ZapA, a virulence factor in a rat model of Proteus mirabilis-induced acute and chronic prostatitis.
Our knowledge of pathogenesis has benefited from a better understanding of the roles of specific virulence factors in disease. To determine the role of the virulence factor ZapA, a 54-kDa metalloproteinase of Proteus mirabilis, in prostatitis, rats were infected with either wild-type (WT) P. mirabilis or its isogenic ZapA(-) mutant KW360. The WT produced both acute and chronic prostatitis showing the typical histological progressions that are the hallmarks of these diseases. Infection with the ZapA(-) mutant, however, resulted in reduced levels of acute prostatitis, as determined from lower levels of tissue damage, bacterial colonization, and inflammation. Further, the ZapA(-) mutant failed to establish a chronic infection, in that bacteria were cleared from the prostate, inflammation was resolved, and tissue was seen to be healing. Clearance from the prostate was not the result of a reduced capacity of the ZapA(-) mutant to form biofilms in vitro. These finding clearly define ZapA as an important virulence factor in both acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Phan
Van
V
Biofilm Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4.
Belas
Robert
R
Gilmore
Brendan F
BF
Ceri
Howard
H
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors