Complement resistance is essential for colonization of the digestive tract of Hirudo medicinalis by Aeromonas strains.
From the crop of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, only Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria can be cultured consistently. Serum-sensitive A. veronii mutants were unable to colonize H. medicinalis, indicating the importance of the mammalian complement system for this unusual simplicity. Complementation of one selected mutant restored its ability to colonize. Serum-sensitive mutants are the first mutant class with a colonization defect for this symbiosis.
Braschler
Thomas R
TR
Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Berne, CH-3010 Berne, Switzerland.
Merino
Susana
S
Tomás
Juan M
JM
Graf
Joerg
J
D000333:Aeromonas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003470:Culture Media; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D007865:Leeches / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis
D003470:Culture Media; D003165:Complement System Proteins