Inter-Research
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

ABSTRACT: The virulence array protein gene A (vapA) encoding the A-protein subunit of the surface layer of 23 typical and atypical strains of Aeromonas salmonicida from salmonids and marine fish species were sequenced, and the deduced A-protein sequences compared. The A-proteins of the typical A. salmonicida ssp. salmonicida strains were shown to be identical, while amino acid variability was revealed among A-proteins of atypical strains. The highest amino acid variability appears to be in a predicted surface exposed region and is believed to result in antigenic differences among the atypical strains of A. salmonicida.

KEY WORDS: Atypical Aeromonas salmonicida · A-protein sequence · Surface A-layer

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Published in DAO Vol. 61, No. 3 (2004) on November 5
Print ISSN: 0177-5103; Online ISSN: 1616-1580. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2004