Genetics of the Rickettsial Agent, 'Coxiella burneti' and Mechanisms of Its Pathogenesis.
Abstract
The research has been centered on elucidation of the mechanisms of pathogenicity of the rickettsial causative agent of Q fever, Coxiella burneti. The authors have studied the biology of the rickettsia, and have used the guinea pig as the host. In previous reports, it has been shown that during infection liver glycogen disappears rapidly; liver lipid increases; liver glycogen synthetase, active form, is inhibited, while UTP synthetase, and UDPG synthetase are stimulated; there are no significant changes in the endoplasmic reticulum, smooth or rough; protein and RNA synthesis in the liver is enhanced. Insofar as C. burneti is concerned, the authors have shown that the rickettsia: Possesses DNA-dependent RNA polymerase; can synthesize several amino acids; has host-independent capacity to synthesize proteins; can convert glucose to glucose-6-phosphate and oxidize the latter to 6-phosphogluconic acid; has a distinct cell envelope, quite similar to gram-negative bacteria; has DNA base ratios similar to the true bacteria (report of Shankel and Downs). (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 08, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0769882
Entities
People
- David Paretsky
Organizations
- University of Kansas