Virulence genes, proteins, and their use

Abstract

A series of genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella are shown to encode products that are implicated in virulence. The identification of theses genes therefore allows attenuated microorganisms to be produced. Furthermore, the genes or their encoded products can be used to identify antimicrobial drugs, diagnostic methods for the identification of a pathogen-associated disease, and in the manufacture of vaccines.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to virulence genes and proteins, and their use. More particularly, it relates to genes and proteins/peptides obtained from gram-negative bacteria, and their use in therapy and in screening for drugs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to health care experts, infectious diseases caused by microbes are responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other single cause. The current estimate of the annual cost of medical care for treating infectious diseases in the United States alone is about $120 billion. While antibiotic treatment is effective for many microbial infections, antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria is a growing health concern. Indeed, the American Medical Association has concluded that, “the global increase in resistance to antimicrobial drugs, including the emergence of bacterial strains that are resistant to all available antibacterial agents, has created a public health problem of potentially crisis proportions.”

Pseudomonas and Klebsiella are two genuses of gram-negative bacteria that pose a significant health risk to infected host organisms, in part, due to their resistance to many antibiotics. These bacteria are noted for causing life-threatening infections, particularly in the lung. Cancer and burn patients also commonly suffer serious Pseudomonas infections, as do certain other individuals with immune system deficiencies. While Klebsiella sp. is responsible for many types of infections, outside of a medical setting, the most common infection caused by Klebsiella bacteria is pneumonia.

There is a need in the art for new antimicrobial therapeutic strategies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of 46 genes, when mutated lower the virulence of a gram-negative bacterium, and can be used in new antimicrobial therapeutic strategies. The invention provides attenuated bacterial mutants that are derived from pathogenic strains. These attenuated bacterial stains have a mutation in a VIRX gene identified herein as VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46; and show reduced inhibition of Dictyostelium amoeba growth when compared to the growth observed in the presence of an isogenic bacterial strain. The term, “pathogenic,” as used herein, is defined as an agent's ability to cause disease, damage or harm to a host organism. The term, “attenuated,” as used herein, means an organism made less virulent relative to an isogenic pathogenic organism. The term, “mutant,” as used herein, an organism carrying a specific mutation of a gene that is expressed in the organism's phenotype. A mutation may be insertional inactivation or deletion of a gene. It is preferred that the mutation be an insertional inactivation of a gene.

The invention also provides attenuated bacterial mutants that are derived from pathogenic gram-negative bacterial strains. These attenuated gram-negative bacterial strains have a mutation in a VIRX gene identified herein as VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46; and show reduced inhibition of Dictyostelium amoeba growth when compared to the growth observed in the presence of an isogenic bacterial strain. A mutation may be insertional inactivation or deletion of a gene. It is preferred that the mutation be an insertional inactivation of a gene. It is also preferred that the attenuated gram-negative bacterial mutant be derived from a Pseudomonas or Klebiella spp. It is more preferred that the attenuated gram-negative bacterial mutant is a strain of P. aeruginosa or K. pneumoniae.

The invention additionally provides for a VIRX gene that may be part of an operon. The term, “operon,” as used herein, is a unit of bacterial gene expression and regulation comprising several genes, usually with complementary functions. Insertion in a gene in an operon typically interferes with the function of this gene and of other genes located downstream or upstream in the operon. The function attributed to a gene refers to its function and/or that of any gene located downstream or upstream in the same operon. Accordingly, the invention also provides for a bacterial strain comprising an operon encoding a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46, wherein the bacterial strain includes a mutation that reduces expression of the VIRX gene relative to an isogenic bacterial strain lacking the mutation. In one embodiment, the the mutation reduces inhibition of Dictyostelium amoeba growth when compared to the growth of Dictyostelium amoeba in the presence of an isogenic bacterial strain lacking the mutation.

The invention provides for one or more of the following attenuated Pseudomonas mutant strains: MUT1; MUT2; MUT3; MUT4; MUT5; MUT6; MUT7; MUT8; MUT9; MUT10; MUT11; MUT12; MUT13; MUT14; MUT15: MUT16; MUT17; MUT18; and MUT19. The invention also provides for one or more of the following attenuated Klebsiella mutant strains: MUT20; MUT21; MUT22; MUT23; MUT24; MUT25; MUT26; MUT27; MUT28; MUT29; MUT30; MUT31; MUT32; MUT33; MUT34; MUT35; MUT36; MUT37; MUT38; MUT39; MUT40; MUT41; MUT42; MUT43; MUT44; MUT45; and MUT46.

The invention additionally provides a method for identifying an antimicrobial drug, wherein a candidate composition is contacted with at least one polypeptide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45 and VIR46. The biological activity of polypeptide in the presence of the candidate composition is compared with the biological activity of the polypeptide in the absence of the candidate composition. Alteration of the biological activity of the polypeptide indicates that the candidate composition is an antimicrobial drug. In some embodiments, the candidate composition contains at least two molecules. The candidate composition can contain at least one molecule less than about 500 Daltons or at least one molecule greater than about 500 Daltons. The candidate composition can be, e.g., an immunoglobulin, polysaccharide, lipid, nucleic acid, or combination thereof.

The invention additionally provides a method for identifying an antimicrobial drug, wherein a candidate composition is contacted with at least one polynucleotide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46. The expression of the polynucleotide in the presence of the candidate composition is compared with the expression of the polynucleotide in the absence of the candidate composition. Alteration of the expression of the polynucleotide indicates that the candidate composition is an antimicrobial drug. In some embodiments, the candidate composition contains at least two molecules. The candidate composition can contain at least one molecule less than about 500 Daltons or at least one molecule greater than about 500 Daltons. The candidate composition can be a polypeptide, polysaccharide, lipid, nucleic acid, e.g., ribonucleic acid, or combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the ribonucleic acid of the candidate composition is a small interfering ribonucleic acid.

The invention additionally provides a method for determining the degree of virulence of a pathogen present in a subject, comprising:

• • (a) measuring the level of expression of at least one polypeptide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46, in a sample from the first subject; and
  • (b) comparing the amount of the polypeptide in the sample of step (a) to the amount of the polypeptide present in a control sample from a second subject known not to have the presence of the pathogen, wherein an alteration in the expression level of the polypeptide in the first subject as compared to the control sample indicates the degree of virulence of the pathogen.

In a preferred embodiment, the subject is a mammal. It is more preferred that the subject is a human.

The invention also provides a method for determining the degree of virulence of a pathogen present in a subject, comprising:

(a) measuring the level of expression of at least one polynucleotide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR5, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46, in a sample from the first subject; and

(b) comparing the amount of the polynucleotide in the sample of step (a) to the amount of the polynucleotide present in a control sample from a second subject known not to have the presence of the pathogen, wherein an alteration in the expression level of the polypeptide in the first subject as compared to the control sample indicates the degree of virulence of the pathogen.

In a preferred embodiment, the subject is a mammal. It is more preferred that the subject is a human.

The invention additionally provides attenuated bacterial strains that can be used as vaccines and as vectors for foreign antigens and for foreign DNA. These attenuated bacterial strains are useful for the preparation of vaccines effective against diseases associated with the corresponding bacterial strains. In a preferred embodiment, the attenuated bacterial strains are derived from Pseudomonas or Klebsiella spp.

The invention additionally provides attenuated bacterial strains that can be used as vectors for foreign genes cloned from other pathogens that will be expressed into proteins, and will raise protective immune responses against the pathogens from which they are derived. In a preferred embodiment, the attenuated bacterial strains used as the vectors are derived from Pseudomonas or Klebsiella spp.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery of 46 genes when mutated lower the virulence of a gram-negative bacterium. Nineteen of these virulence genes were identified in P. aeruginosa PT894, while the remaining 27 genes were derived from mutagenesis of Klebsiella. These bacterial mutants have attenuated virulence relative to isogenic bacterial strains and are designated “MUX.” Provided herein are virulence genes affected in each novel, attenuated MUTX strain, as well as the nucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby. The sequences encoded by the affected genes are collectively referred to as “VIRX nucleic acids” or “VIRX polynucleotides” and the corresponding encoded polypeptides are referred to as “VIRX polypeptides” or “VIRX proteins.” Unless indicated otherwise, “VIRX” is meant to refer to any of the novel sequences disclosed herein.

The peptides and genes of the invention are useful for the preparation of therapeutic agents to treat infection because they attenuate the virulence of the wild-type pathogen. Therapy can be preventative or therapeutic. A subject receiving therapy can be, e.g., a human, a non-human primate (such as an ape, gorilla, or chimpanzee), cow, horse, pig, sheep, dog, cat, or rodent (including mouse or rat).

I. Identification of Pseudomonas and Klebsiella Genes Encoding Virulence Factors

Genes encoding virulence factors (e.g., pathogens or toxins) to a host organism were identified by comparing the growth of Dictyostelium discoideum, in the presence and absence of test mutants of Pseudomonas and Klebsiella with an identifiable genetic alteration as detailed in International Application PCT/IB02/03277, filed Jun. 7, 2002. Dictyostelium amoebae feed phagocytically upon bacteria such as K. pneumoniae. When Dictyostelium cells are plated with K. pneumoniae bacteria, each amoeba creates a plaque in the bacterial lawn in the region where bacteria have been phagocytosed. Addition of pathogenic bacteria, e.g., P. aeruginosa strain PT894 to the lawn of K. pneumoniae bacteria, inhibits the growth of the amoebae.

Pseudomonas test mutants were made by transposon insertion according to known methods in the art and tested for virulence in a Dictyostelium growth assay (see, PCT/IB02/03277, filed Jun. 7, 2002). Klebsiella mutants were also made by transposon insertion according to known methods in the art and tested for virulence in a Dictyostelium growth assay (see, PCT/IB02/03277, filed Jun. 7, 2002) using the PHG1a mutant Dictyostelium strain (Cornillon et al., J. Biol. Chem., 275(44): 34287-92, 2000), a strain which was found to be particularly sensitive to virulent bacteria. Specifically, the Klebsiella mutants were obtained by standard bacteria electroporation technique using the plasposon pNKBOR (Genbank accession number: AF310136) and selected on solid LB medium containing 50 μg/ml kanamycin (Rossignol et al., Res. Microbiol., 152(5): 481-5, 2001). Other mutagenesis methods known in the art, e.g., ultraviolet radiation exposure, treatment with intercalating agent or transducing phage, may also be used to generate mutants. Mutations yielding reduced virulence were identified where the growth of the Dictyostelium test host organism exposed to the mutant pathogen was greater than the Dictyostelium test host organism exposed to wild-type pathogen. Specific genetic mutations in pathogens displaying reduced virulence were subsequently identified and characterized by techniques well known in the art. Identification of specific gene mutations in Klebsiella mutants was performed by plasmid rescue and cloning of the genomic DNA at the insertion site mutant using the BglII or ApaI restriction enzyme according to (Rossignol et al., Res. Microbiol., 152(5): 481-5, 2001). Identification of specific gene mutations in Pseudomonas mutants was performed by subcloning the transposon and surrounding bacteria genomic DNA into an acceptor plamid. DNA sequencing was performed on amplified rescued plasmids, in order to identify the insertion site of the transposon. Rat mortality assays such as that described by Join-Lambert et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 45(2): 571-6, 2001, can be used to corroborate attenuated virulence activity in a mammalian host.

The 19 Pseudomonas attenuated MUTX organisms harboring the VIRX genes are summarized below in Table 1.

TABLE 1
STRAIN	AFFECTED VIRULENCE GENE(S)	REFERENCE
MUT1	anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase	Essar et al, J. Bacteriol., 172: 853-66,
	(trpD; PA0650)	1990; Essar et al., J. Bacteriol., 172: 867-
		83, 1990.
MUT2	ATP sulfurylase small subunit	Leyh et al., J. Biol. Chem., 263: 2409-
	(CysD; PA4443)	16, 1988; Hummerjohann et al.,
		Microbiology, 144 (Pt 5): 1375-86, 1998
MUT3	CysQ (PA5175)	Peng and Verma, J. Biol. Chem.,
		270: 29105-10, 1995; Neuwald et al., J.
		Bacteriol., 174: 415-25, 1992.
MUT4	D-amino acid dehydrogenase, small subunit	Lobacka et al., J. Bacteriol., 176: 1500-10,
	(dadA; PA5304)	1994.
MUT5	imidazoleglycerol-phosphate synthase, cyclase	Fani et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 216: 224-9,
	subunit (hisF1; PA5140)	1989; Fani et al., Mol. Gen. Genet.,
		216: 224-9, 1989.
MUT6	N-acetyl-γ-glutamyl-phosphate reductase	Smith et al., Gene, 49: 53-60. 1986.
	(ArgC; PAO 0662)
MUT7	Dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (AceF;	Rae et al., J. Bacteriol., 179: 3561-71,
	pyruvate dehydrogenase complex component	1997.
	E2; PA5016)
MUT8	NADH dehydrogenase I chain H	Weidner et al., J. Mol. Biol., 5: 233: 109-
	(nuoH; PA2643)	22, 1993; Weidner et al., J. Mol. Biol.,
		233: 109-22, 1993.
MUT9	pyoverdine synthetase D	Rombel et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 246: 519-
	(PvdD; PA2399)	28, 1995; Merriman et al., J. Bacteriol.,
		177: 252-8, 1995.
MUT10	RND multidrug efflux transporter MexD	Poole et al., Mol. Microbiol., 21:713-24,
	(mexD; PA4598)	1996; Poole et al., Mol. Microbiol.,
		21: 713-24, 1996.
MUT11	PA3721	Stover et al., Nature, 406: 959-964, 2000.
MUT12	PA0596	Tan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,
		96: 2408-13, 1999.
MUT13	PA5265	Stover et al., Nature, 406: 959-964, 2000.
MUT14	pyochelin biosynthetic protein pchC	Serino et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 249:
	(PA4229)	217-28, 1995; Serino et al., J. Bactiol.,
		179: 248-57, 1997
MUT15	dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase	Reimmann et al., Microbiology, 144:
	(pchE; PA4226)	3135-48, 1998.
MUT16	Pyochelin synthetase	Reimmann et al., Microbiology, 144:
	(pchF; PA4225)	3135-48, 1998.
MUT17	ATP-binding component of the ABC	Featherston et al., Mol. Microbiol.,
	transporter	32(2): 289-99, 1999; Reimmann et al., J.
	(pchH; PA4223)	Bacteriol., 183: 813-20, 2001.
MUT18	ATP-binding component of the ABC	Reimmann et al., J. Bacteriol., 183: 813-20,
	transporter (pchI; PA4222)	2001.
MUT19	putative O-antigen biosynthesis gene cluster	Rocchetta et al., Microbiol. Mol. Biol.
		Rev. 63: 523-53, 1999.

The 27 Klebsiella attenuated MUTX organisms harboring the VIRX genes disclosed in the present invention and assigned a new role in virulence are summarized below in Table 2.

TABLE 2
STRAIN AFFECTED VIRULENCE GENE(S)
MUT20  hypothetical transcriptional regulator
       in met G-dld intergenic region
MUT21  β-cystathionase
MUT22  ribosome binding factor A
MUT23  aspartokinase/homoserine dehydrogenase
MUT24  cystathionine γ-synthase
MUT25  Phophoribosylformylglycinamidine synthase
MUT26  homoserine transsuccinylase
MUT27  3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase
MUT28  Sfi protein
MUT29  transcriptional activator protein LysR
MUT30  TrpD
MUT31  N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase
MUT32  WaaQ
MUT33  2-Isopropylmalate synthase
MUT34  histidinol dehydrogenase
MUT35  UDP-galactopyranose mutase
MUT36  O-antigen export system permease protein rfba
MUT37  uridyltransferase
MUT38  pyridoxine phosphate biosynthetic protein PdxJ-PdxA
MUT39  triose phosphate isomerase
MUT40  aldehyde dehydrogenase
MUT41  galactosyl transferase
MUT42  siroheme synthetase
MUT43  7,8-dihydro-6-hydroxymethylpterin-pyrophosphokinase
MUT44  glucose-6-phosphate isomerase
MUT45  DNA methylase
MUT46  putative inner membrane protein

II. Attenuated Bacterial Mutants

A. Attenuated Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mutants

MUT1

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT1) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase (PA0650). This gene encodes the VIR1 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:1) shown in Table 3A.

TABLE 3A
VIR1 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO:1)
ATGGATATCAAGGGAGCCCTCAATCGCATCGTCAACCAGCTCGACCTGACCACCGAGGAAATGCAGG
CGGTCATGCGCCAGATCATGACCGGGCAGTGCACCGACGCGCAGATCGGCGCCTTCCTGATGGGCAT
GCGGATGAAGAGCGAAACCATCGACGAGATCGTCGGCGCGGTGGCGGTGATGCGCGAACTGGCCGAC
GGCGTGCAGTTGCCTACGCTGAAGCATGTGGTCGACGTGGTCGGCACCGGCGGCGATGGCGCGAACA
TCTTCAACGTGTCCTCGGCGGCGTCCTTCGTGGTCGCCGCCGCTGGCGGCAAGGTCGCCAAACACGG
TAACCGCGCGGTCTCCGGCAAGAGCGGCAGCGCCGACTTGCTGGAAGCCGCCGGCATCTACCTGGAG
CTGACCTCCGAACAGGTGGCGCGTTGCATCGACACCGTCGGCGTCGGGTTCATGTTCGCCCAGGTCC
ACCACAAGGCGATGAACTACGCCGCCGGTCCGCGCCGCGAGCTGGGCTTGCGGACTCTGTTCAACAT
GCTTGGCCCACTGACCAACCCGGCGGGACTGAGGCACCAGGTGGTCGGGGTGTTCACCCAGGAACTG
TGCAAGCCGCTGGCTGAAGTGCTCAAGCGTCTCGGCAGCGAGCATGTGCTGGTGGTGCATTCGCGCG
ACGGGCTGGACGAGTTCAGTCTGGCCGCGGCGACCCACATTGCCGAGTTGAAGGACGGCGAGGTACG
CGAGTACGAAGTGCGTCCCGAGGACTTCGGGATCAAGAGCCAGACCCTGATGGGGCTGGAGGTCGAC
AGTCCGCAGGCCTCGCTGGAACTGATCCGCGACGCTTTGGGGCGGCGCAAGACCGAGGCTGGGCAGA
AGGCCGCCGAGCTGATCGTGATGAATGCCGGCCCGGCACTGTACGCTGCCGATCTGGCGACCAGCCT
GCACGAGGGCATTCAACTGGCCCACGATGCCCTGCACACCGGGCTGGCACGGGAGAAGATGGACGAA
CTGGTGGCCTTCACCGCCGTTTACAGAGAGGAGAACGCACAGTGA

The VIR1 protein (SEQ ID NO:2) encoded by SEQ ID NO:1 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 3B.

TABLE 3B
Encoded VIR1 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:2)
MDIKGALNRIVNQLDLTTEEMQAVMRQIMTGQCTDAQIGAFLMGMRMKSETIDEIVGAVAVMREL
ADGVQLPTLKHVVDVVGTGGDGANIFNVSSAASFVVAAAGGKVAKHGNRAVSGKSGSADLLEAAG
IYLELTSEQVARCIDTVGVGFMFAQVHHKAMKYAAGPRRELGLRTLFNMLGPLTNPAGVRHQVVG
VFTQELCKPLAEVLKRLGSEHVLVVHSRDGLDEFSLAAATHIAELKDGEVREYEVRPEDFGIKSQ
TLMGLEVDSPQASLELIRDALGRRKTEAGQKAAELIVMNAGPALYAADLATSLHEGIQLAHDALH
TGLAREKMDELVAFTAVYREENAQ

The role of VIR1 in virulence was confirmed using phage to retransduce this mutation into the wild-type PT894 strain where attenuated virulence was again observed in the Dictyostelium growth assay compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

MUT2

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT2) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding the ATP sulfurylase small subunit (CysD; PA4443). This gene encodes the VIR2 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:3) shown in Table 4A.

TABLE 4A
VIR2 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO:3)
ATGGTCGACAAACTGACGCACCTGAAACAGCTGGAGGCGGAAAGCATCCA
CATCATCCGCGAGGTGGCCGCCGAGTTCGATAACCCGGTGATGCTGTACT
CGATCGGCAAGGATTCCGCGGTCATGCTGCACCTGGCCCGCAAGGCCTTC
TTCCCCGGCAAGCTGCCCTTCCCGGTGATGCACGTGGACACCCGCTGGAA
ATTCCAGGAGATGTACAGGTTCCGTGATCGGATGGTCGAGGAAATGGGCC
TGGATCTGATCACCCACGTCAACCCGGACGGCGTCGCCCAGGGCATCAAC
CCGTTCACCCACGGCAGCGCCAAGCACACCGACGTGATGAAGACCGAGGG
ACTCAAGCAGGCCCTGGACAAGTACGGTTTCGACGCTGCCTTCGGCGGTG
CGCGCCGCGACGAGGAGAAGTCGCGGGCCAAGGAACGGGTCTATTCGTTC
CGCGACAGCAAGCACCGCTGGGACCCGAAGAACCAGCGTCCCGAGCTGTG
GAACATCTACAACGGCAAGGTGAAGAAGGGCGAGTCGATCCGCGTCTTCC
CGCTGTCCAACTGGACCGAGCTGGACATCTGGCAATACATCTACCTGGAA
GGCATCCCGATCGTCCCGCTGTACTTCGCCGCCGAGCGCGAGGTCATCGA
GAAGAATGGCACATTGATCATGATCGACGACGAGCGCATCCTCGAGCATC
TCTCTGACGAAGAGAAAGCCCGCATCGAGAAGCGCATGGTGCGCTTCCGT
ACCCTCGGCTGCTACCCGCTCACCGGCGCGGTCGAGTCCAGCGCCACCAC
GCTGCCGGAAATCATCCAGGAAATGCTCCTGACGCGTACTTCCGAACGCC
AGGGCCGGGTCATCGACCATGACCAGGCCGGTTCGATGGAAGAAAAGAAA
CGTCAGGGCTATTTCTGA

The VIR2 protein (SEQ ID NO:4) encoded by SEQ ID NO:3 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 4B.

TABLE 4B
Encoded VIR2 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:4)hz,1/32
MVDKLTHLKQLEAESIHIIREVAAEFDNPVMLYSIGKDSAVMLHLARKAF
FPGKLPFPVMHVDTRWKFQEMYRFRDRMVEEMGLDLITHVNPDGVAQGIN
PFTHGSAKHTDVMKTEGLKQALDKYGFDAAFGGARRDEEKSRAKERVYSF
RDSKHRWDPKNQRPELWNIYNGKVKKGESIRVFPLSNWTELDIWQYIYLE
GIPIVPLYFAAEREVIEKNGTLIMIDDERILEHLSDEEKARIEKRMVRFR
TLGCYPLTGAVESSATTLPEIIQEMLLTRTSERQGRVIDHDQAGSMEEKK
RQGYF

The role of VIR2 in virulence was confirmed using phage to retransduce this mutation into the wild-type PT894 strain where attenuated virulence was again observed in the Dictyostelium growth assay compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

MUT3

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT3) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding CysQ (PA5175). This gene encodes the VIR3 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:5) shown in Table 5A.

TABLE 5A
VIR3 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO:5)
ATGAGGCCGGTGCCTTGGGGCGAATTGGTGGCGCTGGTGCGGCGCGCCGGCGAGGCGATCCTGCCGC
ACTGGCGCGCCGACCTGGTGGTGCGCTCGAAGGCCGACGAATCGCCGGTGACTGCCGCCGACCTGGC
CGCGCACCATATATTGGAGGCGGGATTGCGGGCGCTGGCGCCGGACATTCCGGTGCTTTCCGAAGAG
GATTGCGAGATACCGCTGAGCGAGCGCGGCCACTGGCGGCGCTGGTGGCTGGTGGACCCGCTGGACG
GCACCAAGGAGTTCATCTCCGGTAGCGAGGAGTTCACCGTCAACGTGGCCCTGGTCGAGGATGGCCG
GGTGCTGTTCGGCCTGGTCGGCGTGCCGGTGAGCGGCCGCTGCTACTACGGTGGCGCCGGTCTCGGT
GCCTGGCGCGAGGAGGCCGATGGCCGCGCGCAACCGATCAGTGTGCGCCTGGAGCCCGAGGAGGCCT
TCACCGTGCTGGCCAGCAAGCGCCATGGCAGCCCGGCCCAGGAGCGCCTGCTGGATGGCTTGAGCGA
GCGCTTCGGCGACCTGCGGCGAGCCAGCATCGGCAGTTCGCTGAAGTTCTGCCTGCTGGCCGAGGGC
GCTGCCGACTGCTATCCGCGCCTGACGCCAACCTCGCAATGGGACACGGCCGCCGCCCAGGGTGTGC
TGGAAGGCGCCGGCGGCGAGGTGCTCGACCTGCATGGTGCGCCATTCACCTACGAGCCGCGCGAGGA
TTACCTCAACGGCTCCTTCCTGGCCCTGCCGCGCGCCGCCCAGTGGCGCAGCGAGCTGATCCAACTG
GCGCGCGCGCTGCACTGA

The VIR3 protein (SEQ ID NO:6) encoded by SEQ ID NO:5 is presented using, the one-letter amino acid code in Table 5B.

TABLE 5B
Encoded VIR3 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:6)
MRPVPWGELVALVRRAGEAILPHWRADVVVRDKADESPVTAADLAAHHIL
EAGLRALAPDIPVLSEEDCEIPLSERGHWRRWWLVDPLDGTKEFISGSEE
FTVNVALVEDGRVLFGLVGVPVSGRCYYGGAGLGAWREEADGRAQPISVR
LEPEEAFTVVASKRHGSPAQERLLDGLSERFGDLRRASIGSSLKFCLLAE
GAADCYPRLTPTSQWDTAAAQGVLEGAGGEVLDLHGAPFTYEPREDYLNG
SFLALPRAAEWRSELIQLARALH

MUT4

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT4) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding D-amino acid dehydrogenase, small subunit (dadA; PA5304). This gene encodes the VIR4 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:7) shown in Table 6A.

TABLE 6A
VIR4 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO:7)
ATGCGAGTTCTGGTCCTTGGCAGCGGTGTCATCGGTACCGCCAGTGCGTATTACCTGGCCCGTGCCG
GGTTCGAGGTGGTGGTGGTCGACCGTCACCACGGTCCCGCGCTGGAAACCAGCTTCGCCAACGCCGG
CCAGGTGTCTCCCGGCTACGCTTCGCCCTGGGCAGCCCCGGGCATTCCCCTGAAGGCCATGAAGTGG
CTGCTGGAAAAGCACGCGCCGCTGGCCATCAAGCTCACCTCCGATCCCAGCCAGTACGCCTGGATGC
TGCAGATGCTGCGCAACTGCACCGCCGAGCGCTACGCCGTGAACAAGGAGCGCATGGTCCGCCTGTC
CGAGTACAGCCGCGATTGCCTCGACGAACTGCGCGCCGAGACCGGCATCGCCTACGAGGGCCGCACC
CTCGGCACCACCCAACTGTTCCGCACCCAGGCGCAGCTGGACGCCGCCGGCAAGGACATCGCCGTGC
TCGAGCGCTCCGGCGTGCCCTACGAGGTTCTCGACCGCGACGGCATCGCCCGCGTAGAGCCGGCTTT
GGCCAAGGTCGCCGACAAGCTGGTCGGCGCCTTGCGCCTGCCCAACGACCAGACCGGCGACTGCCAG
CTGTTCACCACCCGCCTGGCGGAAATGGCCAAGGGCCTGGGCGTGGAGTTCCGCTTCGGCCAGAACA
TCGAGCGCCTGGACTTCGCCGGCGACCGCATCAACGGCGTGCTGGTCAACGGCGAATTGCTCACCGC
CGACCACTACGTGCTGGCCCTGGGCAGCTACTCGCCGCAACTGCTCAAGCCGCTGGGTATCAAGGCT
CCGGTCTATCCGCTGAAGGGTTATTCGCTGACCGTGCCGATCACCAACCCGGAGATGGCGCCGACCT
CGACCATCCTCGACGAGACCTACAAGGTGGCGATCACCCGCTTCGACCAGCGCATCCGCGTCGGCGG
CATGGCGGAAATCGCCGGCTTCGACCTGTCGCTGAACCCGCGCCGCCGCGAGACCCTGGAAATGATC
ACCACCGACCTCTATCCCGAGGGCGGCGATATCAGCCAGGCGACCTTCTGGACCGGCCTGCGCCCGG
CGACCCCGGATGGCACCCCGATCGTCGGCGCCACCCGCTACCGCAACCTGTTCCTCAATACCGGCCA
CGGCACCCTGGGTTGGACCATGGCCTGCGGGTCGGGTCGCTACCTGGCCGACCTGATGGCGAAGAAG
CGCCCGCAGATCAGTACCGAAGGCCTGGATATTTCCCGCTACAGCAATTCCCCGGAGAACGCCAAGA
ATGCCCATCCAGCGCCAGCACACTAA

The VIR4 protein (SEQ ID NO:8) encoded by SEQ ID NO:7 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 6B.

TABLE 6B
Encoded VIR4 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:8)
MRVLVLGSGVIGTASAYYLARAGFEVVVVDRQDGPALETSFANAGQVSPG
YASPWAAPGIPLKAMKWLLEKHAPLAIKLTSDPSQYAWMLQMLRNCTART
YAVNKERMVRLSEYSRDCLDELRAETGIAYEGRTLGTTQLFRTQAQLDAA
GKDIAVLERSGVPYEVLDRDGIARVEPALAKVADKLVGALRLPNDQTGDC
QLFTTRLAEMAKGLGVEFRFGQNIERLDFAGDRINGVLVNGELLTADHYV
LALGSYSPQLLKPLGIKAPYPLKGYSLTVPITNPEEMAPTSTILDETYKV
AITRFDQRIRVGGMAEIAGFDLSLNPRRRETLEMITTDLYPEGGDISQAT
FWTGLRPATPDGTPIVGATRYRNLFLNTGHGTLGWTMACGSGRYLADLMA
KKRPQISTEGLDISRYSNSPENAKNAHPAPAH

The role of VIR4 in virulence was confirmed using phage to retransduce this mutation into the wild-type PT894 strain where attenuated virulence was again observed in the Dictyostelium growth assay compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

MUT5

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT5) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding imidazoleglycerol-phosphate synthase, cyclase subunit (hisF; PA5140). This gene encodes the VIR5 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:9) shown in Table 7A.

TABLE 7A
VIR5 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO:9)
ATGGCACTGGCAAAACGCATCATCCCCTGCCTCGACGTGGACAACGGCCGAGTGGTCAAGGGCGTCA
AGTTCGAGAACATCCGCGACGCCGGCGACCCGGTCGAGATCGCTCGCCGCTACGACGAGCAGGGTGC
CGACGAGATCACCTTCCTCGATATCACCGCCAGCGTCGACGGGCGCGACACCACCCTGCATACCGTC
GAGCGCATGGCTAGCCAGGTGTTCATTCCGCTGACCGTGGGCGGCGGCGTACGCAGCGTGCAGGACA
TCCGCAACCTGTTGAATGCCGGCGCGGACAAGGTCTCGATCAACACCGCCGCGGTGTTCAACCCCGA
GTTCGTCGGTGAGGCCGCCGACCGCTTCGGCTCGCAGTGCATCGTGGTCGCCATCGACGCGAAGAAG
GTTTCCGCCCCGGGCGAGGCGCCGCGCTGGGAAATCTTCACCCATGGCGGGCGCAAGCCCACCGGGC
TGGATGCCGTGCTCTGGGCGAAGAAGATGGAAGACTTGGGCGCTGGCGAGATTCTCCTGACCAGCAT
GGACCAGGACGGCGTGAAGAGCGGTTACGACCTGGGCGTGACCCGCGCCATCAGCGAGGCGGTGAAC
GTGCCGGTGATCGCTTCCGGCGGCGTCGGCAACCTGGAGCACCTGGCCGCCGGCATCCTCGAGGGCA
AGGCCGACGCGGTGCTCGCGGCGAGCATCTTCCACTTCGGCGAGTACACCGTGCCGGAAGCCAAGGC
CTACCTGGCCAGCCGCGGTATCGTGGTGCGCTGA

The VIR5 protein (SEQ ID NO:10) encoded by SEQ ID NO:9 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 7B.

