A novel hemA mutation is responsible for a small- colony- variant phenotype in Escherichia coli

We identified a small colony variant (SCV) of an amoxicillin/clavulanic acid- resistant derivative of a clinical isolate of Escherichia coli from Malawi, which was selected for in vitro in a subinhibitory concentration of gentamicin. The SCV was auxotrophic for hemin and had impaired biofilm formation compared to the ancestral isolates. A single novel nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in hemA, which encodes a glutamyl- tRNA reductase that catalyses the initial step of porphyrin biosynthesis leading to the production of haem, was responsible for the SCV phenotype. We showed the SNP in hemA resulted in a significant fitness cost to the isolate, which persisted even in the presence of hemin. However, the phenotype quickly reverted during sequential subculturing in liquid growth media. As hemA is not found in mammalian cells, and disruption of the gene results in a significant fitness cost, it represents a potential target for novel drug development specifically for the treatment of catheter- associated urinary tract infections caused by E. coli.

Automated summary

A small colony variant (SCV) of an amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-resistant Escherichia coli isolate from Malawi showed auxotrophy for hemin due to a single SNP in hemA. Although this SNP resulted in a significant fitness cost to the isolate, the phenotype quickly reverted during sequential subculturing in liquid growth media. HemA may serve as a potential target for novel drug development specifically for the treatment of catheter-associated urinary tract infections caused by E. coli.