Generation and Evaluation of a Glaesserella (Haemophilus) parasuis Capsular Mutant
Kirsten C. Eberle, Samantha J. Hau, Shi‐Lu Luan, Lucy A. Weinert, Judith A. Stasko, Jinhong Wang, Sarah E. Peters, Paul R. Langford, Andrew N. Rycroft, Brendan W. Wren, Duncan J. Maskell, Alexander W. Tucker, Susan L. Brockmeier
Abstract
Glaesserella ( Haemophilus ) parasuis is a commensal bacterium of the upper respiratory tract in pigs and also the causative agent of Glässer’s disease, which causes significant morbidity and mortality in pigs worldwide. Isolates are characterized into 15 serovars by their capsular polysaccharide, which has shown a correlation with isolate pathogenicity. To investigate the role the capsule plays in G. parasuis virulence and host interaction, a capsule mutant of the serovar 5 strain HS069 was generated (HS069Δcap) through allelic exchange following natural transformation.