Genetic Transformation in Encapsulated Clinical Isolates of Haemophilus influenzae Type b

作者：Pradeep B. Rowji, Rosa C. Gromkova, HENDRIK J. KOORNHOF · 发表于：Microbiology · 年份：1989 · DOI：10.1099/00221287-135-10-2775 · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis、Bacterial Infections and Vaccines、Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry and Applications

Haemophilus influenzae type b strains isolated from children with meningitis, septicaemia and pharyngitis were studied for their ability to undergo genetic transformation by two chromosomal markers, streptomycin resistance and nalidixic acid resistance. Fifty-eight percent of the strains were non-transformable while the remaining 42% showed considerable strain variation with regard to their transformation frequencies, which ranged from 8 x 10(-4) to 1 x 10(-6). The effect of type b capsule on competence development and transformation activity was studied by comparing encapsulated strains with their non-encapsulated variants. Type b capsule did not inhibit either competence development or transforming efficiency. The lack of transformability in the majority of strains was not due to the presence of a capsule.