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Plasmid‐mediated bacteriocin production by Shigella flexneri isolated from dysenteric diarrhoea and their transformation into Escherichia coli
Author(s) -
Padilla C.,
Lobos O.,
Brevis P.,
Abaca P.,
Hubert E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2005.01829.x
Subject(s) - shigella flexneri , microbiology and biotechnology , transformation (genetics) , escherichia coli , bacteriocin , plasmid , shigella , biology , enterobacteriaceae , shigella sonnei , genetics , gene , antimicrobial
Abstract Aims: To determine the production of bacteriocin by Shigella flexneri strains, to relate their production to the presence of dysenteric diarrhoea and to asses the genetic determination of the bacteriocin. Methods and Results: One hundred and sixteen strains of Sh. flexneri were isolated from patients with diarrhoea and 49 of them produced bacteriocin active against several Escherichia coli and abacteriocinogenic Sh. flexneri strains. The extrachromosomal DNA isolated from bacteriocinogenic Sh. flexneri strains were used as a substrate to transform E. coli HB‐101 cells by means of electroporation. Conclusions: Only the Sh. flexneri strains isolated from dysenteric diarrhoea produced bacteriocin. It was demonstrated that a plasmid of approx. 3 kb was responsible for the genetic determination of these anti‐bacterial substances. Significance and Impact of the Study: A 3‐kb plasmid that harboured information for the production of bacteriocin by Sh. flexneri strains was described. The production of this bacteriocin may be related to dysenteric diarrhoea produced by these bacterial strains.