CAMP factor homologues in Propionibacterium acnes: a new protein family differentially expressed by types I and II.
Analysis of the draft genome sequence of the opportunistic pathogen Propionibacterium acnes type strain NCTC 737 (=ATCC 6919) revealed five genes with sequence identity to the co-haemolytic Christie-Atkins-Munch-Peterson (CAMP) factor of Streptococcus agalactiae. The predicted molecular masses for the expressed proteins ranged from 28 to 30 kDa. The genes were present in each of the three recently identified recA-based phylogenetic groupings of P. acnes (IA, IB and II), as assessed by PCR amplification. Conserved differences in CAMP factor gene sequences between these three groups were also consistent with their previous phylogenetic designations. All type IA, IB and II isolates were positive for the co-haemolytic reaction on sheep blood agar. Immunoblotting and silver staining of SDS-PAGE gels, however, revealed differential protein expression of CAMP factors amongst the different groups. Type IB and II isolates produced an abundance of CAMP factor 1, detectable by specific antibody labelling and silver staining of SDS-PAGE gels. In contrast, abundant CAMP factor production was lacking in type IA isolates, although larger amounts of CAMP factor 2 were detectable by immunoblotting compared with type II isolates. While the potential role of the abundant CAMP factor 1 in host colonization or virulence remains to be determined, it should be noted that the type strain of P. acnes used in much of the published literature is a type IA isolate and is, therefore, lacking in this attribute.
Valanne
Susanna
S
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, UK.
McDowell
Andrew
A
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, UK.
Ramage
Gordon
G
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, UK.
Tunney
Michael M
MM
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, UK.
Einarsson
Gisli G
GG
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, UK.
O'Hagan
Seamus
S
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, UK.
Wisdom
G Brian
GB
School of Biology and Biochemistry, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
Fairley
Derek
D
QUESTOR Centre, Queen's University, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, UK.
Bhatia
Ajay
A
Corixa Corporation, Infectious Disease Institute, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Maisonneuve
Jean-Francois
JF
Corixa Corporation, Infectious Disease Institute, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Lodes
Michael
M
Corixa Corporation, Infectious Disease Institute, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Persing
David H
DH
Corixa Corporation, Infectious Disease Institute, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Patrick
Sheila
S
Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BN, UK.
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C039092:CAMP protein, Streptococcus; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins