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Uptake and replication in Acanthamoeba castellanii of a virulent (pVAPA-positive) strain of Rhodococcus equi and its isogenic, plasmid-cured strain.
- Source :
-
Veterinary microbiology [Vet Microbiol] 2021 Jun; Vol. 257, pp. 109069. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Apr 10. - Publication Year :
- 2021
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Abstract
- Rhodococcus equi is a soil saprophytic bacterium and intracellular pathogen that causes pneumonia in foals. Strains of R. equi that are virulent in foals contain a plasmid that encodes a virulence-associated protein A (VapA) necessary for replication in macrophages. Because other intracellular pathogens survive and replicate inside amoebae, we postulated that the VapA-bearing plasmid (pVAPA) confers a survival advantage for R. equi against environmental predators like amoebae. To test this hypothesis, we compared phagocytosis by and survival in Acanthamoeba castellanii of isogenic strains of pVAPA-positive and pVAPA-negative R. equi. Phagocytosis of the pVAPA-negative strain by A. castellanii was significantly (P < 0.0001) greater than the pVAPA-positive strain. Intracellular replication of the pVAPA-positive strain in A. castellanii was significantly (P < 0.0001) greater than the pVAPA-negative strain during both 48 h and 9 days. These results indicate that the presence of the VapA plasmid reduces uptake and aids replication of R. equi in A. castellanii.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Actinomycetales Infections microbiology
Animals
Bacterial Proteins genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Horse Diseases microbiology
Horses
Microscopy, Confocal
Rhodococcus equi physiology
Virulence
Virulence Factors
Acanthamoeba castellanii microbiology
Phagocytosis
Plasmids genetics
Rhodococcus equi genetics
Rhodococcus equi pathogenicity
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-2542
- Volume :
- 257
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Veterinary microbiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33862330
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109069