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E Meynell

Publications and source records attributed to E Meynell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Serological characteristics of pili determined by the plasmids R711b and F0lac.

The plasmids R711b (at present IncX) and F0lac (IncFV) both determine pili morphologically like those of F (IncFI), and confer sensitivity to the F-specific filamentous bacteriophages, but not to the F-specific isometric RNA phages. Detailed serological studies show that the two pilus types are unrelated, and that neither is related to any of the previously defined F pilus serotypes. Adsorption of the isometric RNA phage MS2 to R711b pili occurs in the presence but not in the absence of formalin, which presumably prevents elution of reversibly adsorbed virions. No adsorption occurs with F0lac pili. MS2 multiplication, as measured by titre increase tests in liquid medium, is found with neither plasmid. The two plasmids are not incompatible. These observations indicate that R744b and F0lac are different both from one another and from the plasmids belonging to the incompatibility groups IncFI--IV.

Adsorption↗

Comparative study of R1-specific chromosomal transfer in Escherichia coli K-12 and salmonella typhimurium LT2.

High-frequency transfer of the chromosomal trp region by R1 observed in Escherichia coli (Pearce and Meynell, 1968) also occurs in Salmonella typhimurium. The reaction is recA independent in both species. The origin of transfer lies within a segment of the chromosome that is inverted in S. typhimurium relative to E. coli, and thus transfer occurs in a different direction in the two species. The character of R1 that is responsible, known as Tfa+, may be lost without affecting other properties of the R factor such as its own transfer.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Effect on exclusion of alterations to the sex pilus.

Chromosomal genes from an Hfr donor, dependent for their transfer upon the integrated F factor, were not excluded by an F(+) recipient when the donor also carried an F-like R factor, and its sex pili contained, in addition to F pilin, another pilin of a different specificity.

Ampicillin↗

Inhibition of gene transfer by antiserum and identification of serotypes of sex pili.

Gene transfer by conjugation due to F or R (drug resistance) factors is inhibited by antibody to the sex pili. Serological analysis is able to distinguish between the sex pili determined by closely related sex factors, and the specificity of inhibition of transfer agrees with that previously determined by direct electron microscopical observation of antibody bound to the sex pili (10). Inhibition of transfer can therefore be applied to the identification of wild-type R factors with repressed sex factors that determine too few pili to be examined directly. It can also be used to differentiate the activities of two unrelated sex factors in the same donor bacterium.

Adsorption↗

Serotypes of sex pili.

There are situations in which direct observation of the attachment of antibody molecules may be the simplest method of detecting antigen-antibody reactions. Applied to the study of the sex pili determined by a number of transmissible bacterial plasmids, the method has distinguished four serotypes in the F-like class and two in the I-like class. Antibody was usually attached haphazardly to the pili; however, in a few cases a regular periodicity could be observed. When few antibody molecules were attached, they could frequently be individually resolved and in certain antibody-pilus combinations large antibody molecules, tentatively identified as IgM, could be seen to predominate.

Animals↗