Disruption of the gene spo0A encoding sporulation transcription factor blocks endospore formation and enterotoxin production....

HUANG I., WATERS M., GRAU R., AND SARKER M.

FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS

Blackwell - London

Año: 2004 vol. 233 p. 233 - 240

0378-1097

This study identified a functional spo0A ORF in enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A. To evaluate the function of spo0A, an isogenic 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 wild type spo0A gene. These results provide evidence that spo0A expression is essential for sporulation and enterotoxin production in C. perfringens.