The susceptibility of S-layer-positive and S-layer-negative Aeromonas strains to complement-mediated lysis

Forty strains of Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas veronii recovered from invasive and non-invasive infections were tested for their susceptibility to complement-mediated lysis by 65% pooled human serum (PHS). Based upon the results of this assay, two major populations could be defined. The first group (n = 20) consisted of serogroup O:11 strains, all of which possessed a paracrystalline surface layer (S layer); all of these strains were refractory to the bactericidal activity of 65% PHS with the exception of A. hydrophila strain AH-121, which was composed of mixed subpopulations of serum-susceptible and serum-resistant clones. A second collection of isolates (n = 20), all of which were S-layer-negative, contained a subgroup of strains (n = 7) that were highly susceptible to complement-mediated lysis, showing a greater than 100-fold reduction of viable progeny within 30 min of exposure to 65% PHS. Serum-resistant strains from both groups could not be lysed by exposure of bacterial cells to polyclonal somatic or whole cell antisera or to 30 micrograms ml-1 of polymyxin B nonapeptide prior to challenge with 65% PHS. Analysis of selected serum-resistant and serum-susceptible strains from both groups showed that all isolates activated the complement pathway and most bound C3b to the cell surface, indicating that the inability of complement to lyse serum-resistant strains was related to a defect in the terminal portions of the complement pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)