Identification of <i>Actinobacillus suis</i> Genes Essential for the Colonization of the Upper Respiratory Tract of Swine

Abstract

Actinobacillus suis has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen of high-health-status swine. A colonization challenge method was developed, and using PCR-based signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis, 13 genes belonging to 9 different functional classes were identified that were necessary for A. suis colonization of the upper respiratory tract of swine.