Relationship between flu and csgA Virulence Genes and Biofilm Production in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

There are a variety of virulence factors that allow Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to cause infection in the urinary tract among which biofilm production ability plays the most important role. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of a link between biofilm formation and the flu and csgA virulence genes in this bacterium.

The 45 UPEC isolates were collected from patients with the urinary tract infection in Rasht and following the biochemical and microbiological standard tests, the presence of flu and csgA virulence genes in confirmed isolates was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates was studied with antibiogram testing to determine its relationship with biofilm formation ability.

The highest antibiotic resistance profile was seen against chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Based on PCR test results, 60% and 82% of isolates have flu and csgA virulence genes, respectively and both genes were present in 55.5% of isolates. Four isolates with low, 10 isolates with strong and 11 isolates with moderate biofilm formation abilities were found to have both flu and csgA genes.

The results showed a significant association between the presence of flu and csgA genes and biofilm production abilities in UPEC strains. Therefore, these genes can be further investigated as a suitable target for therapeutic interventions. In addition, due to the high resistance of these isolates to chloramphenicol and tetracycline antibiotics, these antibiotics are not recommended for the treatment of patients with urinary tract infections.