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[Persistense of mono- and associated cultures of conditionally pathogenic enterobacteria]

Z G Gabidullin, Iu Z Gabidullin, A A Akhtarieva

    Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii I Immunobiologii
    |September 1, 2006
    PubMed

    Insights

    This study investigated the activities of Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Serratia bacteria. Cocultivation of these bacteria enhanced the persistence of mixed cultures, indicating potential implications for infection control.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Bacteriology

    Background:

    • Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Serratia species are opportunistic pathogens.
    • These bacteria are frequently isolated from patients with various infections, including pyoinflammatory, intestinal, and urological diseases.
    • Understanding their virulence factors and interactions is crucial for developing effective treatments.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To comparatively analyze the adhesive, hemolytic, DNA-ase, lecithinase, antilysozymic, and anticomplementary activities of mono- and cocultures of Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Serratia species.
    • To determine the impact of cocultivation on the persistence and virulence properties of these bacterial species.

    Main Methods:

    • Isolation and identification of Enterobacter spp. (57 strains), Citrobacter spp. (61 strains), and Serratia spp. (55 strains) from clinical samples.
    • Assessment of various enzymatic and adhesive activities in pure cultures and different combinations of cocultured bacteria.
    • Evaluation of antilysozymic and anticomplementary activities to understand immune evasion mechanisms.

    Main Results:

    • Cocultivation of Enterobacter and Citrobacter species demonstrated synergistic effects on certain virulence factors.
    • Mixed cultures of Enterobacter and Serratia, as well as Citrobacter and Serratia, exhibited enhanced adhesive and hemolytic properties compared to monocultures.
    • The study revealed that cocultivated Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Serratia bacteria significantly increased the persistence of mixed microbial communities.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings suggest that the interaction between Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Serratia species in mixed cultures can lead to augmented virulence and persistence.
    • Understanding these inter-bacterial dynamics is essential for comprehending the pathogenesis of polymicrobial infections caused by these genera.
    • This research provides a basis for exploring novel therapeutic strategies targeting bacterial interactions to combat persistent infections.

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