Dam and its role in pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica

• Published in: Journal of infection in developing countries Vol. 3; no. 7; pp. 484 - 490
• Main Authors: Giacomodonato, Mónica N, Sarnacki, Sebastián H, Llana, Mariángeles Noto, Cerquetti, M Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 30-08-2009
• Subjects: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Models, Biological; Pathogens; Salmonella; Salmonella enterica - cytology; Salmonella enterica - enzymology; Salmonella enterica - pathogenicity; Salmonella enterica - physiology; Salmonella Infections, Animal - microbiology; Salmonella Vaccines - genetics; Salmonella Vaccines - immunology; Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) - deficiency; Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) - physiology; Vaccines, Attenuated - genetics; Vaccines, Attenuated - immunology; Virulence; Virulence Factors - deficiency; Virulence Factors - physiology
• ISSN: 1972-2680; 2036-6590; 1972-2680
• DOI: 10.3855/jidc.465

Dam methylation is an essential factor involved in the virulence of an increasing number of bacterial pathogens including Salmonella enterica. Lack of Dam methylation causes severe attenuation in animal models. It has been proposed that dysregulation of Dam activity is potentially a general strategy for the generation of vaccines against bacterial pathogens. In this review, we focus our attention on the role of methylation by Dam protein in regulating bacterial gene expression and virulence in Salmonella enterica.