Jl. Romalde et al., Study of cell surface associated virulence factors of Streptococcus parauberis strains pathogenic for turbot, B EUR ASS F, 20(6), 2000, pp. 244-251
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
BULLETIN OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF FISH PATHOLOGISTS
The cell surface characteristics of a collection of Streptococcus pamuberis
strains isolated from turbot were examined, including the autoagglutinatin
g and hemagglutinating capacities and the hydrophobic character. In additio
n, their possible relationship with the adhesive and invasive abilities of
the strains was determined. S. parauberis isolates showed only hemagglutina
ting activity against turbot erythrocytes indicating host specificity for t
his character. Although hydrophobicity results were variable depending on t
he method employed, a good correlation was observed between BATH (adherence
to hydrocarbons) and NCF (binding to nitrocellulose filters) tests. In add
ition, the growth media influenced the hydrophobic character of the strains
, probably due to the induction of synthesis of capsular material. On the o
ther hand, all the isolates from turbot of S. parauberis were moderately ad
herent and invasive in different poikilotherm and homoiotherm cell lines. I
nhibition experiments showed that lipoteichoic acids markedly reduced the a
dherence levels, suggesting that these molecules are implicated in the adhe
sive mechanism of this fish pathogen.