Virulence factors of Escherichia coli isolated from urine of diabetic women with asymptomatic bacteriuria: correlation with clinical characteristics

Since Escherichia coli isolated from compromised patients with symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) express fewer virulence factors than those isolated from healthy controls, the question arises whether this is also the case for diabetic patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were conducted on 111E. coli strains, isolated from the urine of diabetic women with ASB, using primers for the major subunit A and the G-adhesin (I, II, and III) of P fimbriae, type 1 fimbriae, S fimbriae, afimbrial adhesin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF), and aerobactin. Phenotypically, hemolysis, mannose-sensitive hemagglutination, mannose-resistant hemagglutination and O:K:H-serotypes were determined. Furthermore, we investigated the associations between virulence factors and patient characteristics (including deterioration of renal function). Type 1 fimbriae were the most prevalent virulence factor (86% by genotyping and 59% phenotypically). Except for a lower prevalence of known uropathogenic O-serotypes, we found the same number of virulence factors in our compromised patient group as listed in the literature in noncompromised patients with ASB. Certain virulence factors (type 1 and S fimbriae and CNF) of the causative E. colicorrelated with the risk of a decline in renal function. In conclusion, the number of virulence factors in E. coli isolated from the urine of diabetic women with ASB are comparable with the results found in other (noncompromised) patients with ASB. Furthermore, certain virulence factors of E. colimight contribute to a decline in renal function.     

The immunochemical characteristics of the lipopolysaccharides of Pseudomonas syringae (pathovars atrofaciens and phaseolicola) and P. holci (serogroup VI)]

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the representatives of strains of serogroup VI Pseudomonas syringae (P. syringae pv. atrofaciens 2399, pv. phaseolicola 120a, 7842 and P. holci 8299) possessing virulence and confinement to the host-plant are characterized by high serological activity in direct and cross reactions of the binary diffusion in agar, immunoelectrophoresis, passive hemagglutination and inhibition of passive hemagglutination. A supernatant and a sediment obtained after ultracentrifugation of LPS preparations possessed O-antigenic activity. O-specific polysaccharide (PS) is serologically less active than the LPS preparations. Problems of the intergroup and intragroup serological affinity in connection with the structure of O-specific PS. It is proved that the basic chain of O-specific polysaccharide (D-rhamnane) plays definite (but not a single) part in displaying antigenic properties of the whole LPS macromolecule.     

Identification and characterization of pathogenic Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria associated with epizootic ulcerative syndrome in fish in Bangladesh

Sparse information is available on the virulence factors of Aeromonas strains isolated from diseased fish, from the environment, and from humans. In the present study, 52 Aeromonas isolates obtained from epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) lesions in fish, from the aquatic environment, and from children with diarrhea in Bangladesh were identified by biochemical phenotyping (i.e., PhenePlate [PhP] typing) and DNA fingerprinting and then characterized with respect to certain putative virulence factors. The isolates from the fish exhibiting EUS symptoms were identified to be Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria by fatty acid methyl ester analysis and amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting. Biochemical phenotyping revealed that all EUS-associated isolates belonged to a unique phenotype which was not identified among more than 1,600 environmental and diarrheal isolates in a previously collected database of PhP types of Bangladeshi Aeromonas isolates. The 52 Aeromonas isolates were investigated for the production of hemolysin and cytotoxin; for hemagglutination with erythrocytes from fish, human, and rabbit sources; for the presence of a cytolytic enterotoxin gene; and for adhesion to and invasion into fish cell lines. All of the EUS isolates produced all of the virulence factors investigated, as did also some of the environmental isolates, but the isolates from EUS were unique in their ability to agglutinate fish erythrocytes. Our results suggest that a clonal group of A. veronii biovar sobria is associated with, and may be a causative agent of, EUS in fish in Bangladesh.     

Identification and Characterization of Pathogenic Aeromonas veronii Biovar Sobria Associated with Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome in Fish in Bangladesh

Sparse information is available on the virulence factors of Aeromonas strains isolated from diseased fish, from the environment, and from humans. In the present study, 52 Aeromonas isolates obtained from epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) lesions in fish, from the aquatic environment, and from children with diarrhea in Bangladesh were identified by biochemical phenotyping (i.e., PhenePlate [PhP] typing) and DNA fingerprinting and then characterized with respect to certain putative virulence factors. The isolates from the fish exhibiting EUS symptoms were identified to be Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria by fatty acid methyl ester analysis and amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting. Biochemical phenotyping revealed that all EUS-associated isolates belonged to a unique phenotype which was not identified among more than 1,600 environmental and diarrheal isolates in a previously collected database of PhP types of Bangladeshi Aeromonas isolates. The 52 Aeromonas isolates were investigated for the production of hemolysin and cytotoxin; for hemagglutination with erythrocytes from fish, human, and rabbit sources; for the presence of a cytolytic enterotoxin gene; and for adhesion to and invasion into fish cell lines. All of the EUS isolates produced all of the virulence factors investigated, as did also some of the environmental isolates, but the isolates from EUS were unique in their ability to agglutinate fish erythrocytes. Our results suggest that a clonal group of A. veronii biovar sobria is associated with, and may be a causative agent of, EUS in fish in Bangladesh.     

Inhibitors of benzamidine type influence the virulence properties of Porphyromonas gingivalis strains

Synthetic inhibitors of benzamidine type have been found to have inhibiting effects on arginine specific cysteine proteinases of P. gingivalis. The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of these inhibitors on the virulence properties of two P. gingivalis strains, the reference strain ATCC 33277 and JH16-1, a clinical isolate obtained from a patient with severe periodontitis. The inhibitors tested were pentamidine, benzamidine, three bis-benzamidine derivatives with a pentamidine-related structure, one bis-benzamidine derivative with another structure, and one arginine derivative as a negative control, each in the concentrations of 2 microM and 20 microM. As virulence criteria the following parameters were determined: arginine-specific amidolytic activity, growth inhibition, hemagglutination of sheep erythrocytes, adherence to KB cells and immuno-phagocytosis including intracellular killing. Pentamidine and the bis-benzamidine derivatives with pentamidine-related structure showed the most remarkable effects on reduction of amidolytic activity by 35%, growth inhibition and reduced hemagglutination. Except for the arginine derivative all other inhibitors tested enhanced the phagocytosis capacities of granulocytes. No clear influence of the inhibitors on adherence of P. gingivalis to KB cells was seen. Although in vitro effects of the synthetic inhibitors of cysteine proteinases on virulence of P. gingivalis were observed further in vitro tests concerning immunomodulatory effects should be done before these substances are used for therapy in clinically controlled studies.     

Rapid determination of vapA/vapB genotype in Rhodococcus equi using a differential polymerase chain reaction method

Rhodococcus equi is a facultative pathogen of foals. Infection causes an often fatal pulmonary pneumonia. The organism has also been isolated from pigs, cattle, humans and the environment. Equine virulence has a high positive correlation with the expression of a 17.4 kD polypeptide of unknown function, VapA, the product of the plasmid-encoded vapA gene. More recently an isogene of vapA, referred to as vapB and encoding an 18.2 kDa polypeptide, has been identified among pig and human isolates. The two genes share > 80% sequence identity, yet their host strains apparently exhibit different pathogenicity profiles (for example by reference to virulence in mouse model system and host specificity). In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was developed that permits the selective amplification of vapA and vapB. Using this technique the distribution of the two genes among 35 randomly selected isolates of Rhodococcus equi from various animal and environmental sources was determined. Using this technique the genotype of each isolate could be unambiguously assigned as vapA+, vapB+ or vap- (i.e., scoring negative for both vapA and vapB). No isolate scored positive for both vapA and vapB. 100% of equine isolates scored vapA+, confirming the status of vapA as a reliable marker of equine virulence. All three genotypes were found among human isolates; porcine isolates scored either vapB+ or vap- and no vapA+ isolates were present in this sample. Rigorous statistical analysis using the Fisher Exact test confirmed that the high frequency of vapA+ among equine isolates is significant; however the sample size was too small to draw statistically significant conclusions regarding the distribution of genotypes among within other animal groups.     

一株H1N1亚型猪流感病毒的分离鉴定及全基因序列分析

2006年从辽宁省某猪场采集具有流感症状猪鼻拭子共30份,经9~11日龄SPF鸡胚分离,对分离株进行了血凝试验、血凝抑制试验、RT-PCR亚型鉴定,全基因序列比对和接种试验动物试验。结果表明:该毒株具有凝集0.5%鸡红细胞的活性,且与抗猪流感H1标准血清发生血凝抑制反应,RT-PCR分别扩增得到全基因8个片段,利用DNAStar生物学软件进行序列分析,HA基因与GenBank登录的H1~H16中的H1基因序列同源性最高,NA基因与N1~N9中的N1基因序列同源性最高,故该LN株分离毒为猪流感H1N1亚型病毒。全基因序列中,除了M基因不是猪源的,其它基因片段均与国内H1N1亚型猪流感参照株高度同源,推测LN株可能是由类人和类禽谱系的流感病毒与古典猪谱系的流感病毒重排形成的;用该病毒接种试验动物可成功复制出猪流感典型症状。该病毒的分离鉴定及全基因组序列分析为我国进一步调查猪流感的流行规律提供了基础数据。     

Lack of evidence of an association between the carriage of virulence plasmid and the bacteremia of Salmonella typhimurium in humans

The involvement of the virulence plasmid (pSTV) of Salmonella typhimurium in human salmonellosis was examined. Most of the 224 clinical strains isolated from the blood (53) and nonblood samples (171) contained a 90 kb or larger plasmid, most of which were pSTV. The rates of pSTV carriage in the isolates showed no statistically significant difference between those derived from the blood and those from other sources (87% vs. 83%; chi2=0.49, 0.1相似文献   

Prevalence of pathogenic genes of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from humans in Poland between 2003-2005

Campylobacter jejuni is an important cause of food-borne gastroenteritis and enteritis in humans in many developed countries. Several C. jejuni virulence determinants have been identified. The purpose of our experiments was to determine the prevalence of virulence and toxin genes cadF, flaA, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, cdtABC, virB11 among 102 C. jejuni isolates isolated in Poland between 2003 and 2005 from humans with diarrhea. The PCR analysis of the strains revealed the presence of the flaA and the cadF genes among all C. jejuni isolates. Detection rates for the cdtA, cdtB, cdtC and cdtABC cluster genes were 98, 96, 92 and 88% respectively. The virB11 gene was found in only 3% of the isolates. The high prevalence of cadF, flaA and cdt genes demonstrated that these genes may play an important role in C. jejuni virulence. Further research is necessary to clarify the importance of the virB11 gene in the pathogenesis of infections with C. jejuni strains in humans.     

Detection and Characterization of Clade 1 Reassortant H5N1 Viruses Isolated from Human Cases in Vietnam during 2013

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is endemic in Vietnamese poultry and has caused sporadic human infection in Vietnam since 2003. Human infections with HPAI H5N1 are of concern due to a high mortality rate and the potential for the emergence of pandemic viruses with sustained human-to-human transmission. Viruses isolated from humans in southern Vietnam have been classified as clade 1 with a single genome constellation (VN3) since their earliest detection in 2003. This is consistent with detection of this clade/genotype in poultry viruses endemic to the Mekong River Delta and surrounding regions. Comparison of H5N1 viruses detected in humans from southern Vietnamese provinces during 2012 and 2013 revealed the emergence of a 2013 reassortant virus with clade 1.1.2 hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface protein genes but internal genes derived from clade 2.3.2.1a viruses (A/Hubei/1/2010-like; VN12). Closer analysis revealed mutations in multiple genes of this novel genotype (referred to as VN49) previously associated with increased virulence in animal models and other markers of adaptation to mammalian hosts. Despite the changes identified between the 2012 and 2013 genotypes analyzed, their virulence in a ferret model was similar. Antigenically, the 2013 viruses were less cross-reactive with ferret antiserum produced to the clade 1 progenitor virus, A/Vietnam/1203/2004, but reacted with antiserum produced against a new clade 1.1.2 WHO candidate vaccine virus (A/Cambodia/W0526301/2012) with comparable hemagglutination inhibition titers as the homologous antigen. Together, these results indicate changes to both surface and internal protein genes of H5N1 viruses circulating in southern Vietnam compared to 2012 and earlier viruses.     

Carbohydrate specificity of lectins from luminescent bacteria

The presence of lectins on a cell surface was demonstrated for 70 cultures of luminescent bacteria using hemagglutination reactions. It was shown that hemagglutination of luminescent bacteria is inhibited by glucose, maltose, fructose, mannose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The differences in the inhibition of hemagglutination of luminescent and nonluminescent (spontaneous mutants) symbiotic cultures by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine were revealed. The fact that N-acetyl-D-galactosamine inhibits hemagglutination of the luminescent symbiotic bacteria but does not inhibit hemagglutination of the symbiotic cultures lacking luminescence suggests that lectins with N-acetyl-D-galactosamine specificity are possibly involved in the formation and functioning of the symbiosis of luminescent bacteria with marine animals possessing luminous organs.     

Differences in virulence among Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated from humans during disease outbreaks and from healthy cattle

Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes life-threatening outbreaks of diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans and significant economic loss in agriculture and could be a potential agent of bioterrorism. Although the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle and other species with which humans have frequent contact is high, human infections are relatively uncommon, despite a low infectious dose. A plausible explanation for the low disease incidence is the possibility that not all strains are virulent in humans. If there are substantial differences in virulence among strains in nature, then human disease may select for high virulence. We used a gnotobiotic piglet model to investigate the virulence of isolates from healthy cattle and from humans in disease outbreaks and to determine the correlation between production of Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) and Stx2 and virulence. Overall, E. coli O157:H7 strains isolated from healthy cattle were less virulent in gnotobiotic piglets than strains isolated from humans during disease outbreaks. The amount of Stx2 produced by E. coli O157:H7 strains correlated with strain virulence as measured by a reduction in piglet survival and signs of central nervous system disease due to brain infarction. The amount of Stx1 produced in culture was not correlated with the length of time of piglet survival or with signs of central nervous system disease. We suggest that disease outbreaks select for producers of high levels of Stx2 among E. coli O157:H7 strains shed by animals and further suggest that Stx1 expression is unlikely to be significant in human outbreaks.     

Effect of subinhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials on meningococcal adherence

Meningococci adhere to human pharyngeal cells and agglutinate erythrocytes. These events are dependent upon pili and are reduced by encapsulation. The effect of subinhibitory concentrations of seven antimicrobials on meningococcal adherence, antimicrobials on meningococcal adherence, piliation, hemagglutination (HA), and bacterial proteins was studied to determine their potential for modifying virulence. Piliation was reduced by most antibiotics but was most markedly (greater than 70%) reduced by rifampin, tobramycin, and VCN (vancomycin, colistin, and nystatin). Bacterial proteins as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were altered: tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, rifampin, and VCN caused loss of a 43-45 K protein and a general decrease in all stainable protein bands, while erythromycin, ampicillin, and tobramycin only caused an increase in a 28 K protein. HA was reduced by ampicillin, tobramycin, erythromycin, and VCN but interstrain variability was present. Epithelial cell adherence was diminished by an average of 45% compared to controls. The meningococcal strains lost HA, piliation, and adherence in the same rank order, however, there was no significant rank correlation of antibiotic inhibitory activities on these parameters. These results indicate that subinhibitory antibiotic concentrations reduce meningococcal piliation and alter other bacterial proteins; these changes are associated with diminished adherence and hemagglutination, alterations which may be markers of meningococcal virulence.     

News & Notes: Adhesiveness of Bacteroides fragilis Strains Isolated from Feces of Healthy Donors, Abscesses, and Blood

Bacteroides fragilis strains attached to oral epithelial cells (ECs) and the cell line Intestine 407 and associated with human phagocytes with different efficiencies depending on their source. The 58%, 75%, and 40% of strains isolated from feces, abscesses, and blood respectively adhered to ECs with good efficiency (11–40 bacteria/cell). Of the strains from feces and abscesses, 17% and 20% exhibited a high adherence (>40 bacteria/cell); however, none of the blood isolates presented this property. Similar results were obtained with the cell line Intestine 407 and human phagocytes. Of the isolates from feces, abscesses, and blood, 20%, 56%, and 71% respectively also exhibited hemagglutination ability, indicating that this property is a virulence trait more frequently present among pathogenic isolates than in commensal strains.     

Echinococcus granulosus: host lymphocyte transformation by parasite antigens.

Lymphocyte transformation, measured by in vitro tritiated thymidine incorporation, and indirect hemagglutination tests were carried out on hydatid patients and normal individuals using sheep and human hydatid fluid or scolex antigens. The hydatid patients showed statistically significant lymphocyte transformation with human and sheep hydatid fluid or scolex antigens when compared to normal individuals. The indirect hemagglutination tests resulted in high titers of antibody with sheep or human hydatid fluid antigens, while very low titers were obtained with scolex antigens. Unlike in the indirect hemagglutination test, the source of the antigen, scolex or fluid, was not of consequence in the lymphocyte transformation test. Furthermore, there was no correlation between the results of the serologic and lymphocyte transformation tests, since some patients with very high lymphocyte stimulation indices produced low indirect hemagglutination titers and vice versa. Similar results were obtained from rabbits which were immunized with sheep hydatid fluid or scolex extracts. The skin tests were of the immediate type of hypersensitivity reactions. Delayed skin reactions did not occur in spite of the presence of sensitized lymphocytes in the blood of the immunized rabbits.     

Detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Antibodies: I. “Passive” Hemagglutination Test

A passive hemagglutination test has been developed to detect and measure foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) antibody by using glutaraldehyde as a coupling reagent. An optimal concentration of 10 to 40 mug of virus per ml with 0.25% glutaraldehyde at 25 C for 1 hr was established for the sensitization of sheep erythrocytes. A reaction time of 18 hr at 4 C or 2 hr at 37 C induced good agglutination in the presence of specific antibody. Sensitization was carried out in phosphate buffer, whereas agglutination and preadsorption of nonspecific agglutinins from sera were performed in gelatin (0.1%, w/v)-stabilized, phosphate-buffered saline. An optimal pH of 7.2 was also established for all reactions. Antibodies derived from guinea pigs hyperimmunized by infecting with FMDV, types A, O, and C were both virus-and type-specific. Preliminary experiments showed that strain A-119 and strain A-24 Cruzeiro could also be distinguished by hemagglutination. Parallel hemagglutination and complement-fixation tests showed the former to be two to four times more sensitive than the latter.     

Immunomodulatory proteins of orthopoxviruses

The review considers recent data on the structural-functional organization of the genome of orthopoxviruses pathogenic for humans, including the variola, monkeypox, cowpox, and vaccinia viruses. Emphasis was placed on the structure of molecular virulence factors that suppress the inflammatory reactions, immune response, and interferon effects induced by virus infection.     

Prevalence of the virulence plasmids of nontyphoid Salmonella in the serovars isolated from humans and their association with bacteremia.

To determine if the virulence plasmid is one of the elements contributing to Salmonella bacteremia in humans, 436 clinical Salmonella isolates of different serovars were examined by a specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the presence of a virulence plasmid. These serovars showed differences in their ability to produce particular disease syndrome in humans. In the serovars usually causing bacteremia without concomitant gastroenteritis (primary bacteremia), i.e., S. choleraesuis, S. dublin, and S. enteritidis in this study, the rate of virulence plasmid carriage was 100%, while among those occasionally generating bacteremia following an episode of gastroenteritis (secondary bacteremia), the majority were plasmidless. Only a portion of S. typhimurium strains harbored a virulence plasmid; however, the rates of virulence plasmid carriage in S. typhimurium were not statistically different between non-fecal and fecal isolates (90% vs. 85%, 0.1 < P < 0.9). These results indicate that the virulence plasmids may be important for primary bacteremia, but not secondary bacteremia, to occur.     

Endotoxic properties of chemically synthesized lipid A analogs. Studies on six inflammatory reactions in vivo, and one reaction in vitro

Biological activities of two groups of synthesized lipid A analogs, the counterpart of biosynthetic precursor, Lehmann's Ia type, 406, and E. coli lipid A type, 506, as well as their non-phosphorylated, and mono-phosphorylated analogs were investigated. The activities employed included four bone marrow cell reactions in mice, mice skin reaction, leukocytes migration in rabbits' cornea, and hemagglutination. Compound 406 and 506 elicited bone marrow reactions in mice and hemagglutination of mouse RBC, although 406 failed to elicit hemorrhage and necrosis also in mice skin. Compound 406 did not elicit corneal reaction in rabbits. The results suggest that for elicitation of this reaction and mice skin reaction, acyloxyacyl structure is required. Cytotoxicity and thromboplastin production of four bone marrow reactions had been reported by us to be endotoxic reactions, since these had not been elicited by peptidoglycan of Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus (1981) and 300 series synthesized analogs (1984) which did not have endotoxic structures. From these results, it seems that these two marrow reactions and hemagglutination require, as does the limulus test, the lipid A part structure as is present in 406.     

Prevalence of virulece-associated genes of Enterococcus faecalis clinical strains isolated from patients and volunteers

Enterococcus faecalis is an important cause of serious hospitals infections. Several E. faecalis putative virulence determinants have been identified. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of virulence factors among 180 strains of E. faecalis isolated from humans from different clinical sources in Poland. Tested strains were investigated for the presence of cylA, cylB, cylM, gelE, asal, esp, efaA and ace by using PCR method. Among all strains ace and efaA were most often detected. However, in opposite to strains obtained from faeces of volunteers, most of clinical strains carried esp (64,4% vs. 28,9%) and cylA (44,4% vs. 20%), cylB (41,5% vs. 20%), cylM (45,2% vs. 20%), respectively. Twenty different virulotype were represented by tested strains. Presence of all tested virulence determinants were the most frequently observed among clinical strains. There was no significant association between virulence factors and clinical source of isolation.