Identification of virulence-associated antigens and plasmids in Rhodococcus equi from patients with AIDS.
Rhodococcus equi is an emerging opportunistic pathogen of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. However, little is known about the characteristics of R. equi isolates from humans. This study characterized the plasmid content, expression of a virulence-associated antigen, and mouse virulence of 19 R. equi isolates from patients with and without AIDS. EcoRI digestion patterns and Southern, Western, and virulence analyses of these isolates with cryptic plasmids allowed definition of a new category of R. equi. Isolates from patients with AIDS tended either to be virulent and have 15- to 17-kDa antigens and an 85-kb plasmid (10(6) bacteria needed for lethality) or have intermediate virulence (10(7) bacteria needed for lethality) and one of four distinct large plasmids that share DNA homology and express a 20-kDa antigen. Most of the non-AIDS isolates were avirulent (> 10(8) bacteria needed for lethality) and did not express any of these antigens.
Takai
S
S
Department of Animal Hygiene, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Imai
Y
Y
Fukunaga
N
N
Uchida
Y
Y
Kamisawa
K
K
Sasaki
Y
Y
Tsubaki
S
S
Sekizaki
T
T
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015342:DNA Probes; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015342:DNA Probes