mig-14Is a Horizontally Acquired, Host-Induced Gene Required forSalmonella entericaLethal Infection in the Murine Model of Typhoid Fever

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Abstract
We have characterized a host-induced virulence gene,mig-14, that is required for fatal infection in the mouse model of enteric fever.mig-14is present in allSalmonella entericasubspecies I serovars and maps to a region of the chromosome that appears to have been acquired by horizontal transmission. Amig-14mutant replicated in host tissues early after infection but was later cleared from the spleens and livers of infected animals. Bacterial clearance by the host occurred concomitantly with an increase in gamma interferon levels and recruitment of macrophages, but few neutrophils, to the infection foci. We hypothesize that themig-14gene product may repress immune system functions by interfering with normal cytokine expression in response to bacterial infections.