Implication of HisF fromAcinetobacter baumanniiin persistence during a pneumonia infection

ThehisFgene fromA. baumanniiATCC 17978 was found over-expressed during a murine pneumonia infection. A mutant strain lackinghisFshowed its involvement in virulence during mice pneumonia as well as in host inflammatory response, where the product of HisF may act as negative regulator in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This work evaluates the role of HisF in theA. baumanniipathogenesis and suggests its potential as a new target for antimicrobial therapies.