Uropathogenic bacteria are widely distributed in the environment and urinary tract infection is implicated in kidney stone disease. Here, we report on a urease negative bacterium Kalamiella piersonii (strain YU22) isolated from the urine of a struvite stone (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) patient. The closest species, K. piersonii IIIF1SW-P2T was reported from International Space Station samples. However, there are no earlier reports on its human association. Using whole genome and experimental analysis, its involvement in urinary tract colonization and struvite crystallization was explored. The strain YU22 showed many virulence factors that are needed for host cell invasion and colonization including cell adhesion factors, swimming and swarming motilities, biofilm and siderophore among others. In vitro infection studies in HEK-293T cells demonstrated the host cell attachment and killing. It was able to utilize amino acids as sole carbon source and showed growth in synthetic and healthy urine establishing metabolic adaptation to urinary tract. Increased pH and availability of ammonium ions from amino acid breakdown promoted struvite crystallization. The results from this study support the involvement of urease negative uropathogen in the struvite lithogenesis. Further studies on other isolates of K. peirsonii are warranted to assess its health risks.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland). 2020 Aug 29*** epublish ***
Punchappady Devasya Rekha, Asif Hameed, Muhammed A P Manzoor, Mangesh V Suryavanshi, Sudeep D Ghate, A B Arun, Sneha S Rao, Sukesh Kumar Bajire, M Mujeeburahiman, C-C Young
Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya Deemed to be University, Mangalore 575018, India., Department of Urology, Yenepoya Medical College and Hospital, Yenepoya Deemed to be University, Mangalore 575018, India., Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
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