Toxigenic <i>Corynebacterium Diphtheriae</i> Associated with an Equine Wound Infection

Henricson, B E; Segarra, M.; Garvin, Joseph P.; Burns, Jane L.; Jenkins, Suzanne R.; Kim, C.; Popović, Tanja; Golaz, Anne; Akey, Bruce

doi:10.1177/104063870001200309

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 6 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…We performed PCR and Western blotting (WB) to examine toxigenicity as well as the presence of major pilin genes and their expression in 42 clinical isolates collected between 1979 and 2000 from different parts of the world (4,16,(20)(21)(22)(23). For PCR analysis, primers targeting the toxin gene (tox) and the major pilin subunits of each pilus type (spaA, spaD, and spaH) were designed based on the sequence of the type strain NCTC13129 (8).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To obtain a better insight into the roles of corynebacterial pili in pathogenesis, we conducted a comparative functional genomic analysis using 42 C. diphtheriae clinical isolates gathered mostly from Russia, Canada, and the United States (20)(21)(22)(23). The pilus gene pool was assessed by PCR amplification using primers for spa genes of NCTC13129, and pilus expression was monitored by immunoblotting as well as immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) using antibodies against respective Spa pilins.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Pilus Gene Pool Variation and the Virulence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Clinical Isolates during Infection of a Nematode

et al. 2013

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c Toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains cause diphtheria in humans. The toxigenic C. diphtheriae isolate NCTC13129 produces three distinct heterotrimeric pili that contain SpaA, SpaD, and SpaH, making up the shaft structure. The SpaA pili are known to mediate bacterial adherence to pharyngeal epithelial cells. However, to date little is known about the expression of different pili in various clinical isolates and their importance in bacterial pathogenesis. Here, we characterized a large collection of C. diphtheriae clinical isolates for their pilin gene pool by PCR and for the expression of the respective pilins by immunoblotting with antibodies against Spa pilins. Consistent with the role of a virulence factor, the SpaA-type pili were found to be prevalent among the isolates, and most significantly, corynebacterial adherence to pharyngeal epithelial cells was strictly correlated with isolates that were positive for the SpaA pili. By comparison, the isolates were heterogeneous for the presence of SpaD-and SpaHtype pili. Importantly, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host for infection, we show here that strain NCTC13129 rapidly killed the nematodes, the phenotype similar to isolates that were positive for toxin and all pilus types. In contrast, isogenic mutants of NCTC13129 lacking SpaA-type pili or devoid of toxin and SpaA pili exhibited delayed killing of nematodes with similar kinetics. Consistently, nontoxigenic or toxigenic isolates that lack one, two, or all three pilus types were also attenuated in virulence. This work signifies the important role of pili in corynebacterial pathogenesis and provides a simple host model to identify additional virulence factors.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Pilus Gene Pool Variation and the Virulence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Clinical Isolates during Infection of a Nematode

et al. 2013

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“…De Zoysa was also able to differentiate between the two isolates using AFLP, where a single band difference was observed (4). Second, one of three Sankt-Peterburg ribotype isolates (isolate 13) was an SLV at the atpA locus, where two base pairs substitutions were identified.…”

Section: Allelic Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to validate the MLST scheme, a collection of temporally and geographically diverse isolates were analyzed, including two equine isolates previously described by Henricson et al (13). Cultures from both epidemiologically linked and unrelated cases were examined to assess the scheme's performance.…”

Section: Allelic Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multilocus Sequence Typing Identifies Evidence for Recombination and Two Distinct Lineages of Corynebacterium diphtheriae

et al. 2010

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We describe the development of a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of the potentially fatal upper respiratory disease diphtheria. Global changes in diphtheria epidemiology are highlighted by the recent epidemic in the former Soviet Union (FSU) and also by the emergence of nontoxigenic strains causing atypical disease. Although numerous techniques have been developed to characterize C. diphtheriae, their use is hindered by limited portability and, in some instances, poor reproducibility. One hundred fifty isolates from 18 countries and encompassing a period of 50 years were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Strain discrimination was in accordance with previous ribotyping data, and clonal complexes associated with disease outbreaks were clearly identified by MLST. The data produced are portable, reproducible, and unambiguous. The MLST scheme described provides a valuable tool for monitoring and characterizing endemic and epidemic C. diphtheriae strains. Furthermore, multilocus sequence analysis of the nucleotide data reveals two distinct lineages within the population of C. diphtheriae examined, one of which is composed exclusively of biotype belfanti isolates and the other of multiple biotypes.

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Pathogenesis of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans

Burkovski

2015

Human Emerging and Re‐emerging Infections

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Toxigenic Corynebacterium Diphtheriae Associated with an Equine Wound Infection

Cited by 25 publications

References 6 publications

Pilus Gene Pool Variation and the Virulence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Clinical Isolates during Infection of a Nematode

Pilus Gene Pool Variation and the Virulence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae Clinical Isolates during Infection of a Nematode

Multilocus Sequence Typing Identifies Evidence for Recombination and Two Distinct Lineages of Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Pathogenesis of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans

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