Proteomics 'effective for quantitative analysis of virulence'

Scientists report how electrophoresis may be applied to the quantitative analysis of virulence in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Writing in BMC Microbiology, a team from Kitasato University in Japan explain that agarose two-dimensional electrophoresis can be coupled with mass spectrometry for the quantitative analysis of protein expression.

In their own research, 366 protein spots were examined using the technique and 269 proteins identified successfully.

The results indicate a global response from the pathogen, they say, mediated by the alarmone guanosine pentaphosphate.

This has previously been associated with the control of virulence genes including S Typhimurium.

Research conducted by the scientists also showed impaired growth of the Salmonella pathogen when its gene encoding the virulence-associated factor STM3169 was damaged.

The team concludes that proteomic analysis can therefore operate as an effective means of mapping the Salmonella regulatory network.

BMC Microbiology carries research into analytical and functional analysis of microorganisms associated with the onset of disease.