# GENETIC LOCI AFFECTING THE IN VIVO GROWTH OF SALMONELLA

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1993 · $114,745

## Abstract

Enteric (typhoid) fever caused by salmonella species is frequently fatal
in man, domestic animals, and rodents.  Salmonella serotypes and species
exhibit a high degree of host specificity in their ability to cause
enteric fever (Salmonella typhi, man; S. derby, cattle; S. pullorum,
poultry, and S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium, mice).  In the mouse Ity
is the major genetic locus affecting salmonella resistance during the
first two weeks following oral or parenteral infection.  This is
accomplished primarily by Ity control of the rate of intracellular growth
of salmonella in the liver and spleen of infected mice.  Ity has been
reported to also affect resistance to intracellular infections with
Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium lepraemurium, and Leishmania donovani,
but not a number of other intracellular and extracellular pathogens.  The
mechanism by which Ity controls intracellular growth rates is not known.
The salmonella gene mviA(vir) is necessary for certain salmonella to
exploit the Ity(s) (susceptible) genotype, but has little or no effect on
the growth of salmonella in Ity(r) (resistant) mice.  Knowledge of the
mechanism of action of mviA should not only provide insight into
mechanisms used by salmonella to grow in the host, but may also reveal
the mechanism of action of Ity.  We have identified a restriction site
into which the insertion of antibiotic resistance cassettes blocks mviA
function.  We have demonstrated that avirulence is the result of a
functional mviA(avir) and that insertion of an antibiotic resistance
cassette into mviA(avir) results in virulence.  From the proposed studies
we hope to obtain detailed knowledge about the mviA gene and the nature
of its gene product (MviA), and its mechanism of action.  We will also
continue ongoing studies to identify nutrients and pathways that limit
the growth of mviA(vir) and mviA(avir) salmonella in Ity(r) and Ity(s
)mice.  Anything we learn about rate limiting in vivo growth factors will
add to our knowledge of the micro-environment of growing salmonella and
should contribute to our studies of mviA and Ity mechanisms, and visa
versa.  The results of the proposed studies should contribute to our
understanding of the regulation of intracellular growth rates of not only
salmonella, but certain other intracellular pathogens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126520
- **Project number:** 5R01AI015986-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YND4PLMC9AN7
- **Principal Investigator:** WILLIAM H BENJAMIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $114,745
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-08-01 → 1994-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126520

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126520, GENETIC LOCI AFFECTING THE IN VIVO GROWTH OF SALMONELLA (5R01AI015986-11). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126520. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*