title: Pathogenic properties of a Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain isolated from a case of osteomyelitis.
abstract: Corynebacterium diphtheriae is typically recognized as a colonizer of the upper respiratory tract (respiratory diphtheria) and the skin (cutaneous diphtheria). However, different strains of Corynebacteriumdiphtheriae can also cause invasive infections. In this study, the characterization of a non-toxigenic Corynebacteriumdiphtheriae strain (designated BR-INCA5015) isolated from osteomyelitis in the frontal bone of a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma was performed. Pathogenic properties of the strain BR-INCA5015 were tested in a Caenorhabditis elegans survival assay showing strong colonization and killing by this strain. Survival rates of 3.8±2.7 %, 33.6±7.3 % and 0 % were observed for strains ATCC 27010T, ATCC 27012 and BR-INCA5015, respectively, at day 7. BR-INCA5015 was able to colonize epithelial cells, showing elevated capacity to adhere to and survive within HeLa cells compared to other Corynebacteriumdiphtheriae isolates. Intracellular survival in macrophages (THP-1 and RAW 264.7) was significantly higher compared to control strains ATCC 27010T (non-toxigenic) and ATCC 27012 (toxigenic). Furthermore, the ability of BR-INCA5015 to induce osteomyelitis was confirmed by in vivo assay using Swiss Webster mice.
authors.affiliation: Professur für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.|Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (IMPPG/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.|Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance-LDCIC, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University - UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Stavracakis
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.affiliation: Professur für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hacker
authors.affiliation: Professur für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.|Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance-LDCIC, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University - UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Azevedo
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Professur für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dulanthi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weerasekera
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Brazilian National Cancer Institute - Ministry of Health, INCA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance-LDCIC, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University - UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (IMPPG/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kátia Regina Netto Dos
authors.initials: KRND
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Professur für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burkovski
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Diphtheria and Corynebacteria of Clinical Relevance-LDCIC, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University - UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.|Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (IMPPG/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luíza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mattos-Guaraldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D014774:Virulence