Deletion of TolC orthologs in Francisella tularensis identifies roles in multidrug resistance and virulence.

ABSTRACT: The Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of tularemia. Interest in this zoonotic pathogen has increased due to its classification as a category A agent of bioterrorism, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying its virulence, and especially what secretion systems and virulence factors are present. In this study, we characterized two genes in the F. tularensis genome, tolC and a gene we term ftlC, whose products have high homology with the Escherichia coli TolC protein. TolC functions as the outer membrane channel component for both type I secretion and multidrug efflux systems. We constructed deletion mutations of these genes in the F. tularensis live vaccine strain by allelic replacement. Deletion of either tolC or ftlC caused increased

SUBMITTER: Gil H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1568944 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature