[Detection of virulence factors using DNA probes in uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli].
BACKGROUND
There are several bacterial determinants that contribute to the onset of urinary tract infection by E. coli. The present study focuses on some of the virulence factors considered to be most important, as P fimbriae, the siderophore aerobactin and bacterial capsule, which were studied among 123 uropathogenic E. coli strains isolated from outpatients from the Basque Community.


METHODS
Virulence factors were detected using Molecular Biology techniques, namely DNA hybridization to specific probes prepared in our laboratory.


RESULTS
When probe pap2, specific for fimbrial adherence was used, 36.5% of the strains showed positive hybridization, and 66 and 73% of the strains hybridized to probes for aerobactin and common capsule region, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that this technology provides a very useful tool for rapid and easy screening of strains harbouring different virulence factors. Nevertheless, the fact that these methods detect genetic determinants that are not always being expressed must be borne in mind.
Rodríguez-Alvarez
E
E
Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Leioa, Vizcaya.
Abalia
I
I
Bilbao
J R
JR
Umaran
A
A
Cisterna
R
R
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009876:Operon; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D017262:Siderophores / Q000235:genetics; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D017262:Siderophores; C031819:aerobactin
Detección de factores de virulencia mediante sondas de DNA en cepas de Escherichia coli uropatógenas.