The bean (Phaseolus spp.) plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola is characterized by the ability to produce phaseolotoxin (Tox(+)). We recently reported that the majority of the Spanish P. syringae pv. phaseolicola population is unable to synthesize this toxin (Tox(-)). These Tox(-) isolates appear to lack the entire DNA region for the biosynthesis of phaseolotoxin (argK-tox gene ...

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is one of the main etiological agents of bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli. In the present study, 20 E. coli isolates from human hemocultures were characterized to identify genetic features associated with virulence (pathogenicity islands markers, phylogenetic group, virulence genes, plasmid profiles, and conjugative plasm...

Yersinia enterocolitica strains comprise an important group of bacterial enteropathogens that cause a broad range of gastrointestinal syndromes. Three groups are distinguishable within this bacterial species, namely, the nonpathogenic group (biotype 1A strains), the low-pathogenicity, non-mouse-lethal group (biotypes 2 to 5), and the high-pathogenicity, mouse-lethal group (biotype 1B). To date,...

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen and a leading cause of nosocomial infections, traits facilitated by the ability to quickly acquire and transfer virulence determinants. A 150 kb pathogenicity island (PAI) comprised of genes contributing to virulence is found in many enterococcal isolates and is known to undergo horizontal transfer. We have shown that the PAI-encoded transcript...

The locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 possesses the same genes in identical order and orientation as the LEE of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) O127:H6 but is unable to form attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions or to secrete Esp proteins when it is cloned in an E. coli K-12 background. The A/E phenotype could not be re...