Open AccessIdentification and proteome analysis of the two‐component VirR / VirS system in epidemic S treptococcus suis serotype 2
Author(s) -
Wang Haihui,
Shen Xiaodong,
Zhao Yan,
Wang Min,
Zhong Qiu,
Chen Tian,
Hu Fuquan,
Li Ming
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2012.02611.x
Subject(s) - streptococcus suis , biology , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , proteome , mutant , serotype , clostridium perfringens , phenotype , pathogen , proteomics , genetics , gene , bacteria
S treptococcus suis serotype 2 ( SS 2) is an important zoonotic pathogen that infects pigs and sporadically causes serious infections in humans. Two recent large‐scale outbreaks of human streptococcal toxic‐shock‐like syndrome with high mortality occurred in C hina, posing new challenges for global public health. However, the global regulation of the virulence of epidemic SS 2 isolates lacks a systematic understanding. In this study, we performed a mutational and functional analysis of an SS 2 two‐component system that is orthologous to the VirR / VirS regulatory system of C lostridium perfringens . An isogenic knockout mutant of VirR / VirS (Δ virRS ) was found to exhibit marked phenotypic changes, including the formation of shorter chains and thinner capsular walls, more easily cleared in whole blood, and decreased oxidative stress tolerance. Furthermore, the Δ virRS mutant was greatly attenuated in a mouse model. Comparative proteome analysis of the expression profiles of the wild‐type strain with the Δ virRS mutant allowed us to identify 72 proteins that are differentially expressed in the absence of the VirR / VirS system and that are directly responsible for the pleiotropic phenotype of the Δ virRS mutant.