ZapA, a virulence factor in a rat model of Proteus mirabilis-induced acute and chronic prostatitis.

Abstract

Our knowledge of pathogenesis has benefited from a better understanding of the roles of specific virulence factors in disease. To determine the role of the virulence factor ZapA, a 54-kDa metalloproteinase of Proteus mirabilis, in prostatitis, rats were infected with either wild-type (WT) P. mirabilis or its isogenic ZapA(-) mutant KW360. The WT produced both acute and chronic prostatitis showing the typical histological progressions that are the hallmarks of these diseases. Infection with the ZapA(-) mutant, however, resulted in reduced levels of acute prostatitis, as determined from lower levels of tissue damage, bacterial colonization, and inflammation. Further, the ZapA(-) mutant failed to establish a chronic infection, in that bacteria were cleared from the prostate, inflammation was resolved, and tissue was seen to be healing. Clearance from the prostate was not the result of a reduced capacity of the ZapA(-) mutant to form biofilms in vitro. These finding clearly define ZapA as an important virulence factor in both acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis.

• Authors: Van Phan, Robert Belas, Brendan F Gilmore, Howard Ceri
• Journal: Infection and immunity (Infect Immun) Vol. 76 Issue 11 Pg. 4859-64 (Nov 2008) ISSN: 1098-5522 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18725420 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Bacterial Proteins
• Virulence Factors

Topics

• Animals
• Bacterial Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Chronic Disease
• Disease Models, Animal
• Male
• Prostatitis (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Proteus Infections (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Proteus mirabilis (genetics, metabolism, pathogenicity)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Virulence Factors (genetics, metabolism)