Inhibition of Development of Shiga Toxin–Converting Bacteriophages by Either Treatment with Citrate or Amino Acid Starvation
- 1 January 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc in Foodborne Pathogens & Disease
- Vol. 9 (1), 13-19
- https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2011.0980
Abstract
Objectives: Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are pathogenic strains, whose virulence depends on induction of Shiga toxin–converting prophages and their subsequent lytic development. We explored which factors or conditions could inhibit development of these phages, potentially decreasing virulence of STEC. Materials and Methods: Lytic development of Shiga toxin–converting bacteriophages was monitored after mitomycin C-provoked prophage induction under various conditions. Phage DNA replication efficiency was assessed by measurement of DNA amount in cells using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: We demonstrated that the use of citrate delayed Shiga toxin–converting phage development after prophage induction. This effect was independent on efficiency of prophage induction and phage DNA replication. However, an excess of glucose reversed the effect of citrate. Amino acid starvation prevented the phage development in bacteria both able and unable to induce the stringent response. Conclusions: Lytic development of Shiga toxin–converting bacteriophages can be inhibited by either the presence of citrate or amino acid starvation. We suggest that the inhibition caused by the latter condition may be due to a block in prophage induction or phage DNA replication or both. Applications: Our findings may facilitate development of procedures for treatment of STEC-infected patients.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Replication of plasmids derived from Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophages in starved Escherichia coliMicrobiology, 2011
- Influence of the Escherichia coli oxyR gene function on λ prophage maintenanceArchiv für Mikrobiologie, 2010
- Hydrogen peroxide-mediated induction of the Shiga toxinconverting lambdoid prophage ST2-8624 inEscherichia coliO157:H7FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, 2010
- Plasmids Derived from Lambdoid Bacteriophages as Models for Studying Replication of Mobile Genetic Elements Responsible for the Production of Shiga Toxins by Pathogenic Escherichia coli StrainsMicrobial Physiology, 2009
- Differential efficiency of induction of various lambdoid prophages responsible for production of Shiga toxins in response to different induction agentsMicrobial Pathogenesis, 2009
- Microbial functionality in the human intestinal tractFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, 2009
- Simple Method for Plating Escherichia coli Bacteriophages Forming Very Small Plaques or No Plaques under Standard ConditionsApplied and Environmental Microbiology, 2008
- Pathogenesis and treatment of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infectionsCurrent Opinion in Gastroenterology, 2008
- 60Co irradiation of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producingEscherichia coliinduces Stx phageFEMS Microbiology Letters, 2003
- Excess production of phage λ delayed early proteins under conditions supporting high Escherichia coli growth ratesMicrobiology, 1998