Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-vt8vv Total loading time: 0.001 Render date: 2024-08-21T23:41:42.080Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Acquisition of genes from an O18:K1:H7 ColV+ strain of Escherichia coli renders intracranially-inoculated E. coli K12 highly virulent for chickens, ducks and guinea-pigs but not mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

H. Williams Smith
Affiliation:
Houghton Poultry Research Station, Houghton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE17 2DA
M. B. Huggins
Affiliation:
Houghton Poultry Research Station, Houghton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE17 2DA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The virulence of intracranially-inoculated mutant forum of an O18ac:K1:H7 ColV+ stain of Escherichia coli (designated MW) that lacked different combinations of its O and K antigens and CoIV, and of an E. coli K12 strain to which these characters had been transmitted was studied in mice, chickens, ducks and guinea-pigs.

The O18+ K1+Co1V+ form of MW was highly virulent for chickens and mice hut the corresponding form of K12 was only highly virulent for chickens; the O18-K1-ColV- froms of both strains were of low virulence for chickens and mice. K1 was more important than O18 or ColV in determining virulence for both animal species, Ducks and guinca-pigs resembled chickens, not mice, in their response to infection with the O18+K1+ColV+ from of K12.

Pathogenesis studies revealed than the virulence of the forms of MW and K12 was associated with their ability to proliferate in the central nervous system; only low numbers of organisms were found in the blood and spleen of inoculated animals.

The O18+K1+ColV+ form of K12 multiplied in mouse brian and in mouse blood in eitro; its multiplication in chicken blood was partinlly inhibited. Agglutinins to this and other forms of K12 were found in chicken serum but not in mouse serum. Large doses of mouse serum given to chickens and large doeses of checken serum given to mice did not alter the manner in which these animals responded to K12 O18+K1+ColV+ infection. Vaceination protected chickens and mice against lethal intraeranial infection with the O18+K1+ColV+ forms of K12 or MW; it produicted a much stronger immunity in mice against intrapertoneal challenge than against intraeranial challeage

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

References

REFERENCES

Agueero, M. & Cabello, F. C. (1983). Relative contribution of ColV plasmid and K1 antigen to the pathogenicity of Escherichia coli. Infection and Immunity 40, 359368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Binns, M. M., Davies, D. L. & Hardy, K. G. (1979). Cloned fragments of the plasmid Co1V, I-K94 specifying virulence and serum resistance. Nature 297, 770781.Google Scholar
Binns, M. M., Mayden, J. & Levine, R. P. (1982). Further characterization of complement resistance conferred on Escherichia coli by the plasmid genes traT of R100 and iss of Co1V, I-K94. Injection and Immunity 35, 654659.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cross, A. S., Gemski, P., Sadoff, J. C., Orskov, F. & Orskov, I. (1984). The importance of the K1 capsule in invasive infections caused by Escherichia coli. Journal of Infectious Diseases 149, 184193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finney, D. J. (1971). Statistical Method in Biological Assay, 2nd edn, p. 524. London: Charles Griffin.Google Scholar
Gemski, P., Cross, A.S. & Sadoff, J. C. (1980). K1 antigen-associated resistance to the bacteriocidal activity of serum. FEMS Microbiological letters 9, 103107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nilius, A. M. & Savage, D. C. (1984). Serum resistance encoded by Colicin V plasmids in Escherichia coli and its relationship to the plasmid transfer system. Infection and Immunity 43, 947953.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pluschke, G. & Achtmak, M. (1984). Degree of antibody-independant activation of the classical complement pathway by Kl Escherichia coli differs with O antigen typo and correlates with virulence in newborns. Infection and Immunity 43, 684692.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pluschke, G., Mayden, J., Achtman, M. & Levine, R. P. (1983). Role of capsule and the O antigen in resistance of O18:K1 E. coli to complement-mediated killing. Infection and Immunity 42, 907913.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, H., Williams, & Huggins, M. D. (1980). Tho association of tho O18, K1 and 117 antigens and the Co1V plasmid of a strain of Escherichia coli with its virulence and immunogenicity. Journal of General Microbiology 121, 387–100.Google Scholar
Stuart, S. J., Greekwood, K. T. & Luke, R. K. J. (1980). Hydroxninate-mediated transport of iron controlled by Co1V plasmids. Journal of Bacteriology 143, 3542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, P. H. (1970). Novel iron uptnko system specified by Co1V plasmids: an important component in tho virulence of invasive strains of Escherichia coli. Infection and Immunity 26, 925932.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, P. H. & Warner, P. J. (1980). Co1V plasmid-mediated colicin V-independent iron uptake system of invasive strains of Escherichia coli. Infection and Immunity 29, 411416.CrossRefGoogle Scholar