Identification and functional analysis of the cytolethal distending toxin gene from Avibacterium paragallinarum.

Identification and functional analysis of the cytolethal distending toxin gene from Avibacterium paragallinarum. Avian Pathol. 2013 Nov 4; Authors: Chen YC, Tan DH, Shien JH, Hsieh MK, Yen TY, Chang PC Abstract Avibacterium paragallinarum is the causative agent of infectious coryza, an important respiratory disease of chickens. Cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) are a family of protein cytotoxins that cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in eukaryotic cells. Whole-genome sequencing analysis showed that Av. paragallinarum contains cdtABC genes. Filter-sterilized lysates prepared from Av. paragallinarum or from recombinant Escherichia coli expressing cdtABC genes exhibited CDT activity on HeLa cells and chicken embryo fibroblast (DF-1) cells. In vitro DNase assays showed that purified recombinant CdtB has DNase activity. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis revealed that the cdtABC genes are present in all strains of Av. paragallinarum examined in this study. This is the first report of the identification and functional analysis of cdtABC genes from Av. paragallinarum. The gene products of cdtABC genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease caused by Av. paragallinarum. PMID: 24188584 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Avian Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Avian Pathol Source Type: research