Variants of smooth Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis that grow to higher cell density than the wild type are more virulent.

ABSTRACT: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis that grows to a higher cell density (SE-HCD) than wild type while retaining O-chain lipopolysaccharide was isolated by transforming wild type serovar Enteritidis with the cell density sensor plasmid pSB402 and selecting for bioluminescence. A luminescent strain, SE-HCD, that emitted light in proportion with cell density and opacity through stationary phase was isolated. After a peak cell density of 1.5 x 10(11) CFU/ml was observed, luminescence decreased, although opacity continued to increase. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that changes in luminescence and opacity past peak cell density were associated with lysis of a swarming hyperflagellated coccobacillary cell type and emergence of a 10-to-30-fold-elongated rod cell type that lacked cell s

SUBMITTER: Guard-Petter J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC106294 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature