Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates associated with ulcerative keratitis.
A collection of 63 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with ulcerative keratitis, collected from six centres in England, were typed using serotyping and random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR, and screened for several variable virulence-related genotypes and phenotypes. Sixty-one percent of the isolates were of either serotype O1 or serotype O11, but there was no evidence for a common clone. The majority of isolates (59%) were PCR-positive for exoU rather than for exoS (38%), and carried a-type fliC genes (76%) rather than b-type (24%). Isolates were PCR-positive for pyoverdine-receptor types at a prevalence of 38% for type I, 46 % for type II and 8 % for type III. All but one of the isolates exhibited twitching activity. There was a correlation between the presence of exoS and twitching activity (P = 0.04), suggesting that a combination of exoS genotype and good twitching activity may have a role to play in ExoU-independent corneal virulence.
Winstanley
Craig
C
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Kaye
Stephen B
SB
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Neal
Timothy J
TJ
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Chilton
Helen J
HJ
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Miksch
Silvia
S
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Hart
C Anthony
CA
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
And The Microbiology Ophthalmic Group
Division of Medical Microbiology and Genitourinary Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology*; D004739:England; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012703:Serotyping; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C111749:pseudomonas exoprotein A protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C444820:exoenzyme S