Gv. Carbonell et al., DETECTION OF CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY ON VERO CELLS IN CLINICAL ISOLATES OFSERRATIA-MARCESCENS, Brazilian journal of medical and biological research, 30(11), 1997, pp. 1291-1298
Cytotoxin production was studied in 60 Serratia marcescens strains iso
lated from hospitalized patients. Association of cytotoxic activity wi
th serotype, source of isolation and presence of plasmids was also eva
luated. Thirteen of the 60 S. marcescens strains produced a cytotoxic
effect on Vero cells. These strains were isolated from distinct clinic
al sources and classified into seven different serotypes (01:H7; 04:NM
; 010:NT; 019:NM; 06,14:H4; 06,14:NM and 06,14:H1). No relationship wa
s observed between cytotoxic activity and clinical source or serotypes
of the strains. Plasmids from five cytotoxin-producing S. marcescens
strains were transferred to E. coli K12/711. The transconjugants did n
ot exhibit cytotoxicity, indicating that the cytotoxic effect is not p
lasmid-mediated among these strains. Although a cytotoxic activity was
demonstrated in filtrates of some S. marcescens strains, further stud
ies should be performed to assess the role of this toxin in pathogenes
is.