Work

Identification of a pathogenicity island required for Salmonella survival in host cells.

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: We have identified a region unique to the Salmonella typhimurium chromosome that is essential for virulence in mice. This region harbors at least three genes: two (spiA and spiB) encode products that are similar to proteins found in type III secretion systems, and a third (spiR) encodes a putative regulator. A strain with a mutation in spiA was unable to survive within macrophages but displayed wild-type levels of epithelial cell invasion. The culture supernatants of the spi mutants lacked a modified form of flagellin, which was present in the supernatant of the wild-type strain. This suggests that the Spi secretory apparatus exports a protease, or a protein that can alter the activity of a secreted protease. The "pathogenicity island" harboring the spi genes may encode the virulence determinants that set Salmonella apart from other enteric pathogens.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.93.15.7800

Authors: H Ochman, F C Soncini, F Solomon, E A Groisman

Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, University of Rochester

Language: English

Topic: Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology

Subfield: Food Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green