| Virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and genetic characteristics of hydrogen sulfide-producing Escherichia coli isolated from swine |
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Hyun-Eui Park, Min-Kyoung Shin, Hong-Tae Park, Seung Won Shin, Myunghwan Jung, Young Bin Im, Han Sang Yoo |
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Department of Infectious Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University |
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| Abstract |
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Escherichia (E.) coli is commensal bacteria found in the intestine; however, some pathogenic strains cause diseases in animals and humans. Although E. coli does not typically produce hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$), $H_2S$-producing strains of E. coli have been identified worldwide. The relationship between virulence and $H_2S$ production has not yet been determined. Therefore, characteristics of $H_2S$-producing isolates obtained from swine feces were evaluated including antibiotic resistance patterns, virulence gene expression, and genetic relatedness. Rates of antibiotic resistance of the $H_2S$-producing E. coli varied according to antibiotic. Only the EAST1 gene was detected as a virulence gene in five $H_2S$-producing E. coli strains. Genes conferring $H_2S$ production were not transmissible although the sseA gene encoding 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase was detected in all $H_2S$-producing E. coli strains. Sequences of the sseA gene motif CGSVTA around Cys238 were also identical in all $H_2S$- producing E. coli strains. Diverse genetic relatedness among the isolates was observed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis. These results suggested that $H_2S$-producing E. coli strains were not derived from a specific clone and $H_2S$ production in E. coli is not associated with virulence genes. |
| Key Words:
sseA, antibiotic resistance, Escherichia coli, hydrogen sulfide, virulence factor |
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