Plasmids and serotypes of hemolytic fecalEscherichia coli
- 17 Downloads
- 1 Citations
Abstract
Twelve of 21 human, hemolytic, fecal isolates ofEscherichia coli produced type 1 hemolysin (HLY1), an extracellular, heat-labile molecule (alpha-hemolysin). Although no common plasmid species was apparent, 11 of 12 HLY1 strains possessed a plasmid≥60 megadaltons (Mdal); 5 of 9 strains with other hemolysins possessed a plasmid of comparable molecular mass (Fisher's exact probability=0.0805). One derivative of an HLY1+strain, which contained a 125 Mdal plasmid, no longer expressed HLY1 and contained a single 102 Mdal plasmid. The presence of large plasmids of varying size and an apparent deletion mutation in HLY1 strains suggest that HLY1 determinants are located on a small, unstable genetic element. In an initial survey of 224 human fecal isolates ofE. coli, the predominant hemolytic serotype was 06:H-, and conversely most (85%) 06:H-isolates were HLY1+. Serotype appears to play an important role in HLY1 expression.
Keywords
Molecular Mass Deletion Mutation Genetic Element Exact Probability Initial SurveyPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Literature Cited
- 1.Birnboim, H. C., Doly, J. 1979. A rapid alkaline extraction procedure for screening recombinant plasmid DNA. Nucleic Acid Research7:1513–1523.Google Scholar
- 2.DeBoy, J. M., Wachsmuth, I. K., Davis, B. R. 1980. Hemolytic activity in enterotoxigenic and non-enterotoxigenic strains ofEscherichia coli. Infection and Immunity29:193–198.Google Scholar
- 3.DeBoy, J. M., Wachsmuth, I. K., Davis, B. R. 1980. Serotypes of enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli isolated in the United States. Infection and Immunity29:361–368.Google Scholar
- 4.de la Cruz, F., Zabala, J. C., Ortiz, J. M. 1978. Incompatibility among alpha-hemolytic plasmids studied after inactivation of the alpha-hemolysin gene by transposition of TN802. Plasmid2:507–519.Google Scholar
- 5.de la Cruz, F., Muller, D., Ortiz, J. M., Goebel, W. 1980. Hemolysis determinant common toEscherichia coli hemolytic plasmids of different incompatibility. Journal of Bacteriology143:825–833.Google Scholar
- 6.Evans, D. G., Evans, Jr., D. J. 1978. New surface-associated heat-labile colonization factor antigen (CFA/II) produced by enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli of serotypes 06 and 08. Infection and Immunity21:638–647.Google Scholar
- 7.Evans, Jr., D. J., Evans, D. G., Richardson, S. H., Gorbach, S. L. 1976. Purification of polymyxin-released, heat-labile enterotoxin ofEscherichia coli. Journal of Infectious Disease133 (suppl.):97–102.Google Scholar
- 8.Hughes, C., Phillips, R., Roberts, A. P. 1982. Serum resistance amongEscherichia coli strains causing urinary tract infection in relation to O type and the carriage of hemolysin, colicin, and antibiotic resistance determinants. Infection and Immunity35:270–275.Google Scholar
- 9.Hull, R. A., Hull, S. I., Minshew, B. H., Falkow, S. 1979. Genetics of hemolysin ofEscherichia coli, pp. 1283–1285. In: Current chemotherapy, Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Chemotherapy and the 19th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology.Google Scholar
- 10.Jorgensen, S. E., Short, E. C., Kurtz, H. J., Mussen, H. K., Wu, G. K. 1976. Studies on the origin of the alphahemolysin produced byEscherichia coli. Journal of Medical Microbiology9:173–189.Google Scholar
- 11.Lovell, R., Rees, T. A. 1960. A filterable hemolysin fromEscherichia coli. Nature (London)188:755–756.Google Scholar
- 12.Merson, M. H., Orskov, F., Orskov, I., Evans, D. J., Sack, R. B., Huq, I., Koster, F. T. 1979. Relationship between enterotoxin production and serotype in enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli. Infection and Immunity23:325–329.Google Scholar
- 13.Minshew, B. H., Jorgensen, J., Counts, G. W., Falkow, S. 1978. Association of hemolysin production, hemagglutination of human erythrocytes and virulence for chicken embryos of extraintestinalEscherichia coli isolates. Infection and Immunity20:50–54.Google Scholar
- 14.Muller, D., Hughes, C., Goebel, W. 1981. Relationship between the haemolytic determinants carried on plasmids and the chromosome ofEscherichia coli. Abstracts of the 91st Ordinary Meeting of the Society for General Microbiology1981:102.Google Scholar
- 15.Noegel, A., Rdest, U., Goebel, W. 1981. Determination of the functions of hemolytic plasmid Hly 152 ofEscherichia coli. Journal of Bacteriology145:233–247.Google Scholar
- 16.Rennie, R. P., Arbuthnott, J. P. 1974. Partial characterization ofEscherichia coli haemolysin. Journal of Medical Microbiology7:179–188.Google Scholar
- 17.Short, Jr., E. C., Kurtz, H. J. 1971. Properties of the hemolytic activities ofEscherichia coli. Infection and Immunity3:678–687.Google Scholar
- 18.Smith, H. W. 1963. The haemolysins ofEscherichia coli. Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology85:197–211.Google Scholar
- 19.Welch, R. A., Dellinger, E. P., Minshew, B., Falkow, S. 1981. Haemolysin contributes to virulence of extra-intestinalE. coli infections. Nature (London)294:665–667.Google Scholar