title: [Cu,Zn]-Superoxide dismutase mutants of the swine pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae are unattenuated in infections of the natural host.
abstract: Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, contains a periplasmic Cu- and Zn-cofactored superoxide dismutase ([Cu,Zn]-SOD, or SodC) which has the potential, realized in other pathogens, to promote bacterial survival during infection by dismutating host-defense-derived superoxide. Here we describe the construction of a site-specific, [Cu,Zn]-SOD-deficient A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 mutant and show that although the mutant is highly sensitive to the microbicidal action of superoxide in vitro, it remains fully virulent in experimental pulmonary infection in pigs.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Infectious Diseases Group, Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College School of Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Langford
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Rycroft
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kroll
mesh_terms: D000189:Actinobacillus Infections / Q000662:veterinary*; D016977:Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000818:Animals; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D011001:Pleuropneumonia / Q000662:veterinary*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase