Purine Biosynthesis Mutants (purA and purB) of Serotype 4b Listeria monocytogenes Are Severely Attenuated for Systemic Infection in Intragastrically Inoculated A/J Mice

Faith N. G., Kim J., Azizoglu R. O., Kathariou S., Czuprynski C.

FOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND DISEASE, vol.9, no.5, pp.480-486, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 9 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1089/fpd.2011.1013
  • Journal Name: FOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND DISEASE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.480-486
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: No

Abstract

In this study, we demonstrate that purA and purB transposon mutants of serotype 4b Listeria monocytogenes were severely impaired in their ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract and cause systemic infection of the spleen, liver, and gallbladder following intragastric inoculation of A/J mice. The mutant strains were also impaired in their ability to multiply within Caco-2 human intestinal epithelial cells. Neither mutant was affected in resistance to synthetic gastric fluid (pH 4.5). These findings indicate that purine biosynthesis is critical for gastrointestinal virulence of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b in mice.