Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Hygiene logoLink to The Journal of Hygiene
. 1984 Dec;93(3):405–417. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400065001

Conversion by corynephages and its role in the natural history of diphtheria.

N B Groman
PMCID: PMC2129452  PMID: 6439780

Abstract

The conversion of non-toxinogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae to toxinogeny has been reviewed. The biology of converting phage and the relationship of converting phages to nonconverting phages are summarized. The significance of these findings to the natural history and evolution of diphtheria is assessed.

Full text

PDF
405

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BARDSDALE W. L., PAPPENHEIMER A. M., Jr Phage-host relationships in nontoxigenic and toxigenic diphtheria bacilli. J Bacteriol. 1954 Feb;67(2):220–232. doi: 10.1128/jb.67.2.220-232.1954. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BARKSDALE L. Sur quelques bactériophages de Corynebacterium diphtheriae et leurs hôtes. C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci. 1955 May 2;240(18):1831–1833. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Barksdale L., Linder R., Sulea I. T., Pollice M. Phospholipase D activity of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Corynebacterium ovis) and Corynebacterium ulcerans, a distinctive marker within the genus Corynebacterium. J Clin Microbiol. 1981 Feb;13(2):335–343. doi: 10.1128/jcm.13.2.335-343.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Buck G. A., Groman N. B. Genetic elements novel for Corynebacterium diphtheriae: specialized transducing elements and transposons. J Bacteriol. 1981 Oct;148(1):143–152. doi: 10.1128/jb.148.1.143-152.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Buck G. A., Groman N. B. Identification of deoxyribonucleic acid restriction fragments of beta-converting corynebacteriophages that carry the gene for diphtheria toxin. J Bacteriol. 1981 Oct;148(1):153–162. doi: 10.1128/jb.148.1.153-162.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Buck G. A., Groman N. B. Physical mapping of beta-converting and gamma-nonconverting corynebacteriophage genomes. J Bacteriol. 1981 Oct;148(1):131–142. doi: 10.1128/jb.148.1.131-142.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Buck G., Groman N., Falkow S. Relationship between beta converting and gamma non-converting corynebacteriophage DNA. Nature. 1978 Feb 16;271(5646):683–685. doi: 10.1038/271683a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Campbell A. Evolutionary significance of accessory DNA elements in bacteria. Annu Rev Microbiol. 1981;35:55–83. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.35.100181.000415. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Carne H. R. Action of bacteriophages obtained from Corynebacterium diphtheriae on C. ulcerans and C. ovis. Nature. 1968 Mar 16;217(5133):1066–1067. doi: 10.1038/2171066b0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. FREEMAN V. J., MORSE I. U. Further observations on the change to virulence of bacteriophage-infected a virulent strains of Corynebacterium diphtheria. J Bacteriol. 1952 Mar;63(3):407–414. doi: 10.1128/jb.63.3.407-414.1952. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. FREEMAN V. J. Studies on the virulence of bacteriophage-infected strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Bacteriol. 1951 Jun;61(6):675–688. doi: 10.1128/jb.61.6.675-688.1951. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. GROMAN N. B. Conversion in Corynebacterium diphtheriae with phages originating from nontoxigenic strains. Virology. 1956 Dec;2(6):843–844. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(56)90066-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. GROMAN N. B., EATON M., BOOHER Z. K. Studies of mono- and polylysogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Bacteriol. 1958 Mar;75(3):320–325. doi: 10.1128/jb.75.3.320-325.1958. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. GROMAN N. B., EATON M. Genetic factors in Corynebacterium diphtheriae conversion. J Bacteriol. 1955 Dec;70(6):637–640. doi: 10.1128/jb.70.6.637-640.1955. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. GROMAN N. B. Evidence for the active role of bacteriophage in the conversion of nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae to toxin production. J Bacteriol. 1955 Jan;69(1):9–15. doi: 10.1128/jb.69.1.9-15.1955. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. GROMAN N. B. Evidence for the induced nature of the change from nontoxigenicity to toxigenicity in Corynebacterium diphtheriae as a result of exposure to specific bacteriophage. J Bacteriol. 1953 Aug;66(2):184–191. doi: 10.1128/jb.66.2.184-191.1953. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. GROMAN N. B., MEMMER R. Lysogeny and conversion in mitis and mitis-like Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Gen Microbiol. 1958 Dec;19(3):634–644. doi: 10.1099/00221287-19-3-634. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Greenfield L., Bjorn M. J., Horn G., Fong D., Buck G. A., Collier R. J., Kaplan D. A. Nucleotide sequence of the structural gene for diphtheria toxin carried by corynebacteriophage beta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Nov;80(22):6853–6857. doi: 10.1073/pnas.80.22.6853. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Groman N. B., Rabin M. Superinfection exclusion by heteroimmune corynebacteriophages. J Virol. 1980 Nov;36(2):526–532. doi: 10.1128/jvi.36.2.526-532.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Groman N., Cianciotto N., Bjorn M., Rabin M. Detection and expression of DNA homologous to the tox gene in nontoxinogenic isolates of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Infect Immun. 1983 Oct;42(1):48–56. doi: 10.1128/iai.42.1.48-56.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Groman N., Laird W. Bacteriophage production by doubly lysogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Virol. 1977 Sep;23(3):592–598. doi: 10.1128/jvi.23.3.592-598.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Groman N., Rabin M. Gene responsible for superinfection exclusion of heteroimmune corynebacteriophage. J Virol. 1982 Apr;42(1):49–54. doi: 10.1128/jvi.42.1.49-54.