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The red pigment prodigiosin is not an essential virulence factor in entomopathogenic Serratia marcescens

Wei Zhou1, JingHua Li1, Jie Chen1

  • 1Laboratory of Invertebrate Pathology and Applied Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
|March 23, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The red pigment prodigiosin from Serratia marcescens is not essential for virulence in silkworms. Non-pigmented mutants showed similar pathogenicity to pigmented strains, indicating prodigiosin is not a key virulence factor.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis Research
  • Insect Pathology

Background:

  • Pathogenic microbes often produce pigments hypothesized as virulence factors.
  • The role of prodigiosin, a red pigment, in Serratia marcescens pathogenesis remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of prodigiosin in the virulence of entomopathogenic Serratia marcescens.
  • To compare the pathogenicity of pigmented S. marcescens strains with their non-pigmented mutants.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of pathogenicity using different pigmented S. marcescens strains and their non-pigmented mutants.
  • Assessment of virulence through LD50 values and observed symptoms in silkworms.

Main Results:

  • Pigmented S. marcescens strains and their non-pigmented mutants exhibited statistically similar LD50 values.
  • Distinct differences in symptoms, specifically the color of dead larvae, were observed between strains.

Conclusions:

  • The red pigment prodigiosin is not an essential virulence factor for entomopathogenic Serratia marcescens.
  • Virulence in S. marcescens pathogenesis is not solely dependent on prodigiosin production.
Keywords:
ProdigiosinSerratia marcescensSilkwormVirulence

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