Detection of virulence factors in alpha-haemolytic Escherichia coli strains isolated from various clinical materials.
In total, 201 alpha-haemolytic Escherichia coli isolates from various clinical materials (urine samples and vaginal and rectal swabs) were examined by PCR for the presence of genes for the virulence factors alpha-haemolysin (hly), cytotoxic necrotising factor type 1 (cnf1), P-fimbriae (pap), S/F1C-fimbriae (sfa/foc), aerobactin (aer) and afimbrial adhesin (afaI). Among vaginal isolates, 96% were positive for cnf1, compared with 80% of urine strains (p 0.02) and 63% of rectal strains (p 0.0001). Similarly, sfa/foc-specific DNA sequences were found in 97% of vaginal isolates compared with 75% of rectal strains (p 0.004). The afa1 and aer genes were associated more with rectal alpha-haemolytic E. coli strains than with extra-intestinal isolates. The results suggested that CNF1 and/or S/F1C-fimbriae contribute to colonisation and persistence of alpha-haemolytic E. coli strains in the vaginal environment.
Birosová
E
E
Institute of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, P J Safárik University, Kosice, Slovakia. bogyie@central.medic.upjs.sk
Siegfried
L
L
Kmet'ová
M
M
Makara
A
A
Ostró
A
A
Gresová
A
A
Urdzík
P
P
Liptáková
A
A
Molokácová
M
M
Bártl
R
R
Valanský
L
L
D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C036507:Hlya protein, E coli; D037521:Virulence Factors; C101637:ymcE protein, E coli; C060296:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1