Characterization of the outer membrane proteins of Bordetella avium

The outer membrane proteins of Bordetella avium were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sarkosyl-insoluble outer membrane protein-enriched profiles from 50 virulent B. avium isolates, containing major 21,000- and 37,000-molecular-weight proteins (21K and 37K proteins, respectively) and at least 13 less intensely stained proteins with molecular weights ranging from 13,500 to 143,000, were very similar. The 21K, 27K, 31K, and 37K outer membrane proteins were shown to be associated noncovalently with the underlying peptidoglycan layer. It was necessary to treat cell envelopes with 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate and at temperatures in excess of 60 degrees C for 15 min to release these proteins. Exposure of proteins on the cell surface of B. avium was assessed by labeling with 125I followed by electrophoresis. As many as 13 bands were present in profiles from labeled whole cells. Of the surface-labeled bands, eight corresponded to bands in a radiolabeled outer membrane preparation. The outer membrane protein profile of B. avium was compared with profiles from other Bordetella spp., including 20 B. avium-like and 16 B. bronchiseptica strains isolated from turkeys. The outer membrane protein profile of B. avium was distinctly different from those of the other bordetella. The effect of variations in the growth medium on the expression of outer membrane proteins of B. avium was examined. Expression of 22K, 26K, 56K, and 73K proteins was decreased or eliminated by addition of 50 mM MgSO4 to the medium.