TY - JOUR

T1 - Identification of mip-like genes in the genus Legionella

AU - Cianciotto, N P

AU - Bangsborg, Jette Marie

AU - Eisenstein, B I

AU - Engleberg, N C

PY - 1990

Y1 - 1990

N2 - The mip gene of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 strain AA100 encodes a 24-kilodalton surface protein (Mip) and enhances the abilities of L. pneumophila to parasitize human macrophages and to cause pneumonia in experimental animals. To determine whether this virulence factor is conserved in the genus Legionella, a large panel of Legionella strains was examined by Southern hybridization and immunoblot analyses for the presence and expression of mip-related sequences. Strains representing all 14 serogroups of L. pneumophila contained a mip gene and expressed a 24-kilodalton Mip protein. Although the isolates of the 29 other Legionella species did not hybridize with mip DNA probes under high-stringency conditions, they did so at reduced stringency. In support of the notion that these strains possess mip-like genes, these species each expressed a protein (24 to 31 kilodaltons in size) that reacted with specific Mip antisera. Moreover, the cloned mip analog from Legionella micdadei encoded the cross-reactive protein. Thus, mip is conserved and specific to L. pneumophila, but mip-like genes are present throughout the genus, perhaps potentiating the intracellular infectivity of all Legionella species.

AB - The mip gene of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 strain AA100 encodes a 24-kilodalton surface protein (Mip) and enhances the abilities of L. pneumophila to parasitize human macrophages and to cause pneumonia in experimental animals. To determine whether this virulence factor is conserved in the genus Legionella, a large panel of Legionella strains was examined by Southern hybridization and immunoblot analyses for the presence and expression of mip-related sequences. Strains representing all 14 serogroups of L. pneumophila contained a mip gene and expressed a 24-kilodalton Mip protein. Although the isolates of the 29 other Legionella species did not hybridize with mip DNA probes under high-stringency conditions, they did so at reduced stringency. In support of the notion that these strains possess mip-like genes, these species each expressed a protein (24 to 31 kilodaltons in size) that reacted with specific Mip antisera. Moreover, the cloned mip analog from Legionella micdadei encoded the cross-reactive protein. Thus, mip is conserved and specific to L. pneumophila, but mip-like genes are present throughout the genus, perhaps potentiating the intracellular infectivity of all Legionella species.

KW - Bacterial Proteins

KW - Base Sequence

KW - DNA, Bacterial

KW - Gene Expression

KW - Genes, Bacterial

KW - Humans

KW - Legionella

KW - Legionellosis

KW - Macrophages

KW - Membrane Proteins

KW - Virulence

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 2387627

VL - 58

SP - 2912

EP - 2918

JO - Infection and Immunity

JF - Infection and Immunity

SN - 0019-9567

IS - 9

ER -