Lack of flagella disadvantages Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis during the early stages of infection in the rat.
The roles of flagella and five fimbriae (SEF14, SEF17, SEF21, pef, lpf) in the early stages (up to 3 days) of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) infection have been investigated in the rat. Wild-type strains LA5 and S1400 (fim+/fla+) and insertionally inactivated mutants unable to express the five fimbriae (fim-/fla+), flagella (fim+/fla-) or fimbriae and flagella (fim-/fla-) were used. All wild-type and mutant strains were able to colonize the gut and spread to the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen. There appeared to be little or no difference between the fim-/fla+ and wild-type (fim+/fla+) strains. In contrast, the numbers of aflagellate (fim+/fla- or fim-/fla-) salmonella in the liver and spleen were transiently reduced. In addition, fim+/fla- or fim-/fla- strains were less able to persist in the upper gastrointestinal tract and the inflammatory responses they elicited in the gut were less severe. Thus, expression of SEF14, SEF17, SEF21, pef and lpf did not appear to be a prerequisite for induction of S. Enteritidis infection in the rat. Deletion of flagella did, however, disadvantage the bacterium. This may be due to the inability to produce or release the potent immunomodulating protein flagellin.
Robertson
Jeanette M C
JMC
Gut Microbiology and Immunology Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK 2Department of Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
McKenzie
Norma H
NH
Gut Microbiology and Immunology Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK 2Department of Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
Duncan
Michelle
M
Gut Microbiology and Immunology Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK 2Department of Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
Allen-Vercoe
Emma
E
Gut Microbiology and Immunology Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK 2Department of Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
Woodward
Martin J
MJ
Gut Microbiology and Immunology Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK 2Department of Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
Flint
Harry J
HJ
Gut Microbiology and Immunology Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK 2Department of Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
Grant
George
G
Gut Microbiology and Immunology Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK 2Department of Bacterial Diseases, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000382:microbiology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014774:Virulence