TABLE 3.
Virulence phenotypes of the auxotrophic mutants
| Strain | Intracellular generation time (min)a
|
Plaque assay | Sereny testd
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expt Ab | Expt Bc | 108 CFU | 109 CFU | ||
| M90T | 41.3 ± 3.9 | 75 ± 5.1 | + | 3 | 3 |
| ZB2111 (M90T aroB-Ap) | 59.7 ± 7.1 | 119 ± 8.5 | + | 2f | 3f |
| ZB2102 (M90T aroC::Tn10) | 90.6 ± 9.3 | 178 ± 16.9 | − | 0 | 0 |
| ZB2103 (M90T aroD::Tn10) | 40.8 ± 5.4 | 126 ± 9.9 | +g | 0 | 0 |
| ZB2106 (M90T ΔpurE) | 52.0 ± 2.5 | 98.1 ± 5.3 | + | 2f | 3 |
| ZB2100 (M90T thyA::Tn10) | NDe | ND | − | 0 | 0 |
| ZB2104 (M90T ΔdapB-Km) | ND | ND | − | 0 | 0 |
| ZB2112 (M90T ΔpurE aroB-Ap) | 59.3 ± 7.2 | 122.9 ± 12.4 | + | 2f | 2f |
| ZB2108 (M90T ΔpurE aroC::Tn10) | 129.8 ± 8.1 | 302 ± 15.0 | − | 0 | 0 |
| ZB2109 (M90T ΔpurE aroD::Tn10) | 130.6 ± 9.7 | 154.0 ± 14.5 | − | 0 | 0 |
| ZB2107 (M90T ΔpurE thyA::Tn10) | ND | ND | − | 0 | 0 |
a
Mean ± standard deviation of five independent experiments.
b
Calculated during the first 3 h of intracellular growth.
c
Calculated during the first 6 h of intracellular growth.
d
The induction of keratoconjunctivitis was evaluated 48 h after bacterial challenge with 108 or 109 CFU. The symptoms were estimated according to the ratings suggested by Hartman et al. (17).
e
ND, not determined.
f
Reaction delayed of 18 h.
g
Small plaques.