Biomaterial Database

Congo red agar, a differential medium for Aeromonas salmonicida, detects the presence of the cell surface protein array involved in virulence. 1985

E E Ishiguro, and T Ainsworth, and T J Trust, and W W Kay

Strains of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida which possess the cell surface protein array known as the A-layer (A+) involved in virulence formed deep red colonies on tryptic soy agar containing 30 micrograms of Congo red per ml. These were readily distinguished from colorless or light orange colonies of avirulent mutants lacking A-layer (A-). The utility of Congo red agar for quantifying A+ and A- cells in the routine assessment of culture virulence was demonstrated. Intact A+ cells adsorbed Congo red, whereas A- mutants did not bind Congo red unless first permeabilized with EDTA. The dye-binding component of A+ cells was shown to be the 50,000-Mr A-protein component of the surface array. Purified A-protein avidly bound Congo red at a dye-to-protein molar ratio of about 30 by a nonspecific hydrophobic mechanism enhanced by high salt concentrations. Neither A+ nor A- cells adsorbed to Congo red-Sepharose columns at low salt concentrations. On the other hand, A+ (but not A-) cells were avidly bound at high salt concentrations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008565	Membrane Proteins	Proteins which are found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. They consist of two types, peripheral and integral proteins. They include most membrane-associated enzymes, antigenic proteins, transport proteins, and drug, hormone, and lectin receptors.	Cell Membrane Protein,Cell Membrane Proteins,Cell Surface Protein,Cell Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Proteins,Membrane-Associated Protein,Surface Protein,Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Protein,Membrane Protein,Membrane-Associated Proteins,Membrane Associated Protein,Membrane Associated Proteins,Membrane Protein, Cell,Membrane Protein, Integral,Membrane Proteins, Integral,Protein, Cell Membrane,Protein, Cell Surface,Protein, Integral Membrane,Protein, Membrane,Protein, Membrane-Associated,Protein, Surface,Proteins, Cell Membrane,Proteins, Cell Surface,Proteins, Integral Membrane,Proteins, Membrane,Proteins, Membrane-Associated,Proteins, Surface,Surface Protein, Cell
D008722	Methods	A series of steps taken in order to conduct research.	Techniques,Methodological Studies,Methodological Study,Procedures,Studies, Methodological,Study, Methodological,Method,Procedure,Technique
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D003224	Congo Red	An acid dye used in testing for hydrochloric acid in gastric contents. It is also used histologically to test for AMYLOIDOSIS.	Red, Congo
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D004492	Edetic Acid	A chelating agent that sequesters a variety of polyvalent cations such as CALCIUM. It is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and as a food additive.	EDTA,Edathamil,Edetates,Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid,Tetracemate,Calcium Disodium Edetate,Calcium Disodium Versenate,Calcium Tetacine,Chelaton 3,Chromium EDTA,Copper EDTA,Coprin,Dicobalt EDTA,Disodium Calcitetracemate,Disodium EDTA,Disodium Ethylene Dinitrilotetraacetate,Distannous EDTA,Edetate Disodium Calcium,Edetic Acid, Calcium Salt,Edetic Acid, Calcium, Sodium Salt,Edetic Acid, Chromium Salt,Edetic Acid, Dipotassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Disodium Salt,Edetic Acid, Disodium Salt, Dihydrate,Edetic Acid, Disodium, Magnesium Salt,Edetic Acid, Disodium, Monopotassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Magnesium Salt,Edetic Acid, Monopotassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Edetic Acid, Potassium Salt,Edetic Acid, Sodium Salt,Ethylene Dinitrilotetraacetate,Ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic Acid,Gallium EDTA,Magnesium Disodium EDTA,N,N'-1,2-Ethanediylbis(N-(carboxymethyl)glycine),Potassium EDTA,Stannous EDTA,Versenate,Versene,Acid, Edetic,Acid, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic,Acid, Ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic,Calcitetracemate, Disodium,Dinitrilotetraacetate, Disodium Ethylene,Dinitrilotetraacetate, Ethylene,Disodium Versenate, Calcium,EDTA, Chromium,EDTA, Copper,EDTA, Dicobalt,EDTA, Disodium,EDTA, Distannous,EDTA, Gallium,EDTA, Magnesium Disodium,EDTA, Potassium,EDTA, Stannous,Edetate, Calcium Disodium,Ethylene Dinitrilotetraacetate, Disodium,Tetacine, Calcium,Versenate, Calcium Disodium
D000333	Aeromonas	A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that occurs singly, in pairs, or in short chains. Its organisms are found in fresh water and sewage and are pathogenic to humans, frogs, and fish.
D000362	Agar	A complex sulfated polymer of galactose units, extracted from Gelidium cartilagineum, Gracilaria confervoides, and related red algae. It is used as a gel in the preparation of solid culture media for microorganisms, as a bulk laxative, in making emulsions, and as a supporting medium for immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis.
D013499	Surface Properties	Characteristics or attributes of the outer boundaries of objects, including molecules.	Properties, Surface,Property, Surface,Surface Property
D014357	Trypsin	A serine endopeptidase that is formed from TRYPSINOGEN in the pancreas. It is converted into its active form by ENTEROPEPTIDASE in the small intestine. It catalyzes hydrolysis of the carboxyl group of either arginine or lysine. EC 3.4.21.4.	Tripcellim,Trypure,beta-Trypsin,beta Trypsin