Signature-tagged mutagenesis of Pasteurella multocida identifies mutants displaying differential virulence characteristics in mice and chickens.
Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of fowl cholera in birds. Signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) was used to identify potential virulence factors in a mouse septicemia disease model and a chicken fowl cholera model. A library of P. multocida mutants was constructed with a modified Tn916 and screened for attenuation in both animal models. Mutants identified by the STM screening were confirmed as attenuated by competitive growth assays in both chickens and mice. Of the 15 mutants identified in the chicken model, only 5 were also attenuated in mice, showing for the first time the presence of host-specific virulence factors and indicating the importance of screening for attenuation in the natural host.
Harper
Marina
M
Bacterial Pathogenesis Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
Boyce
John D
JD
Wilkie
Ian W
IW
Adler
Ben
B
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional / Q000379:methods; D010326:Pasteurella Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016979:Pasteurella multocida / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016324:Sequence Tagged Sites; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins