Characterization of Escherichia coli serogroups causing meningitis, sepsis and enteritis. II. Classification of Escherichia coli O78 strains by phage sensitivity, colicin type and antibiotic resistance.
Escherichia coli O78: K80 strains isolated from an outbreak of meningitis, sepsis and enteritis in infants, were compared with O78: K80 strains from sporadic cases of enteritis, healthy carriers and animals. The strains were uniform in antigenic structure and phage pattern but differed in colicinogenicity. The epidemic strains and calf-pathogenic cultures produced colicin V, the remaining isolates were characterized by other types of colicin or were not colicinogenic. Col V+ strains multiplied in the mouse peritoneal cavity more readily and killed the animals at significantly lower doses than did col V- strains. One half of antibiotic resistant O78: K80 strains carried R factor. The spread of R factor could be followed by phage restriction experiments.
D000818:Animals; D003086:Bacteriocin Plasmids; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D003087:Colicins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003090:Coliphages; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D008242:Lysogeny; D008581:Meningitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D011815:R Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*
D003087:Colicins; D004768:Enterotoxins