Subtyping of uropathogenic Escherichia coli according to the pathogenicity island encoding uropathogenic-specific protein: Comparison with phylogenetic groups

Background: Phylogenetic analysis has been used widely to characterize extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli in molecular epidemiological studies. We have recently reported a putative pathogenicity island (PAI), carrying uropathogenic‐specific protein (usp) and a unique mosaic structure of small open reading frames following usp, providing four subtypes of PAIusp classified from their sequential patterns. Methods: A total of 427 E. coli isolates from uncomplicated urinary tract infections (194 cystitis, 76 pyelonephritis, and 107 prostatitis) and 50 fecal isolates were examined for phylogenetic grouping and PAIusp subtyping as well as the prevalence of virulence factors (VF) and O serogroups. Results: Both phylogenetic group B2 and usp‐positive strains were equally predominant in cystitis, pyelonephritis and prostatitis (B2, 80.9%, 86.8%, and 86.9%; usp, 79.4%, 93.4%, and 88.8%, respectively). Furthermore, each PAIusp subtype was shown to be closely associated with several VF genes as well as several common O serogroups of uropathogenic E. coli. Conclusions: In molecular epidemiological studies, PAIusp subtyping will provide additional informative findings of E. coli strains belonging to phylogenetic group B2.