Author/Editor		Kuhar, Irena
Title		Regulacija sinteze kolicina K bakterije Escherichia coli in vloga kolicinov
Translated title		Regulation of colicin K expression in Escherichia coli and the role of colicins
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 97
Language		slo
Abstract		Escherichia coli strains are part of the normal intestinal flora of humans. However, pathogenic strains often cause intestinal and urinary tract infections and rarely neonatal meningitis and sepsis: Pathogenic E. coli strains can cause infections due to the production of virulence factors such as toxins, adhesins, capsules, invasins, mobility, systems for iron uptake and others. The synergistic action of everal virulence factors is needed to overcome the host's defence mechanisms and to elicit infection. Invasiveness and toxigenicity determine virulence of a pathogen. The relationship between host and pathogen is dynamic, since each modifies the activities and functions of the other. The outcome of this relationship depends on the pathogenicity of the pathogen, that is, on its ability to inflict damage, and on the resistance of the host. The gastrointestinal flora is a pool of E. coli strains. Pathogenic strains have to compete with other strains, which have the same nutritional requirements and ability to adhere to the same tissue. To initiate the infection process, a bacterium must establish a habitat and survive in the host. This is mediated among other factors by colicins and fimbrial adhesins. The expression of virulence factors is not constitutive, rather it is regulated with regard to cell physiology and environmental signals. The aim of this thesis was first to determine the potential of intestine strains to cause extraintestinal infection. For this purpose virulence determinants associated with extraintestinal infections in intestinal E. coli was analysed and correlations between individual virulence factors. Further, the regulation of expression of an E. coli bacteriocin, colicin K, found in uropathogenic strain, was studied to get some new insights into the regulation of virulence factors and the role colicins have in the natural environment. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		ESCHERICHIA COLI VIRULENCE TRANSCRIPTION, GENETIC TRANSLATION, GENETIC COLICINS CYTOTOXINS HEMOLYSINS DRUG RESISTANCE, MICROBIAL BACTERIAL CAPSULES GENOTYPE PHENOTYPE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION, BACTERIAL