Cytotoxin- and Chemotaxis-Genes Cooperate to Promote Adhesion of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae.

ABSTRACT: Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (Pdd) is an emerging pathogen of marine animals that sometimes causes serious infections in humans. Two related pore forming toxins, phobalysins P and C, and damselysin, a phospholipase D, confer strong virulence of Pdd in mice. Because infections by Pdd are typically caused following exposure of wounds to sea water we investigated how salinity impacts toxin activity, swimming, and association of Pdd with epithelial cells. These activities were low when bacteria were pre-cultured in media with 3.5% NaCl, the global average salinity of sea water. In contrast, lower salinity increased swimming of wild type Pdd peaking at 2% NaCl, hemolysis, and association with epithelial cells peaking at 1-1.5%. Previou

SUBMITTER: von Hoven G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6300472 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature