Differential expression of a virulence factor in pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria

Differential expression of a virulence factor in pathogenic and non-pathogenic mycobacteria

The pathogenicity of mycobacterial infections depends on virulence factors that mediate survival inside host macrophages. These virulence factors are generally believed to be specific for pathogenic species and absent or mutated in non-pathogenic strains. The serine/threonine protein kinase G (PknG) mediates survival of mycobacteria within macrophages by blocking lysosomal delivery. Here we des...

Differential Macrophage Response to Slow- and Fast-Growing Pathogenic Mycobacteria

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have recently been recognized as important species that cause disease even in immunocompetent individuals. The mechanisms that these species use to infect and persist inside macrophages are not well characterised. To gain insight concerning this process we used THP-1 macrophages infected with M. abscessus, M. fortuitum, M. celatum, and M. tuberculosis. Our resu...

Biology of waterborne pathogenic mycobacteria

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Effect of Five Essential Oils on Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Background and Objectives: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the causative agent of gastroenteritis due to consumption of contaminated seafood. The aim of the present study was to determine the chemical composition of Essential Oils (EOs) of five plants (Artemisia absinthium, Zataria multiflora Boiss., Pulicaria gnaphalodes, Trachyspermum ammi and Cuminum cyminum) and to evaluate their antimicrobial a...

Temperature-dependent expression of virulence genes in fish-pathogenic bacteria

Virulence gene expression in pathogenic bacteria is modulated by environmental parameters. A key factor in this expression is temperature. Its effect on virulence gene expression in bacteria infecting warm-blooded hosts is well documented. Transcription of virulence genes in these bacteria is induced upon a shift from low environmental to a higher host temperature (37°C). Interestingly, host te...