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O Side Chain Deficiency Enhances Sensitivity of Escherichia coli to Shiga Toxin 2-Converting Bacteriophages

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Abstract

We investigated the relationship between expression of the O side chain of outer membrane lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and infection by a Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2)-converting phage in normal and benign strains of Escherichia coli. Of 19 wild-type E. coli strains isolated from the feces of healthy subjects, those with low-molecular-weight LPS showed markedly higher susceptibility to lytic and lysogenic infection by Stx2 phages than those with high-molecular-weight LPS. All lysogens produced infectious phage particles and Stx2. The Stx-negative E. coli O157:H7 strain ATCC43888 with an intact O side chain was found to be resistant to lysis by an Stx2 phage and lysogenic infection by a recombinant Stx2 phage, whereas a rfbE mutant deficient in the expression of the O side chain was readily infected by the phage and yielded stable lysogens. The evidence suggests that an O side chain deficiency leads to the creation of new pathotypes of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) within the intestinal microflora.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants-in-aid for science research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan, and the Japan Health Science Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Rokko-dai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan

    Atsushi Iguchi & Ro Osawa

  2. Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan

    Sunao Iyoda & Haruo Watanabe

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  1. Atsushi Iguchi
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  2. Sunao Iyoda
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  3. Haruo Watanabe
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  4. Ro Osawa
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Correspondence to Atsushi Iguchi.

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Iguchi, A., Iyoda, S., Watanabe, H. et al. O Side Chain Deficiency Enhances Sensitivity of Escherichia coli to Shiga Toxin 2-Converting Bacteriophages. Curr Microbiol 54, 14–19 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-006-0139-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-006-0139-x

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