Pneumococcal surface protein C contributes to sepsis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in mice.
The role of pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC; also called SpsA, CbpA, and Hic) in sepsis by Streptococcus pneumoniae was investigated in a murine infection model. The pspC gene was deleted in strains D39 (type 2) and A66 (type 3), and the mutants were tested by being injected intravenously into mice. The animals infected with the mutant strains showed a significant increase in survival, with the 50% lethal dose up to 250-fold higher than that for the wild type. Our findings indicate that PspC affords a decisive contribution to sepsis development.
Iannelli
Francesco
F
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy. iannelli@unisi.it
Chiavolini
Damiana
D
Ricci
Susanna
S
Oggioni
Marco Rinaldo
MR
Pozzi
Gianni
G
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009154:Mutation; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C110344:SpsA protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae