Disruption of the gene (spoOA) encoding sporulation transcription factor blocks endospore formation and enterotoxin production in enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A

摘要

This study identified a functional spo0A ORF in enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A. To evaluate the function of spo0A, an isogenic spo0A knock-out mutant was constructed. The spo0A mutant was unable to form endospores and produce enterotoxin, however, these defects could be restored by complementing the mutant with a recombinant plasmid carrying the wildtype spo0A gene. These results provide evidence that spo0A expression is essential for sporulation and enterotoxin production in C perfringens. (C) 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.