The virulence of Vibrio vulnificus is affected by the cellular level of superoxide dismutase activity.
The virulence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) mutants of Vibrio vulnificus, as tested by intraperitoneal injection into mice, decreases in the order of sodC mutant, sodA mutant, and sodB mutant lacking CuZnSOD, MnSOD, and FeSOD, respectively. The survival of SOD mutants under superoxide stress also decreases in the same order. The virulence of soxR mutant, which is unable to induce MnSOD in response to superoxide, is similar to that of the sodA mutant, as the survival of the soxR mutant under superoxide stress is similar to that of the sodA mutant. Consistently, the lowered survival of the soxR mutant is complemented not only with soxR but also with sodA. Thus, the virulence of V. vulnificus is significantly affected by the cellular level of SOD activity, and an increase in SOD level through MnSOD induction by SoxR under superoxide stress is essential for virulence.
Kang
In-Hye
IH
Department of Life Science and Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, Seoul 121-742, Korea.
Kim
Ju-Sim
JS
Lee
Jeong K
JK
D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D050296:Microbial Viability; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D037521:Virulence Factors; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase