AUTHOR=Liu Jinlin , Cao Yurou , Gao Lulu , Zhang Li , Gong Siying , Yang Jihong , Zhao Haobin , Yang Dengfu , Zhao Jin , Meng Jianzhong , Gao Qishuang , Qi Chao 

TITLE=Outer Membrane Lipoprotein Lip40 Modulates Adherence, Colonization, and Virulence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01472

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.01472

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Bacterial lipoproteins are a set of membrane proteins with various functions; many of which are virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, we investigated the role of an outer membrane lipoprotein Lip40 in the pathogenesis of <italic>Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae</italic>. A mutant strain (Δ<italic>lip40</italic>) lacking Lip40 and a complemented strain (CΔ<italic>lip40</italic>) were constructed. Δ<italic>lip40</italic> exhibited reduced adherence to the St. Jude porcine lung cells. The ability of the Δ<italic>lip40</italic> mutant to colonize the mouse lung tissues was significantly impaired compared to that of the wild type and complementation strains. Furthermore, an infection assay revealed that pigs infected with Δ<italic>lip40</italic> showed fewer clinical signs and lung lesions, indicating that Lip40 contributed to the development of porcine pleuropneumonia. Collectively, our data suggest that Lip40 is involved in the virulence of <italic>A. pleuropneumoniae</italic>.</p>