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Anaerobic induction of Bacillus anthracis hemolytic activity

Authors :
Vladimir I. Klichko
Serguei G. Popov
James M. Miller
Aiguo Wu
Ken Alibek
Source :
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 303:855-862
Publication Year :
2003
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2003.

Abstract

A number of genes in Bacillus anthracis encode for proteins homologous to the membrane-damaging factors known as pathogenic determinants in different bacteria. B. anthracis, however, has been traditionally considered non-hemolytic, and the recently identified hemolytic genes have been suggested to be transcriptionally silent. We found that the hemolytic genes of B. anthracis, collectively designated as anthralysins (Anls), could be induced in strict anaerobic conditions. We also demonstrate that Anl genes are expressed at the early stages of infection within macrophages by vegetating bacilli after spore germination. Cooperative and synergistic enhancement of the pore-forming and phospholipase C (PLC) activities of the Anls was found in hemolytic tests on human, but not sheep, red blood cells (RBC). These findings imply Anls as B. anthracis pathogenic determinants and highlight oxygen limitation as environmental factor controlling their expression at both early and late stages of infection.

Details

ISSN :
0006291X
Volume :
303
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....e9d3478a28498e44bdd40856658a974c
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-291x(03)00440-6