Hemolysin as a virulence factor for systemic infection with isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex

J N Maslow; D Dawson; E A Carlin; S M Holland

doi:10.1128/JCM.37.2.445-446.1999

Hemolysin as a virulence factor for systemic infection with isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex

J Clin Microbiol. 1999 Feb;37(2):445-6. doi: 10.1128/JCM.37.2.445-446.1999.

Authors

J N Maslow¹, D Dawson, E A Carlin, S M Holland

Affiliation

¹ Infectious Diseases Section, Medical Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, USA. maslow.joel_n.md@boston.va.gov

Abstract

Isolates of the Mycobacterium avium complex were examined for hemolysin expression. Only invasive isolates of M. avium were observed to be hemolytic (P < 0.001), with activity the greatest for isolates of serovars 4 and 8. Thus, M. avium hemolysin appears to represent a virulence factor necessary for invasive disease.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
Hemolysin Proteins / biosynthesis*
Hemolysis
Humans
Mycobacterium avium Complex / isolation & purification
Mycobacterium avium Complex / metabolism
Mycobacterium avium Complex / pathogenicity*
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / microbiology*
Virulence

Substances

Hemolysin Proteins