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Genomic and functional characterization of multidrug-resistant E. coli: Insights into resistome, virulome, and signaling systems
Introduction: Genetic plasticity and adaptive camouflage in critical pathogens have contributed to the global surge in multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, posing a serious threat to public health and therapeutic efficacy. Antimicrobial resistance, now a leading cause of global mortality, demands urgent action through diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. In India, the Indian Council of Medical Research's surveillance network identifies Escherichia coli as a major cause of urinary tract infections, with increasing prevalence in human gut microbiomes, highlighting its significance across One Health domains. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing of E. coli strain ECG015, isolated from a human gut sample, was performed using the Illumina NextSeq platform. Results: Genomic analysis revealed multiple antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and efflux pump components. Phylogenomic comparisons showed close relatedness to pathovars from both human and animal origins. Notably the genome encoded protein tyrosine kinases (Etk/Ptk and Wzc) and displayed variations in the envelope stress-responsive CpxAR two-component system. Promoter analysis identified putative CpxR-binding sites upstream of genes involved in resistance, efflux, protein kinases, and the MazEF toxin-antitoxin module, suggesting a potential regulatory role of CpxAR in stress response and persistence. Conclusions: This study presents a comprehensive genomic profile of E. coli ECG015, a gut-derived isolate exhibiting clinically significant resistance traits. For the first time, it implicates the CpxAR two-component system as a potential central regulator coordinating antimicrobial resistance, stress kinase signaling, and programmed cell death. These findings lay the groundwork for future functional studies aimed at targeting stress-response pathways as novel intervention strategies against antimicrobial resistance.
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