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[Characteristics of E. coli strains isolated in infantile diarrhea]
M Kmet'ová1, H Puzová, L Siegfried
1Katedra mikrobiológie Lekárskej fakulty Univerzity P. J. Safárika, Kosice.
Insights
This study examined virulence factors in E. coli strains from infants with diarrhea. Most virulence factors, like adhesins and toxins, were found to be plasmid-encoded, suggesting a role for plasmids in bacterial pathogenicity.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Genetics
Background:
- Diarrhea in infants is a significant health concern.
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common pathogen causing infant diarrhea.
- Understanding virulence factors is crucial for combating E. coli infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate phenotypic and genotypic virulence factors in E. coli strains from hospitalized infants with diarrhea.
- To determine the association of these virulence factors with plasmid DNA.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic analysis of virulence factors including fimbrial adhesins, aerobactin, haemolysins, and colicins.
- Genotypic investigation of selected strains.
- Assessment of antimicrobial resistance (tetracycline, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, ampicillin, sulfamethoxidine).
- Detection of plasmid DNA using molecular methods.
Main Results:
- All 50 E. coli strains exhibited one to eight virulence factors.
- Plasmid DNA was detected in 14 out of 16 tested strains.
- Antimicrobial resistance patterns were observed across the strains.
Conclusions:
- The majority of investigated virulence factors in these E. coli strains are likely plasmid-coded.
- Plasmids play a significant role in the pathogenicity of E. coli causing infant diarrhea.
- Further research into plasmid-mediated virulence is warranted.
Abstract:
In a group of 50 strains of E. coli isolated from infants hospitalized on account of diarrhoea the authors investigated, based on the phenotypic manifestation and in a selected number of strains also genotypic factors of virulence: fimbrial adhesins, aerobactin, haemolysins, colicins, toxic and lethal action in mice, seroresistence and resistance against tetracycline, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, ampicillin and sulfamethoxidine. All strains had one to eight factors of virulence. The presence of plasmid DNA was confirmed in 14 of 16 tested strains. From this the authors conclude that the investigated virulence factors were in the majority coded plasmids.