IgA1 protease contributes to the virulence of Streptococcus suis.
Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a major swine pathogen and emerging zoonotic agent. However, the current understanding of the S. suis pathogenesis of infection remains limited. In the present study, the contribution to the pathogenesis of S. suis was evaluated on IgA1 protease (or iga gene), which has been regarded as a virulence factor of gram-negative pathogenic bacteria and of certain gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. In contrast to the wild type (WT) strain of S. suis serotype 2, the isogenic iga mutant (Δiga) constructed by allelic replacement showed significantly decreased lethality to pigs. The present study suggests that IgA1 protease might contribute to S. suis pathogenesis.
Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 1 Shizishan Street, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, PR China.
Anding
A
Zhang
Xiaofeng
X
Mu
Bo
B
Chen
Li
L
Han
Huanchun
H
Chen
Meilin
M
Jin
D000818:Animals; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D037521:Virulence Factors; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C021433:IgA-specific serine endopeptidase