title: Monoclonal antibody detection of IncF group plasmid-encoded TraT protein in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli.
abstract: The TraT protein specified by IncF group plasmids mediates surface exclusion and bacterial resistance to the lethal activities of serum. In this study, an anti-TraT protein monoclonal antibody was generated which failed to react with TraT+ bacteria but which efficiently detected solubilized TraT protein in Western blots and in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Use of this antibody to screen clinical and nonclinical isolates of Escherichia coli for the production of TraT protein revealed its presence in a modest proportion (38%) of normal fecal strains, a significantly higher proportion of clinical strains (51 to 73%), and an even higher proportion (78 to 88%) of clinical strains concomitantly producing the K1 capsule, an important virulence factor of E. coli.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins