High Prevalence of Virulence Genes and in Vitro Biofilm Production in Clinical Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli in Dakar Senegal
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Bacterial virulence is a key factor determining the outcome of each bacterial infection, and virulent bacteria are often associated with high-risk infections. Thus, this study aimed to screen for virulence genes and evaluate the in vitro biofilm formation capacity of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated in Dakar. For the 16 virulence genes identified by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR), all 78 ExPEC isolates carried at least four virulence genes. The prevalence of virulence genes was as follows: adhesin genes fimH (98.7%), mrkD (98.7%), papC (46.2%), afaC (9%), and sfa/focDE (1.3%); iron acquisition system genes entB (98.7%), fepA (98.7%), ybtS (93.6%), fyuA (91%), iucA (91%), iucB (91%), iutA (34.6), iroB (6.4%), iroN (6.4%), and toxin genes hlyA (10.3%) and cnf (1 & 2) (10.3%). Seventy-five of the 78 isolates (96.2%) carried at least two adhesin genes and two iron capture system genes. Evaluation of the biofilm formation capacity revealed that all (29/29) hospital-acquired isolates were biofilm producers with (6/29; 20.7%) strong biofilm producers, (15/29; 51.7%) moderate biofilm producers and (8/29; 27.6%) weak biofilm producers. Hospital-acquired isolates carrying papC had a greater biofilm formation capacity than those lacking papC (p < 0.001). The deepening of this type of study on bacterial virulence and hospital bacterial biofilms could lead to improvements in infection investigation, prevention, and therapeutic protocols.
Authors: Komla Mawunyo Dossouvi, Bissoume Sambe Ba, Gora Lo, Issa Ndiaye, Awa Ba-Diallo, Ousmane Sow, Assane Dieng, Fatimata Talla, Abdoulaye Cissé, Serigne Mbaye Lo Ndiaye, Alioune Tine, Farba Karam, Habsa Diagne-Samb, Safietou Ngom-Cisse, Halimatou Diop-Ndiaye, Issaka Maman, Coumba Toure-Kane, Aïssatou Gaye-Diallo, Sika Dossim, Souleymane Mboup, Cheikh Saad Bouh Boye, Abdoulaye Seck, Makhtar Camara
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4389677043