!Encoded VIR5 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:10)
MALAKRIIPCLDVDNGRVVKGVKFENIRDAGDPVEIARRYDEQGADEITF
LDITASVDGRDTTLHTVERMASQVFIPLTVGGGVRSVQDIRNLLNAGADK
VSINTAAVFNPEFVGEAADRFGSQCIVVAIDAKKVSAPGEAPRWEIFTHG
GRKPTGLDAVLWAKKMEDLGAGEILLTSMDQDGVKSGYDLGVTRAISEAV
NVPVIASGGVGNLEHLAAGILEGKADAVLAASIFHFGEYTVPEAKAYLAS
RGIVVR

MUT6

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT6) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding N-acetyl-•-glutamyl-phosphate reductase (ArgC; PA0662). This gene encodes the VIR6 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:11) shown in Table 8A.

TABLE 8A
VIR6 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 11)
ATGATCAAGGTCGGCATCGTTGGCGGTACGGGTTATACGGGCGTGGAACTGCTGCGCCTGCTGGCGC
AGCATCCGCAGGCCCGGGTGGAAGTGATCACTTCGCGTTCCGAGGCGGGGGTGAAGGTCGCCGACAT
GTACCCGAACCTGCGAGGTCATTATGACGACCTGCAGTTCAGCGTGCCGGACGCGCAGCGCCTCGGC
GCCTGCCACGTGGTGTTCTTCGCCACGCCGCACGGCGTGGCGCACGCGCTGGCTGGCGAACTGCTGG
ACGCCGGGACCCGGGTCATCGATCTGTCCGCTGACTTCCGCCTGGCGGACGCCGAGGAGTGGGCGCG
CTGGTACGGCCAGCCGCATGGCGCTCCGGCGCTGCTCGACGAGGCTGTCTACGGCCTGCCGGAAGTG
AACCGCGAGAAGATCCGCCAGGCCCGCCTGATCGCCGTGCCGGGCTGCTACCCGACCGCGACCCAGC
TGGGCCTGATCCCGCTGCTCGAAGCCGGCCTGGCCGACGCCTCGCGGCTGATCGCCGATTGCAAGTC
CGGGGTCAGCGGTGCCGGTCGGGGCGCCAAGGTTGGCTCGCTGTTCTGCGAGGCGGGCGAAAGCATG
ATGGCCTACGCGGTCAAAGGGCATCGGCATCTCCCGGAAATCAGCCAGGGCCTGCGTCGGGCCTCCG
GCGGCGACGTCGGGCTGACGTTCGTACCGCACCTGACGCCAATGATCCGCGGTATCCATGCAACCCT
CTATGCCCATGTCGCGGATCGCTCGGTCGACCTCCAGGCGTTGTTCGAGAAGCGCTACGCCGACGAA
CCCTTCGTCGACGTGATGCCGGCCGGCAGCCATCCGGAGACCCGCAGCGTGCGTGGCGCCAATGTCT
GCCGAATCGCCGTGCATCGCCCCCAGGGCGGCGACCTGGTGGTGCTGCTGTCGGTGATCGACAACCT
GGTCAAGGGCGCCTCGGGTCAGGCGCTCCAGAACATGAACATCCTGTTCGGGCTGGACGAGCGCCTG
GGCCTCTCGCATGCGGCCCTGCTCCCCTGA

The VIR6 protein (SEQ ID NO:12) encoded by SEQ ID NO:11 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 8B.

TABLE 8B
Encoded VIR6 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 12)
MIKVGIVGGTGYTGVELLRLLAQHPQARVEVITSRSEAGVKVADMYPNLRGHYDDLQFSVPDAQR
LGACDVVFFATPHGVAHALAGELLDAGTRVIDLSADFRLADAEEWARWYGQPHGAPALLDEAVYG
LPEVNREKIRQARLIAVPGCYPTATQLGLIPLLEAGLADASRLIADCKSGVSGAGRGAKVGSLFC
EAGESMMAYAVKGHRHLPEISQGLRRASGGDVGLTFVPHLTPMIRGIHATLYAHVADRSVDLQAL
FEKRYADEPFVDVMPAGSHPETRSVRGANVCRIAVHRPQGGDLVVVLSVIDNLVKGASGQALQNM
NILFGLDERLGLSHAALLP

The role of VIR6 in virulence was confirmed using phage to retransduce this mutation into the wild-type PT894 strain where attenuated virulence was again observed in the Dictyostelium growth assay compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

MUT7

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MM) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (AceF; PA5016). This gene encodes the VIR7 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:13) is shown in Table 9A.

TABLE 9A
VIR7 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 13)
GTGAGCGAACTCATTCGCGTACCCGACATCGGCAACGGTGAGGGTGAAGTCATCGAGCTGCTGGTCA
AGCCCGGCGACAAGGTCGAGGCCGATCAGAGCCTGCTGACCCTGGAATCCGACAAGGCCAGCATGGA
AATCCCCAGTCCCAAGGCCGGGGTAGTGAAAAGCATCAAGGCGAAGGTCGGCGACACCTTGAAAGAA
GGTGACGAAATCCTCGAGCTGGAAGTGGAAGGCGGCGAACAGCCTGCCGAAGCCAAGGCCGAGGCAG
CGCCCGCCCAACCGGAAGCGCCGAAAGCCGAAGCGCCTGCTCCCGCCCCGAGCGAGAGCAAGCCGGC
CGCCCCCGCCGCGGCCAGCGTCCAGGACATCAAGGTCCCGGACATCGGCTCGGCCGGCAAGGCCAAC
GTCATCGAAGTGATGGTCAAGGCCGGCGACACGGTCGAGGCCGACCAGTCGCTGATCACCCTGGAAT
CCGACAAGGCCAGCATGGAGATCCCCTCGCCGGCCTCCGGGGTGGTGGAAAGCGTCTCGATCAAGGT
CGGTGACGAAGTCGGCACCGGCGACCTGATCCTCAAGCTGAAGGTGGAAGGCGCCGCTCCGGCAGCC
GAAGAGCAACCGGCAGCCGCTCCGGCCCAGGCCGCGGCGCCCGCCGCCGAGCAGAAGCCCGCCGCGG
CGGCCCCTGCGCCAGCCAAGGCCGATACCCCGGCTCCGGTCGGCGCACCCAGCCGCGACGGCGCCAA
GGTCCACGCCGGCCCGGCGGTGCGCATGCTGGCGCGCGAGTTCGGCGTCGAGCTGAGCGAAGTGAAA
GCCAGCGGTCCCAAGGGTCGCATCCTCAAGGAAGACGTCCAGGTCTTCGTCAAGGAGCAACTGCAGC
GCGCCAAGTCCGGCGGTGCCGGCGCCACCGGCGGAGCCGGCATCCCGCCGATCCCGGAAGTCGACTT
CAGCAAGTTCGGCGAAGTGGAAGAAGTGGCGATGACCCGCCTGATGCAGGTCGGCGCCGCCAACCTG
CATCGCAGCTGGCTGAACGTGCCGCACGTGACCCAGTTCGACCAGTCGGACATCACCGACATGGAAG
CCTTCCGCGTTGCCCAGAAGGCCGCGGCGGAGAAGGCCGGGGTCAAGCTGACCGTACTGCCGATCCT
GCTCAAGGCCTGCGCCCACCTGCTCAAGGAACTGCCGGACTTCAACAGTTCGCTGGCCCCCAGCGGC
AAGGCGCTGATCCGCAAGAAGTACGTACACATCGGCTTCGCCGTGGACACTCCGGACGGCCTGCTGG
TCCCGGTGATCCGCGATGTCGACCGGAAGAGCCTCCTGCAACTGGCCGCCGAGGCCGCCGACCTGGC
CGACAAGGCCCGCAACAAGAAGCTCTCGGCCGATGCCATGCAGGGCGCCTGCTTCACCATCTCCAGT
CTCGGCCACATCGGCGGCACCGGCTTCACGCCGATCGTCAACGCGCCGGAAGTGGCGATCCTCGGTG
TGTCCAAGGCGACCATGCAGCCGGTATGGGACGGCAAGGCCTTCCAGCCGCGCCTGATGCTGCCGCT
GTCGCTGTCCTACGACCATCGCGTGATCAACGGTGCCGCCGCGGCGCGCTTCACCAAGCGCCTGGGC
GAGCTGCTGGCGGACATCCGCACCCTGCTCCTGTAA

The VIR7 protein (SEQ ID NO:14) encoded by SEQ ID NO:13 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 9B.

TABLE 9B
Encoded VIR7 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 14)
MSELIRVPDIGNGEGEVIELLVKPGDKVEADQSLLTLESDKASMEIPSPKAGVVKSIKAKVGDTL
KEGDEILELEVEGGEQPAEAKAEAAPAQPEAPKAEAPAPAPSESKPAAPAAASVQDIKVPDIGSA
GKANVIEVMVKAGDTVEADQSLITLESDKASMEIPSPASGVVESVSIKVGDEVGTGDLILKLKVE
GAAPAAEEQPAAAPAQAAAPAAEQKPAAAAPAPAKADTPAPVGAPSRDGAKVHAGPAVRMLAREF
GVELSEVKASGPKGRILKEDVQVFVKEQLQRAKSGGAGATGGAGIPPIPEVDFSKFGEVEEVAMT
RLMQVGAANLHRSWLNVPHVTQFDQSDITDMEAFRVAQKAAAEKAGVLKTVLPILLKACAHLLKE
LPDFNSSLAPSGKALIRKKYVHIGFAVDTPDGLLVPVIRDVDRKSLLQLAAEAADLADKARNKKL
SADAMQGACFTISSLGHIGGTGFTPIVNAPEVAILGVSKATMQPVWDGKAFQPRLMLPLSLSYDH
RVINGAAAARFTKRLGELLADIRTLLL

MUT8

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT8) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding NADH dehydrogenase I chain H (nuoH; PA2643). This gene encodes the VIR8 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:15) shown in Table 10A.

TABLE 10A
VIR8 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 15)
ATGAGTTGGCTGACTCCCGCTCTGGTCACCATCATCCTCACCGTGGTCAAGGCCATCGTGGTGCTGC
TCGCCGTGGTCATCTGCGGCGCCCTGCTAAGCTGGGTCGAGCGCCGCCTGCTCGGCCTCTGGCAGGA
CCGCTACGGCCCCAACCGGGTCGGTCCGTTCGGTGCGTTCCAGCTCGGCGCGGACATGGTCAAGATG
TTCTTCAAGGAGGACTGGACCCCGCCGTTCGCCGACAAGATGATCTTCACCCTGGCCCCGGTAATCG
CGATGGGCGCCCTGCTCGTCGCCTTCGCCATCGTGCCGATCACCCCCACCTGGGGCGTGGCGGACCT
GAACATCGGCATCCTGTTCTTCTTCGCCATGGCCGGCCTGACGGTGTACGCCGTGCTGTTCGCCGGC
TGGTCGAGCAACAACAAGTTCGCCCTGCTCGGCAGCCTGCGCGCCTCGGCCCAGACCATCTCCTACG
AGGTGTTCCTGGCCCTGTCGCTGATGGGCATCGTCGCCCAGGTCGGCTCGTTCAACATGCGCGACAT
CGTCCAGTACCAGATCGACAACGTCTGGTTCATCATTCCGCAGTTCTTCGGCTTCTGCACCTTCATC
ATCGCCGGCGTCGCCGTGACCCACCGTCACCCGTTCGACCAGCCGGAAGCGGAGCAGGAACTGGCGG
ACGGCTACCACATCGAGTACGCCGGGATGAAATGGGGCATGTTCTTCGTCGGCGAGTACATCGGCAT
CGTACTGGTCTCGGCGCTGCTGGCGACCCTGTTCTTCGGCGGCTGGCACGGTCCGTTCCTGGACACC
CTGCCCTGGCTGTCGTTCTTCTACTTCGCCGCCAAGACCGGCTTCTTCATCATGCTCTTCATCCTGA
TCCGCGCCTCGCTGCCGCGTCCGCGCTATGACCAGGTGATGGCGTTCAGCTGGAAGGTGTGCCTGCC
GCTGACCCTGATCAACCTGCTGGTGACCGGCGCGCTCGTGCTGGCCGCGGCCCAGTAA

The VIR8 protein (SEQ ID NO:16) encoded by SEQ ID NO:15 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 10B.

TABLE 10B
Encoded VIR8 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 16)
MSWLTPALVTIILTVVKAIVVLLAVVICGALLSWVERRLLGLWQDRYGPNRVGPFGAFQLGADMV
KMFFKEDWTPPFADKMIFTLAPVIAMGALLVAFAIVPITPTWGVADLNIGILFFFAMAGLTVYAN
LFAGWSSNNKFALLGSLRASAQTISYEVFLALSLMGIVAQVGSFNMRDIVQYQIDNVWFIIPQFF
GFCTFIIAGVAVTHRHPFDQPEAEQELADGYHIEYAGMKWGMFFVGEYIGIVLVSALLATLFFGG
WHGPFLDTLPWLSFFYFAAKTGFFIMLFILIRASLPRPRYDQVMAFSWKVCLPLTLINLLVTGAL
VLAAAQ

MUT9

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT9) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding pyoverdine synthase D (PvdD; PA2399). This gene encodes the VIR9 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:17) shown in Table 11A.

