Plasmid-Based System for High-Level Gene Expression and Antisense Gene Knockdown in Bartonella henselae

摘要

Six broad-host-range plasmid vectors were developed to study gene expression in Bartonella henselae. The vectors were used to express a β-galactosidase reporter gene in B. henselae and to generate antisense RNA for gene knockdown. When applied to ompR, a putative transcription response regulator of B. henselae, this antisense RNA gene knockdown strategy reduced bacterial invasion of human endothelial cells by over 60%.