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Journal of Bacteriology, January 2009, p. 403-410, Vol. 191, No. 1
0021-9193/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00847-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The AsaP1 Peptidase of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. achromogenes Is a Highly Conserved Deuterolysin Metalloprotease (Family M35) and a Major Virulence Factor{triangledown}

Helga Arnadottir,1 Iris Hvanndal,1 Valgerdur Andresdottir,1 Sarah E. Burr,2 Joachim Frey,2 and Bjarnheidur K. Gudmundsdottir1*

Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur v/Vesturlandsveg, IS-112 Reykjavík, Iceland,1 Institute for Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Längastrasse 122, Postfach, CH-3001, Bern, Switzerland2

Received 20 June 2008/ Accepted 14 October 2008

Infections by the bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. achromogenes cause significant disease in a number of fish species. In this study, we showed that AsaP1, a toxic 19-kDa metallopeptidase produced by A. salmonicida subsp. achromogenes, belongs to the group of extracellular peptidases (Aeromonas type) (MEROPS ID M35.003) of the deuterolysin family of zinc-dependent aspzincin endopeptidases. The structural gene of AsaP1 was sequenced and found to be highly conserved among gram-negative bacteria. An isogenic {Delta}asaP1 A. salmonicida subsp. achromogenes strain was constructed, and its ability to infect fish was compared with that of the wild-type (wt) strain. The {Delta}asaP1 strain was found to infect Arctic charr, Atlantic salmon, and Atlantic cod, but its virulence was decreased relative to that of the wt strain. The 50% lethal dose of the AsaP1 mutant was 10-fold higher in charr and 5-fold higher in salmon than that of the wt strain. The pathology induced by the AsaP1-deficient strain was also different from that of the wt strain. Furthermore, the mutant established significant bacterial colonization in all observed organs without any signs of a host response in the infected tissue. AsaP1 is therefore the first member of the M35 family that has been shown to be a bacterial virulence factor.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur v/Vesturlandsveg, IS-112 Reykjavík, Iceland. Phone: 354 5674700. Fax: 354 567397.9. E-mail: bjarngud{at}hi.is

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 24 October 2008.

Journal of Bacteriology, January 2009, p. 403-410, Vol. 191, No. 1
0021-9193/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.00847-08
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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