Roles of putative type II secretion and type IV pilus systems in the virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Type II secretion systems (T2SS) and the evolutionarily related type IV pili (T4P) are important virulence determinants in many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. However, the roles of T2SS and T4P in the virulence of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli have not been determined.

Methodology/principal findings

To investigate the functions of putative T2SS and T4P gene clusters present in the model uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains UTI89 and CFT073, we deleted the secretin gene present in each cluster. The secretin forms a channel in the outer membrane that is essential for the function of T2S and T4P systems. We compared the secretin deletion mutants with their wild type counterparts using tissue culture assays and the CBA/J mouse model of ascending urin

SUBMITTER: Kulkarni R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2649431 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature