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Population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors of diabetic foot-associated E. coli

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Title: Population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors of diabetic foot-associated E. coli
Authors: Ajumobi, V., Tahir, Z., Hayes, P.M., McCormick, A.L., Torraca, V.
Publisher Information: American Society for Microbiology
Publication Year: 2026
Collection: University of Westminster: WestminsterResearch
Subject Terms: Diabetic foot infection, Escherichia coli, DFEC, ExPEC, multidrug resistance, whole genome sequencing
Description: Diabetic foot infections (DFI) are a major complication of diabetes, often leading to lower limb amputations. Escherichia coli is a predominant Gram-negative pathogen in DFI, yet its genomic and pathogenic features remain poorly characterised. Here, we present a whole genome sequence-based analysis of diabetic foot-associated E. coli (DFEC) isolates from diverse geographical locations. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed substantial diversity, with strains spanning seven phylogroups and 28 sequence types. Capsule biosynthesis loci linked to invasive infections, such as K1, K2ab, and K5, were also detected. The DFEC pangenome comprised 18,263 gene clusters, indicating high genomic plasticity. The plasmid repertoire was also varied and contributed to the genomic diversity of the strains. Approximately 78% of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR), with resistance to last-resort antibiotics such as colistin and carbapenems also observed. High frequencies of virulence factors involved in host cell adherence, iron metabolism, serum survival, as well as toxins and type 3 secretion system (T3SS) genes were also detected. In contrast, metabolic modelling showed conserved biochemical profiles. Clustering based on accessory metabolic functions did not mirror phylogeny, suggesting metabolic convergence among distinct lineages. Collectively, these findings reveal that DFEC are versatile pathogens with a repertoire of antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants. These traits make them functionally distinct from commensal E. coli strains and highlight the potential of DFEC to cause severe and invasive infections.
Document Type: article in journal/newspaper
File Description: application/pdf
Language: unknown
Relation: https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/download/2fd93dd6daba81e71de9082e696daf53c677a2e9b2e37989a6ee99fa93d52e8d/3625694/ajumobi-et-al-2026-population-structure-antimicrobial-resistance-and-virulence-factors-of-diabetic-foot-associated.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02837-25; Ajumobi, V., Tahir, Z., Hayes, P.M., McCormick, A.L. and Torraca, V. 2026. Population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors of diabetic foot-associated E. coli. Microbiology Spectrum. 14 (2) e02837-25. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02837-25
Availability: https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/x544x/population-structure-antimicrobial-resistance-and-virulence-factors-of-diabetic-foot-associated-e-coli
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Accession Number: edsbas.D0DAD437
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  Data: Population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors of diabetic foot-associated E. coli
– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ajumobi%2C+V%2E%22">Ajumobi, V.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tahir%2C+Z%2E%22">Tahir, Z.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hayes%2C+P%2EM%2E%22">Hayes, P.M.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McCormick%2C+A%2EL%2E%22">McCormick, A.L.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Torraca%2C+V%2E%22">Torraca, V.</searchLink>
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  Data: American Society for Microbiology
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: University of Westminster: WestminsterResearch
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diabetic+foot+infection%22">Diabetic foot infection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Escherichia+coli%22">Escherichia coli</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22DFEC%22">DFEC</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22ExPEC%22">ExPEC</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22multidrug+resistance%22">multidrug resistance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22whole+genome+sequencing%22">whole genome sequencing</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Description
  Group: Ab
  Data: Diabetic foot infections (DFI) are a major complication of diabetes, often leading to lower limb amputations. Escherichia coli is a predominant Gram-negative pathogen in DFI, yet its genomic and pathogenic features remain poorly characterised. Here, we present a whole genome sequence-based analysis of diabetic foot-associated E. coli (DFEC) isolates from diverse geographical locations. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed substantial diversity, with strains spanning seven phylogroups and 28 sequence types. Capsule biosynthesis loci linked to invasive infections, such as K1, K2ab, and K5, were also detected. The DFEC pangenome comprised 18,263 gene clusters, indicating high genomic plasticity. The plasmid repertoire was also varied and contributed to the genomic diversity of the strains. Approximately 78% of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR), with resistance to last-resort antibiotics such as colistin and carbapenems also observed. High frequencies of virulence factors involved in host cell adherence, iron metabolism, serum survival, as well as toxins and type 3 secretion system (T3SS) genes were also detected. In contrast, metabolic modelling showed conserved biochemical profiles. Clustering based on accessory metabolic functions did not mirror phylogeny, suggesting metabolic convergence among distinct lineages. Collectively, these findings reveal that DFEC are versatile pathogens with a repertoire of antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants. These traits make them functionally distinct from commensal E. coli strains and highlight the potential of DFEC to cause severe and invasive infections.
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  Data: https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/download/2fd93dd6daba81e71de9082e696daf53c677a2e9b2e37989a6ee99fa93d52e8d/3625694/ajumobi-et-al-2026-population-structure-antimicrobial-resistance-and-virulence-factors-of-diabetic-foot-associated.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02837-25; Ajumobi, V., Tahir, Z., Hayes, P.M., McCormick, A.L. and Torraca, V. 2026. Population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors of diabetic foot-associated E. coli. Microbiology Spectrum. 14 (2) e02837-25. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02837-25
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  Data: https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/x544x/population-structure-antimicrobial-resistance-and-virulence-factors-of-diabetic-foot-associated-e-coli
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  Data: edsbas.D0DAD437
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      – Text: unknown
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Diabetic foot infection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Escherichia coli
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: DFEC
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: ExPEC
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      – SubjectFull: multidrug resistance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: whole genome sequencing
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Population structure, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors of diabetic foot-associated E. coli
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              Y: 2026
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