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[Occurence of pili genes in Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains]

Aleksandra Anna Zasada1, Kamila Formińska, Magdalena Rzeczkowska

  • 1Zakład Bakteriologii Narodowego Instytutu Zdrowia Publicznego-Państwowego Zakładu Higieny w Warszawie. azasada@pzh.gov.pl

Medycyna Doswiadczalna I Mikrobiologia
|July 20, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains causing invasive infections possess all tested pili genes. Toxigenic strains show mosaic pili gene clusters, indicating pili gene presence is crucial for invasiveness in nontoxigenic strains.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial genetics
  • Pathogenesis

Context:

  • Bacterial adhesion is vital for infection, mediated by pili.
  • Corynebacterium diphtheriae produces three pilus types: SpaA, SpaD, and SpaH.
  • Pili genes are located on pathogenicity islands and can be acquired/lost.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the occurrence of pili genes in C. diphtheriae strains from various infections in Poland.
  • To correlate pili gene presence with the invasiveness of C. diphtheriae strains.

Summary:

  • PCR analysis of 31 C. diphtheriae strains (toxigenic and nontoxigenic) examined 15 pili genes.
  • Nontoxigenic strains from invasive infections had all tested pili genes.
  • Toxigenic strains exhibited mosaic pili gene clusters, with variations in SpaA and SpaH types.

Impact:

  • Suggests that the complete set of pili genes is essential for nontoxigenic C. diphtheriae invasiveness.
  • Indicates that a full complement of pili genes is not required for classical diphtheria caused by toxigenic strains.

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