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Characterization of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli serotype 0164 by means of plasmid analysis and virulence assay
Author(s) -
Todorova K.,
Bratoeva M.,
Daneva M.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.3620300616
Subject(s) - plasmid , virulence , serotype , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , enterobacteriaceae , dna , genetics , gene
Escherichia coli 0164 is the most prevalent serotype among the enteroinvasive E. coli in Bulgaria and is annually isolated in sporadic, as well in epidemic cases. We studied 243 strains of this serotype, isolated in different regions of the country over the period 1954–1988. The plasmid analysis performed revealed that the presence of large plasmid DNA with molecular size of 140 MDa was related to the virulence of the strains, assessed by the test of SERENY. The absence of this plasmid or its deletion led to the loss of virulence. In 92 % of the strains two small plasmids were demonstrated with molecular size of 6.0 MDa and 4.8 MDa, which appeared to be serotype‐specific. On the basis of the plasmid content of the strains, 7 plasmid profiles were differentiated. The stability of the plasmid profile within a given epidemic focus was confirmed.