Superoxide dismutase B gene (sodB)-deficient mutants of Francisella tularensis demonstrate hypersensitivity to oxidative stress and attenuated virulence.
A Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain mutant (sodB(Ft)) with reduced Fe-superoxide dismutase gene expression was generated and found to exhibit decreased sodB activity and increased sensitivity to redox cycling compounds compared to wild-type bacteria. The sodB(Ft) mutant also was significantly attenuated for virulence in mice. Thus, this study has identified sodB as an important F. tularensis virulence factor.
Bakshi
Chandra Shekhar
CS
Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208-3479, USA.
Malik
Meenakshi
M
Regan
Kevin
K
Melendez
J Andres
JA
Metzger
Dennis W
DW
Pavlov
Vitaly M
VM
Sellati
Timothy J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000235:genetics; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010269:Paraquat / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D014406:Tularemia / Q000382:microbiology*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000235:genetics; D014774:Virulence
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C087504:SodB protein, Bacteria; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010269:Paraquat