Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections of both dogs and humans, with most caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Recurrent UPEC infections are a major concern in the treatment and management of UTIs in both species. In humans, the ability of UPECs to...

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Main Authors: Jessica M Gilbertie, Breanna J Sheahan, Shelly L Vaden, Megan E Jacob
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316834
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author Jessica M Gilbertie
Breanna J Sheahan
Shelly L Vaden
Megan E Jacob
author_facet Jessica M Gilbertie
Breanna J Sheahan
Shelly L Vaden
Megan E Jacob
author_sort Jessica M Gilbertie
collection DOAJ
description Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections of both dogs and humans, with most caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Recurrent UPEC infections are a major concern in the treatment and management of UTIs in both species. In humans, the ability of UPECs to form intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) within urothelial cells has been implicated in recurrent UTIs. However, the role of IBCs has not been explored in the pathogenesis of canine recurrent UTIs. In this study, we identified IBCs in both urine and bladder tissue from dogs with UPEC associated UTIs. In addition, we showed that UPECs derived from canine UTIs form IBCs within primary canine urothelial cells. As in human UTIs, formation of IBCs by canine UPECs correlated with the presence of the fimH gene as those isolates lacking the fimH gene formed fewer IBCs in canine urothelial cells then those harboring the fimH gene. Additionally, UPEC strains from clinical cases classified as recurrent UTIs had higher rates of IBC formation than UPEC strains from non-recurrent UTIs. These IBCs were tolerant to treatment with enrofloxacin, cefpodoxime and doxycycline at 150, 50 and 50 μg/mL respectively, which are representative of the concentrations achieved in canine urine after standard dosing. This is consistent with the clinical perspective that current UTIs are a common condition of dogs and are difficult to manage through antimicrobial treatment. Additionally, the dog could prove to be a powerful model of IBC formation as they are natural models of UPEC-causing UTIs and have similar pathophysiology of IBC formation.
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spelling doaj-art-26a33582cd1340b8844d8dfa7fc0bccf2025-01-17T05:31:25ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031683410.1371/journal.pone.0316834Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.Jessica M GilbertieBreanna J SheahanShelly L VadenMegan E JacobUrinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections of both dogs and humans, with most caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Recurrent UPEC infections are a major concern in the treatment and management of UTIs in both species. In humans, the ability of UPECs to form intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) within urothelial cells has been implicated in recurrent UTIs. However, the role of IBCs has not been explored in the pathogenesis of canine recurrent UTIs. In this study, we identified IBCs in both urine and bladder tissue from dogs with UPEC associated UTIs. In addition, we showed that UPECs derived from canine UTIs form IBCs within primary canine urothelial cells. As in human UTIs, formation of IBCs by canine UPECs correlated with the presence of the fimH gene as those isolates lacking the fimH gene formed fewer IBCs in canine urothelial cells then those harboring the fimH gene. Additionally, UPEC strains from clinical cases classified as recurrent UTIs had higher rates of IBC formation than UPEC strains from non-recurrent UTIs. These IBCs were tolerant to treatment with enrofloxacin, cefpodoxime and doxycycline at 150, 50 and 50 μg/mL respectively, which are representative of the concentrations achieved in canine urine after standard dosing. This is consistent with the clinical perspective that current UTIs are a common condition of dogs and are difficult to manage through antimicrobial treatment. Additionally, the dog could prove to be a powerful model of IBC formation as they are natural models of UPEC-causing UTIs and have similar pathophysiology of IBC formation.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316834
spellingShingle Jessica M Gilbertie
Breanna J Sheahan
Shelly L Vaden
Megan E Jacob
Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
PLoS ONE
title Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
title_full Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
title_fullStr Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
title_full_unstemmed Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
title_short Canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.
title_sort canine urothelial cell model to study intracellular bacterial community development by uropathogenic escherichia coli
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316834
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AT breannajsheahan canineurothelialcellmodeltostudyintracellularbacterialcommunitydevelopmentbyuropathogenicescherichiacoli
AT shellylvaden canineurothelialcellmodeltostudyintracellularbacterialcommunitydevelopmentbyuropathogenicescherichiacoli
AT meganejacob canineurothelialcellmodeltostudyintracellularbacterialcommunitydevelopmentbyuropathogenicescherichiacoli