Plasmid DNAs from 25 Aeromonas salmonicida strains (14 ‘typical’ and 11 so-called ‘atypical’ strains) were analysed using two plasmid isolation techniques in conjunction with restriction enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis. ‘Atypical’ strains carried two to four plasmid species, which were different from the plasmids carried by ‘typical’ strains, and corresponded to isolate source and biotype, suggesting that plasmid content may be a useful epidemiological marker for ‘atypical’ A. salmonicida. The ‘typical’ group was extremely homogeneous in plasmid content. In addition to a single large (70–145 kb) structurally related plasmid species, all strains carried a highly conserved group of three low-Mr plasmids (pAsa1, 5·0 kb; pAsa2, 5·2 kb; pAsa3, 5·4 kb). The pAsa plasmids had different restriction maps, and directed the synthesis of four polypeptides when assayed in vitro using a transcription/translation system and [3 5S]methionine radiolabelling. A partially conserved 6·0 kb plasmid directed synthesis of an additional polypeptide. Total cellular plasmid DNA from virulent ‘typical’ strain A. salmonicida A449 was also cloned in Escherichia coli, using the vector pBR322. When analysed using a minicell expression system, 17 plasmid-encoded proteins, ranging in size from 12 to 90 kDa, were identified, including two putative exported proteins, and a chloramphenicol acetyltrans-ferase which was encoded by the 145 kb conserved, non-conjugative, plasmid.
AokiT.,
KitaoT.,
AndoT.,
AraiT.1979; Incompatibility grouping of R plasmids detected in fish pathogenic bacteria, Aeromonas salmonicida
. In Microbial Drug Resistance 2 pp. 219–222MitsuhashiS.
Edited by Baltimore: University Park Press;
BootsmaR.,
FijanN.,
BlommaertJ.1977; Isolation and preliminary identification of the causative agent of carp erythrodermatitis. Veterinary Archives 47:291–302
CozzarelliN.R.,
KellyR.B.,
KornbergA.1968; A minute circular DNA from Escherichia coli 15. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences oj the United States of America 60:992–999
CrosaJ.H.1980; A plasmid associated with virulence in the marine fish pathogen Vibrio anguil- larum specifies an iron-sequestering system. Nature, London 284:566–568
CurtissR.III1981; Gene transfer. In Methodology for General Bacteriology pp. 243–265GerhardtP.
Edited by Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology;
De GrandisS.,
StevensonR.M.W.1982; Variations in plasmid profiles and growth characteristics of Yersinia ruckeri strains. FEMS Microbiology Letters 15:199–202
DouganG.,
DowdG.,
KehoeM.1983; Organization of K88ac-encoded polypeptides in the Escherichia coli cell envelope: use of mini-cells and outer membrane protein mutants for studying assembly of pili. Journal of Bacteriology 153:364–370
EvelynT.P.T.1971; An aberrant strain of the bacteria] fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida isolated from a marine host, the sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), and from two species of cultured Pacific salmon. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 28:1629–1634
FilipC.,
FletcherG.,
WulffJ.L.,
EarhartC.F.1973; Solubilisation of the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli by the ionic detergent sodium lauryl sarcosinate. Journal of Bacteriology 115:717–722
GaffneyD.F.,
FosterT.J.,
ShawW.V.1978; Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase determined by R plasmids from Gram-negative bacteria. Journal of General Microbiology 109:351–356
GonzalesJ.M.,
DulmageH.T.,
CarltonB.C.1981; Correlation between specific plasmids and delta-endotoxin production in Bacillus thuringiensis
. Plasmid 5:351–365
HackettJ.L.,
LynchW.H.,
PatersonW.D.,
CoombsD.1984; Extracellular protease, extracellular haemolysin, and virulence in Aeromonas sal- monicida
. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 41:1354–1360
HalegouaS.,
InouyeM.1979; Translocation and assembly of outer membrane proteins of Escherichia coli. Selective accumulation of precursors and novel assembly intermediates caused by phenethyl alcohol. Journal of Molecular Biology 130:39–61
IshiguroE.E.,
KayW.W.,
AinsworthT.,
ChamberlainJ.,
BuckleyJ.T.,
TrustT.J.1981; Loss of virulence during culture of Aeromonas salmonicida at high temperature. Journal of Bacteriology 148:333–340
JonesG.W.,
RabertD.K.,
SvinarichD.M.,
WhitfieldH.1982; Association of adhesive, invasive, and virulent phenotypes of Salmonella typhimurium with autonomous 60-megadalton plasmids. Infection and Immunity 38:476–486
KayW.W.,
BuckleyJ.T.,
IshiguroE.E.,
PhippsB.M.,
MonetteJ.,
TrustT.J.1981; Purification and disposition of a surface protein associated with virulence of Aeromonas salmonicida
. Journal of Bacteriology 147:1077–1084
KimuraT.1969; A new subspecies of Aeromonas salmonicida as an etiological agent of furunculosis on ‘Sakuramascu’ (Oncorhynchus masou) and pink salmon (O. gorbuscha): on the morphological and physiological properties. Fish Pathology 3:34–44
MccarthyD.H.1978A study of the taxonomic status of some bacteria currently assigned to the genus Aeromonas PhD thesis Council of National Academic Awards, Great Britain
PalvaE.T.,
HirstT.R.,
HardyS.J.S.,
HolmgrenJ.,
RandallL.1981; Synthesis of a precursor to the B subunit of heat-labile enterotoxin in Escherichia coli
. Journal of Bacteriology 146:325–330
PatersonW.D.,
DoueyD.,
DesautelsD.1980; Isolation and identification of an atypical Aeromonas salmonicida strain causing epizootic losses among Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared in a Nova Scotian hatchery. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37:2236–2241
PollockM.R.,
RichmondM.H.1962; Low cysteine content of bacterial extracellular proteins: its possible physiological significance. Nature, London 194:446–449
PortnoyD.A.,
MoseleyS.L.,
FalkowS.1981; Characterization of plasmids and plasmid-associated determinants of Yersinia enterocolitica pathogenesis. Infection and Immunity 31:775–782
ShottsE.B.JrTalkingtonF.D.,
ElliotD.G.,
MccarthyD.H.1980; Aetiology of an ulcerative disease in goldfish, Carassius auratus (L): characterization of the causative agent. Journal of Fish Diseases 3:181–186
TrustT.J.,
KhouriA.G.,
AustenR.A.,
AshburnerL.D.1980; First isolation in Australia of atypical Aeromonas salmonicida
. FEMS Microbiology Letters 9:39–42
WhittingtonR.J.,
GudkovsN.,
CarriganM.J.,
AshburnerL.D.,
ThurstanS.J.1987; Clinical, microbiological and epidemiological findings in recent outbreaks of goldfish ulcer due to atypical Aeromonas salmonicida in south-eastern Australia. Journal of Fish Diseases 10:353–362
WillisR.C.,
MorrisR.G.,
CirakogluC.,
SchellenbergG.D.,
GerberN.H.,
FurlongC.E.1974; Preparation of periplasmic binding proteins from Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli
. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 161:64–75
YangH.L.,
IvanshkivL.,
ChenH.Z.,
ZubayG.,
CashelM.1980; Cell-free coupled transcription- translation system for investigation of linear DNA segments. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 77:7029–7033