Application of signature-tagged mutagenesis for identification of escherichia coli K1 genes that contribute to invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli K1 is the leading cause of gram-negative bacterial meningitis in neonates. It is principally due to our limited understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease that the morbidity and mortality rates remain unacceptably high. To identify genes required for E. coli K1 penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we used the negative selection strategy of signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis (STM) to screen mutants for loss or decreased invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) which comprise the BBB. A total of 3,360 insertion mutants of E. coli K1 were screened, and potential HBMEC invasion mutants were subjected to a secondary invasion screen. Those mutants that failed to pass the serial invasion screens were then tested individually. Seven prot

SUBMITTER: Badger JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC101737 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature