The NheA component of the non-hemolytic enterotoxin of Bacillus cereus is produced by Bacillus anthracis but is not required for virulence

Microb Pathog. 2004 Sep;37(3):149-54. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2004.06.008.

Abstract

A non-hemolytic enterotoxin (NHE) is one of the two enterotoxins thought to cause diarrhea produced by Bacillus cereus. We identified genes in Bacillus anthracis homologous to the B. cereus nheAB genes encoding proteins of the NHE complex. The NheA component was detected immunologically in culture supernatants from B. anthracis but not from a NheA(-) mutant, suggesting that B. anthracis produces and secretes the NheA subunit of NHE. A NheA deletion mutant was not attenuated in the guinea pig suggesting that NheA is not absolutely required for virulence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anthrax / microbiology
  • Anthrax / physiopathology*
  • Bacillus anthracis / genetics
  • Bacillus anthracis / metabolism*
  • Bacillus anthracis / pathogenicity
  • Bacillus cereus / genetics
  • Bacillus cereus / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Enterotoxins / genetics
  • Enterotoxins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Vero Cells
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Enterotoxins
  • NheA protein, Bacillus cereus
  • enterotoxin, Bacillus cereus