We report the 5.101-Mbp high-quality draft assembly of the Escherichia coli strain ATCC 23506 (serovar O10:K5:H4, also known as NCDC Bi 8337-41) genome. This uropathogenic strain, commonly referred to as E. coli K5, produces N-acetyl heparosan, a glycosaminoglycan-like capsular polysaccharide and precursor to the anticoagulant pharmaceutical heparin. Metabolic reconstruction of this genome will...

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a debilitating syndrome of unknown etiology often postulated, but not proven, to be associated with microbial infection of the prostate gland. We hypothesized that infection of the prostate by clinically relevant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) can initiate and establish chronic pain. We utilized an E. coli strain newly isolate...

Transfer of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli wild-type strains is possible by transformation under naturally occurring conditions in oligotrophic, aquatic environments containing physiologic concentrations of calcium. In contrast, transformation is suppressed in nitrogen-rich body fluids like urine, a common habitat of uropathogenic strains. Current knowledge indica...

Although many proteins have been described involved in Escherichia coli colonization and infection, only few reports have shown lectins as important components in these processes. Because the mechanisms underlying E. coli colonization process involving lectins are not fully understood, we sought to identify the presence of other non-described lectins in E. coli. Here, we isolated a 75-kDa prote...

We report the 4.682-Mbp high-quality draft assembly of the Escherichia coli strain ATCC 23502 (serovar O5:K4:H4, also known as NCDC U1-41) genome. This uropathogenic strain, commonly referred to as E. coli K4, produces a glycosaminoglycan-like capsular polysaccharide with a backbone similar in structure to unsulfated chondroitin, a precursor to the nutraceutically and potentially pharmaceutical...

Existence in the biofilm state lends bacteria the opportunity to enjoy, at least for a finite amount of time, the benefits of a multicellular entity. The order of events leading to biofilm formation and disassembly has been the topic of interest for numerous studies, aiming to identify factors and mechanisms that underlie this dynamic developmental process. Of particular import is research leve...