EVIDENCE FOR PLASMID-MEDIATED TOXIN PRODUCTION IN BACILLUS-ANTHRACIS
EVIDENCE FOR PLASMID-MEDIATED TOXIN PRODUCTION IN BACILLUS-ANTHRACIS
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DOI：
10.1128/iai.39.1.371-376.1983
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发表时间：
1983-01-01
影响因子：
3.1
通讯作者：
DREIER, TM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
MIKESELL, P;IVINS, BE;DREIER, TM
Large MW plasmids were isolated from virulent and avirulent strains of B. anthracis. Each strain contained a single plasmid species unique from the others with respect to MW. Bacterial strains were cured for their resident extrachromosomal gene pools by sequential passage of cultures at 42.5.degree. C. Coincidental to the curing of plasmids was loss of detectable lethal toxin and edema-producing activities, and a dramatic decrease in lethal factor and protective antigen serological activities. The involvement of these plasmids in the production of toxin was firmly established by transformation of heat-passaged cells with plasmid DNA purified from the parent strain. The ability to produce parent strain levels of toxin was restored, and the plasmid DNA similar in MW to that isolated from the parent was reisolated in all transformants examined. The exact role these plasmids play in the production of toxin remains to be elucidated. Two additional strains of B. anthracis, designated Pasteur vacine strains, were examined for the ability to produce toxin and for the presence of plasmid DNA. Both strains were nontoxigenic and contained no detectable plasmid elements. B. anthracis strains were apparently cured of temperature-sensitive plasmids which code for toxin structural or regulatory proteins. Pasteur''s results were similar.
