title: Characterization of the Bat proteins in the oxidative stress response of Leptospira biflexa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptospires lack many of the homologs for oxidative defense present in other bacteria, but do encode homologs of the Bacteriodes aerotolerance (Bat) proteins, which have been proposed to fulfill this function. Bat homologs have been identified in all families of the phylum Spirochaetes, yet a specific function for these proteins has not been experimentally demonstrated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We investigated the contribution of the Bat proteins in the model organism Leptospira biflexa for their potential contributions to growth rate, morphology and protection against oxidative challenges. A genetically engineered mutant strain in which all bat ORFs were deleted did not exhibit altered growth rate or morphology, relative to the wild-type strain. Nor could we demonstrate a protective role for the Bat proteins in coping with various oxidative stresses. Further, pre-exposing L. biflexa to sublethal levels of reactive oxygen species did not appear to induce a general oxidative stress response, in contrast to what has been shown in other bacterial species. Differential proteomic analysis of the wild-type and mutant strains detected changes in the abundance of a single protein only - HtpG, which is encoded by the gene immediately downstream of the bat loci.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data presented here do not support a protective role for the Leptospira Bat proteins in directly coping with oxidative stress as previously proposed. L. biflexa is relatively sensitive to reactive oxygen species such as superoxide and H2O2, suggesting that this spirochete lacks a strong, protective defense against oxidative damage despite being a strict aerobe.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoonotic Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th St, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA. pestewart@niaid.nih.gov
authors.forename: Philip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dorward
authors.forename: Hunter H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardeau
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007919:Leptospira / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D020543:Proteome