TABLE 11A
VIR9 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 17)
GTGCAAGCACTCATAGAGAAGGTGGGCTCCCTTTCCCCCCAGGAAAGGAAGGCATTGGCTGTCCTGC
TCAAGCAGCAAGGTGTCAATCTCTTCGAGATCGCGCCAGTGTTCAAGCGCCAGGACGGCGAGCCCCT
GCGGCTCTCCTATGCCCAGGAGCGACAGTGGTTTCTCTGGCAACTGGAGCCGGAAAGCGCGGCCTAC
CATATCCCGAGTGTCTTGCGTCTACGTGGGCGGCTGGACCTGGATGCCCTGCAACGCAGCTTCGACA
GCCTGGTTGCGCGGCACGACACCCTACGCACCCGTTTTCGCCTCGACGGCGACGAGGCGCGCCAGGA
GATCGCCGCATCCATGGCATTGCCGTTGGATATCGTCGCGTTGGGGCCGCTCGAGGAGGGCGCCCTC
GCTCGGCAGGTCGAGACGACGATCGCGCGGCCGTTCGACCTGGAGCGTGGGCCGCTGCTGCGGGTGA
GCCTGTTGCGGCTGGCCGAGGACGACCATGTGCTGGTGCTGGTCCAGCATCACATCGTGTCCGACGG
TTGGTCGATGCAGGTGATGGTCGAGGAACTGGTCCAGCTCTATGCCGCCTATAGTCGAGGGCTCGAG
GTAGCGCTGCCGGCTTTGCCGATCCAGTACGCGGACTACGCCCTGTGGCAGCGCAGCTGGATGGAGG
CCGGGGAAAAGGAGCGCCAGTTGGCGTACTGGACCGGCCTGCTGGGCGGCGAGCAGCCGGTGCTGGA
GTTGCCGTTCGACCGGCCCCGCCCGGTTCGGCAAAGCCATCGTGGTGCCCAGTTCATCCTGGAACTG
GATATTGATCTGTCCCAGGCGCTCAGGCGCGTGGCCCAGCAGGAGGGGGCTACTGCCTTCGCCCTGT
TGCTGGCTTCGTTCCAGGCGCTGCTGTATCGCTACAGCGGGCAGGCGGATATCCGTGTCGGCGTGCC
GATCGCCAATCGCAACCGCGTGGAGACCGAGCGGCTGATCGGCTTCTTCGTCAACACCCAGGTGCTC
AAGGCCGACCTGGACGGTCGGATGGGCTTCGACGAGCTGCTGGCCCAGGCCCGCCAACGCGCGCTGG
AGGCCCAGGCGCACCAGGACCTGCCGTTCGAGCAACTGGTGGAGGCCTTGCAGCCGGAGCGCAGTCT
TAGCCACAACCCGCTGTTCCAGGTGCTGTTCAACTACCAGAGCGAAGCCCGTGGCAACGGCCAGGCA
TTCCGCTTCGACGAGTTACAGATGGAAAGCGTGCAGTTCGACAGCCGGACGGCGCAGTTCGACTTGA
CGTTGGACCTGACGGACGAAGAGCAGCGTTTTTGCGCCGTTTTCGACTACGCCACCGACCTGTTCGA
CGCCTCCACCGTGGAACGCCTGGCCGGCCATTGGCGCAACCTGTTGCGCGGCATCGTCGCCAACCCA
CGACAGCGGCTCGGCGAGTTGCCGCTGCTGGATGCGCCGGAGCGCCGGCAGACCCTCTCCGAATGGA
ACCCGGCCCAGCGCGAGTGCGCGGTGCAGGGCACCTTGCAGCAGCGTTTCGAGGAACAGGCGCGGCA
ACGGCCACAGGCGGTTGCGCTGATCCTCGACGAACAACGGTTGAGCTACGGCGAACTGAATGCGCGG
GCCAATCGCCTGGCGCACTGCCTGATCGCCCGTGGCGTTGGCGCGGACGTGCCGGTCGGGCTGGCGC
TGGAGCGTTCGCTGGACATGCTGGTCGGCTTGCTGGCGATCCTCAAGGCCGGCGGCGCCTACCTGCC
GTTGGACCCGGCGGCGCCAGAGGAGCGCCTGGCGCATATCCTCGACGACAGTGGGGTACGGCTGCTG
CTGACCCAGGGGCATCTGCTCGAGCGCCTGCCACGGCAGGCGGGGGTGGAGGTGCTGGCCATCGACG
GACTGGTGCTGGACGGCTACGCCGAGAGCGATCCGCTCCCGACGCTATCGGCGGACAACCTGGCCTA
CGTGATCTATACCTCGGGCTCGACCGGCAAGCCCAAGGGCACATTGCTCACCCACCGCAACGCGCTG
CGCCTGTTCAGCGCCACCGAGGCCTGGTTCGGCTTCGACGAGCGGGACGTGTGGACATTGTTCCATT
CCTACGCCTTCGATTTCTCGGTCTGGGAAATCTTCGGCGCGCTGCTCTATGGCGGGTGCCTGGTGAT
TGTGCCGCAATGGGTGAGCCGTTCGCCGGAAGACTTCTACCGTCTGCTGTGCCGCGAAGGCGTGACG
GTGCTCAACCAGACGCCGTCGGCGTTCAAGCAACTGATGGCGGTGGCCTGTTCCGCCGACATGGCGA
CGCAGCAGCCGGCGCTGCGCTACGTGATCTTCGGTGGCGAGGCGCTGGATCTGCAGAGCCTGCGGCC
GTGGTTCCAGCGCTTCGGCGATCGCCAGCCGCAACTGGTGAACATGTACGGCATCACCGAGACCACG
GTGCACGTAACCTACCGTCCGGTGAGCGAGGCCGACCTGGAAGGTGGCCTGGTCAGTCCGATTGGCG
GGACCATCCCGGACCTGTCCTGGTACATCCTCGACCGTGACCTGAACCCGGTGCCGCGCGGCGCGGT
GGGCGAGCTGTACATCGGTCGCGCCGGGCTGGCGCGCGGCTACCTGAGGCGGCCCGGGTTGAGTGCC
ACCCGCTTCGTGCCGAACCCGTTCCCCGGCGGCGCCGGCGAGCGGCTGTACCGTACCGGCGACCTGG
CACGGTTCCAGGCGGATGGCAATATCGAGTACATCGGGCGTATCGACCACCAGGTGAAGGTTCGCGG
CTTCCGTATCGAACTGGGCGAGATCGAAGCGGCGCTCGCCGGTCTGGCCGGGGTACGCGATGCCGTG
GTGCTGGCCCATGACGGAGTCGGCGGCACGCAACTGGTGGGATACGTGGTGGCGGACTCGGCGGAGG
ATGCCGAGCGTCTGCGGGAGTCGCTGCGGGAGTCGCTGAAGCGGCACCTGCCGGACTACATGGTGCC
GGCGCACCTGATGCTGCTGGAGCGGATGCCGCTGACGGTCAATGGCAAGCTCGACCGGCAGGCGTTG
CCGCAACCGGATGCGAGCCTGTCGCAACAGGCCTATCGAGCGCCCGGTAGCGAGCTGGAGCAGCGCA
TCGCAGCGATCTGGTCGGAGATCCTGGGAGTGGAACGGGTCGGCCTGGACGACAACTTCTTCGAACT
GGGCGGTCATTCGTTGCTGGCTACCCGGGTGATTTCTCGGGTTCGCCAGGAGCAGCAGTTGGACGCA
AGCCTGAAGGCGTTGTTCGAGCGGCCGGTTCTGGAAGCGTTCGCCCAGGGATTGGAACGCACGACGG
ATGCGGTCTCGACGATACCGCTTGCCGATCGGCAGCAACCGTTGGCACTGTCCTTCGCTCAGGAGCG
TCAGTGGTTCCTCTGGCAACTGGAGCCGGAAAGCGCGGCCTACCATATTCCGAGTGCCTTGCGCCTA
CGCGGGCGGCTGGACGTGGATGCCTTGCAACGCAGCTTCGACAGCCTGGTCGCGCGGCATGAAACCT
TGCGTACCCGCTTCCGGCTGGAGGGAGGGCGTTCGTACCAGCAGGTACAACCTGCGGTTAGCGTTTC
CATCGAGCGGGAACAGTTCGGTGAAGAAGGCCTGATCGAACGGATACAGGCCATCGTTGTGCAGCCA
TTCGACCTGGAACGGGGGCCGCTGCTGCGGGTGAACCTGTTGCAACTGGCCGAGGACGACCATGTAC
TGGTGCTGGTCCAGCACCACATCGTGTCCGATGGTTGGTCGATGCAGGTGATGGTCGAGGAACTGGT
CCAGCTCTATGCCGCCTATAGCCAAGGGCTCGACGTGGTGTTGCCAGCCCTGCCGATCCAGTACGCG
GACTACGCCCTGTGGCAGCGCAGCTGGATGGAGGCGGGGGAAAAGGAGCGCCAGTTGGCGTACTGGA
CCGGCCTGCTGGGCGGCGAGCAGCCGGTGCTGGAGTTGCCGTTCGATCGGCCGCGTCCGGCCCGGCA
GAGCCATCGTGGCGCGCAGTTGGGTTTCGAGCTATCGCGGGAACTGGTCGAGGCCGTGAGAGCCTTG
GCCCAGCGTGAAGGCGCCAGTAGTTTCATGCTGTTGCTGGCCTCGTTCCAGGCGCTGTTGTATCGCT
ACAGCGGGCAGGCGGATATCCGTGTCGGTGTGCCGATCGCCAATCGCAACCGCGTGGAGACCGAGCG
GCTGATCGGCTTCTTCGTCAACACCCAGGTGCTCAAGGCCGACCTGGACGGTCGGATGGGCTTCGAC
GAGCTGCTGGCCCAGGCCCGCCAACGCGCGCTGGAGGCCCAGGCGCACCAGGACCTGCCGTTCGAGC
AACTGGTGGAAGCCTTGCAGCCGGAGCGCAATGCCAGCCACAACCCACTGTTCCAGGTGCTGTTCAA
CCATCAGAGCGAGATACGCTCGGTGACGCCCGAGGTTCAGTTGGAGGACCTGCGTCTGGAAGGCCTG
GCCTGGGACGGCCAGACTGCGCAGTTCGACCTGACGCTGGATATTCAGGAAGACGAAAACGGCATCT
GGGCCTCCTTCGACTATGCCACCGATCTGTTCGACGCCTCCACCGTGGAACGCCTGGCCGGCCATTG
GCGCAACCTGTTGCGCGGCATCGTCGCCAACCCACGACAGCGGCTCGGCGAGTTGCCGCTGCTGGAT
GCGCCGGAGCGCCGGCAGACCCTCTCCGAATGGAACCCGGCCCAGCGCGAGTGCGCGGTGCAGGGCA
CCTTGCAGCAGCGTTTCGAGGAGCAGGCGCGGCAACGGCCACAGGCGGTTGCGCTGATCCTCGACGA
ACAACGGTTGAGCTACGGCGAACTGAATGCGCGGGCCAATCGCCTGGCGCACTGCCTGATCGCTCGC
GGCGTTGGCGCGGACGTGCCGGTCGGGCTGGCGCTGGAGCGTTCGCTGGACATGCTGGTCGGCTTGC
TGGCGATCCTCAAGGCCGGCGGCGCCTACCTGCCGTTGGACCCGGCGGCGCCACAGGAGCGCCTGGC
GCATATCCTCGACGACAGTGGGGTACGGCTGCTGCTGACCCAGGGGCATCTGCTCGAGCGCCTGCCG
CGGCAGGCGGGGGTGGAGGTGCTGGCCATCGACGGACTGGTGCTGGACGGCTACGCCGAGAGCGATC
CGCTCCCGACGCTATCGGCGGACAACCTGGCCTACGTGATCTATACCTCGGGCTCGACCGGCAAGCC
CAAGGGCACGTTGCTCACCCACCGCAACGCGCTGCGCCTGTTCAGCGCCACCGAGGCCTGGTTCGGC
TTCGACGAGCGGGACGTGTGGACGTTGTTCCATTCCTACGCCTTCGATTTCTCGGTCTGGGAAATCT
TCGGCGCGCTGCTCTATGGCGGGCGCCTGGTGATCGTGCCGCAATGGGTGAGCCGTTCGCCGGAAGA
CTTCTACCGTCTGCTGTGCCGCGAAGGCGTGACGGTGCTCAACCAGACGCCGTCGGCGTTCAAGCAA
CTGATGGCGGTGGCCTGTTCCGCCGACATGGCGACGCAGCAGCCGGCGCTGCGCTACGTGATCTTCG
GTGGCGAGGCGCTGGATCTGCAGAGCCTGCGGCCGTGGTTCCAGCGCTTTGGCGATCGCCAGCCGCA
ACTGGTGAACATGTACGGCATCACCGAGACCACGGTACACGTAACCTACCGTCCGGTGAGCGAAGCC
GACCTGAAGGGTGGCCTGGTCAGTCCGATCGGCGGGACCATCCCGGACCTGTCCTGGTACATCCTCG
ACCGTGACCTGAACCCGGTGCCGCGCGGCGCGGTGGGCGAGCTGTACATCGGTCGCGCCGGTCTGGC
GCGCGGCTACCTGAGGCGGCCCGGGTTGAGTGCCACCCGCTTCGTGCCGAACCCGTTCCCCGGCGGT
GCCGGCGAGCGGCTGTACCGTACCGGCGACCTGGCACGGTTCCAGGCGGATGGCAATATCGAGTACA
TCGGGCGTATCGACCACCAGGTGAAGGTTCGCGGCTTCCGTATCGAACTGGGTGAGATCGAAGCGGC
GCTCGCCGGTCTGGCCGGGGTACGCGATGCCGTGGTGCTGGCCCATGACGGGGTCGGCGGCACGCAA
CTGGTGGGATACGTGGTGGCGGACTCGGCGGAGGATGCCGAGCGTCTGCGGGAGTCGCTGCGGGAGT
CGCTGAAGCGGCACCTGCCGGACTACATGGTGCCGGCGCACCTGATGCTGCTGGAGCGGATGCCGCT
GACGGTCAATGGCAAGCTCGACCGGCAGGCGTTGCCGCAACCGGATGCGAGCTTGTCGCAGCAGGCC
TATCGAGCGCCCGGTAGCGAGCTGGAGCAGCGCATCGCAGCGATCTGGGCGGAGATCCTGGGAGTGG
AACGGGTCGGCCTGGACGACAACTTCTTCGAACTGGGCGGTCACTCATTGTTGCTGCTGATGCTCAA
GGAGCGGATCGGCGATACCTGCCAGGCTACGCTGAGCATCAGCCAACTGATGACCCATGCCAGCGTC
GCGGAACAGGCGGCATGCATCGAGGGGCAGGCGCGTGAGTCGTTGCTGGTGCCGCTCAACGGCAGGC
GCGAAGGTTCGCCGCTGTTCATGTTCCATCCGAGTTTCGGCTCTGTGCACTGTTACAAGACCCTCGC
CATGGCGCTGCGGGATCGTCATCCGGTCAAGGGTGTTGTCTGCCGTGCCCTGCTGGGCGCTGGTCGC
GAGGTGCCGGAGTGGGACGATATGGTTGCGGAATACGCCGAGCAATTGCTGCAGGAGCACCCCGAAG
GGGTTTTCAACCTGGCGGGATGGTCGCTCGGCGGCAACCTGGCGATGGATGTCGCGGCCCGGCTGGA
GCAGCGTGGGCGGCAGGTGGCTTTCGTCGGCTGGATCGATGCACCGGCACCGGTCAGGGTCGAAGCG
TTCTGGAACGAGATCGGGCCGACGCCGGAGGCAGTCCCGAACCTATCCGTGGGCGAGATGCGGGTGG
AACTGCTCGGTGTCATGTTTCCGGAGCGGGCCGAGCATATCGAACGGGCCTGGTCATCGATCTGCTC
CGCCACGACGGACGATGAGCAGCGCTGGACGAGGATGAGCGACTGGGCGGAAGCGGAGATCGGCGCC
GAGTTCGCGACACTGCGCAGCGAAATCGCACAGAGCAACGAACTGGAAGTGTCCTGGGAGTTGAAAC
AGATCCTCGACGAGCGCCTGAAAGCGATGGATTACCCGCGTCTGACGGCGAAGGTCAGCCTCTGGTG
GGCCGCGCGCAGCACCAATGCCATCCAGCGGAGCGCGGTGGAGCGCTCGATGGCCGAGGCGATCGGG
GCTGAGCGTGTCGAACCGGTGCGGGTGCTGGATACCCGGCACGACAAGATCATCGACCACCCTGAGT
TTGTGCAGAGCTTCCGGGCCGCCCTGGAGCGTGCCGGGCGCTGA

The VIR9 protein (SEQ ID NO:18) encoded by SEQ ID NO:17 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 11B.

TABLE 11B
Encoded VIR9 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 18)
MQALIEKVGSLSPQERKALAVLLKQQGVNLFEIAPVFKRQDGEPLRLSYAQERQWFLWQLEPESA
AYHIPSVLRLRGRLDLDALQRSFDSLVARHETLRTRFRLDGDEARQEIAASMALPLDIVALGPLE
EGALARQVETTIARPFDLERGPLLRVSLLRLAEDDHVLVLVQHHIVSDGWSMQVMVEELVQLYAA
YSRGLEVALPALPIQYADYALWQRSWMEAGEKERQLAYWTGLLGGEQPVLELPFDRPRPVRQSHR
GAQFILELDIDLSQALRRVAQQEGATAFALLLASFQALLYRYSGQADIRVGVPIANRNRVETERL
IGFFVNTQVLKADLDGRMGFDELLAQARQRALEAQAHQDLPFEQLVEALQPERSLSHNPLFQVLF
NYQSEARGNGQAFRFDELQMESVQFDSRTAQFDLTLDLTDEEQRFCAVFDYATDLFDASTVERLA
GHWRNLLRGIVANPRQRLGELPLLDAPERRQTLSEWNPAQRECAVQGTLQQRFEEQARQRPQAVA
LILDEQRLSYGELNARANRLAHCLIARGVGADVPVGLALERSLDMLVGLLAILKAGGAYLPLDPA
APEERLAHILDDSGVRLLLTQGHLLERLPRQAGVEVLAIDGLVLDGYAESDPLPTLSADNLAYVI
YTSGSTGKPKGTLLTHRNALRLFSATEAWFGFDERDVWTLFHSYAFDFSVWEIFGALLYGGCLVI
VPQWVSRSPEDFYRLLCREGVTVLNQTPSAFKQLMAVACSADMATQQPALRYVIFGGEALDLQSL
RPWFQRFGDRQPQVLNMYGITETTVHVTYRPVSEADLEGGLVSPIGGTIPDLSWYILDRDLNPVP
RGAVGELYIGRAGLARGYLRRPGLSATRFVPNPFPGGAGERLYRTGDLARFQADGNIEYIGRIDH
QVKVRGFRIELGEIEAALAGLAGVRDAVVLAHDGVGGTQLVGYVVADSAEDAERLRESLRESLKR
HLPDYMVPAHLMLLERMPLTVNGKLDRQALPQPDASLSQQAYRAPGSELEQRIAAIWSEILGVER
VGLDDNFFELGGHSLLATRVISRVRQEQQLDASLKALFERPVLEAFAQGLERTTDAVSTIPLADR
QQPLALSFAQERQWFLWQLEPESAAYHIPSALRLRGRLDVDALQRSFDSLVARHETLRTRFRLEG
GRSYQQVQPAVSVSIEREQFGEEGLIERIQAIVVQPFDLERGPLLRVNLLQLAEDDHVLVLVQHH
IVSDGWSMQVMVEELVQLYAAYSQGLDVVLPALPIQYADYALWQRSWMEAGEKERQLAYWTGLLG
GEQPVLELPFDRPRPARQSHRGAQLGFELSRELVEAVRALAQREGASSFMLLLASFQALLYRYSG
QADIRVGVPIANRNRVETERLIGFFVNTQVLKADLDGRMGFDELLAQARQRALEAQAHQDLPFEQ
LVEALQPERNASHNPLFQVLFNHQSEIRSVTPEVQLEDLRLEGLAWDGQTAQFDLTLDIQEDENG
IWASFDYATDLFDASTVERLAGHWRNLLRGIVANPRQRLGELPLLDAPERRQTLSEWNPAQRECA
VQGTLQQRFEEQARQRPQAVALILDEQRLSYGELNARANRLAHCLIARGVGADVPVGLALERSLD
MLVGLLAILKAGGAYLPLDPAAPEERLAHILDDSGVRLLLTQGHLLERLPRQAGVEVLAIDGLVL
DGYAESDPLPTLSADNLAYVIYTSGSTGKPKGTLLTHRNALRLFSATEAWFGFDERDVWTLFHSY
AFDFSVWEIFGALLYGGRLVIVPQWVSRSPEDFYRLLCREGVTVLNQTPSAFKQLMAVACSADMA
TQQPALRYVIFGGEALDLQSLRPWFQRFGDRQPQLVNMYGITETTVHVTYRPVSEADLKGGLVSP
IGGTIPDLSWYILDRDLNPVPRGAVGELYIGRAGLARGYLRRPGLSATRFVPNPFPGGAGERLYR
TGDLARFQADGNIEYIGRIDHQVKVRGFRIELGEIEAALAGLAGVRDAVVLAHDGVGGTQLVGYV
VADSAEDAERLRESLRESLKRHLPDYMVPAHLMLLERMPLTVNGKLDRQALPQPDASLSQQAYRA
PGSELEQRIAAIWAEILGVERVGLDDNFFELGGHSLLLLMLKERIGDTCQATLSISQLMTHASVA
EQAACIEGQARESLLVPLNGRREGSPLFMFHPSFGSVHCYKTLAMALRDRHPVKGVVCRALLGAG
REVPEWDDMVAEYAEQLLQEHPEGVFNLAGWSLGGNLAMDVAARLEQRGRQVAFVGWIDAPAPVR
VEAFWNEIGPTPEAVPNLSVGEMRVELLGVMFPERAEHIERAWSSICSATTDDEQRWTRMSDWAE
AEIGAEFATLRSEIAQSNELEVSWELKQILDERLKAMDYPRLTAKVSLWWAARSTNAIQRSAVER
SMAEAIGAERVEPVRVLDTRHDKIIDHPEFVQSFRAALERAGR

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT10) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding the RND multidrug efflux transporter MexD (mexD; PA4598). This gene encodes the VIR10 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:19) shown in Table 12A.

TABLE 12A
VIR10 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 19)
ATGTCCGAATTCTTCATCAAGCGGCCGAACTTCGCCTGGGTGGTGGCCCTGTTCATCTCCCTGGCCG
GCCTGCTGGTCATTTCCAAATTGCCGGTAGCGCAGTACCCCAATGTCGCGCCGCCACAGATCACCAT
CACCGCCACCTATCCCGGCGCCTCGGCGAAGGTGCTGGTGGACTCCGTCACCAGTGTGCTCGAGGAG
TCGCTGAACGGCGCCAAGGGCCTGCTCTACTTCGAGTCGACCAACAACTCCAACGGCACCGCCGAGA
TCGTCGTCACCTTCGAGCCGGGCACCGATCCGGACCTGGCCCAGGTGGACGTGCAGAACCGCCTGAA
GAAAGCCGAGGCGCGCATGCCGCAGGCGGTGCTGACCCAGGGCCTGCAGGTCGAGCAGACCAGCGCC
GGTTTCCTGCTGATCTATGCGCTCAGCTACAAGGAAGGCGCTCAGCGCAGCGACACCACCGCCCTCG
GCGACTACGCCGCGCGCAATATCAACAACGAGCTGCGGCGCCTGCCGGGCGTCGGCAAGCTGCAATT
CTTCTCTTCCGAGGCGGCCATGCGGGTCTGGATCGATCCGCAGAAGCTGGTGGGCTTCGGCCTCTCC
ATCGACGACGTGAGCAATGCCATCCGCGGGCAGAACGTGCAGGTGCCGGCCGGCGCCTTCGGCAGCG
CACCGGGCAGTTCCGCGCAGGAGCTGACGGCGACCCTGGCGGTGAAGGGCACCCTGGACGATCCGCA
GGAGTTCGGCCAGGTAGTGCTGCGCGCCAACGAGGACGGCTCGCTGGTCCGGCTCGCCGATGTCGCG
CGCCTGGAACTCGGCAAGGAGAGCTACAACATTTCCTCGCGACTGAACGGCACGCCCACCGTGGGCG
GGGCTATCCAGCTGTCGCCCGGGGCCAACGCGATCCAGACCGCTACCCTGGTGAAACAGCGTCTCGC
CGAACTGTCGGCGTTCTTCCCCGAGGACATGCAGTACAGCGTGCCCTACGACACCTCGCGCTTCGTC
GACGTGGCCATCGAGAAGGTGATCCACACCCTGATCGAAGCGATGGTCCTGGTGTTCCTGGTGATGT
TCCTGTTCCTGCAGAACGTCCGCTACACCCTGATCCCGTCCATCGTGGTGCCGGTGTGCCTGCTGGG
TACGCTGATGGTGATGTACCTGCTGGGGTTCTCGGTGAACATGATGACCATGTTCGGCATGGTCCTG
GCGATCGGCATCCTGGTGGACGACGCCATCGTGGTGGTGGAGAACGTCGAGCGGATCATGGCGGAGG
AGGGGATTTCCCCGGCCGAGGCCACGGTCAAGGCGATGAAGCAGGTATCCGGCGCCATCGTCGGCAT
CACCCTGGTGCTCTCGGCGGTGTTCCTGCCGCTGGCTTTCATGGCCGGTTCGGTGGGGGTGATCTAC
CAGCAGTTCTCGGTGTCGCTGGCGGTCTCGATCCTGTTCTCCGGCTTCCTCGCCCTGACCTTCACCC
CGGCGCTGTGCGCCACGCTGCTCAAGCCCATTCCCGAAGGGCACCACGAGAAGCGCGGCTTCTTCGG
CGCCTTCAACCGTGGCTTCGCCCGCGTCACCGAGCGCTATTCGCTGCTCAACTCGAAGCTGGTGGCG
CGCGCCGGACGCTTCATGCTGGTGTACGCCGGCCTGGTGGCCATGCTCGGCTACTTCTACCTGCGCC
TGCCGGAAGCCTTCGTGCCGGCGGAAGACCTCGGCTACATGGTGGTCGACGTGCAACTGCCGCCTGG
CGCTTCGCGCGTGCGCACCGATGCCACCGGCGAGGAGCTCGAGCGCTTCCTCAAGTCCCGCGAGGCG
GTGGCTTCGGTGTTCCTGATCTCGGCTTCAGCTTCTCCGGCCAGGGCGACAATGCCGCCGCTGGCCT
TCCCAACCTTCAAGGACTGGTCCGAGCGAGGCGCCGAGCAGTCGGCCGCCGCCGAGATCGCCGCGCT
GAACGAGCATTTCGCGCTGCCCGACGATGGCACGGTCATGGCCGTGTCGCCGCCACCGATCAACGGT
CTGGGTAACTCCGGCGGCTTCGCATTGCGCCTGATGGACCGTAGCGGGGTCGGCCGCGAAGCGCTGC
TGCAGGCTCGCGATACTCTTCTTGGCGAGATCCAGACCAACCCGAAATTCCTTTACGCGATGATGGA
AGGACTGGCCGAAGCGCCGCAACTGCGCCTGTTGATCGACCGGGAGAAGGCCCGTGCCCTGGGGGTG
AGCTTCGAGACCATCAGCGGCACGCTGTCCGCTGCCTTCGGCTCGGAGGTGATCAACGACTTCACCA
ATGCGGGGCGCCAACAGCGGGTGGTGATCCAGGCCGAACAGGGCAACCGGATGACCCCGGAAAGCGT
GCTCGAGCTATACGTGCCTAACGCTGCTGGCAACCTGGTACCGCTCAGCGCCTTCGTCAGCGTGAAA
TGGGAAGAGGGACCGGTGCAATTGGTGCGCTATAACGGCTACCCGTCGATCCGCATCGTCGGTGACG
CCGCGCCCGGCTTCAGTACCGGCGAAGCCATGGCGGAAATGGAGCGCCTGGCCTCGCAGCTGCCGGC
CGGCATCGGCTACGAGTGGACCGGCCTGCTCCTATCAGGAGAAGGTCTCCGCCGGCAGGCCACCAGC
CTGTTCGCCCTCGCCATCCTGGTGGTGTTCCTGTTGCTGGTGGCGCTCTACGAGAGCTGGTCGATCC
CGCTGTCGGTGATGCTGATCGTGCCGATCGGCGCCATCGGCGCGGTGCTCGCGGTGATGGTCAGCGG
TATGTCCAACGACGTGTATTTCAAGGTCGGCCTGATCACCATCATCGGTCTTTCGGCGAAGAACGCG
ATCCTCATCGTCGAGTTCGCCAAGGAACTCTGGGAGCAGGGGCATAGCCTGCGCGACGCCGCCATCG
AGGCCGCGCGCCTGCGCTTCCGGCCGATCATCATGACTTCCATGGCGTTCATCCTCGGCGTGATACC
CCTGGCCCTGGCCAGCGGTGCCGGCGCGGCGAGCCAGCGTGCCATCGGCACCGGAGTGATCGGCGGG
ATGCTCAGCGCCACCTTCCTCGGCGTGCTGTTCGTACCTATCTGTTTCGTCTGGCTGCTGTCGCTGC
TGCGCAGCAAGCCGGCACCCATCGAACAGGCCGCTTCGGCCGGGGAGTGA

The VIR10 protein (SEQ ID NO:20) encoded by SEQ ID NO:19 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 12B.

TABLE 12B
Encoded VIR10 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 20)
MSEFFIKRPNFAWVVALFISLAGLLVISKLPVAQYPNVAPPQITITATYPGASAKVLVDSVTSVL
EESLNGAKGLLYFESTNNSNGTAEIVVTFEPGTDPDLAQVDVQNRLKKAEARMPQAVLTQGLQVE
QTSAGFLLIYALSYKEGAQRSDTTALGDYAARNINNELRRLPGVGKLQFFSSEAAMRVWIDPQKL
VGFGLSIDDVSNAIRGQNVQVPAGAFGSAPGSSAQELTATLAVKGTLDDPQEFGQVVLRANEDGS
LVRLADVARLELGKESYNISSRLNGTPTVGGAIQLSPGANAIQTATLVKQRLAELSAFFPEDMQY
SVPYDTSRFVDVAIEKVIHTLIEAMVLVFLVMFLFLQNVRYTLIPSIVVPVCLLGTLMVMYLLGF
SVNMMTMFGMVLAIGILVDDAIVVVENVERIMAEEGISPAEATVKAMKQVSGAIVGITLVLSAVF
LPLAFMAGSVGVIYQQFSVSLAVSILFSGFLALTFTPALCATLLKPIPEGHHEKRGFFGAFNRGF
ARVTERYSLLNSKLVARAGRFMLVYAGLVAMLGYFYLRLPEAFVPAEDLGYMVVDVQLPPGASRV
RTDATGEELERFLKSREAVASVFLISGFSFSGQGDNAALAFPTFKDWSERGAEQSAAAEIAALNE
HFALPDDGTVMAVSPPPINGLGNSGGFALRLMDRSGVGREALLQARDTLLGEIQTNPKFLYAMME
GLAEAPQLRLLIDREKARALGVSFETISGTLSAAFGSEVINDFTNAGRQQRVVIQAEQGNRMTPE
SVLELYVPNAAGNLVPLSAFVSVKWEEGPVQLVRYNGYPSIRIVGDAAPGFSTGEAMEAMERLAS
QLPAGIGYEWTGLSYQEKVSAGQATSLFALAILVVFLLLVALYESWSIPLSVMLIVPIGAIGAVL
AVMVSGMSNDVYFKVGLITIIGLSAKNAILIVEFAKELWEQGHSLRDAAIEAARLRFRPIIMTSM
AFILGVIPLALASGAGAASQRAIGTGVIGGMLSATFLGVLFVPICFVWLLSLLRSKPAPIEQAAS
AGE

MUT11

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT11) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding PA3721. This gene encodes the VIR11 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:21) shown in Table 13A.

TABLE 13A
VIR11 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 21)
ATGAACGATGCTTCTCCCCGTCTGACCGAACGCGGCAGGCAACGCCGCCGCGCCATGCTCGACGCCG
CTACCCAGGCCTTTCTCGAACACGGTTTCGAAGGCACCACCCTGGACATGGTGATAGAACGGGCCGG
TGGTTCACGGGGGACCCTGTACAGCTCCTTCGGCGGCAAGGAGGGCCTGTTCGCCGCGGTGATCGCC
CACATGATCGGGGAAATCTTCGACGACAGCGCCGATCAGCCGCGCCCCGCCGCCACGCTGAGCGCCA
CCCTCGAGCATTTCGGCCGGCGCTTTCTCACCAGCCTGCTCGATCCCCGCTGCCAGAGCCTCTATCG
CCTGGTGGTGGCGGAATCCCCGCGGTTTCCGGCGATCGGCAAGTCCTTCTACGAGCAGGGGCCGCAG
CAGAGCTATCTGCTGCTCAGCGAGCGACTGGCCGCGGTCGCTCCTCACATGGACGAGGAAACGCTCT
ACGCGGTGGCCTGCCAGTTTCTCGAGATGCTCAAGGCCGACCTGTTCCTCAAGGCCCTCAGCGTGGC
CGACTTCCAGCCGACCATGGCGCTGCTGGAAACCCGCCTCAAGCTGTCGGTGGACATCATCGCCTGC
TACCTGGAACACCTGTCGCAGAGCCCCGCGCAGGGCTGA

The VIR11 protein (SEQ ID NO:22) encoded by SEQ ID NO:21 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 13B.

TABLE 13B
Encoded VIR11 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 22)
MNDASPRLTERGRQRRRAMLDAATQAFLEHGFEGTTLDMVIERAGGSRGTLYSSFGGKEGLFAAV
IAHMIGEIFDDSADQPRPAATLSATLEHFGRRFLTSLLDPRCQSLYRLVVAESPRFPAIGKSFYE
QGPQQSYLLLSERLAAVAPHMDEETLYAVACQFLEMLKADLFLKALSVADFQPTMALLETRLKLS
VDIIACYLEHLSQSPAQG

MUT12

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT12) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding PA0596. This gene encodes the VIR12 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:23) shown in Table 14A.

TABLE 14A
VIR12 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 23)
ATGTCTGATGATGCCCGTTTCCAGCAGCTGAATTGCTGGTTGGACTCTTGTTTGCCCGAGTTGTTCG
TTGCCGAAGGTTGGGGGGAAGTGCCCCCCGCCGAACTGATCCCGGCCAGTAGCGACGCCAGCTTCCG
TCGTTATTTCCGCTGGCAGGGAGGGGACCGCAGCCTGGTGGTGATGGACGCGCCGCCGCCCCAGGAA
GACTGCCGACCGTTCGTCAAGGTCGCCGGACTGCTCGCCGGAGCCGGCGTGCATGTGCCGAGGATTC
TCGCCCAGGACCTGGAGAACGGTTTCCTGCTGCTCAGTGACCTGGGCCGGCAGACCTACCTCGACGT
GCTTCATCCCGGGAATGCCGACGAGCTGTTCGAACCGGCCCTGGATGCGCTGATCGCCTTCCAGAAG
GTCGATGTCGCCGGTGTCCTGCCTGCCTACGACGAAGCGGTGCTGCGCCGCGAGCTGCAGCTGTTCC
CCGACTGGTACCTGGCCCGCCACCTCGGCGTGGAGCTGGAGGGCGAGACGCTGGCCCGCTGGAAACG
GATCTGCGACCTGCTGGTACGCAGCGCGCTGGAGCAACCGCGGGTGTTCGTCCATCGCGACTATATG
CCGCGCAATCTGATGCTCAGCGAGCCCAACCCGGGCGTCCTCGACTTCCAGGACGCCCTGCACGGCC
CGGTCACCTACGATGTCACCTGCCTGTACAAGGACGCCTTCGTCAGTTGGCCGGAGCCGCGCGTGCA
TGCCGCGCTGAACCGTTACTGGAAGAAGGCGACCTGGGCCGGCATCCCGCTGCCGCCAAGCTTCGAA
GACTTCCTCCGTGCCAGCGACCTGATGGGCGTGCAGCGCCACCTGAAGGTGATTGGCATCTTCGCCC
GTATCTGTCACCGCGACGGCAAGCCGCGCTACCTGGGTGACGTGCCGCGCTTCTTCCGTTATCTGGA
AACCGCCGTGGCGCGCCGTCCCGAGCTGGCCGAACTGGGCGAGCTGCTGGCCTCGCTGCCGCAGGGA
GCCGAGGCATGA

The VIR12 protein (SEQ ID NO:24) encoded by SEQ ID NO:23 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 14B.

