Characterization of BrkA expression in Bordetella bronchiseptica.
BrkA confers resistance to killing by complement in Bordetella pertussis. Complement resistance in Bordetella bronchiseptica was examined. Four B. bronchiseptica strains possessed the brkA gene; however, only three expressed the protein. Only the strain lacking BrkA was susceptible to complement. Introduction of the B. pertussis brkA gene restored BrkA expression to this strain but did not confer resistance. brkA was mutated in the strains that naturally expressed BrkA, and loss of BrkA did not confer sensitivity to complement. As a species, B. bronchiseptica is more resistant to complement than B. pertussis, and BrkA does not mediate resistance.
Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA.
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Rambow
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Fernandez
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Weiss
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D016950:Bordetella bronchiseptica / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C090007:BrkA protein, Bordetella pertussis; D003165:Complement System Proteins