cis -Acting Determinant Limiting Expression of Sphingomyelinase Gene sph2 in Leptospira interrogans, Identified with a gfp Reporter Plasmid

Genetic tools are needed to examine gene expression in the pathogenLeptospira interrogans . We developed a reporter plasmid that replicates inL. interrogans with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as the readout of promoter activity. We demonstrated an application of the new reporter plasmid by identifying an upstream element responsible for the poor basal expression of thesph2 sphingomyelinase gene in anL. interrogans serovar Lai strain. This new tool is useful for the discovery of the molecular determinants ofL. interrogans gene expression.