TABLE 14B
Encoded VIR12 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 24)
MSDDARFQQLNCWLDSCLPELFVAEGWGEVPPAELIPASSDASFRRYFRWQGGDRSLVVMDAPPP
QEDCRPFVKVAGLLAGAGVHVPRILAQDLENGFLLLSDLGRQTYLDVLHPGNADELFEPALDALI
AFQKVDVAGVLPAYDEAVLRRELQLFPDWYLARHLGVELEGETLARWKRICDLLVRSALEQPRVF
VHRDYMPRNLMLSEPNPGVLDFQDALHGPVTYDVTCLYKDAFVSWPEPRVHAALNRYWKKATWAG
IPLPPSFEDFLRASDLMGVQRHLKVIGIFARICHRDGKPRYLGDVPRFFRYLETAVARRPELAEL
GELLASLPQGAEA

MUT13

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT13) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding PA5265. This gene encodes the VIR13 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:25) shown in Table 15A.

TABLE 15A
VIR13 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 25)
ATGAGCGGATTCCAGGACCAGAGTATCGACGAAGGCGTGCGCAAGCGCACCGCCTACCAGAACGATC
GGCGTGCACGACTGGCATTGAACGTCGAGCGACAGGACGGCGGTATCCTGCAGATTCCGGTGGCCAG
CGATATGCTCGGCCATGAGGAGCACGAGCGTATCCAGCAGAACACCTTCCTGGCTGTGATGCCGCTG
GTCCGCCTGCCAACGCTGGGCAAGGCCGGTTATGGCGACCAGCTGCCCGCCGGCGCGCTACCGCGGG
CGGGACGGATCTACCTGTTCCAGGACGGCAAGTTGTGGCGCGAACTGGAATGTGATGGCAAGGGCAA
CCTGTTCGAAGTCGATCTCCTGCAGGGGCGCAGCCAGCGTGCGGACAAGCGTCCGGCCTTAGGCAAG
ACACAAGCGCTGATCCTGGTGCCGGTGCTGGTCAAGGGGCAGTTCGTGATCCCACGCTACACCATGG
CCTATAGCGAAACTCCCTGGCCTTGGTCGTACATCGACTGGCTGGAGGAGGACCCGCAGCGGGTCAA
CCGGCGCTGCCAGCAGATGGCGTCCGCTTGGAACGCCTCGGTGGCCAACCAGCACTGGAAAGCCTCC
ATCCATCAACCCGCGCTGGTCATTGATCATCACGCCCAGGGTTTGCGACCTCGCGACTTCAACGTCG
AGAGCGCGCTGGAAGACCCGGCGGAATTCACACCTGAGTTCGCCGCCTTTCGCGAAGAGTCGCTGGT
GTGCCAGTTGCAGCGACGCCAGCAGGAATTGGCGCCCCTGCTGAAGCAGGCTCCGCCCTCTGCGCTA
CCTACTCTGGAAGCCGGAGAGGACGTACTGGAAACCCTCAAGCTGCGTGGCCATCCCAACCTCATCG
GGCTGATGCTCGACGACTCGCTGTTCGCCTTGCGCCACGCTGCGGCGCAGGCGCGCCACTGCGCCGC
CTACTTGCGCAGCCTCAATGCACTGCTGCCGCACCGTCCCAACGGACGCTATGCACAGGTGCTGAGC
AACATGCTCGACGGCCCGCTCGCCAAGCTCAGGGGCGAGGTCGATCAGGCCGAACTGGACGAGGCGA
TCTTCGCCGAGGAGCGACAGTCTTGCCGAATCCACCTGACGCAGCAGGTCGAGCATCTGGTTGCCCT
GCTGGAAGGCCCCTTGCACCCGGTGTTGCAGGACTGGACCCACCAGTGCGACGAAGCCCTGCTGGAG
CCCTACAGCCTGATGAGCGAGGCACTGGCTGCGCTGAACCAGCTTCCCGACCGCTGCGACGCACTGT
ACAGCGGTACCGCCTACCGGGCGCTGGCGGCACATGTCGAGCGGGTGGTCAGCACGGTTCTGCAGGC
AAGCCACCCGCTTGGCGCCATGCTCCTGGCCAAGGACGAAGGACAACTTCCCGAGCCGGTTCGGCGC
CTGCAGGCGCTGCGCGATAGCCCGCGGACGCCGGACCCCGATGCAATGGGCCTCAGCACGCTGATGC
TGGGAGCCAGTCTGCTGGGCGAGGTCGACCAGCCCAGCGCCGGCAAGAGCCTCGCCTACTTCCTCGG
CGACCTGCTGGACGTGTTCGGCGCCAGCGTAGTCGAGCAACTCGGCCGGCTGTCCCAGGGCGCCACC
CAGATCCAGCTCGACCGCTTGTTCGCACCGACCTTCAATACTCTGAGCGCCCTCTCGGTGAAGATGA
AAGGTATCCGCCTGCTGCCCGACAGTCAGGTGCCGCTCGACATGGTTGTCGTCGGCGTGCGCGGAGC
CGGCCTGCGCAACGGTCTGACCGAGGTCGAGCGCCAGGAGCTGAGGCGCAAGAGCTATCGGCGCGCC
ATCGTTCAGGACGGTGCCGGCAATCCCCTGGCCGGCACCAGTCCCCGCGACACCGGCATGAGTCGCG
CCAACCTGCGCAACGTCATGGTGGTGGCGGTACCCAAGGATCACCCGGACCTGCTTGCCTACACGAA
ATTCCGTACGCAGTTAGGCACGTTGACCCAGGTGATGGAGAACACTCGCATCGTGCCGACGATGATG
CTGGGGTTTGCGATTTATAACTTGAATGTGCAGGTGCAGGCATACAGTGGCTTTGTAGACAGTGGAG
AAAAGCACAGAGGGACGATCGGGGCTGTCGGTGCAGTAATCGATTTAACAGCCGCTGGAGGAAGCCA
TGCAAAGCTGCTTTTCGGACCATCTACTGCAAAGTATCTAGAAACCCCACGTATATCGGTAGCCCAA
ATATCCCCTCGATGGGCCAGGAATCTAGAAGTTCAAACAGGCAGCCCTAAGTTAGGGTTGCTACGTG
GGCTTGGTGGCGCAGCCACACTATTCGGTGCAGGCATCAGTGTATGGGATGGCTACCGAGCTTTGAG
GCAGGGAGATAGCGATGCGGCTGCGGCCTACGGTGTGGCCGCAGTGGGTGGGGGCCTTTGGGGTGCC
TACGTCCTAGGATGGATAGTAAACCCTTATGCTTTGCTGGCTGGTGCGGTTTTGGCGATCGGAGGCA
CTGTGGTCGCTAATCTACTGACTGACAGCGATGCGGAAACCATCGTAAAGAAAGGCCCCTTCGGCCG
GCAATTCGCCGAGGCTGGCCTGCTCGATTCGCTGATGGGCCAGGACCAGCGCTTCGCCCATCTGAAA
GACCCGCAAACGGCCTATCGCCAATTGCTGGGAGTCCTCGGCCATCCGCGGGTCTTTGTCCATCGCC
TGGAAGACTGGCGCAAATTGGCGCCGGCGGCGCATCGATCTGTCTTGCAGGAAGCGGAACGGGGTCG
CCAAGCGGTCAGCCGCACTGCGCTATCCTGCATCGACCCCAAGTTGCAGGCGCTGGAGGCAAACGAT
TGGGCCGTGGTGCTGAGTTCCCCGCTCCTGGCCATGTTCGAGAATGGCCAGAAGGCGTTCCGCCTGG
TGGCCCAGGAGTTTCTCAGCAGCTTGCCGATCGATCCGGGCACCCTGTTCGGCGTCAAGCGCTACCA
TCGGGTCCCCGCGGGCCCCGCCAAGCTCGAAGCCTTGCCGTTGGATGCTGCCAGCGTGCTCTATGTG
CTGCCGGCCAGCCTGCCGATTCCGCAGTTGTCTCCTCGGGCCCGCTATAGCATGCGCATGACCCAGG
GTTTGAAGATCAGCGCACAGTTCGAACTCAATGCCGACCAGCCTGAGCAGCGGCTTGTCCTGCCTCA
ACCCAGCCCGAAGAGTTGGAGTGCATTCACATCCGCCAATCGGTACCTTCCCCCGGACGACTTGGGC
CCCCATGCTGCGCCACCTTATTGGTTGATAGAGAACAGTGAGTTCAACGTATGA

The VIR13 protein (SEQ ID NO:26) encoded by SEQ ID NO:25 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 15B.

TABLE 15B
Encoded VIR13 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 26)
MSGFQDQSIDEGVRKRTAYQNDRRARLALNVERQDGGILQIPVASDMLGHEEHERIQQNTFLAVM
PLVRLPTLGKAGYGDQLPAGALPRAGRIYLFQDGLKWRELECDGKGNLFEVDLLQGRSQRADKRP
ALGKTQALILVPVLVKGQFVIPRYTMAYSETPWPWSYIDWLEEDPQRVNRRCQQMASAWNASVAN
QHWKASIHQPALVIDHHAQGLRPRDFNVESALEDPAEFTPEFAAFREESLVCQLQRRQQELAPLL
KQAPPSALPTLEAGEDVLETLKLRGHPNLIGLMLDDSLPALRHAAAQARHCAAYLRSLNALLPHR
PNGRYAQVLSNMLDGPLAKLRGEVDQAELDEAIFAEERQSCRIHLTQQVEHLVALLEGPLHPVLQ
DWTHQCDEALLEPYSLMSEALAALNQLPDRCDALYSGTAYRALAAHVERVVSTVLQASHPLGAML
LAKDEGQLPEPVRRLQALRDSPRTPDPDAMGLSTLMLGASLLGEVDQPSAGKSLAYFLGDLLDVF
GASVVEQLGRLSQGATQIQLDRLFAPTFNTLSALSVKMKGIRLLPDSQVPLDMVVVGVRGAGLRN
GLTEVERQELRRKSYRRAIVQDGAGNPLAGTSPRDTGMSRANLRNVMVVAVPKDHPDLLAYTKFR
TQLGTLTQVMENTRIVPTMMLGFAIYNLNVQVQAYSGFVDSGEKHRGTIGAVGAVIDLTAAGGSH
AKLLFGPSTAKYLETPRISVAQISPRWARNLEVQTGSPKLGGLRGLGGAATLFGAGISVWDGYRA
LRQGDSDAAAAYGVAAVGGGLWGAYVLGWIVNPYALLAGAVLAIGGTVVANLLTDSDAETIVKKG
PFGRQFAEAGLLDSLMGQDQRFAHLKDPQTAYRQLLGVLGHPRVFVHRLEDWRKLAPAAHRSVLQ
EAERGRQAVSRTALSCIDPKLQALEANDWAVVLSSPLLAMFENGQKAFRLVAQEFLSSLPIDPGT
LFGVKRYHRVPAGPAKLEALPLDAASVLYVLPASLPIPQLSPRARYSMRMTQGLKISAQFELNAD
QPEQRLVLPQPSPKSWSAFTSANRYLPPDDLGPHAAPPYWLIENSEFNV

MUT14

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT14) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding pyochelin biosynthetic protein pchC (PA4229). This gene encodes the VIR14 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:27) shown in Table 16A.

TABLE 16A
VIR14 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 27)
ATGAGCGCCGCCTGGGTCCGGCCGTTCCGCCTGACGCCGATGCCGCGCCTGCGCCTGGCCTGCTTCC
CCCATGCAGGCGGCAGCGCCAGCTTCTTCCGTAGCTGGAGCGAACGCCTGCCGCCAGACATCGACCT
GCTTGCCCTGCAGTACCCGGGTCGCGAGGACCGCTTCAACGAGGCGCCGGCCACCCGCCTGGAGGAC
CTCGCCGACGGCGCCGCCCTCGCCCTGCGCGATTTCGCCGACGCGCCCCTGGCGCTGTTCGGCCACA
GTCTCGGCGCGGCGCTGGCCTACGAAACCGCCCTGCGCCTGGAAAGCGCCGGCGCGCCGCTGCGCCA
CCTGTTCGTCTCCGCCCATCCGGCACCGCACCGGCAACGCGGCGGCGCGTTGCACCGCGGCGACGAG
GCGGCGCTGCTGGAGGACGTCCGCCGCCAGGGTGGCGCCAGCGAGCTACTCGAGGACGCCGACCTGC
GCGCGCTGTTCCTGCCGATCCTGCGCGCCGACTACCAGGCGATCGAGACCTACCGACGGGCGCAGCC
CATCGCCCTGGCCTGCGCCCTCGACGTCCTCCTCGGCGAGCACGACGAGGAAGTCAGCGCCGCCGAG
GCGCAGGCCTGGAGCGACGCCAGCCGGACTCCCGCCAGGCTGCGGCGCTTTCCTGGCGGCCACTTCT
ACCTGAGCGAGGGGCGCGACGCGGTGATCGAGCACCTGCTGCGCCGCCTCGCACATCCCGACGCCCT
TTCCCGAGAGGTTGCATGA

The VIR14 protein (SEQ ID NO:28) encoded by SEQ ID NO:27 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 16B.

TABLE 16B
Encoded VIR14 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 28)
MSAAWVRPFRLTPMPRLRLACFPHAGGSASFFRSWSERLPPDIDLLALQYPGREDRFNEAPATRLEDL
ADGAALALRDFADAPLALFGHSLGAALAYETALRLESAGAPLRHLFVSAHPAPHRQRGGALHRGDEAA
LLEDVRRQGGASELLEDADLRALFLPILRADYQAIETYRRAQPIALACALDVLLGEHDEEVSAAEAQA
WSDASRTPARLRRFPGGHFYLSEGRDAVIEHLLRRLAHPDALSREVA

MUT15

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT15) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase pchE (PA4226). This gene encodes the VIR15 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:29) shown in Table 17A.

