The hemolytic and cytolytic activities of Serratia marcescens phospholipase A (PhlA) depend on lysophospholipid production by PhlA.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative bacterium and often causes nosocomial infections. There have been few studies of the virulence factors of this bacterium. The only S. marcescens hemolytic and cytotoxic factor reported, thus far, is the hemolysin ShlA.

Results

An S. marcescens shlAB deletion mutant was constructed and shown to have no contact hemolytic activity. However, the deletion mutant retained hemolytic activity on human blood agar plates, indicating the presence of another S. marcescens hemolytic factor. Functional cloning of S. marcescens identified a phospholipase A (PhlA) with hemolytic activity on human blood agar plates. A phlAB deletion mutant lost hemolytic activity on human blood agar plates. Purified recombinant PhlA hydrolyzed several types o

SUBMITTER: Shimuta K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2800117 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature