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The LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator VirR Is Required for Expression of the Virulence Gene vapA of Rhodococcus equi ATCC 33701

Dean A. Russell, Gavin A. Byrne, Enda P. O'Connell, Clara A. Boland, and Wim G. Meijer^*

Department of Industrial Microbiology, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Received 12 February 2004/ Accepted 29 April 2004

The virulence of the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi in foals is dependent on the presence of an 81-kb virulence plasmid encoding the virulence protein VapA. Expression of this protein is induced by exposure to oxidative stress, high temperatures, and low pHs, which reflect the conditions encountered by R. equi when it enters the host environment. The aim of this study was to determine whether the LysR-type transcriptional regulator VirR, which is encoded by the virulence plasmid, is required for the expression of vapA. It was shown that the virR gene is cotranscribed with four downstream genes, one of which encodes a two-component response regulator. The expression of VapA, as monitored by Western blotting, was completely dependent on the presence of virR. Maximal expression was observed when vapA was present together with the complete virR operon, suggesting that at least one of the virR operon genes, in addition to virR, is required for the expression of vapA to wild-type levels. The transcriptional start site of vapA was determined to be a cytidine located 226 bp upstream from the vapA initiation codon. His-tagged VirR protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. DNA binding studies showed that purified VirR binds to a DNA fragment containing the vapA promoter. We therefore conclude that VirR is required for the activation of vapA transcription.

Present address: Forensic Science Laboratory, Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform, Garda Headquarters, Dublin 8, Ireland.

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