of flagella, motility, chemotaxis and type I pili
#2015ASM