Occurrence of virulence-associated properties in Enterobacter cloacae

Infect Immun. 1998 Feb;66(2):645-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.66.2.645-649.1998.

Abstract

Enterobacter cloacae is not a primary human pathogen but has been considered to be an important cause of nosocomial infections. Even so, there are almost no reports on its ability to produce recognized virulence-associated properties. In this study, we show that most of the E. cloacae strains examined were resistant to serum bactericidal activity and were able to produce aerobactin and mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin, and all of them could adhere to and invade HEp-2 cells. Since E. cloacae is part of the normal intestinal floras of many individuals, we believe that infectious disease due to endogenous E. cloacae might be a result of both host predisposing factors and the bacterial virulence determinants that we have detected in this survey.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Adhesion
  • Cell Line
  • Enterobacter cloacae / pathogenicity*
  • Hemagglutination
  • Humans
  • Hydroxamic Acids / metabolism
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • aerobactin