Mechanism of spontaneous loss of heat-stable toxin (STa) production in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

H Sommerfelt; B I Haukanes; K H Kalland; A M Svennerholm; J Sanchéz; B Bjorvatn

doi:10.1111/j.1699-0463.1989.tb00812.x

Mechanism of spontaneous loss of heat-stable toxin (STa) production in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

APMIS. 1989 May;97(5):436-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1989.tb00812.x.

Authors

H Sommerfelt¹, B I Haukanes, K H Kalland, A M Svennerholm, J Sanchéz, B Bjorvatn

Affiliation

¹ Medical Department B, University of Bergen, Haukeland Hospital, Norway.

PMID: 2567174
DOI: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1989.tb00812.x

Abstract

Five strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) showing spontaneous loss of heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) production were studied to elucidate the underlying genetic mechanisms. Southern blot analysis revealed that loss of STa production, and the corresponding lack of hybridization with the STa gene probes, were associated with deletions of DNA fragments harboring the relevant toxin genes rather than with loss of plasmids.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
Bacterial Toxins / genetics*
Blotting, Southern
DNA Probes
Enterotoxins / genetics*
Escherichia coli / genetics*
Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
Escherichia coli Proteins
Fimbriae, Bacterial
Genes, Bacterial
Plasmids

Substances

Antigens, Bacterial
Bacterial Toxins
DNA Probes
Enterotoxins
Escherichia coli Proteins
heat stable toxin (E coli)