Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1985 Dec;50(3):682–686. doi: 10.1128/iai.50.3.682-686.1985

Relation between the hemolytic property and iron metabolism in Escherichia coli.

G Lebek, H M Gruenig
PMCID: PMC261133  PMID: 2933337

Abstract

The hemolytic activity of wild-type strains of Escherichia coli was measured by a standardized method in liquid broth. The system also allowed us to investigate the influence of various Fe3+ concentrations in the cultures on the amount of secreted hemolysin. We found that the hemolysin secretion of all strains was clearly reduced after addition of FeCl3. However, the influence of additional iron chelators showed remarkable differences. The hemolytic activity of Hly plasmid-containing strains isolated in Berne significantly increased. Most of the strains with a chromosomal hemolysin determinant showed a similar effect, but to a lesser degree. Contrary to this, Hly plasmid-containing strains isolated in Essex and some strains with chromosomal hemolysin determinant were either not affected or even showed reduced hemolysin secretion after limitation of free iron ions in the broth. Our results suggest that hemolysin secretion in E. coli is related to the bacterial iron metabolism, and hemolysin secretion is differentially regulated among E. coli strains.

Full text

PDF
682

Selected References

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

  1. Berger H., Hacker J., Juarez A., Hughes C., Goebel W. Cloning of the chromosomal determinants encoding hemolysin production and mannose-resistant hemagglutination in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1982 Dec;152(3):1241–1247. doi: 10.1128/jb.152.3.1241-1247.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Goebel W., Hedgpeth J. Cloning and functional characterization of the plasmid-encoded hemolysin determinant of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1982 Sep;151(3):1290–1298. doi: 10.1128/jb.151.3.1290-1298.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Goebel W., Royer-Pokora B., Lindenmaier W., Bujard H. Plasmids controlling synthesis of hemolysin in Escherichia coli: molecular properties. J Bacteriol. 1974 Jun;118(3):964–973. doi: 10.1128/jb.118.3.964-973.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Hacker J., Hughes C., Hof H., Goebel W. Cloned hemolysin genes from Escherichia coli that cause urinary tract infection determine different levels of toxicity in mice. Infect Immun. 1983 Oct;42(1):57–63. doi: 10.1128/iai.42.1.57-63.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hacker J., Schröter G., Schrettenbrunner A., Hughes C., Goebel W. Hemolytic Escherichia coli strains in the human fecal flora as potential urinary pathogens. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg A. 1983 May;254(3):370–378. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hughes C., Hacker J., Roberts A., Goebel W. Hemolysin production as a virulence marker in symptomatic and asymptomatic urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli. Infect Immun. 1983 Feb;39(2):546–551. doi: 10.1128/iai.39.2.546-551.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hughes C., Müller D., Hacker J., Goebel W. Genetics and pathogenic role of Escherichia coli haemolysin. Toxicon. 1982;20(1):247–252. doi: 10.1016/0041-0101(82)90210-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hull S. I., Hull R. A., Minshew B. H., Falkow S. Genetics of hemolysin of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1982 Aug;151(2):1006–1012. doi: 10.1128/jb.151.2.1006-1012.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Juarez A., Härtlein M., Goebel W. Study of regulation and transport of hemolysin by using fusion of the beta-galactosidase gene (lacZ) to hemolysin genes. J Bacteriol. 1984 Oct;160(1):161–168. doi: 10.1128/jb.160.1.161-168.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Minshew B. H., Jorgensen J., Counts G. W., Falkow S. Association of hemolysin production, hemagglutination of human erythrocytes, and virulence for chicken embryos of extraintestinal Escherichia coli isolates. Infect Immun. 1978 Apr;20(1):50–54. doi: 10.1128/iai.20.1.50-54.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Müller D., Hughes C., Goebel W. Relationship between plasmid and chromosomal hemolysin determinants of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol. 1983 Feb;153(2):846–851. doi: 10.1128/jb.153.2.846-851.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. SMITH H. W. The haemolysins of Escherichia coli. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1963 Jan;85:197–211. doi: 10.1002/path.1700850119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Smith H. W., Halls S. The transmissible nature of the genetic factor in Escherichia coli that controls haemolysin production. J Gen Microbiol. 1967 Apr;47(1):153–161. doi: 10.1099/00221287-47-1-153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Wagner W., Vogel M., Goebel W. Transport of hemolysin across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli requires two functions. J Bacteriol. 1983 Apr;154(1):200–210. doi: 10.1128/jb.154.1.200-210.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Welch R. A., Dellinger E. P., Minshew B., Falkow S. Haemolysin contributes to virulence of extra-intestinal E. coli infections. Nature. 1981 Dec 17;294(5842):665–667. doi: 10.1038/294665a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. de la Cruz F., Müller D., Ortiz J. M., Goebel W. Hemolysis determinant common to Escherichia coli hemolytic plasmids of different incompatibility groups. J Bacteriol. 1980 Aug;143(2):825–833. doi: 10.1128/jb.143.2.825-833.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. de la Cruz F., Zabala J. C., Ortiz J. M. Hemolysis determinant common to Escherichia coli strains of different O serotypes and origins. Infect Immun. 1983 Sep;41(3):881–887. doi: 10.1128/iai.41.3.881-887.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. de la Cruz F., Zabala J. C., Ortiz J. M. Incompatibility among alpha-hemolytic plasmids studied after inactivation of the alpha-hemolysin gene by transposition of Tn802. Plasmid. 1979 Oct;2(4):507–519. doi: 10.1016/0147-619x(79)90050-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES