Identification of specific metabolic capacities associated with major extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli lineages

Bacterial niche colonization relies on multiple factors, among which the metabolic capacity to utilize specific substrates is pivotal. As a gut commensal of humans and other vertebrates acting as an intestinal and extraintestinal opportunistic pathogen, Escherichia coli faces such environmental pressures. We therefore aimed to identify (i) metabolic patterns associated with E. coli lifestyle (commensal versus extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli [ExPEC]) and (ii) ExPEC-specifi