Open AccessDetection of virulent Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli by induction of the 43 kDa invasion plasmid antigen, ipaC
Author(s) -
Shamlal Rita,
Rajarathnam Shantha,
Sankaran Krishnan,
Ramachandran Vasanthi,
Subrahmanyam Yerramilli V.B.K.,
Nair G.Balakrish,
Macaden Ragini,
Roy Raman K
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1997.tb00998.x
Subject(s) - shigella , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antigen , virulence , antibiotics , plasmid , escherichia coli , virology , immunology , gene , biochemistry
The invasion plasmid antigen, ipaC (43 kDa) of Shigella spp. and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) could be induced in vitro by growing them in the presence of Congo red. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies to the 43 kDa protein of Shigella has been developed for specific detection of virulent Shigella spp and EIEC. The test is independent of initial isolation of individual colonies. As few as 10 2 CFU/ml of virulent Shigella present in mixed cultures could be detected and concurrently their susceptibility to antibiotics could be analysed after an initial growth of 8–16 h in Congo red‐containing medium. The test may prove useful in the diagnosis and treatment of bacillary dysentery caused either by Shigella or EIEC through their rapid identification and proper antimicrobial therapy.