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Basic characterization of W-pili

D E Bradley, D R Cohen

    Journal of General Microbiology
    |November 1, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Bacterial W plasmids confer drug resistance and enable pili production in new hosts like Escherichia and Salmonella. Loss of these plasmids results in the simultaneous loss of pili and drug resistance.

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    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Bacterial genetics
    • Plasmid biology

    Background:

    • Drug-resistance plasmids are critical in bacterial evolution and spread.
    • The W compatibility group plasmids (Sa, R388, R7K) are known to confer drug resistance.
    • The role of these plasmids in pilus formation was not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of W plasmids in pilus formation in various bacterial species.
    • To characterize the pili produced under the influence of W plasmids.
    • To establish a correlation between plasmid carriage, pilus production, and drug resistance.

    Main Methods:

    • Conjugation was used to transfer W plasmids (Sa, R388, R7K) to recipient bacteria (Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Pseudomonas).
    • Recipient strains were selected for their lack of common pili.

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  • Pilus morphology, frequency, and serological relationships were analyzed.
  • Loss of plasmids and associated traits was assessed in segregant strains.

    • Main Results:

    • All recipient strains acquired pili upon W plasmid transfer, with an average frequency of up to 3.0 pili/cell.
    • The W-plasmid-determined pili were morphologically similar across different hosts and serologically related to each other, but distinct from pili of other plasmids.
    • Segregant strains that lost the W plasmids simultaneously lost both pilus production and drug resistance.
    • W-pili were described as pointed, flexible filaments (10-12 nm thick, 450 nm long).
    • Salmonella typhimurium was identified as the most effective host for W plasmid transfer and pilus expression.

    Conclusions:

    • W plasmids are responsible for the production of specific pili (W-pili) in diverse bacterial genera.
    • Pilus formation is directly linked to the presence of W plasmids and their associated drug resistance.
    • W-pili represent a novel class of pili with distinct characteristics, potentially influencing bacterial interactions and fitness.