Shiga toxin 2-encoding bacteriophages in human fecal samples from healthy individuals.

ABSTRACT: Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophages (Stx phages) carry the stx gene and convert nonpathogenic bacterial strains into Shiga toxin-producing bacteria. Previous studies have shown that high densities of free and infectious Stx phages are found in environments polluted with feces and also in food samples. Taken together, these two findings suggest that Stx phages could be excreted through feces, but this has not been tested to date. In this study, we purified Stx phages from 100 fecal samples from 100 healthy individuals showing no enteric symptoms. The phages retrieved from each sample were then quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR). In total, 62% of the samples carried Stx phages, with an average value of 2.6 × 10(4) Stx phages/g. This result confirms the excretion of free Stx phages by he

SUBMITTER: Martinez-Castillo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3754710 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature