This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chang, G W Articles by Lum, R Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chang, G W Articles by Lum, R Agricola Articles by Chang, G W Articles by Lum, R

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1989 February; 55(2): 335-339

Proportion of beta-D-glucuronidase-negative Escherichia coli in human fecal samples.

G W Chang, J Brill and R Lum

Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley 94720.

ABSTRACT

Convenient assays and reports that almost all clinical isolates of Escherichia coli produce beta-D-glucuronidase (GUR) have led to great interest in the use of the enzyme for the rapid detection of the bacterium in water, food, and environmental samples. In these materials, E. coli serves as an indicator of possible fecal contamination. Therefore, it was crucial to examine the proportion of GUR-negative E. coli in human fecal samples. The bacterium was isolated from 35 samples, and a mean of 34% and a median of 15% were found to be GUR negative in lauryl sulfate tryptose broth with 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide. E. coli from three samples were temperature dependent for GUR production: very weakly positive at 37 degrees C but strongly positive at 44.5 degrees C. These results remind us of differences between fecal and clinical E. coli populations, of diversity in GUR regulation and expression in natural populations of E. coli, and of the need for caution in using GUR for the detection of fecal E. coli.

---

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1989 February; 55(2): 335-339

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Liang, W.-J., Wilson, K. J., Xie, H., Knol, J., Suzuki, S., Rutherford, N. G., Henderson, P. J. F., Jefferson, R. A. (2005). The gusBC Genes of Escherichia coli Encode a Glucuronide Transport System. J. Bacteriol. 187: 2377-2385 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Russell, W. M., Klaenhammer, T. R. (2001). Identification and Cloning of gusA, Encoding a New {beta}-Glucuronidase from Lactobacillus gasseri ADH. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 1253-1261 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Alonso, J. L., Soriano, A., Carbajo, O., Amoros, I., Garelick, H. (1999). Comparison and Recovery of Escherichia coli and Thermotolerant Coliforms in Water with a Chromogenic Medium Incubated at 41 and 44.5{degrees}C. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 3746-3749 [Abstract] [Full Text]