Shiga Toxin (Stx) Phage-Encoded Lytic Genes Are Not Required for the Mouse Virulence of O157:H7 Escherichia coli Stx2-Producing Clinical Isolates

Abstract

The release of Stx from STEC has been thought to be tied to phage-mediated lysis of the host bacterial cell. In this study, we found that the stx 2a phage lytic genes are not required for the virulence of pathogenic O157:H7 clinical isolates in a murine model of STEC infection or for release of Stx2a into the supernatant of bacterial cultures. These results point to an alternate mechanism for Stx2a release from STEC strains.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jun 15, 2023
Source ID
10.1128/spectrum.00372-23

Entities

People

  • A. R. Melton-celsa
  • J. R. Hauser
  • Rama R. Atitkar

Organizations

  • Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Microbial Pathology