Related Experiment Videos
Characterization of Citrobacter diversus strains causing neonatal meningitis
M W Kline1, E O Mason, S L Kaplan
1Myers-Black Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|January 1, 1988
Summary
A specific outer membrane protein may indicate Citrobacter diversus strains causing infant meningitis. This finding aids in identifying bacterial meningitis and brain abscess risks in neonates.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neonatal infectious diseases
- Bacterial pathogenesis
Background:
- Citrobacter diversus is a known cause of meningitis and brain abscesses in neonates.
- Identifying specific bacterial virulence factors is crucial for understanding and treating neonatal infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential markers distinguishing Citrobacter diversus strains causing meningitis in infants from those isolated from other body sites.
- To investigate the role of outer membrane proteins in the pathogenicity of C. diversus.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of Citrobacter diversus strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and other body sites.
- Biotype, piliation, hemolysin production, and serum resistance assays.
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to analyze outer membrane proteins.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in biotype, piliation, hemolysin production, or serum resistance between CSF and other body site isolates.
- A 32,000 molecular weight outer membrane protein was present in 82% of CSF strains but only 10% of other body site strains (P < .0001).
Conclusions:
- The 32,000 MW outer membrane protein is a potential marker for Citrobacter diversus strains associated with neonatal meningitis.
- This protein may be a key factor in the pathogenesis of C. diversus-induced meningitis and brain abscess in neonates.