Eisenberg Lab

Research focus

NIH R01 · 2025

Zoonotic Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Northwest Ecuador: Incidence and Risk Factors

PROJECT SUMMARY Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains cause most urinary tract infections (UTIs) globally, resulting in enormous health and social costs. In the past decade, research has shown that UPEC strains are not just transmitted person-to-person; environmental sources, such as food-animal products, also contribute to transmission. Applying comparative genomics, we have identified host-associated mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that can be used to identify the vertebrate host from which a strain originates. Applying these methods in the United States, we have found that approximately 8% of human UTIs can be linked directly to UPEC from meat and poultry products. In low- and…

From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.