title: Periplasmic superoxide dismutase in meningococcal pathogenicity.
abstract: Meningococcal sodC encodes periplasmic copper- and zinc-cofactored superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn SOD) which catalyzes the conversion of the superoxide radical anion to hydrogen peroxide, preventing a sequence of reactions leading to production of toxic hydroxyl free radicals. From its periplasmic location, Cu,Zn SOD was inferred to acquire its substrate from outside the bacterial cell and was speculated to play a role in preserving meningococci from the action of microbicidal oxygen free radicals produced in the context of host defense. A sodC mutant was constructed by allelic exchange and was used to investigate the role of Cu,Zn SOD in pathogenicity. Wild-type and mutant meningococci grew at comparable rates and survived equally long in aerobic liquid culture. The mutant showed no increased sensitivity to paraquat, which generates superoxide within the cytosol, but was approximately 1,000-fold more sensitive to the toxicity of superoxide generated in solution by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. These data support a role for meningococcal Cu,Zn SOD in protection against exogenous superoxide. In experiments to translate this into a role in pathogenicity, wild-type and mutant organisms were used in an intraperitoneal mouse infection model. The sodC mutant was significantly less virulent. We conclude that periplasmic Cu,Zn SOD contributes to the virulence of Neisseria meningitidis, most likely by reducing the effectiveness of toxic oxygen host defenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College, School of Medicine at St. Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Wilks
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Farrant
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Reddin
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gorringe
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Langford
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kroll
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D019897:Periplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D019820:Xanthine / Q000378:metabolism; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D019820:Xanthine; D003300:Copper; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D015032:Zinc; D010269:Paraquat