Distribution of virulence genes in clinical and environmental isolates of Aeromonas spp.
The distribution and phenotypic activity of the genes encoding for serine protease, glycerophospholipid-cholesterol acyltransferase, lipases, aerolysin/hemolysin and DNases were investigated in 234 isolates identified by 16S rDNA-RFLP representing all the species of Aeromonas. The former three genes were found to be highly conserved among the genus. Aerolysin/hemolysin and DNase genes and beta-hemolytic activity were significantly more frequent in clinical than in environmental isolates. Aerolysin/hemolysin and serine protease genes were present in all beta-hemolytic strains supporting serine protease as possibly important for the activation of the former gene. The high prevalence of virulence factors in clinical isolates indicates that they may play a role in the mechanisms of pathogenesis of these microorganisms.
Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rovira i Virgili, San Lorenzo 21, Reus 43201, Spain.
M R
MR
Chacón
M J
MJ
Figueras
G
G
Castro-Escarpulli
L
L
Soler
J
J
Guarro
D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000333:Aeromonas / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006461:Hemolysis; D008049:Lipase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002364:Caseins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D014280:Triglycerides; D037521:Virulence Factors; C026018:azocasein; C032676:aerolysin; D000217:Acyltransferases; C085461:Aeromonas hydrophilia lipase-acyltransferase; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D008049:Lipase; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C005830:tributyrin