title: A method of enhancing verocytotoxin production by Escherichia coli.
abstract: The number of verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) present in the faeces during an infection may be very low, making their detection difficult. We report a method for enhancing toxin production by VTEC using mitomycin C as an inducing agent with the aim of improving the detection of VTEC. In pure culture, mitomycin C enhanced toxin production up to 100-fold. When applied to mixed faecal culture, toxin could be detected in mitomycin C treated samples when standard cultures were negative and when substantially fewer verocytotoxin-producing bacteria were present. Use of this method may aid in the detection of VTEC and is appropriate for use in the routine diagnostic laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Royal Victoria Infirmary, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: al-Jumaili
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Scotland
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: al-Mardini
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Record
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003470:Culture Media; D004768:Enterotoxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D016685:Mitomycin; D011112:Polymyxin B