Coordinate regulation of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes requires the product of the prfA gene.
AUTOR(ES)
Chakraborty, T
RESUMO
The prfA gene of Listeria monocytogenes encodes a protein that activates transcription of the listeriolysin gene (lisA). In order to explore the role of the prfA gene product in the pathogenesis of listerial infection, we constructed a site-directed insertion mutation in prfA by the chromosomal integration of a novel suicide vector containing a portion of the prfA coding region. This mutation not only transcriptionally silenced the listeriolysin (lisA) gene but also abrogated production of specific RNA transcripts corresponding to the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (pic) and metalloprotease (mpl) genes, two further virulence gene products expressed only by pathogenic Listeria strains. The strain was also found to be avirulent when tested in a mouse model of listerial infection. The concomitant loss of multiple characteristics such as production of LisA, Pic, Mpl, and loss of virulence in a mouse infection model is the result of a mutation in a single gene and demonstrates that the prfA gene product is a positive regulator of multiple virulence determinants in L. monocytogenes.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=205751Documentos Relacionados
- Suitability of the prfA gene, which encodes a regulator of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes, in the identification of pathogenic Listeria spp.
- Differences in virulence and in expression of PrfA and PrfA-regulated virulence genes of Listeria monocytogenes strains belonging to serogroup 4.
- Differential activation of virulence gene expression by PrfA, the Listeria monocytogenes virulence regulator.
- Intraspecific Phylogeny and Lineage Group Identification Based on the prfA Virulence Gene Cluster of Listeria monocytogenes
- Sequence Variations within PrfA DNA Binding Sites and Effects on Listeria monocytogenes Virulence Gene Expression