Studies into the role of the SEF14 fimbrial antigen in the pathogenesis of Salmonella enteritidis.
To investigate the role of the SEF14 fimbrial antigen in pathogenesis, a single defined sefA (SEF14-) inactivated mutant of Salmonella enteritidis strain LA5 was constructed and tested in a number of biological assay systems. There was no significant difference between the wild-type strain and the isogenic SEF14- mutant in their abilities to adhere to and invade HEp-2 epithelial cells or their survival in mouse peritoneal macrophages, whereas the SEF14- mutant was ingested more rapidly by isolated human PMN. Both the strains colonized the intestine, invaded and spread systemically in 1 day-old chicks, laying hens and BALB/c mice equally well. A significantly greater number of chicks excreted the wild-type SEF14+ strain during the first week following infection as compared to those infected with the SEF14- mutant. However, similar numbers of chicks excreted the two strains between 2 and 7 weeks after infection. These results indicate that possession of SEF14 fimbriae alone do not appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of S. enteritidis although its contribution to virulence may be dependent on the host species infected.
Thorns
C J
CJ
Central Veterinary Laboratory, Addlestone, Surrey, UK.
Turcotte
C
C
Gemmell
C G
CG
Woodward
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000382:microbiology; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080931:sefA protein, Salmonella enteritidis; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins