Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41588103›Full record

ArticleCommunications medicine2026

Genomic characterization and sub-clustering of Escherichia coli clonal complex 38 reveal host associated genetic markers.

Louise Roer, Astrid Rasmussen, Frank Hansen, Lars E B Christoffersen, Raphael Sieber, Flemming Scheutz, Rene S Hendriksen, Brian D Johnston, James R Johnson, Barbara J Holzknecht and 16 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications medicine, 2026. 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

26 authors.

Louise RoerDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. loro@ssi.dk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6892-913X
Astrid RasmussenDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Frank HansenDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lars E B ChristoffersenDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Raphael SieberDepartment of Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0372-128X
Flemming ScheutzDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3931-4846
Rene S HendriksenReseach group Global Capacity building, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
Brian D JohnstonMinneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
James R JohnsonMinneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Barbara J HolzknechtDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lillian SøesDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Kristian SchønningDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7767-305X
Dennis B HolmgaardDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark.
Ulrik S JustesenDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6130-1902
Claus ØstergaardDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
Turid S SøndergaardDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Sønderjylland Hospital, Aabenraa, Denmark.
Marc T K NielsenDepartment of Clinical Diagnostics, Esbjerg and Grindsted Hospital, Esbjerg, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3297-3814
Mikala WangDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Hans L NielsenDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Sam AbrahamEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Mobile Elements and Plasmids (ESGMAP), Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0950-2317
Daniel E ParkMilken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Maliha AzizMilken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Lance B PriceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Mobile Elements and Plasmids (ESGMAP), Basel, Switzerland.
Anette M HammerumDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henrik HasmanDepartment of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Marc SteggerEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Mobile Elements and Plasmids (ESGMAP), Basel, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0321-1180

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEscherichia coli clonal complex 38 (CC38) is a genetically diverse lineage increasingly linked to antimicrobial resistance and extraintestinal infections in humans. Despite its clinical and epidemiological relevance, its population structure, zoonotic potential, and ecological associations remain poorly understood.

methodsWe analyzed 242 human E. coli CC38 bloodstream isolates collected through Danish national surveillance, 83 isolates from food and production animals, and 2313 international genomes to investigate host associations and transmission dynamics. Phylogenetic reconstruction, Bayesian host prediction based on mobile genetic elements, and statistical testing of plasmid-host associations were used to delineate population structure and identify potential host-associated markers.

resultsHere we show that Danish CC38 isolates belong to multiple sub-lineages, with no evidence of foodborne outbreaks and limited hospital transmission. Bayesian host prediction supports a poultry origin for several distinct human sub-lineages. Global analyses of 2638 genomes reveal two major clusters: a poultry-associated Cluster I and a predominantly human-associated Cluster II, which subdivides into eight sub-lineages with distinct host, resistance, and virulence profiles. Two small plasmids, ColRNAI and Col(MG828), are strongly enriched in poultry and livestock isolates but largely absent from human-associated sub-clusters, indicating their value as host-associated genetic markers.

conclusionsOur findings refine the phylogenetic structure of E. coli CC38 and identify plasmid markers that may enhance genomic surveillance of zoonotic transmission. These results highlight the importance of a One Health approach to monitor antimicrobial resistance across human, food, and animal reservoirs. Together, these insights support data-driven One Health surveillance and intervention strategies.

Identifiers

PMID41588103
PMCPMC12946264

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.