Isolation of the ST Ent plasmid specific bacteriophage M124.

Abstract

For simple detection of enterotoxigenic E. coli from patients, attempts were made to find a bacteriophage that specifically proliferate on these bacteria. As a result phage M124 was isolated. Analysis of plasmid DNA together with detection of ST enterotoxin showed that this phage can specifically attack E. coli carrying the ST Ent plasmid (80 Mdalton). These results indicate that phage M124 is very useful for detection of ST enterotoxigenic bacteria.