Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Asymptomatic Carriers, Symptomatic Patients, Animals, and Environment

Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) possess virulence genes that differ from enteropathogenic E. coli or commensal E. coli in the intestine. ExPEC is the most important pathogen in urinary tract infections and bacteremia. Recent studies have shown that the epidemic clone sequence type (ST) 131, in conjunction with CTX-M β-lactamases, leads to the emergence of multi-drug resistant E. coli in the community. Other ExPEC international clones or plasmid-carrying ExPEC strains with other antimicrobial resistance genes lead to unpredictable threats to public health. ExPEC strains can be found in a variety of environments, animals, and asymptomatic carriers but also can be isolated from patients with sepsis, which causes excessive morbidity and mortality. However, the epidemiology and the relationships between virulence genes/antimicrobial resistance and clinical presentations in ExPEC is still understudied.

The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive overview of ExPEC infections. This includes epidemiological characteristics and clinical outcomes associated with either unexpected or well-known ExPEC genotypes, characterization of conjugative plasmids, and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. These factors may have a big impact on public health. Epidemiological research, clinical studies and animal models with pathogenesis research are also welcome.

We welcome manuscripts to the Research Topic on:

- Virulence factors, biofilm formation and swarming motility in ExPEC strains and their effect on host-microbe interactions
- Pathogenesis of ExPEC, from colonization to infection
- The role of ExPEC within the context of One Health, i.e. interactions among humans, animals, and the environment
- Epidemiology of ExPEC from the environment and animals to humans
- Clinical outcomes of ExPEC infections in relation to genotype, antimicrobial resistance and disease treatment regimens

Keywords: Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, fecal carriers, urinary tract infection, virulence gene, antimicrobial resistant, colonization

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.