title: The two-component system NisK/NisR contributes to the virulence of Streptococcus suis serotype 2.
abstract: Two-component signal-transduction systems (TCSTSs) may regulate some virulence factors in response to external stimuli, and thus allowing Streptococcus suis serotype 2 to interact with the host, promote survival, and cause disease. Here, a mutant of the NisKR TCSTS had attenuated virulence in vitro, as exemplified by lowered hemolytic activity, reduced adherence to epithelial cells, increased elimination by macrophages, and decreased resistance to killing by neutrophils. Results also showed that this system is important for the ability of S. suis serotype 2 to survive and proliferate in an in vivo mouse model. Thus, the NisKR system plays a significant role in pathogenesis, both in colonization and invasive disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Infectious Disease, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Infectious Disease, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
authors.forename: Shulin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Center of Bio-Pesticide Engineering Research, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Science, Wuhan, Hubei 430064, China.
authors.forename: Manli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Infectious Disease, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
authors.forename: Qiaoxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Infectious Disease, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
authors.forename: Weicheng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Infectious Disease, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
authors.forename: Huanchun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Infectious Disease, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China. Electronic address: tanchen@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: NisKR; Streptococcus suis serotype 2; Virulence