Bakshi C.S., Malik M., Regan K., Melendez J.A., Metzger D.W., Pavlov V.M., Sellati T.J.
Superoxide dismutase B gene (sodB)-deficient mutants of Francisella
tularensis demonstrate hypersensitivity to oxidative stress and attenuated virulence.
J Bacteriol. 2006 Sep;188(17):6443-8.
Abstract A Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain mutant (sodB(Ft)) with reduced
Fe-superoxide dismutase gene expression was generated and found to exhibit decreased sodB
activity and increased sensitivity to redox cycling compounds compared to wild-type bacteria.
The sodB(Ft) mutant also was significantly attenuated for virulence in mice. Thus, this study
has identified sodB as an important F. tularensis virulence factor.
