Cytotoxic activity of Enterobacter cloacae human isolates.
We examined 55 Enterobacter cloacae isolates from clinical specimens for the production of cytotonic and cytotoxic toxins and the presence of the type III secretion system (TTSS). Twelve isolates (22%) revealed cytotoxic activity that caused destruction of Vero cells, whereas 28 (51%) strains induced lysis of the murine macrophage J774 cell line. TTSS genes were present in 27% of the isolates. The results indicated that these bacteria may destroy phagocytes and epithelial cells, which may lead to spread within the host.
Krzymińska
Sylwia
S
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, A. Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, ul. Umultowska 89, Poland. sylkrzym@amu.edu.pl
Mokracka
Joanna
J
Koczura
Ryszard
R
Kaznowski
Adam
A
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins