Riemerella anatipestifer T9SS Effector SspA Functions in Bacterial Virulence and Defending Natural Host Immunity

In this study, a secreted subtilisin-like serine protease SspA was shown to be associated with R. anatipestifer virulence, host complement evasion, and degradation of gelatin, fibrinogen, and LL-37. The enzymatic activity of recombinant SspA was determined, and its Km and Vmax were 10.15 mM and 246.96 U/mg, respectively. Three conserved sites (Asp126, His158, and Ser410) are necessary for the protein's function. The median lethal dose of the sspA-deleted mutant strain was reduced >10,000-fold, indicating that SspA is an important virulence factor. In summary, we demonstrate that the R. anatipestifer AS87_RS04190 gene encodes an important T9SS effector, SspA, which plays an important role in bacterial virulence.PMID:35575548 | DOI:10.1128/aem.02409-21
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research