Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40859410›Full record

ArticleGut pathogens2025

Tracing the evolutionary dynamics of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli in recurrent and multi-site infections.

Ya-Yu Cheng, Ya-Min Tsai, Yao-Chi Chuang, Yu-Hua Fan, Ming-Cheng Wang, Yu-Chen Chen, Ching-Hao Teng, Pei-Yun Kuo, Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Carl Jay Ballena Bregente and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gut pathogens, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Ya-Yu Cheng *Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
Ya-Min Tsai *Department of Clinical Laboratory, En Chu Kong Hospital, No. 399, Fuxing Rd., Sanxia Dist, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Yao-Chi Chuang *Center for Shock Wave Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yu-Hua FanDepartment of Urology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ming-Cheng WangDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Yu-Chen ChenDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Ching-Hao TengInstitute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Pei-Yun KuoInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
Tran Thi Dieu ThuyInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
Carl Jay Ballena BregenteInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
Yen-Zhen ZhangInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
Yi-Hong LeeInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan.
Ding-Ze HoL.T. Brown Experimental School, Hsinchu County, Taiwan.
Cheng-Yen KaoInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Life Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 112304, Taiwan. kaocy@nycu.edu.tw.

Funding

CGMH-NYCU Joint Research Program CGMH-NYCU-113-CORPG8P0211China Medical University CMU113-N-14En Chu Kong Hospital ECKH_W11201National Science and Technology Council 112-2320-B-A49-045-MY3Taipei Veterans General Hospital V113C-200
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCarbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) can cause persistent or multi-site infections, leading to significant clinical challenges due to the limited availability of effective antibiotics. However, the within-host evolution of CREC and its impact on infection patterns remain poorly understood. This study aims to characterize CREC isolates from patients with recurrent or multi-site infections to elucidate the relationship between bacterial adaptation within the host and infection dynamics, thereby addressing a critical gap in our understanding of CREC pathogenesis.

resultsGenotypic analysis, including Nanopore whole-genome sequencing, and phenotypic comparisons were performed on CREC isolates from individual patients. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns revealed that 18 patients were consistently infected with highly genetically related strains. Moreover, two patients (Patients 16 and 18) experienced sequential infections caused by genetically distinct strains, resulting in a total of 20 strain groups. Among these, seven (35%) belonged to phylogroup B1, six (30%) to phylogroup A, four (20%) to phylogroup B2, and three (15%) to phylogroup D. Nine groups were multidrug-resistant (MDR), six were extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and four shifted from XDR to MDR. Notably, group 18 - 1 included two MDR and five XDR strains. We examined the distribution of 31 virulence-associated genes across 20 groups and found that only three groups carried less than 10 genes. However, all strains within the same group harbored the same set of virulence genes. Larvae infection models revealed that strains from patients 7 and 8 became increasingly virulent over time, while those from patients 11 and 16 showed reduced virulence. Plaque assays revealed variability in phage susceptibility among isolates from different patients, as well as among consecutive isolates obtained from the same patient over time. Whole-genome sequencing results suggested plasmid dissemination among CREC strains in patients 5 and 18 based on highly identical plasmid sequences.

conclusionsThese findings underscore the significance of bacterial genomic changes and plasmid transfer in driving phenotypic evolution, enabling CREC to adapt and persist within hosts under selective pressures, thereby sustaining infections.

Indexed as

BacteriophageCarbapenem-resistant Escherichia coliIn vivo evolutionMilti-site infectionsPlasmidRecurrent infectionsVirulence

Identifiers

PMID40859410
PMCPMC12379366

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.