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Medicina Fluminensis, Vol. 46 No. 1, 2010.

Original scientific paper

iglD plays a crucial role in intracellular replication of F. tularensis in A. castellanii

Martin Brezovec ; Department for microbiology and parasitology, School of medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Aida Iljazović ; Department for microbiology and parasitology, School of medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Zlata Zaharija ; Department for microbiology and parasitology, School of medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Mateja Ožanić ; Department for microbiology and parasitology, School of medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Marina Šantić ; Department for microbiology and parasitology, School of medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

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Abstract

Introduction: Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium that can cause a fatal disease, tularemia, in human and animals. This organism has been isolated from over 250 wildlife species, including fish, birds, amphibians, rabbits, squirrels, hares, voles, ticks, and flies. It resists harsh environments, and has been shown to survive in water and mud for more than a year. The natural reservoirs in water are protozoa including many species of amoeba. Previous results have shown survival and growth of F. tularensis LVS strain in Acanthamoeba castellanii.
Methods: In this work we tested the intracellular replication of F. tularensis subsp. novicida and mutant strains iglD by CFU and confocal microscopy.
Results: There is no evidence about the role of IglD protein in intracellular survival and replication of F. tularensis subsp. novicida inside A. castellanii. Our results show that F. tularensis subsp. novicida replicates in A. castellanii cells with the peak of infection at 48 hours. The iglD mutant showed growth defect in A. castellanii.
Discussion: This data are consistent with previous finding in mammalian cells where this gene is crucial for intracellular replication of F. tularensis subsp. novicida in macrophages cells.
Conclusion: Our results pointed the similarities between two different environmental niche for F. tularensis survival and pathogenicity.

Keywords

Acanthamoeba castellanii; Francisella tularensis; iglD mutant

Hrčak ID:

48840

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/48840

Publication date:

1.3.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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