Neisseria meningitidis RTX proteins are not required for virulence in infant rats

Infect Immun. 2003 Apr;71(4):2253-7. doi: 10.1128/IAI.71.4.2253-2257.2003.

Abstract

RTX cytotoxins play an important role in virulence of numerous gram-negative pathogens. Unexpectedly, however, we show here that the RTX proteins of Neisseria meningitidis are dispensable for virulence in the infant rat model of infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn*
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacteremia / mortality*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cytotoxins / genetics
  • Cytotoxins / metabolism*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / microbiology
  • Female
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Meningococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Meningococcal Infections / mortality*
  • Mutation
  • Neisseria meningitidis / metabolism
  • Neisseria meningitidis / pathogenicity*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytotoxins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • frpC protein, Neisseria meningitidis