Inactivation of single genes within the virulence regulon of an M2 group A streptococcal isolate result in differences in virulence for chicken embryos and for mice.

An M2 streptococcal isolate and isogenic mutants in which either the emm or mrp gene was insertionally inactivated were tested for virulence using either a mouse model or a chicken embryo model. The results of the studies using the mouse model demonstrated that neither the emm nor mrp gene products had a significant effect on virulence when mice were challenged via the i.p. route. However, when the bacteria were injected into the skin the emm gene product was identified as a virulence factor. In parallel studies in the chicken embryo model the mrp gene product was found to be a major virulence factor, while a minor contribution to virulence could also be attributed to the emm gene product. The importance of these gene products to virulence was noted when the chicken embryo were injected either i.v or when the bacteria were placed on top of the chorioallantoic membrane. The direct comparison of a single wild type group A organism and its paired isogenic mutants in two animal models suggests that different combinations of bacterial factors are required to overcome host defense strategies associated with different animal species. Copyright 1997 Academic Press Limited.