A mode of morphological transformation cycle of MP UPEC. This mode includes the following three stages of MP UPEC invasion of the urine epithelium: UPEC initially adopts a rod-shaped form, adheres to epithelial cells, and penetrates them through fimbriae and other adhesins. It then replicates extensively within these cells, transitioning from a dispersed rod-shaped to a dense, clustered, spherical form known as IBCs. Once the host epithelial cells perish, numerous UPEC are released into the external environment in a filamentous form. These UPEC then revert to their original rod-shaped form, seeking new epithelia of the urinary tract to adhere to, thus completing a full cycle of morphological transformation, leading to a constant invasion of the urinary tract system. UPEC, uropathogenic Escherichia coli; IBC, intracellular bacterial community; MP, morphotype positive.
Bacteria that adhere to epithelial cells, form intracellular bacterial communities or transition to filamentous forms are morphotype-positive. Research in #JournalSpectrum shows that morphotype-positive UPEC strains harbor a more virulence genes. asm.social/2jZ