Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo
Login


Indonesian Journal on Health Science and Medicine

 Submit manuscript
Section Articles

Molecular Detection of Some Virulence Genes in E. coli Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): Desember:
DOI : https://doi.org/10.21070/ijhsm.v2i3.298
Published : Oct 24, 2025

Mays Ibrahim Al-Wakeel (1), Abeer M. Alnasrawi (2), Zahraa Z. Al-Mamoori (3), Ali Abdul Kadhim Al-Ghanimi (4)

(1) College of Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
(2) College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
(3) College of Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
(4) College of Sciences, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
Fulltext View | Download

Abstract:

General Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most prevalent bacterial infections worldwide, predominantly affecting women and often caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). Specific Background: The pathogenicity of E. coli in UTIs is primarily associated with its virulence genes, which enable bacterial adhesion, toxin production, and iron acquisition, thus facilitating colonization and persistence in the urinary tract. Knowledge Gap: Despite extensive research, the prevalence and distribution of major virulence genes among E. coli isolates in specific regions, such as Karbala, Iraq, remain insufficiently characterized. Aims: This study aimed to detect five virulence genes (HlyA, papC, iutA, CNF-1, and Sfas) in E. coli isolates obtained from women with UTIs, using molecular PCR techniques. Results: Among 24 isolates, the genes HlyA, papC, CNF-1, and Sfas were detected in 45.83%, 50%, 37.5%, and 37.5% of samples respectively, while iutA was absent. Novelty: This is one of the few studies providing molecular evidence of virulence gene distribution in UTI-associated E. coli within Iraq, highlighting regional variation compared to previous international reports. Implications: The findings enhance understanding of the molecular basis of UTI pathogenicity and may inform the development of targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Highlight :











  1. The study identifies the distribution of five major virulence genes in E. coli isolated from UTI cases.




  2. PCR analysis reveals variation in gene frequency, indicating differing pathogenic potentials among isolates.




  3. The findings emphasize the importance of gene detection for improving therapeutic and preventive strategies against E. coli infections.








Keywords : CNF-1, HlyA, iutA, papC, Sfas, UTI


References

E. A. Rechsteiner and S. M. Schappert, “Ambulatory Medical Care Utilization Estimates for 2007,” 2011. [Online]. Available: [https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/5937](https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/5937)

M. S. Najar, C. L. Saldanha, and K. A. Banday, “Approach to Urinary Tract Infections,” Indian Journal of Nephrology, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 129–139, 2009.

N. H. Alwan, et al., “Bacteria Causing UTI in Patients at Abu Ghraib, Iraq: Isolation and Identification,” Journal of Communicable Diseases, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 98–101, 2023.

C. M. Bettcher, et al., “Urinary Tract Infection,” 2021. [Online]. Available: [https://europepmc.org/article/nbk/nbk572335](https://europepmc.org/article/nbk/nbk572335)

J. R. Johnson, “Definitions of Complicated Urinary Tract Infection and Pyelonephritis,” Clinical Infectious Diseases, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 390–390, 2017.

H. Al Lawati, B. M. Blair, and J. Larnard, “Urinary Tract Infections: Core Curriculum 2024,” American Journal of Kidney Diseases, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 90–100, 2024.

S. Antinori and M. D. Pezzani, “Uncomplicated and Complicated Urinary Tract Infections in Adults: The Infectious Diseases’ Specialist Perspective,” in Imaging and Intervention in Urinary Tract Infections and Urosepsis, M. Tonolini, Ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2018, pp. 17–33, doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-68276-1_3.

O. Hertting, Urinary Tract Infection: Pathogenesis and Complications, Ph.D. dissertation, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, 2011. [Online]. Available: [https://search.proquest.com/openview/387728698a91276bd1926321890e68b9/1](https://search.proquest.com/openview/387728698a91276bd1926321890e68b9/1)

B. Kim, J.-H. Kim, and Y. Lee, “Virulence Factors Associated with Escherichia coli Bacteremia and Urinary Tract Infection,” Annals of Laboratory Medicine, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 203–210, 2022.

H. A. Al-Hadithi, “Molecular Detection of Hemolycin in Escherichia coli and Attempt to Inhibition by Using the Probiotics,” Tikrit Journal of Pure Science, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 79–90, 2018.

