Open AccessBacteriophage MAV1 Is Not Associated with Virulence of Mycoplasma arthritidis
Author(s) -
Brenda Clapper,
Anh-Hue Thi Tu,
Warren L. Simmons,
Kevin Dybvig
Publication year - 2004
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.72.12.7322-7325.2004
Subject(s) - biology , virulence , bacteriophage , mycoplasma , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , mycoplasmataceae , mollicutes , genetics , escherichia coli , gene
Previous studies demonstrated that Mycoplasma arthritidis strain 158 acquired a high degree of virulence upon lysogenization with bacteriophage MAV1. In the present study, the association between MAV1 and virulence was reexamined by creating new lysogens of 158 and of a relatively avirulent mutant, strain 158-1. In the absence of lysogenization, 158 was more virulent than expected. The virulence of 158 and 158-1 did not increase upon lysogenization. A major antigenic difference between 158 and 158-1 was identified that is unrelated to MAV1 and could account for the difference in virulence.