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Holmes R. K., Barksdale L. Comparative studies with tox plus and tox minus corynebacteriophages. J Virol. 1970 Jun;5(6):783–784. doi: 10.1128/jvi.5.6.783-794.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Holmes R. K., Barksdale L. Genetic analysis of tox+ and tox- bacteriophages of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Virol. 1969 Jun;3(6):586–598. doi: 10.1128/jvi.3.6.586-598.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Holmes R. K. Characterization and genetic mapping of nontoxinogenic (tox) mutants of corynebacteriophage beta. J Virol. 1976 Jul;19(1):195–207. doi: 10.1128/jvi.19.1.195-207.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Kaczorek M., Delpeyroux F., Chenciner N., Streeck R. E., Murphy J. R., Boquet P., Tiollais P. Nucleotide sequence and expression of the diphtheria tox228 gene in Escherichia coli. Science. 1983 Aug 26;221(4613):855–858. doi: 10.1126/science.6348945. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Keddie R. M., Bousfield I. J. Cell wall composition in the classification and identification of coryneform bacteria. Soc Appl Bacteriol Symp Ser. 1980;8:167–188. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Laird W., Groman N. Isolation and characterization of tox mutants of corynebacteriophage beta. J Virol. 1976 Jul;19(1):220–227. doi: 10.1128/jvi.19.1.220-227.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Laird W., Groman N. Orientation of the tox gene in the prophage of corynebacteriophage beta. J Virol. 1976 Jul;19(1):228–231. doi: 10.1128/jvi.19.1.228-231.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Laird W., Groman N. Prophage map of converting corynebacteriophage beta. J Virol. 1976 Jul;19(1):208–219. doi: 10.1128/jvi.19.1.208-219.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Leong D., Coleman K. D., Murphy J. R. Cloned fragment A of diphtheria toxin is expressed and secreted into the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli K12. Science. 1983 Apr 29;220(4596):515–517. doi: 10.1126/science.6403984. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Maximescu P. New host-strains for the lysogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae Park Williams No. 8 strain. J Gen Microbiol. 1968 Aug;53(1):125–133. doi: 10.1099/00221287-53-1-125. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Maximescu P., Oprişan A., Pop A., Potorac E. Further studies on Corynebacterium species capable of producing diphtheria toxin (C. diphtheriae, C. ulcerans, C. ovis). J Gen Microbiol. 1974 May;82(1):49–56. doi: 10.1099/00221287-82-1-49. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Maximescu P. Studies on the PW 8 phage of the Park Williams No. 8 strain of C. diphtheriae and on species within Corynebacterium genus capable of producing diphtherial toxin. Arch Roum Pathol Exp Microbiol. 1978 Jul-Dec;37(3-4):179–190. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Michel J. L., Rappuoli R., Murphy J. R., Pappenheimer A. M., Jr Restriction endonuclease map of the nontoxigenic corynephage gamma c and its relationship to the toxigenic corynephage beta c. J Virol. 1982 May;42(2):510–518. doi: 10.1128/jvi.42.2.510-518.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Murphy J. R., Pappenheimer A. M., Jr, de Borms S. T. Synthesis of diphtheria tox-gene products in Escherichia coli extracts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1974 Jan;71(1):11–15. doi: 10.1073/pnas.71.1.11. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Pappenheimer A. M., Jr Diphtheria: studies on the biology of an infectious disease. Harvey Lect. 1980;76:45–73. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Pappenheimer A. M., Jr, Murphy J. R. Studies on the molecular epidemiology of diphtheria. Lancet. 1983 Oct 22;2(8356):923–926. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)90449-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Rappuoli R., Michel J. L., Murphy J. R. Integration of corynebacteriophages beta tox+, omega tox+, and gamma tox- into two attachment sites on the Corynebacterium diphtheriae chromosome. J Bacteriol. 1983 Mar;153(3):1202–1210. doi: 10.1128/jb.153.3.1202-1210.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Rappuoli R., Michel J. L., Murphy J. R. Restriction endonuclease map of corynebacteriophage omega ctox+ isolated from the Park-Williams no. 8 strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J Virol. 1983 Feb;45(2):524–530. doi: 10.1128/jvi.45.2.524-530.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Ratti G., Rappuoli R., Giannini G. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for diphtheria toxin in the corynephage omega (tox+) genome. Nucleic Acids Res. 1983 Oct 11;11(19):6589–6595. doi: 10.1093/nar/11.19.6589. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Reanney D. Extrachromosomal elements as possible agents of adaptation and development. Bacteriol Rev. 1976 Sep;40(3):552–590. doi: 10.1128/br.40.3.552-590.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Saragea A., Meitert E., Bica-Popii V. Lysogénisation et conversion toxinogène chez Corynebacterium diphtheriae par des phages provenant de corynébactéries d'origine animale. Ann Inst Pasteur (Paris) 1966 Aug;111(2):171–179. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Schiller J., Strom M., Groman N., Coyle M. Relationship between pNG2, an Emr plasmid in Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and plasmids in aerobic skin coryneforms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1983 Dec;24(6):892–901. doi: 10.1128/aac.24.6.892. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Tweten R. K., Collier R. J. Molecular cloning and expression of gene fragments from corynebacteriophage beta encoding enzymatically active peptides of diphtheria toxin. J Bacteriol. 1983 Nov;156(2):680–685. doi: 10.1128/jb.156.2.680-685.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Uchida T., Gill D. M., Pappenheimer A. M., Jr Mutation in the structural gene for diphtheria toxin carried by temperate phage . Nat New Biol. 1971 Sep 1;233(35):8–11. doi: 10.1038/newbio233008a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Hygiene are provided here courtesy of Cambridge University Press

RESOURCES