Variation in colonization, ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin, and pulmonary disease severity among mycoplasma pneumoniae strains.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Mycoplasma pneumoniae was recently discovered to produce an ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin, designated CARDS toxin, which is hypothesized to be a primary pathogenic mechanism responsible for M. pneumoniae-induced pulmonary inflammation. It is unknown if cytotoxin production varies with M. pneumoniae strain or if variation in cytotoxin production affects pulmonary disease severity.

Objectives

To examine the production of CARDS toxin by various strains of M. pneumoniae and compare the disease manifestations elicited by these strains in an experimental model of M. pneumoniae respiratory infection.

Methods

BALB/c mice were inoculated once intranasally with SP4 broth (negative control) or three different M. pneumoniae strains: M129-B7, M129-B9, or S1.

SUBMITTER: Techasaensiri C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2949405 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature