HEp-2 cell adherence and Vero cell cytotoxin production by EPEC strains isolated from children with diarrhoea in New Zealand |
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| Authors: | ST Gunzburg V Burke KA Bettelheim |
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| Institution: | Department of Microbiology, The University of Western Australia, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Australia;Department of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia;Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Abstract A total of 112 EPEC strains isolated from children with diarrhoea in New Zealand were examined for mannose-resistant HEp-2 cell adherence and production of exotoxins. Enterotoxin production was not detected in any of the strains examined. Verotoxin production was detected in 13 (11.6%) strains and of these 4 were also found to adhere to HEp-2 cells. HEp-2 cell adherence was displayed by a total of 29 (25.8%) strains of which 22 were diffusely adherent. Only 3 (2.7%) strains were shown to belong to the new virulence phenotype, entero-aggregative adherence, when examined in the adherence assay. We identified one strain with the novel characteristics of causing detachment of HEp-2 cells from glass coverslips and are further investigating this possible virulence mechanism. These results suggest that if EPEC strains are to be considered as a cause of diarrhoea, the search for new virulence factors must be extended. |
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| Keywords: | Escherichia coli Verocytotoxin Cytotoxin Diarrhoea Cell adhesion |
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