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Infection and Immunity, April 2001, p. 2116-2122, Vol. 69, No. 4
0019-9567/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/IAI.69.4.2116-2122.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Flagellum of Legionella pneumophila Positively Affects the Early Phase of Infection of Eukaryotic Host Cells

Claudia Dietrich, Klaus Heuner, Bettina C. Brand, Jörg Hacker, and Michael Steinert*

Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany

Received 27 July 2000/Returned for modification 20 September 2000/Accepted 8 January 2001

Legionella pneumophila, the etiologic agent of Legionnaires' disease, contains a single, monopolar flagellum which is composed of one major subunit, the FlaA protein. To evaluate the role of the flagellum in the pathogenesis and ecology of Legionella, the flaA gene of L. pneumophila Corby was mutagenized by introduction of a kanamycin resistance cassette. Immunoblots with antiflagellin-specific polyclonal antiserum, electron microscopy, and motility assays confirmed that the specific flagellar mutant L. pneumophila Corby KH3 was nonflagellated. The redelivery of the intact flaA gene into the chromosome (L. pneumophila Corby CD10) completely restored flagellation and motility. Coculture studies showed that the invasion efficiency of the flaA mutant was moderately reduced in amoebae and severely reduced in HL-60 cells. In contrast, adhesion and the intracellular rate of replication remained unaffected. Taking these results together, we have demonstrated that the flagellum of L. pneumophila positively affects the establishment of infection by facilitating the encounter of the host cell as well as by enhancing the invasion capacity.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, Röntgenring 11, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany. Phone: 0049-931-312588. Fax: 0049-931-312578. E-mail: michael.steinert{at}mail.uni-wuerzburg.de.

Infection and Immunity, April 2001, p. 2116-2122, Vol. 69, No. 4
0019-9567/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/IAI.69.4.2116-2122.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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J. Bacteriol. J. Virol. Eukaryot. Cell
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Copyright © 2001 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.