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Volume 145, Issue 11

Expression of cytotoxicity by potential pathogens in the standard collection of reference (ECOR) strains

The GenBank accession numbers for the sequences reported in this paper are AF159702 and AF160993–161002.

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Abstract

The standard collection of reference (ECOR) strains was examined for ability to exert cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells. A group of strains with functional haemolysin expression caused strong cytotoxicity and detachment in J774 macrophage cells as measured by lactate dehydrogenase release and as observed under a microscope. The expression of haemolysin was monitored by using antisera recognizing the α-haemolysin, the HlyA protein, and by quantitative haemolysis assays. The presence of the gene, which may be part of a pathogenicity island, was also confirmed. These analyses revealed that different ECOR strains express quantitatively different levels of haemolysin. One putative enteroaggregative (EAEC) strain was also found in the ECOR collection. The EAEC strain was characterized by the clump formation assay, PCR amplification of the EAEC DNA probe sequence and confirmative sequence analysis of the amplified fragment. The EAEC heat-stable enterotoxin 1 gene, , was found in 14% (10/72) of the ECOR strains and a consensus sequence for was proposed by comparing these sequences with those from pathogens. The gene appeared to be plasmid-located. Based on evidence from the work of other laboratories and from the present findings, it is concluded that the ECOR collection contains strains that may represent pathogenic . It is noted that caution is necessary when handling or disposing of those potentially pathogenic ECOR strains.

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Keyword(s): AA, aggregative adherence , cytotoxicity , DAEC, diffusely adherent E. coli , EAEC, enteroaggregative E. coli , EAST1, EAEC heat-stable enterotoxin 1 , ECOR , ECOR, E. coli collection of reference strains , EHEC, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli , EIEC, enteroinvasive E. coli , enteroaggregative Escherichia coli , enteroaggregative heat-stable enterotoxin , EPEC, enteropathogenic E. coli , ETEC, enterotoxigenic E. coli , haemolysin , LDH, lactate dehydrogenase , MLEE, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and RBC, horse erythrocyte
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1999-11-01
2024-04-16
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Expression of cytotoxicity by potential pathogens in the standard Escherichia coli collection of reference (ECOR) strainsThe GenBank accession numbers for the sequences reported in this paper are AF159702 and AF160993–161002.
Microbiology 145, 3295 (1999); https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-145-11-3295
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-145-11-3295
/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-145-11-3295
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