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. 1986 Apr;51(4):738–742. doi: 10.1128/aem.51.4.738-742.1986

Recovery, growth, and production of heat-stable enterotoxin by Escherichia coli after copper-induced injury.

A Singh, G A McFeters
PMCID: PMC238957  PMID: 3518629

Abstract

Exposure of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains to a sublethal concentration (0.75 mg/liter) of copper for 3 days at 4 degrees C induced sensitivity to deoxycholate (0.1%). When placed in a complex (brain heart infusion) or a defined amino acid salt medium, the copper-injured cells recovered their tolerance to deoxycholate in 3 and 6 h, respectively, and commenced active growth. Growth and heat-stable enterotoxin production of uninjured and copper-injured cells were studied in brain heart infusion medium. A slightly altered growth curve and an initial slow rate of toxin production were observed in injured cells when compared with those corresponding uninjured controls. However, maximum heat-stable enterotoxin levels in injured cultures were comparable to those produced by uninjured cells, suggesting that the enterotoxigenic potential of copper-injured cells was fully retained.

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Selected References

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

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