H. Ghazvini, K. Taheri, E. Edalati, A. Miri, M. Sedighi, and S. Mirkalantari, “Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Cystitis and Pyelonephritis,” Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 361–367, 2019.

M. Ikeda, et al., “The Prevalence of the iutA and ibeA Genes in Escherichia coli Isolates from Severe and Non-Severe Patients with Bacteremic Acute Biliary Tract Infection is Significantly Different,” Gut Pathogens, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 32, 2021, doi: 10.1186/s13099-021-00429-1.

P. Boquet, “The Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1) from Escherichia coli,” Toxicon, vol. 39, no. 11, pp. 1673–1680, 2001.

H. F. Almasaudi, M. A. Alaubydi, and S. Jawad, “Detection of cnf1 Gene in the Local Human Uropathogenic E. coli Isolate and Study Some Immunological and Histopathological Effects In Vivo,” Iraqi Journal of Biotechnology, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 27–36, 2018.

Z. A. Al-Mahdi, I. A. Bunyan, and M. S. Al-Shukri, “Molecular Study for Some Virulence Factors of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Patients with Wound Infection in Hilla City,” 2016. [Online]. Available: [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20163142374](https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20163142374)

J. Sarowska, et al., “Virulence Factors, Prevalence and Potential Transmission of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Different Sources: Recent Reports,” Gut Pathogens, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 10, 2019, doi: 10.1186/s13099-019-0290-0.

R. A. M. Ali, J. M. R. Alshara, N. S. S. Tuwaij, and H. J. B. Al-Khilkhali, “Study of Antibacterial Chemical Substances and Molecular Investigation among Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim (SXT)-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolates,” Reports of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 166, 2022.

R. Rezaei, M. M. Aliha, R. B. Andouhjerdi, and M. T. Ebrahimi, “Molecular Investigation of Effects of Probiotic on papG and iutA Genes in Different Strains of E. coli Isolated from Urinary Tract Infection,” Archives of Urology Research, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 17–25, 2023.

J. R. Johnson and A. L. Stell, “Extended Virulence Genotypes of Escherichia coli Strains from Patients with Urosepsis in Relation to Phylogeny and Host Compromise,” Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 181, no. 1, pp. 261–272, 2000.

R. N. Hasan, S. A. Jasim, and Y. H. Ali, “Detection of fimH, kpsMTII, hlyA, and traT Genes in Escherichia coli Isolated from Iraqi Patients with Cystitis,” Gene Reports, vol. 26, p. 101468, 2022.

A. A. Noori and S. J. Mohamad, “Detection of the hlyA, fimH, and PgaD Genes in Escherichia coli Isolated from Different Sources in Kirkuk City,” Journal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences, vol. 10, no. 3S, pp. 2846–2853, 2023.

S. M. Mahdi, H. A. Yahya, M. K. Yasir, R. N. Naser, and K. A. K. Jaber, “Investigation of papA, papC, and papG Virulence Genes Revealed Their Association with Antimicrobial Resistance among Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Patients in Thi-Qar Province, Iraq,” Texas Journal of Medical Science, vol. 25, pp. 1–21, 2023.

A. T. Mahmoud, R. A. Ibrahem, M. T. Salim, A. Gabr, and H. M. Halby, “Prevalence of Some Virulence Factors and Genotyping of Hospital-Acquired Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolates Recovered from Cancer Patients,” Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, vol. 23, pp. 211–216, 2020.

M. Yousefipour, S. E. Rezatofighi, and M. R. Ardakani, “Detection and Characterization of Hybrid Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains among E. coli Isolates Causing Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection,” Journal of Medical Microbiology, vol. 72, no. 2, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001660.

C. Onlen Guneri, F. Koksal, S. Kizilyildirim, B. Bedir, and T. Nagiyev, “The Distribution of Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factors (CNF-1, CNF-2, CNF-3) and Cytolethal Distending Toxins (CDT-1, CDT-2, CDT-3, CDT-4) in Escherichia coli Isolates Isolated from Extraintestinal Infections and the Determination of Their Phylogenetic Relationship by PFGE,” International Journal of Clinical Practice, vol. 2022, pp. 1–9, 2022, doi: 10.1155/2022/7200635.

A. A. Kadry, N. M. Al-Kashef, and A. M. El-Ganiny, “Distribution of Genes Encoding Adhesins and Biofilm Formation Capacity among Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolates in Relation to the Antimicrobial Resistance,” African Health Sciences, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 238–247, 2020.