HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN<i>ESCHERICHIA COLI</i>AND SHIGELLA

Abstract

Luria explored the question of bacterial hybridization only briefly, but established that these two types of intestinal bacteria could mate and produce hybrids possessing characteristics of each. This had implications for laboratory diagnosis, raising the possibility that a hybrid possessing Shigella's pathogenic qualities could test as an E. coli, or vice-versa.