Microarray analysis of Haemophilus parasuis gene expression under in vitro growth conditions mimicking the in vivo environment.

Abstract Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of polyserositis in pigs, a mostly fatal disease on the rise especially in early-weaned pigs and in pig herds with a high-health status. The mechanisms by which H. parasuis propagates through the body and colonizes the serous membranes are unknown. We have used an H. parasuis microarray to identify virulence genes involved in host adaptation. H. parasuis gene expression was analysed under in vitro growth conditions mimicking the environmental conditions encountered during an infection. These included iron-limitation, acidic and temperature stress and growth under microaerobic conditions. A kinetic impression of the gene regulation was obtained by analysing the transcription 10, 30 and 60 min after induction of the altered growth conditions. A total of 75 regulated H. parasuis genes were identified, most of which coded for transporters of iron and sugar metabolites, metabolic enzymes, DNA metabolism and hypothetical proteins with unknown functions. Furthermore, H. parasuis genes were identified that have homology to known virulence factors in other pathogenic bacteria. Homologues of some of the identified H. parasuis genes are known to be expressed during natural and experimental infections in pathogens of the Pasteurellaceae family.