Biomaterial Database

Elimination of a virulence plasmid from Shigella sonnei and Escherichia coli by antibiotics. 1986

Y Michel-Briand, and J M Laporte, and G Couetdic, and P J Sansonetti

Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Faculté de Médecine, Besaçon, France.

Plasmid pWR105 is a non-self-conjugative plasmid conferring enteroinvasive properties on Shigella sonnei. Loss of this plasmid is accompanied by loss of the invasive phenotype as well as of the form I antigen expression. Thirteen antibiotics belonging to different chemical families were used at subinhibitory concentrations to eliminate pWR105 from S. sonnei and Escherichia coli K12. Rifampicin, novobiocin, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole and erythromycin eliminated the plasmid from both strains. Clindamycin eliminated pWR105 from E. coli only. Several other antibiotics gave a low rate of cure (ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, nifurzide, tilbroquinol, minocycline). We may expect that these antibiotics would destabilize plasmids from other Shigella species and enteroinvasive E. coli, as these extrachromosomal DNA molecules share a high degree of homology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010957	Plasmids	Extrachromosomal, usually CIRCULAR DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism to another. They are found in a variety of bacterial, archaeal, fungal, algal, and plant species. They are used in GENETIC ENGINEERING as CLONING VECTORS.	Episomes,Episome,Plasmid
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D000900	Anti-Bacterial Agents	Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA.	Anti-Bacterial Agent,Anti-Bacterial Compound,Anti-Mycobacterial Agent,Antibacterial Agent,Antibiotics,Antimycobacterial Agent,Bacteriocidal Agent,Bacteriocide,Anti-Bacterial Compounds,Anti-Mycobacterial Agents,Antibacterial Agents,Antibiotic,Antimycobacterial Agents,Bacteriocidal Agents,Bacteriocides,Agent, Anti-Bacterial,Agent, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agent, Antibacterial,Agent, Antimycobacterial,Agent, Bacteriocidal,Agents, Anti-Bacterial,Agents, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agents, Antibacterial,Agents, Antimycobacterial,Agents, Bacteriocidal,Anti Bacterial Agent,Anti Bacterial Agents,Anti Bacterial Compound,Anti Bacterial Compounds,Anti Mycobacterial Agent,Anti Mycobacterial Agents,Compound, Anti-Bacterial,Compounds, Anti-Bacterial
D012764	Shigella sonnei	A lactose-fermenting bacterium causing dysentery.	Bacterium sonnei
D014774	Virulence	The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. The pathogenic capacity of an organism is determined by its VIRULENCE FACTORS.	Pathogenicity