Targeted mutagenesis of the phospholipase D gene results in decreased virulence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis |
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| Authors: | Peter J McNamara Gregory A Bradley J Glenn Songer |
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| Institution: | Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.;Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.;Department of Veterinary Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. |
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| Abstract: | The chromosomal gene encoding the phospholipase D from Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (biovar ovis) isolate Whetten 1 was replaced with an allele containing a nonsense mutation. The virulence of the mutant strain (W1.31r1) and the isogenic parental strain were then compared by inoculation of goats. The with-type strain caused abscessation at the site of infection, which then spread to the regional lymph node, while W1.31r1 had a reduced ability to establish a primary infection and was incapable of dissemination. Our results confirm that phospholipase D is a virulence determinant of C. pseudotuberculosis that increases the persistence and spread of the bacteria within the host. |
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