Open AccessCytochrome c maturation proteins are critical for in vivo growth of Legionella pneumophila
Author(s) -
Naylor Jennifer,
Cianciotto Nicholas P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.10.028
Subject(s) - legionella pneumophila , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , biology , intracellular , intracellular parasite , virulence , legionella , bacteria , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Legionella pneumophila , an intracellular parasite of macrophages and protozoa, requires iron for extra‐ and intracellular growth. In a new screen of a mutant library of L. pneumophila for strains defective for growth on agar media lacking supplemental iron, seven mutants were obtained. All of the mutants had a disruption in the cytochrome c maturation ( ccm ) locus; two had insertions in ccmB , two in ccmC , and three in ccmF . The ccm mutants were unable to multiply within macrophage‐like cells (i.e., U937 and THP‐1 cells) and Hartmannella vermiformis amoebae. A competition assay in A/J mice revealed that ccm mutants are severely defective for growth within the lung. Taken together, these data confirm that ccm and cytochrome c maturation proteins are required for L. pneumophila growth in low iron, intracellular infection, and virulence.