Open AccessThe rag Locus of Porphyromonas gingivalis Contributes to Virulence in a Murine Model of Soft Tissue Destruction
Author(s) -
Xiaowen Shi,
Seán Hanley,
Marie-Claire Faray-Kele,
Stuart C. Fawell,
Joseph AduseOpoku,
Robert A. Whiley,
Michael A. Curtis,
Lucinda M. C. Hall
Publication year - 2007
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.01785-06
Subject(s) - biology , porphyromonas gingivalis , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , virology , antigen , locus (genetics) , gene , bacteria , immunology , genetics
Therag locus ofPorphyromonas gingivalis encodes a putative TonB-dependent outer membrane receptor, RagA, and a 55-kDa immunodominant antigen, RagB. Inactivation of eitherragA orragB prevented expression of both RagA and RagB. Both theragA andragB mutants were significantly less virulent than wild-type strains in a murine model of infection.