Targeted mutagenesis of the phospholipase D gene results in decreased virulence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.
The chromosomal gene encoding the phospholipase D from Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (biovar ovis) isolate Whetten 1 was replaced with an allele containing a nonsense mutation. The virulence of the mutant strain (W1.31r1) and the isogenic parental strain were then compared by inoculation of goats. The wild-type strain caused abscessation at the site of infection, which then spread to the regional lymph node, while W1.31r1 had a reduced ability to establish a primary infection and was incapable of dissemination. Our results confirm that phospholipase D is a virulence determinant of C. pseudotuberculosis that increases the persistence and spread of the bacteria within the host.
McNamara
P J
PJ
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
Bradley
G A
GA
Songer
J G
JG
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016925:Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018390:Gene Targeting; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D006041:Goats; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology*; D010739:Phospholipase D / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence
D010739:Phospholipase D