The effect of plasmid acquisition on potential virulence attributes of Pasteurella multocida

Several plasmids that were isolated from complement-resistant Pasteurella multocida or Escherichia coli were evaluated for phenotypic markers. Plasmid p2267, isolated from a tetracycline-resistant, complement-resistant fowl cholera field isolate of P. multocida (PM2267), was used to transform a K-12 E. coli (C600); this resulted in increased complement resistance, which was eliminated by curing. Either of two plasmids (p1870 or p70-1, isolated from P. multocida and E. coli, respectively) conferred an increase in complement resistance and invasiveness to turkey epithelial cells when expressed in the Clemson University (CU) vaccine strain of P. multocida. Additionally, the CU strain containing p1870 was more virulent in turkey challenge, and the plasmid appeared amplified in vivo. No detectable differences in major outer-membrane proteins, capsule, or carbohydrate fermentation were found to be associated with the acquisition of these plasmids.