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. 1992 Jan;174(2):568–574. doi: 10.1128/jb.174.2.568-574.1992

Coordinate regulation of virulence genes in Listeria monocytogenes requires the product of the prfA gene.

T Chakraborty 1, M Leimeister-Wächter 1, E Domann 1, M Hartl 1, W Goebel 1, T Nichterlein 1, S Notermans 1
PMCID: PMC205751  PMID: 1729245

Abstract

The prfA gene of Listeria monocytogenes encodes a protein that activates transcription of the listeriolysin gene (lisA). In order to explore the role of the prfA gene product in the pathogenesis of listerial infection, we constructed a site-directed insertion mutation in prfA by the chromosomal integration of a novel suicide vector containing a portion of the prfA coding region. This mutation not only transcriptionally silenced the listeriolysin (lisA) gene but also abrogated production of specific RNA transcripts corresponding to the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (pic) and metalloprotease (mpl) genes, two further virulence gene products expressed only by pathogenic Listeria strains. The strain was also found to be avirulent when tested in a mouse model of listerial infection. The concomitant loss of multiple characteristics such as production of LisA, Pic, Mpl, and loss of virulence in a mouse infection model is the result of a mutation in a single gene and demonstrates that the prfA gene product is a positive regulator of multiple virulence determinants in L. monocytogenes.

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Selected References

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