Genomic Epidemiology and Machine Learning-Based Drug Discovery for Antimicrobial Resistant Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is a leading cause of pediatric diarrhea, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) complicating treatment. This study analyzed 350 E. coli isolates (175 DEC and 175 non-DEC) to determine molecular pathotypes, resistance patterns, and therapeutic targets. Polymerase chain reaction and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing identified enteropathogenic E. coli as the most prevalent DEC pathotype (35%), followed by enterotoxigenic E. coli (25%), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (15%), enteroinvasive E. coli (10%), and diffusely adherent E. coli (20%). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed distinct clustering between DEC and non-DEC strains, revealing their evolutionary relationships. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed high resistance to ampicillin (87.6%), trimethoprim-sulfam

SUBMITTER: Masood A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12927950 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature