Large-scale screen highlights the importance of capsule for virulence in the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus iniae.

ABSTRACT: Zoonotic pathogens have the unique ability to cross the species barrier, causing disease in both humans and specific animal hosts. Streptococcus iniae is a zoonotic pathogen of both fish and humans, and the clinical presentations of S. iniae infections in fish and humans are very similar to those caused by various human-specific streptococcal pathogens. Virulence mechanisms required for infection by this pathogen of either host have yet to be determined. Using the previously reported zebrafish infectious disease model, we performed a large-scale screening to determine genes required for systemic infection. Screening 1,128 signature-tagged transposon mutants through the zebrafish model allowed identification of 41 potential mutants that were unable to survive within the host environment. Gr

SUBMITTER: Miller JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC546978 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature