Hemolysin plasmid coding for the virulence of a nephropathogenic Escherichia coli strain.
The nephropathogenic Escherichia coli strain P673 was shown to harbor two plasmids with molecular sizes of 70 and 41 megadaltons, respectively. The 70-megadalton plasmid, pCW1, coded for tetracycline resistance, whereas hemolysin production was coded by the 41-megadalton plasmid, pCW2. Plasmid pCW1 proved to be self-transmissible, in contrast to pCW2. Transfer of the hemolysin character was associated with the appearance of a 110-megadalton plasmid, pCW3. The incompatibility of pCW3 with both native plasmids and restriction enzyme analysis led to the conclusion that pCW3 is a cointegrate of pCW1 and pCW2, pCW2, carrying the hemolytic determinant, is involved in the nephropathogenic character of strain P673, because (i) elimination of pCW2 from P673 was associated with a loss of virulence and (ii) the nephropathogenicity of the avirulent mutant could be restored by reintroduction of pCW2 DNA as part of a cointegrate structure.
D000818:Animals; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006459:Hemolysin Factors; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids; D011815:R Factors; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D013752:Tetracycline