Inactivation of the Mycobacterium bovis homologue of the polymorphic RD1 gene Rv3879c (Mb3909c) does not affect virulence

Jacqueline Inwald; Keith Jahans; R Glyn Hewinson; Stephen V Gordon

doi:10.1016/j.tube.2003.08.018

Inactivation of the Mycobacterium bovis homologue of the polymorphic RD1 gene Rv3879c (Mb3909c) does not affect virulence

Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2003;83(6):387-93. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2003.08.018.

Authors

Jacqueline Inwald¹, Keith Jahans, R Glyn Hewinson, Stephen V Gordon

Affiliation

¹ TB Research Group, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.

PMID: 14623170
DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2003.08.018

Abstract

The RD1 locus is deleted from all strains of Mycobacterium bovis BCG but present in virulent isolates of M. bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The RD1 gene Rv3879c encodes a proline- and alanine-rich protein that shows sequence polymorphism across members of the M. tuberculosis complex. The role of this protein in virulence was investigated by deleting the Rv3879c homologue from M. bovis (Mb3909c) and testing the virulence of the mutant in the guinea pig model. The M. bovis Delta Mb3909c mutant was not attenuated in the guinea pig model, showing that this gene does not encode a virulence factor and plays no role in the attenuation caused by loss of RD1.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
BCG Vaccine / immunology
Base Sequence
Female
Gene Silencing / physiology*
Genes, Bacterial / genetics*
Guinea Pigs
Mutation / genetics
Mycobacterium bovis / genetics*
Mycobacterium bovis / pathogenicity
Phenotype
Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
Tuberculosis / microbiology
Virulence

Substances

BCG Vaccine