GENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF TOXINS AND IRON ACQUISITION AGENT AS VIRULENCE FACTOR OF UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI

Escherichia coli called as UPEC possessing specific urovirulence factors, helps in adhesion, survival of the bacteria and leading to the infection in the urinary tract by surpassing the host immune response. Certain virulence factors are responsible for survival of the bacteria which is needed for long term persistence of the bacteria to cause recurrent infections. Aerobactin toxin helps in scavenging the iron from the host, while hemolysin A and cytotoxic necrotizing factor suppresses the inflammatory process and causes tissue damage. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of these fitness and virulence factor genes in the E. coli isolated from urine.