Francisella strains express hemolysins of distinct characteristics.
Historically, Francisella strains have been described as nonhemolytic. In this study, we show by use of solid and liquid hemolysis assays that some Francisella strains have hemolytic properties. The Francisella novicida type strain U112 is hemolytic to horse erythrocytes and Francisella philomiragia type strain FSC144 is hemolytic towards both human and horse erythrocytes. The F. novicida strain U112 released a protein (novilysin A) into the culture supernatant which cross-reacted with antiserum against Escherichia coli HlyA whereas there was no similar protein detectable with this cross-reactive property from the supernatant of the F. philomiragia strain.
Lai
Xin-He
XH
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. lai_xinhe@yahoo.com
Wang
Su-Yan
SY
Edebro
Helen
H
Sjöstedt
Anders
A
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D005603:Francisella / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D014774:Virulence
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C036507:Hlya protein, E coli