title: Superoxide dismutase B gene (sodB)-deficient mutants of Francisella tularensis demonstrate hypersensitivity to oxidative stress and attenuated virulence.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208-3479, USA.
authors.forename: Chandra Shekhar
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Bakshi
authors.forename: Meenakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: J Andres
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Melendez
authors.forename: Dennis W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: Vitaly M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Pavlov
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sellati
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C087504:SodB protein, Bacteria; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010269:Paraquat