Open AccessZapA, a Virulence Factor in a Rat Model of Proteus mirabilis -Induced Acute and Chronic Prostatitis
Author(s) -
Van-Duc Phan,
Robert Belas,
Brendan Gilmore,
Howard Ceri
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.00122-08
Subject(s) - proteus mirabilis , prostatitis , virulence , biology , virulence factor , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , bacteria , pseudomonas aeruginosa , prostate , genetics , gene , cancer
Our knowledge of pathogenesis has benefited from a better understanding of the roles of specific virulence factors in disease. To determine the role of the virulence factor ZapA, a 54-kDa metalloproteinase ofProteus mirabilis , in prostatitis, rats were infected with either wild-type (WT)P. mirabilis or its isogenic ZapA− mutant KW360. The WT produced both acute and chronic prostatitis showing the typical histological progressions that are the hallmarks of these diseases. Infection with the ZapA− mutant, however, resulted in reduced levels of acute prostatitis, as determined from lower levels of tissue damage, bacterial colonization, and inflammation. Further, the ZapA− mutant failed to establish a chronic infection, in that bacteria were cleared from the prostate, inflammation was resolved, and tissue was seen to be healing. Clearance from the prostate was not the result of a reduced capacity of the ZapA− mutant to form biofilms in vitro. These finding clearly define ZapA as an important virulence factor in both acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis.