Dissociation of virulence and protection from infection by mutant analysis in Haemophilus influenzae type b.

R. Yogev*, E. J. Hansen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) outer membrane protein with an apparent molecular weight of 98,000 (98K) previously has been shown to react with antibodies that protect against experimental Hib disease. A mutant lacking the ability to synthesize this 98K protein was produced by chemical mutagenesis and identified in a colony blot-radioimmunoassay by its failure to react with a 98K protein-specific monoclonal antibody. DNA from this mutant was used to produce a 98K protein-negative transformant of the wild-type parental strain. Comparison of the relative degree of virulence of the parental strain and the 98K protein-negative transformant in an animal model system revealed no differences in the abilities of these two strains to produce bacteremia after intranasal challenge. These results indicate that the Hib surface-exposed 98K outer membrane protein that reacts with protective antibodies plays no detectable role in the expression of virulence by Hib in an animal model system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1944-1947
Number of pages4
JournalInfection and immunity
Volume55
Issue number8
StatePublished - Aug 1987

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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