Transposon mutagenesis of group B streptococcus beta-hemolysin biosynthesis.
Beta-hemolysin production by group B streptococci (GBS) is speculated to be a major virulence factor of the organism. A virulent, beta-hemolytic group B streptococcus strain was mutagenized with the self-conjugative transposon Tn916 to derive isogenic strains with mutations only in the gene(s) responsible for beta-hemolysin biosynthesis. There was no significant difference between the virulence of the parent strain and that of the mutant strains in a neonatal rat sepsis model.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D051381:Rats; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins