title: Characterisation of a Listeria monocytogenes mutant deficient in D-arabitol fermentation.
abstract: We selected and analysed a Tn917-lac Listeria monocytogenes mutant deficient in D-arabitol fermentation. Comparison of the 310-aa-long translated partial sequence of the disrupted gene with known proteins showed similarity with the phosphotransferase system galactitol-specific enzyme IIC component of the alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans (50% identity) and of Escherichia coli (36% identity). Fermentation of 18 other carbohydrates was unimpaired, suggesting the specificity of this transmembrane permease IIC for the pentitol D-arabitol. The deficiency in D-arabitol fermentation did not alter L. monocytogenes virulence in the BALB/c mouse model after intravenous and intragastric inoculations. This fully virulent mutant is a valuable tool to study L. monocytogenes oral infection, since the antibiotic resistance marker present on the Tn917-lac transposon will efficiently select L. monocytogenes against the intestinal microflora.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'immunophysiologie et parasitisme intracellulaire, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saklani-Jusforgues
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fontan
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Goossens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009154:Mutation; D010731:Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D013402:Sugar Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D013402:Sugar Alcohols; D010731:Phosphoenolpyruvate Sugar Phosphotransferase System; C014999:arabitol