title: Natural genetic transformation of clinical isolates of Escherichia coli in urine and water.
abstract: Transfer of plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli wild-type strains is possible by transformation under naturally occurring conditions in oligotrophic, aquatic environments containing physiologic concentrations of calcium. In contrast, transformation is suppressed in nitrogen-rich body fluids like urine, a common habitat of uropathogenic strains. Current knowledge indicates that transformation of these E. coli wild-type strains is of no relevance for the acquisition of resistance in this clinically important environment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria. markus.woegerbauer@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woegerbauer
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Graninger
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burgmann
mesh_terms: D002122:Calcium Chloride; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000382:microbiology*; D014169:Transformation, Bacterial; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters; D002122:Calcium Chloride