Live non-invasive Shigella dysenteriae 1 strain induces homologous protective immunity in a guinea pig colitis model.

A non-invasive live transconjugant Shigella hybrid (LTSHΔstx) strain was constructed from a Shiga toxin gene deleted mutant of Shigella dysenteriae 1 by introducing a plasmid vector pPR1347 that carried a lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis gene (rfb and rfc) of Salmonella typhimurium. In guinea pigs, four successive oral administrations of LTSH Δstx showed complete protection against rectal challenge with wild type S. dysenteriae 1 strain. Exponential increase of the serum IgG and IgA titer against lipopolysaccharide of LTSH Δstx was observed during immunization, peaked on day 28 and remained at that level until day 35 after the initiation of the immunization. In intestinal lavage of the immunized animals, significant increase of IgA titer against lipopolysaccharide of LTSH Δstx was also observed. These data suggested that LTSH Δstx could be a useful candidate to induce protective immunity against S. dysenteriae 1 infection.

Plasmid-mediated streptomycin and sulfamethoxazole resistance in Shigella flexneri 3a.

Shigellosis is a major cause of diarrhoea-related morbidity and mortality, especially in children in developing countries such as India. Recently, it was estimated that 91 million individuals worldwide contract shigellosis each year. The emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant strains of Shigella is now an emerging global health problem. During the past two decades, much attention was given to re-evaluation of treatment recommendations. In the present study, we investigated a clinical strain of Shigella flexneri 3a with multiple drug resistance. This strain was resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole), nalidixic acid, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and trimethoprim. However, it was susceptible to 46.7% of drugs tested, i.e. azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin. A 6.3-kb plasmid was cured from this strain using acridine orange. Following curing, it was observed that 87% of drug resistance loci of S. flexneri 3a are chromosomal and 13% are plasmid-encoded. This 6.3-kb plasmid was involved in streptomycin and sulfamethoxazole resistance in S. flexneri 3a strain, which was confirmed by the disk diffusion method. Clonality was confirmed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). This study contributes to our knowledge on acquired drug resistance in one of the most common Shigella spp., S. flexneri 3a, which will enable better understanding of effective clinical management of shigellosis.

Epidemic strain Shigella dysenteriae Type 1 Dt66 encodes several drug resistances by chromosome.

BACKGROUND: Multiple antibiotic-resistant strains of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 were isolated from an epidemic in West Bengal, India (1984). During the past two decades, much attention was given to reevaluation of treatment recommendations. However, there are no useful data on drug resistance encoded by chromosome. METHODS: A total of 300 strains of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 were isolated from an epidemic. Strains were biochemically identified by API 20E system and further confirmed serologically. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method and plasmid DNA was prepared by alkaline lysis procedure. Elimination of plasmids was achieved by curing with acridine orange from a representative epidemic strain S. dysenteriae 1 Dt66. PFGE was performed for typing of wild-type and plasmid-cured strains. Southern blot of PFGE separated XbaI digested chromosomal DNA was done onto positively charged nylon membrane. For Southern hybridization, plasmid DNA was used as probe. RESULTS: All isolates showed identical drug resistance patterns and plasmid profiles. All these isolates contained six plasmids ranging in sizes from 3 to 145 kb. We have eliminated all the plasmids from a representative strain of S. dysenteriae 1 Dt66 by using acridine orange as curing agent. All epidemic Shigella isolates were resistant to amoxycillin, ampicillin, bacitracin, carbenicillin, cefixime, ceftazidime, chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, erythromycin, fusidic acid, methicillin, penicillin G, polymixin B, streptomycin, rifampicin, tetracycline and vancomycin, among 29 antibiotics used. Out of 17 resistant antibiotics, 12 were encoded by chromosome. Resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, tetracycline and ceftazidime was plasmid encoded. Southern blot hybridization showed the recognition of two clear sites in the chromosome used plasmid DNA of Dt66 strain as probe, which reveled some sequential genetic homology between chromosome and plasmids. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed for typing of the chromosome of plasmidless strains of Dt66 and wild-type strain Dt66 (having plasmids) that remain unaltered. CONCLUSIONS: Seventy percent drug-resistant loci of Shigella dysenteriae 1 Dt66 are present in chromosome and the remaining are plasmid mediated.

Histopathological study of rabbit intestinal mucosa infected with a hybrid strain of Shigella dysenteriae 1 carrying LPS biosynthesis genes of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium.

The rfb gene cluster and the rfc gene of Salmonella enterica were introduced earlier into an invasive Shigella dysenteriae 1 strain by triparental cross. Antiserum was raised in rabbit against lipopolysaccharide isolated from the hybrid strain. Both the hybrid and the invasive S. dysenteriae 1 strain were found to have a titer of 1:2560 while for S. enterica, it was 1:640. Ligated ileal loops were prepared in rabbit, which were inoculated with 10(8) CFU ml(-1) each of the hybrid strain, and invasive S. dysenteriae 1 strain used as positive control. Escherichia coli K12 was also used as a negative control. After 18 h, the fluid accumulation ratios were 0.2 and 1.6 for hybrid and invasive strains of S. dysenteriae 1, respectively. Rabbit intestinal mucosa infected with hybrid S. dysenteriae 1 strain showed the presence of intact villus tips and unruptured intestinal mucosa whereas total necrosis of intestinal mucosa and villi was observed in the S. dysenteriae 1-infected region.