Characterization Studies on the sugC Gene of Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 in Adhesion, Invasion, and Virulence in Mice

Zhimin Dong; Cheng Li; Xiangxue Tian; Xiaoran Guo; Xiuli Li; Weike Ren; Jingjing Chi; Li Zhang; Fuqiang Li; Yao Zhu; Wanjiang Zhang; Minghua Yan

doi:10.3390/vetsci11090447

Veterinary Sciences (Sep 2024)

Characterization Studies on the sugC Gene of Streptococcus suis Serotype 2 in Adhesion, Invasion, and Virulence in Mice

Zhimin Dong,
Cheng Li,
Xiangxue Tian,
Xiaoran Guo,
Xiuli Li,
Weike Ren,
Jingjing Chi,
Li Zhang,
Fuqiang Li,
Yao Zhu,
Wanjiang Zhang,
Minghua Yan

Affiliations

Zhimin Dong: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Cheng Li: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Xiangxue Tian: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Xiaoran Guo: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Xiuli Li: Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Weike Ren: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Jingjing Chi: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Li Zhang: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Fuqiang Li: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China
Yao Zhu: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
Wanjiang Zhang: State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
Minghua Yan: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Breeding and Biotechnology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Animal Healthy Farming, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300381, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11090447
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 9
p. 447

Abstract

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The sugC gene of Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a coding gene for the ATP-binding transporter-associated protein with strong pathogenicity. In order to reveal the effect of the sugC gene on the virulence of S. suis serotype 2, a wild-type strain of TJS75, isolated from fattening pigs’ brain tissue samples, was used as a parent strain, and a knockout sugC gene (ΔsugC) and complementary strain (CΔsugC) were successfully constructed via homologous recombination technology. The biological characteristics of TJS75, ΔsugC and CΔsugC were compared and analyzed through growth curves, biochemical characteristics, hemolysis characteristics, cell infection tests and pathogenicity tests on BALB/c mice. The results of the growth characteristic experiments in vitro showed that the plateau stage growth period of ΔsugC was delayed compared to the TJS75 strain, but there was no difference in the total number of bacteria. The biochemical characteristics and hemolysis ability of ΔsugC in sheep blood had no difference compared with TJS75, but its adhesion and invasion abilities in PK-15 cells were decreased. Knockout of the sugC gene had no impact on the expression levels of adhesion-related genes in TJS75 in real-time PCR analysis. In addition, the LD50 of ΔsugC in BALB/c mice was 1.47 × 108 CFU, seven times higher than that of TJS75 (LD50 = 2.15 × 107 CFU). These results illustrate that the deletion of sugC reduced the virulence of TJS75 to BALB/c mice, but its role in the adhesion and invasion of PK-15 cells in this strain needs to be further explored. In summary, this study provides evidence that the sugC gene is a virulence-related gene in the S. suis serotype 2 strain and plays a crucial role in the adhesion and invasion of S. suis. This study lays a foundation for the further exploration of the potential virulence factors and pathogenesis of S. suis.

Published in Veterinary Sciences

ISSN: 2306-7381 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/vetsci

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