ESBLs-producing Escherichia coli from sheep-origin: Genome-wide virulence genes identification and in vivo virulence assessment in mice and Galleria mellonella.

The worldwide spread of pathogenic Escherichia coli, together with the multidrug resistant linked with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (bla , bla and bla ), not only affect the health of animals and humans but also bring huge economic losses to animal husbandry. Despite the high levels of virulence present in many extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing E. coli isolates, however, few studies have comprehensively assessed the pathogenicity of ESBLs-producing E.