Urine influences growth and virulence gene expressions in Uropathogenic E. coli: a comparison with nutrient limited medium

Year 2021, Volume: 11 Issue: 2, 209 - 214, 30.06.2021

Defne Gümüş , Fatma Kalaycı Yüksek , Gülşen Uz Özlem Sefer , Emre Yörük , Mine Küçüker

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.686302

Abstract

Objective. The interactions between environmental factors and microbial biological process are well known. Urine has been selected to provide host conditions probably affecting bacterial growth and gene expressions. The aim of this study was to detect the modulations of growth and gene expressions [sfa/foc, cnf1, usp and aer] of UPEC in urine by comparing the results with serum supplemented Standart American Petroleum Institute medium which is defined as host-like medium.

Methods. UPECs were incubated 37°C and growth alterations were detected by measuring the changes in the absorbance at 600 nm in four-,six- and 24 hours periods. Gene expression levels were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Statistical analysis of fold changes in gene expression values and growths were calculated using one-way ANOVA Tukey's post hoc test.

Results. The increase of bacterial growth in urine was found to be statistically significant (p<0.0001). The alterations of aer and sfa/foc expression levels were statistically significant (p<0.001); whereas the expression levels of cnf1 and usp genes were not altered (p>0.05).

Conclusion. According to our results, urine as an environment in vivo affected both the growth and gene expression in UPEC.

Keywords

urine, virulence, growth, gene expression

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