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Superoxide dismutases of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Streptococcus suis type 2 isolates
P Langford1, A E Williams, J S Kroll
1University Department of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, U.K.
FEMS Microbiology Letters
|January 15, 1991
Summary
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) synthesis did not differ between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Streptococcus suis type 2. SOD activity does not explain the intracellular survival of virulent S. suis in macrophages.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Streptococcus suis type 2 is a significant veterinary pathogen.
- Understanding bacterial survival mechanisms within host cells is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that protects against oxidative stress, potentially aiding bacterial survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) synthesis in the pathogenicity of Streptococcus suis type 2.
- To determine if differences in SOD activity correlate with the intracellular survival of S. suis within macrophages.
Main Methods:
- Pathogenic and non-pathogenic isolates of S. suis type 2 were analyzed.
- Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was used to visualize SOD activity.
- Inhibition studies were performed to identify the SOD cofactor.
Main Results:
- All S. suis type 2 isolates exhibited similar SOD activity bands on PAGE gels.
- Inhibition studies indicated that manganese was the cofactor for SOD.
- No correlation was found between specific SOD activity and bacterial virulence or intracellular survival.
Conclusions:
- SOD synthesis does not appear to be a determining factor in the pathogenicity of S. suis type 2.
- The enzyme SOD is unlikely to mediate the intracellular survival of pathogenic S. suis isolates in macrophages.