TABLE 17A
VIR15 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 29)
ATGGATCTGCCCCCCGATTCCCGTACCGCCCTGCGCGACTGGCTGACCGAGCAGCTCGCCGACCTGC
TCGGCGAACCGCTTGCTGACGTGCGCGCCCTGGCGGACGACGACGACCTGCTGGGCTGCGGCCTCGA
CTCGATCCGCCTGATGTACCTGCAGGAACGCCTGCGCGCGCGTGGCTCGACGCTGGACTTCGCCCAG
TTGGCGCAGCGCCCCTGCCTGGGGGCCTGGCTCGACCTGCTGGCCTGCGCGGACCGGCTGTCCGCCC
CGGCAACGGTCGCGCTGCCGACGGCGCAGGATCGCGATCAGCCGTTCGAGCTGTCTTCCGTGCAGCA
GGCCTACTGGCTGCGACGTGGCGCCGGCGAGGTGCTGGGCAACGTCAGCTGCCATGCCTTTCTGGAA
TTCCGCACGCGGGATGTCGACCCGCAGCGCCTGGCCGCGGCGGCGGAGTGCGTGCGTCAACGCCACC
CGATGTTGCGGGCGCGCTTCCTCGACGGTCGCCAGCAGATCCTTCCGACGCCGCCGCTGTCCTGCTT
CGACCTGCAGGACTGGCGCACCTTACAGGTGGACGAGGCCGAGCGCGACTGGCAGGCGCTGCGCGAC
TGGCGCGCCCATGAATGCCTGGCGGTGGAGCGCGGCCAGGTGTTCCTGCTCGGGCTGGTGCGCATGC
CGGGCGGCGAGGATCGCCTCTGGCTGAGTCTCGACCTGCTTGCCGCCGATGTCGAAAGCCTCCGCCT
GCTGCTGGCCGAACTGGGCGTTGCCTACCTGGCGCCGGAGCGCCTGGCGGAGCCGCCGGCGCTGCAT
TTCGCCGACTACCTGGCGCACCGTGCGGCGCAACGCGCCGAGGCCGCGGCGCGGGCCCGCGACTACT
GGCTGGAACGCCTGCCGCGCTTGCCGGACGCGCCGGCCCTGCCGTTGGCCTGCGCGCCGGAAAGCAT
CCGCCAGCCGCGCACCCGGCGCCTGGCATTCCAGCTTTCCGCCGGCGAGAGCCGGCGCCTGGAGCGT
CTTGCCGCGCAGCATGGCGTGACCTTGTCCAGCGTGTTCGGCTGCGCCTTCGCGCTGGTCCTGGCGC
GCTGGAGCGAAAGCGCGGAATTTCTCCTCAACGTGCCGTTGTTCGATCGGCATGCCGACGACCCGCG
TATCGGCGAGGTGATCGCCGACTTCACCACCCTGTTGCTGCTGGAGTGCCGGATGCAGGCCGGGGTG
TCCTTCGCCGAGGCGGTGAAGAGCTTCCAGCGCAACCTCCACGGAGCCATCGACCACGCCGCATTCC
CCGCCCTGGAGGTGCTCCGCGAGGCGCGCCGGCAGGGCCAGCCACGCTCGGCGCCGGTGGTGTTCGC
CAGCAACCTGGGCGAGGAGGGCTTCGTCCCGGCGGCCTTCCGCGACGCTTTCGGCGATCTCCACGAC
ATGCTCTCGCAGACCCCGCAGGTCTGGCTCGACCACCAGCTCTACCGGGTGGGCGACGGTATCCTGC
TGGCCTGGGATAGCGTCGTCGGCCTGTTCCCCGAAGGTCTGCCGGAAACCATGTTCGAAGCCTACGT
GGGGCTGCTCCAGCGTCTCTGCGACAGCGCCTGGGGGCAGCCCGCCGATCTGCCGTTGCCCTGGGCG
CAGCAGGCGCGCCGGGCCCTGCTCAACGGCCAGCCGGCATGCGCCACGGCGCGCACCCTGCATCGCG
ACTTCTTCCTTCGCGCCGCCGAGGCGCCGGATGCCGACGCGCTGCTCTATCGCGACCAACGTGTCAC
CCGCGGCGAACTGGCCGAGCGTGCGCTGCGCATCGCCGGCGGCCTGCGCGAAGCCGGGGTGCGCCCT
GGCGACGCGGTCGAGGTCAGCCTGCCGCGCGGACCGCAGCAGGTCGCGGCGGTATTCGGCGTGCTCG
CCGCAGGCGCCTGCTACGTGCCGCTGGACATCGACCAGCCGCCCGCACGGCGGCGCCTGATCGAAGA
GGCCGCCGGGGTATGCCTGGCGATCACCGAGGAGGACGATCCGCAGGCCTTGCCGCCGCGCCTGGAT
GTCCAGCGCCTGCTGCGCGGCCCGGCGCTGGCCGCCCCCGTGCCGCTGGCGCCGCAGGCGAGTGCCT
ATGTGATCTACACCTCGGGCTCCACCGGGGTGCCCAAGGGCGTCGAGGTCAGCCACGCGGCGGCGAT
CAATACCATCGACGCGCTGCTCGACCTGCTGCGGGTGAACGCATCGGATCGCTTGCTGGCGGTCTCC
GCGCTGGACTTCGATCTGTCGGTCTTCGACCTGTTCGGCGGCCTCGGCGCCGGTGCCAGCCTGGTCC
TGCCGGCCCAGGAACAGGCGCGCGATGCCGCTGCCTGGGCGGAGGCTATCCAGCGGCATGCGGTGAG
CCTGTGGAACTCGGCGCCGGCCTTGCTGGAGATGGCCCTCAGCCTGCCGGCGAGCCAGGCCGACTAT
CGCAGTCTGCGGGCGGTGCTGCTGTCCGGCGACTGGGTGGCCCTGGACCTGCCCGGCCGCCTGCGCC
CACGTTGTGCCGAAGGCTGCCGCCTGCATGTGCTGGGTGGCGCTACCGAAGCGGGCATCTGGTCGAA
CCTGCAGAGCGTCGATACGGTGCCGCCGCACTGGCGTTCGATTCCCTACGGCCGGCCATTGCCGGGA
CAGGCCTACCGGGTGGTCGACACCCACGGGCGCGACGTGCCGGACCTGGTGGTCGGCGAGCTGTGGA
TCGGCGGCGCCAGCCTGGCCCGCGGCTATCGCAACGATCCCGAACTCAGCGCCCGGCGTTTCGTCCA
CGATGCCCAGGGCCGCTGGTATCGCACCGGCGATCGCGGTCGCTACTGGGGCGACGGTACCCTGGAA
TTCCTCGGTCGGGTCGACCAGCAGGTGAAAGTGCGCGGCCAGCGCATCGAGTTGGGCGAGGTGGAGG
CCGCGCTGTGCGCCCAGGCTGGCGTGGAGAGCGCCTGCGCGGCGGTGCTCGGCGGTGGCGTGGCGAG
CCTCGGCGCGGTGCTGGTACCGCGCCTGGCGCCACGGGCCGAAGGCTCCATGGATCTACCGGCCGCA
CAGCCCTTCGCCGGCCTGGCAGAGGCCGAGGCGGTACTCACCCGGGAAATCCTCGGCGCGCTGCTGG
AGGCGCCGCTGGAGCTAGACGACGGTTTGCGCCGGCGCTGGCTGGACTGGCTAGCGGACTCCGCCGC
CAGCGCGCTGCCGTCGCTCGACGAGGCGTTGCGCCGGCTCGGCTGGCAGGCCGCGGGGCTGACCGCG
ATGGGCAACGCTCTGCGCGGCCTGCTCGCCGGCGAACAGGCGCCGGCCGCGCTGCTCCTCGATCCCT
GGCTGGCGCCGCAGGCGGTGGCCGCGCGCCTGCCGGACGGCCGCGAGGCCCTGGCGCGCCTGCTCGA
AGCGCTGCCGACGCCGGCTGCCGGCGAACGCCTGCGGGTGGCGGTGCTGGATACCCGCGCCGGGCTC
TGGCTCGACCAGGGCATGGCCTCGCTGTTGCGCCCAGGGCTGGAACTGACCCTCTTCGAACGCAGCC
GCGTCCTCCTCGACGCCGCCGCCACCCGCTTGCCGGAACGGATCGTGGTGCAGGCGCTGGACGACGG
CCTGCTACCTGCCGAGCACCTCGGTCGCTACGACCGGGTGATCAGCTTCGCCGCGCTGCACGCCTAC
GAGGCCAGCCGCGAAGGCCTGGCGCTGGCGGCGGCGCTGCTGCGCCCGCAGGGCCGCCTGTTGCTGG
TGGACCTGCTATGCGAGTCGCCACTGGCGCTGCTCGGTGCGGCCTTGCTCGACGACCGGCCGCTGCG
CCTGGCGGAGCTGCCGAGCCTGTTGGCCGATCTCGCCGCTGCGGGACTGGCGCCGCGTTGCCTGTGG
CGCAGCGAGCGGATCGCCCTGGTCGAGGCGCTGGCACCGGGACTCGGGCTCGACGCCGCCGCGCTCC
AGGCCGGCCTGGAGCAACGCCTGCCCCAGGCGATGCGGCCCGAACGCCTGTGGTGCCTGCCAAGCCT
GCCGTTGAACGGCAATGGCAAGGTCGATCGTCGCCGCCTGGCCGAGAGCATGACCCGCGCACTCGGC
GAGTGTCGTCACGAGCCCTCGGCGGAGGAGCCGCTGGAAGCCCATGAGCAAGCGCTGGCCGAGTGCT
GGGAAGCGGTTCTCAAACGCCCGGTGCGTCGTCGCGAGGCGAGCTTCTTCAGCCTCGGCGGCGACAG
CCTGCTGGCGACCCGCCTGCTGGCCGGCATACGTGAGCGTTTCGGCGTACGCCTGGGCATGGCCGAC
TTCTATCGCCAGCCGACCCTGGCCGGTCTTGCCCGCCACTTGCAGGTGCAGACCGTCGAAATCGAGG
AAACCCAACTGGAAGAGGGCGTGCTATGA

The VIR15 protein (SEQ ID NO:30) encoded by SEQ ID NO:29 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 17B.

TABLE 17B
Encoded VIR15 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 30)
MDLPPDSRTALRDWLTEQLADLLGEPLADVRALADDDDLLGCGLDSIRLMYLQERLRARGSTLDFAQL
AQRPCLGAWLDLLACADRLSAPATVALPTAQDRDQPFELSSVQQAYWLGRGAGEVLGNVSCHAFLEFR
TRDVDPQRLAAAAECVRQRHPMLRARFLDGRQQILPTPPLSCFDLQDWRTLQVDEAERDWQALRDWRA
HECLAVERGQVFLLGLVRMPGGEDRLWLSLDLLAADVESLRLLLAELGVAYLAPERLAEPPALHFADY
LAHRAAQRAEAAARARDYWLERLPRLPDAPALPLACAPESIRQPRTRRLAFQLSAGESRRLERLAAQH
GVTLSSVFGCAFALVLARWSESAEFLLNVPLFDRHADDPRIGEVIADFTTLLLLECRMQAGVSFAEAV
KSFQRNLHGAIDHAAFPALEVLREARRQGQPRSAPVVFASNLGEEGFVPAAFRDAFGDLHDMLSQTPQ
VWLDHQLYRVGDGILLAWDSVVGLFPEGLPETMFEAYVGLLQRLCDSAWGQPADLPLPWAQQARRALL
NGQPACATARTLHRDFFLRAAEAPDADALLYRDQRVTRGELAERALRIAGGLREAGVRPGDAVEVSLP
RGPQQVAAVFGVLAAGACYVPLDIDQPPARRRLIEEAAGVCLAITEEDDPQALPPRLDVQRLLRGPAL
AAPVPLAPQASAYVIYTSGSTGVPKGVEVSHAAAINTIDALLDLLRVNASDRLLAVSALDFDLSVFDL
FGGLGAGASLVLPAQEQARDAAAWAEAIQRHAVSLWNSAPALLEMALSLPASQADYRSLRAVLLSGDW
VALDLPGRLRPRCAEGCRLHVLGGATEAGIWSNLQSVDTVPPHWRSIPYGRPLPGQAYRVVDTHGRDV
PDLVVGELWIGGASLARGYRNDPELSARRFVHDAQGRWYRTGDRGRYWGDGTLEFLGRVDQQVKVRGQ
RIELGEVEAALCAQAGVESACAAVLGGGVASLGAVLVPRLAPRAEGSMDLPAAQPFAGLAEAEAVLTR
EILGALLEAPLELDDGLRRRWLDWLADSAASALPSLDEALRRLGWQAAGLTAMGNALRGLLAGEQAPA
ALLLDPWLAPQAVAARLPDGREALARLLEALPTPAAGERLRVAVLDTRAGLWLDQGMASLLRPGLELT
LFERSRVLLDAAATRLPERIVVQALDDGLLPAEHLGRYDRVISFAALHAYEASREGLALAAALLRPQG
RLLLVDLLCESPLALLGAALLDDRPLRLAELPSLLADLAAAGLAPRCLWRSERIALVEALAPGLGLDA
AALQAGLEQRLPQAMRPERLWCLPSLPLNGNGKVDRRRLAESMTRALGECRHEPSAEEPLEAHEQALA
ECWEAVLKRPVRRREASFFSLGGDSLLATRLLAGIRERFGVRLGMADFYRQPTLAGLARHLQVQTVEI
EETQLEEGVL

MUT16

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT16) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding pyochelin synthetase pchF (PA4225). This gene encodes the VIR16 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:31) shown in Table 18A.

TABLE 18A
VIR16 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 31)
ATGAGCCTCGGCGAACTGCTGGAAACCTGCCGCAGCCGGCGCATCGAACTCTGGAGCGAGGCGGGCC
GCCTGCGCTATCGCGCCCCCCAGGGTGCCCTCGACGCCGGCCTCGCCGAGCGCCTGCGGGCCGAGCG
CGAGGCCCTGCTGGAACACCTGGAAGGCGGCCCTGGCTGGCGCGCCGAACCCGACATGGCCCACCAG
CGCTTCCCGCTGACCCCGGTGCAGGCCGCCTACGTGCTGGGCCGCCAGGCGGCCTTCGACTACGGCG
GTAACGCCTGCCAGCTGTACGCCGAGTACGACTGGCCGGCCGACACCGATCCGGCGCGCCTGGAGGC
GGCCTGGAACGCCATGGTCGAGCGCCACCCGATGCTGCGCGCGGTGATCGAGGACAACGCCTGGCAG
CGCGTGCTGCCCGAGGTGCCCTGGCAGCGGCTGACCGTGCATGCCTGCGCGGGGCTCGACGAGGCCG
CTTTCCAGGCGCACCTGGAGCGGGTCCGCGAACGCCTCGACCACGCCTGCGCGGCGCTCGACCAGTG
GCCGGTCCTGCGCCCCGAGCTGAGTATCGGCCGGGATGCCTGCGTACTGCACTGCTCGGTGGATTTC
ACCCTGGTCGACTACGCCAGCCTGCAATTGCTGCTTGGCGAATGGCGCCGCCGCTATCTCGATCCGC
AATGGACGGCGGAACCGCTGGAGGCGACCTTCCGCGACTATGTCGGCGTCGAGCAGCGCCGACGCCA
GTCGCCAGCCTGGCAGCGCGACCGCGACTGGTGGCTGGCGCGTCTCGACGCGCTACCGGGGCGTCCC
GACCTGCCGCTGCGGGTGCAGCCGGACACCCGGTCCACGCGCTTCCGGCACTTCCACGCGCGCCTCG
ACGAGGCCGCCTGGCAGGCGCTCGGCGCGCGCGCCGGCGAACACGGCCTGAGCGCTGCCGGCGTGGC
CTTGGCGGCCTTCGCCGAGACCATCGGTCGCTGGAGCCAGGCACCGGCGTTCTGTCTCAACCTGACG
GTACTCAACCGGCCGCCGCTGCATCCGCAGCTGGCGCAGGTGCTCGGTGACTTCACCGCGCTCAGCC
TGCTGGCAGTGGACAGCCGCCACGGCGACAGTTTCGTCGAGCGTGCCCGACGCATCGGCGAGCAGAT
GTTCGACGACCTCGACCACCCGACCTTCAGCGGCGTCGACCTGCTGCGCGAACTGGCGCGCCCGCGT
GGTCGCGGCGCCGATCTCATGCCGGTGGTGTTCACCAGTGGCATCGGCAGCGTGCAGCGCCTGCTCG
GCGATGGCGAGGCGCCGCGCGCGCCACGCTACATGATCAGCCAGACCCCGCAGGTCTGGCTGGACTG
CCAGGTCACCGACCAGTTCGGCGGCCTGGAGATCGGCTGGGACGTACGCCTCGGGTTGTTCCCCGAG
GGCCAGGCGGAAGCCATGTTCGACGACTTCGTCCGGCTGCTCCGGCGCCTGGCGCAGAGCCCGCGCG
CCTGGACCGACGGCGATGCCACGGAACCCGTCGAGGCGCCGCCGCAGGCGTTGCCCGGTAGTGCCCG
GAGCATCGCCGCCGGTTTCGCCGAGCGTGCCCTGCTGACCCCCGACGCCACGGCGATCCACGATGCC
GCCGGCAGCTACAGCTACCGCCAGCTCGCCCAGCACGCCAGCGCCCTGCGCCGCGTCCTGGAAGCGC
ACGGCGCGGGCCGTGGCCGGCGGGTCGCGGTGATGCTGCCGAAAAGCGCCGCGCAATTGGTCGCGGT
GATCGGCATCCTCCAGGCCGGCGCCGCCTATGTGCCGGTGGACATCCGCCAGCCTCCGCTGCGGCGC
CAGGCGATCCTCGCCAGCGCCGAAGTGGTCGCGCTGGTCTGCCTGGAAAGCGATGTCCCGGACGTCG
GCTGCGCCTGCGTGGCCATCGACCGGCTGGCCGCCGACAGCGCCTGGCCGCCACCGCCCGCGGCGGA
GGTGGCGGCGGACGACCTCGCCTACGTGATCTACACCTCCGGCTCCACCGGCACGCCAAAGGGCGTG
ATGCTCAGCCATGCGGCGGTGAGCAACACGCTGCTCGACATCAACCAGCGCTACGGCGTCGACGCCA
ACGACCGCGTCCTCGGCCTCGCCGAGCTGAGCTTCGACCTCTCGGTCTACGACTTCTTCGGCGCCAC
CGCGGCGGGGGCCCAGGTGGTCCTCCCGGACCCGGCGCGCGGCAGCGATCCATCGCACTGGGCGGAA
CTGCTGGAACGCCACGCCATCACCCTGTGGAACTCGGTGCCGGCCCAAGGCCAGATGCTCATCGATT
ACCTGGAGAGCGAGCCGCAACGTCACCTGCCGGGACCGCGCTGCGTGCTCTGGTCCGGTGACTGGAT
TCCGGTCAGCCTGCCGACCCGCTGGTGGCGGCGCTGGCCGGACAGCGCGCTGTTCAGCCTGGGCGGC
GCCACCGAGGCGGCGATCTGGTCGATCGAGCAGCCGATCCGCCCGCAGCACACCGAGCTGGCCAGCA
TCCCTTATGGCCGTGCCCTGCGCGGGCAGAGCGTGGAAGTCCTGGATGCCCGCGGGCGGCGCTGCCC
GCCGGGCGTGCGCGGCGAGATCCATATCGGCGGGGTGGGCCTGGCGCTCGGCTACGCCGGCGATCCG
CAGCGCACCGCCGAACGCTTCGTCCGTCACCCCGATGGCCGTCGCCTGTATCGCACCGGCGACCTCG
GCCGCTACCTGGCCGACGGCAGCATCGAGTTCCTCGGCCGCGAGGACGACCAGGTGAAGATTCGCGG
CCACCGCATCGAACTGGCCGAACTGGACGCCGCGCTGTGCGCTCATCCGCAGGTCAACCTGGCGGCC
ACCGTGGTGCTCGGCGAGACCCACGAGCGCAGCCTGGCCAGCTTCGTCACCCTGCATGCGCCGGTGG
AGGCTGGCGAGGATCCGCGTACGGCGCTCGACGCGGTGCGCCAGCGGGCGGCCCAGGCCTTGCGCCG
CGACTGGGGCAGCGAGGAGGGCATCGCCGCGGCGGTGGCCGCACTCGACCGTGCCTGCCTCGCCTCG
TTGGCCGCCTGGCTGGCCGGCAGCGGTCTGTTCGCCAGTGCGACGCCGCTGGACTTAGCCACCCTGT
GCCAGCGCCTGGGTATCGCCGAGGCGCGCCAGCGCCTGCTGCGCCACTGGTTGCGCCAACTGGAGGA
GGGCGGCTACCTGCGCGCCGAGGGCGAGGGCTGGCTGGGCTGCGCCGAGCGTCCCGCGCAGAGTCCG
GAGGACGCCTGGACGGCGTTCGCCGGCTGCGCGCCGGCGGCGCTCTGGCCGGCCGAGCTGGTCGCCT
ACCTGCGTGACAGCGCGCAATCCCTCGGCGAGCAACTGGCCGGGCGGATCAGCCCGGCGGCGCTGAT
GTTCCCGCAGGGCTCGGCGCGCATCGCCGAGGCCATGTACAGCCAGGGCCTGCATGCCCAGGCGCTG
CACGAGGCCATGGCCGAGGCCATCGCCGCCATCGTCGAGCGCCAGCCGCAACGGCGCTGGCGCCTGC
TGGAGCTTGGCGCCGGCACCGCCGCCGCCAGCCGCACGGTGATCGCCCGGTTGGCGCCGCTGGTGCA
GCGAGGGGCGGAGGTGGACTACCTGTTCACCGACGTTTCCAGCTACTTCCTCGCCGCCGCCCGCGAG
CGCTTCGCCGACCAGCCGTGGGTACGCTTCGGCCGCTTCGACATGAACGGCGATCTTCTCGACCAGG
GCGTGGCGCCGCACTCGGTGGATATCCTGCTCAGCTCCGGGGCCTTGAACAACGCGCTGGACACCCC
GGCGCTGCTCGCCGGCCTGCGCGAGTTGCTGAGCGCCGACGCCTGGCTGGTGATCCAGGAACTGACG
CGCGAGCACAACGAGATCAGCGTCAGCCAGAGCCTGATGATGGAAAACCCGCGCGACCTCCGCGACG
AGCGCCGCCAACTGTTCGTCCACACCGGGCAATGGCTGGAGTGGCTGGCGGCACAGGGTGGCGACCT
GGCTTGTGGGGTGGTGCCGCCGGGCAGCGCTCTCGACCTGCTTGGCTACGATGTCCTGCTGGCTCGC
TGCAAGACCGACCGCGCCCGCCTGGAGCCGGCCGAGCTGCTGGCCTTCGTCGAAGCGCGGGTGCCGC
GCTACATGCTCCCGGCGCAGTTGCGCGTGCTCGAACGCCTGCCGGTCACCGGCAACGGCAAGATCGA
CCGCAAGGCCCTGACCGGCTTTGCCCGCCAGCCCCAGGCGGACCTTCGGCATGGCGTCGCGCAGGCA
CCGGCCGACGAACTGGAGAATGCGCTGCTGGCACTCTGGCGGGAGGTGCTGGACAACCCGTCGCTGG
GCGTCGAGCAAGACTTCTTCGGGGCCGGCGGCGACTCGCTGTTGATCGCCCAGTTGATCGCCCGTTT
GCGCGAACGACTGGAAAGCGCCCGTCGGCATCCGTTCGATCGCCTGCTACGCTGGGCGCTCAGCCAG
CCGACGCCGCGCGGCCTGGCCGAACGCCTGCGCAGCGCGCCGGAAGAGGGCCGTGGGCCAGCCCTGG
CCGCGGCGCGCGGCGTCGCCCCGGCGCCGGCCGGCATGTCGCGCGCACCGCTCGCCGAGGGCGCGGT
GGCGCTCGACCCGCTGGTGCGCCTGGTGCCCGGCGAGGGCGTGCCGCGGGTGCTGGTCCACGAAGGC
CTCGGCACGCTACTGCCGTACCGCCCGCTGCTTCGCGCCCTGGGTGAGGGGCGGCCGTTGCTGGGGC
TGGCCGTGCATGACAGCGACGCCTACCTGGCGATCCCCGCCGAGCATCTCAACGCCTGCCTCGGCCG
CCGCTACGCCGAGGCGCTCCATCGCGCCGGGCTACGCGAGGTCGACCTGCTCGGCTACTGCTCCGGC
GGGCTGGTCGCCCTGGAGACCGCCAAGTCCCTGGTCCAGCGCGGGGTGCGCGTGCGCCAACTGGATA
TCGTCTCCAGCTACCGGATTCCCTACCGGGTGGACGACGAGCGCCTGCTGTTGTTCAGCTTCGCCGC
GACCCTCGGCCTGGATACCGCGGCGCTCGGCTTCCCCGCGCCGGAACGTCTCGGCCAGGCGGTGCAG
GCGGCGCTCGCGCAGACACCGGAGCGCCTGGTCGCCGAGGCGCTGGCGGGGCTGCCGGGCCTGGCCG
ATCTCGTCGCCCTGCGCGGCCGCGTGCTACAGGCGGCCAGCGGTAGCGCCGACGCCGTCAGCGTCGA
ACGCGACACCCTCTACCGGCTGTTCTGTCACTCGGTGCGTGCCAGCCAGGCCGAGGCGCCGGAGCCC
TACGTCGGCGCGCTGCGGCTGTTCGTGCCGGACGCCGGCAACCCATTGGTGCCGCGCTACGCCGAGG
CTCTGGAGACCCAATGGCGGGCCGCCGCGCTTGGCGCGTGCGGCATCCACGAGGTGCCCGGCGGGCA
CTTCGACTGCCTGGGCGAAGCCCTGGCGCAATCCTTGTCGAAACCCATGCCAGAGGAGGCGAGCCGA
TGA

The VIR16 protein (SEQ ID NO:32) encoded by SEQ ID NO:31 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 18B.

TABLE 18B
Encoded VIR16 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 32)
MSLGELLETCRSRRIELWSEAGRLRYRAPQGALDAGLAERLRAEREALLEHLEGGPGWRAEPDMA
HQRFPLTPVQAAYVLGRQAAFDYGGNACQLYAEYDWPADTDPARLEAAWNAMVERHPMLRAVIED
NAWQRVLPEVPWQRLTVHACAGLDEAAFQAHLERVRERLDHACAALDQWPVLRPELSIGRDACVL
HCSVDFTLVDYASLQLLLGEWRRRYLDPQWTAEPLEATFRDYVGVEQRRRQSPAWQRDRDWWLAR
LDALPGRPDLPLRVQPDTRSTRFRHFHARLDEAAWQALGARAGEHGLSAAGVALAAFAETIGRWS
QAPAFCLNLTVLNRPPLHPQLAQVLGDFTALSLLAVDSRHGDSFVERARRIGEQMFDDLDHPTFS
GVDLLRELARRRGRGADLMPVVFTSGIGSVQRLLGDGEAPRAPRYMISQTPQVWLDCQVTDQFGG
LEIGWDVRLGLFPEGQAEAMFDDFVGLLRRLAQSPRAWTDGDATEPVEAPPQALPGSARSIAAGF
AERALLTPDATAIHDAAGSYSYRQVAQHASALRRVLEAHGAGRGRRVAVMLPKSAAQLVAVIGIL
QAGAAYVPVDIRQPPLRRQAILASAEVVALVCLESDVPDVGCACVAIDRLAADSAWPPPPAAEVA
ADDLAYVIYTSGSTGTPKGVMLSHAAVSNTLLDINQRYGVDANDRVLGLAELSFDLSVYDFFGAT
AAGAQVVLPDPARGSDPSHWAELLERHAITLWNSVPAQGQMLIDYLESEPQRHLPGPRCVLWSGD
WIPVSLPTRWWRRWPDSALFSLGGATEAAIWSIEQPIRPQHTELASIPYGRALRGQSVEVLDARG
RRCPPGVRGEIHIGGVGLALGYAGDPQRTAERFVRHPDGRRLYRTGDLGRYLADGSIEFLGREDD
QVKIRGHRIELAELDAALCAHPQVNLAATVVLGETHERSLASFVTLHAPVEAGEDPRTALDAVRQ
RAAQALRRDWGSEEGIAAAVAALDRACLASLAAWLAGSGLFASATPLDLATLCQRLGIAEARQRL
LRHWLRQLEEGGYLRAEGEGWLGCAERPAQSPEDAWTAFAGCAPAALWPAELVAYLRDSAQSLGE
QLAGRISPAALMFPQGSARIAEAMYSQGLHAQALHEAMAEAIAAIVERQPQRRWRLLELGAGTAA
ASRTVIARLAPLVQRGAEVDYLFTDVSSYFLAAARERFADQPWVRFGRFDMNGDLLDQGVAPHSV
DILLSSGALNNALDTPALLAGLRELLSADAWLVIQELTREHNEISVSQSLMMENPRDLRDERRQL
FVHTGQWLEWLAAQGGDLACGVVPPGSALDLLGYDVLLARCKTDRARLEPAELLAFVEARVPRYM
LPAQLRVLERLPVTGNGKIDRKALTGFARQPQADLRHGVAQAPADELENALLALWREVLDNPSLG
VEQDFFGAGGDSLLIAQLIARLRERLESARRHPFDRLLRWALSQPTPRGLAERLRSAPEEGRGPA
LAAARGVAPAPAGMSRAPLAEGAVALDPLVRLVPGEGVPRVLVHEGLGTLLPYRPLLRALGEGRP
LLGLAVHDSDAYLAIPAEHLNACLGRRYAEALHRAGLREVDLLGYCSGGLVALETAKSLVQRGVR
VRQLDIVSSYRIPYRVDDERLLLFSFAATLGLDTAALGFPAPERLGQAVQAALAQTPERLVAEAL
AGLPGLADLVALRGRVLQAASGSADAVSVERDTLYRLFCHSVRASQAEAPEPYVGALRLFVPDAG
NPLVPRYAEALETQWRAAALGACGIHEVPGGHFDCLGEALAQSLSKPMPEEASR

MUT17

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT17) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding, putative ATP-binding component of the ABC transporter, pchH (PA4223). This gene encodes the VIR17 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:33) shown in Table 19A.

TABLE 19A
VIR17 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 33)
GTGACCCCGGTGCTGTGGCGCCTGCTGCGCACCTATCGCTGGCGGCTGGCGGCGGCCATGGGGTTGC
AGGCCCTGGCCGGGCTCTGCTCGCTGTTGCCCTGGATGCTTCTCGCCTGGCTCGCCGAGCCGCTGGC
GCGCGGCCAGGCGCAGCCGGCCCTGCTGGCCCTGGTGCTGCTGGCGGTGCTGGCCTGGCTGGGCTGC
CAGGCGCTGCCCGCGCACCTGGCCCACCGGGTCGACGCGGACCTCTGCAACGACCTGCGCCTGCGCC
TGCTGGCGCACCTGCAACGGCTGCCGCTGGACTGGTTCGGTCGCCAGGGCCCGGACGGCGTGGCGCG
CCTCGTGGAGCAGGACGTGCGGGCCCTGCACCAACTGATCGCGCACGCTCCCAACGATCTCAGCAAC
CTGTTGGTGGTGCCGCTCGTCGCGTTGCTCTGGCTGGCCTGGCTGCACCCCTGGCTGCTGCTGTTCT
GCCTGCTGCCGCTGGTGCTGGCCGCCGCCGGCTTCCTGCTGCTGCGCTCGGCGCGCTACCGCGACCT
GGTGCTGCGGCGCAACGCCGCGCTGGAAAGGCTCTCGGCGGACTATGGCGAATTCGCCCACAACCTG
CTGCTGGCCCGACAGTACCCCGGCGCCGGCATACAACAGGGCGCCGAGGCGTCGGCGGCGGCCTTCG
GCGAAGCGTTCGGCGCCTGGGTGAAGCGGGTCGGCCACCTCGCCGCGCTGGTCTACGTGCAGTTGTC
GACGCCCTGGCTGCTGGCCTGGGTCCTGCTCGGCGCGCTGGCCCTGGATGCCCTCGGCGTGCCGCTG
GCGCTCGGCCAGGCCTGTGCCTTCCTGCTCCTGCTGCGGGCCTTGGCTGCCCCGGTGCAGGCGCTCG
GCCACGCCGGCGACGCGCTGCTGGGCGCGCGCGCCGCCGCCGAGCGCCTGCAGCAGGTGTTCGACCA
GGCGCCGCTGGCCGAGGGCCGCTCGACCCGCGAGCCGGTCGATGGCGCGGTGGCGCTGCACGGCCTG
GGCCATGCCTATGAAGGCGTGGAGGTCCTGGCCGATATCGATCTGGAGCTGGAGGATGGCAGCCTGG
TGGCCCTGGTCGGTCCCTCGGGCTCCGGCAAGAGCACCCTGCTGCACCTGCTGGCGCGCTACATGGA
CGCGCAGCGCGGCGAACTGGAGGTTGGCGGCCTGGCACTGAAGGACATGCCTGATGCCGTGCGCCAT
CGGCATATCGCGCTGGTCGGCCAGCAGGCGGCGGCGCTGGAGATATCCCTGGCCGACAACATTGCCC
TGTTCCGCCCCGATGCCGATCTCCAGGAGATTCGCCAGGCGGCCCGTGACGCCTGCCTCGACGAGCG
CATCATGGCCCTGCCGCGTGGCTACGACAGCGTGCCGGGACGCGACCTGCAACTGTCCGGCGGCGAA
CTGCAACGACTGGCCCTGGCCCGTGCGCTGCTATCGCCGGCGAGCCTGTTGCTGCTCGACGAGCCAA
CCTCGGCGCTGGATCCGCAGACCGCCCGGCAGGTCCTGCGCAACCTGCGCGAACGCGGCGGTGGCCG
GACCCGGGTGATCGTCGCCATCGTCTGGCCGAAGTCAGCCGATGCCGACCTGATCCTGGTGCTGGTC
GCTGGCCGTCTGGTCGAACGCGGCGAGCACGCGGCGCTGTTGGCGGCGGACGGCGCCTATGCGCGCT
TGTGGCGTGAACAGAACGGCGCGGAGGTGGCGGCATGA

The VIR17 protein (SEQ ID NO:34) encoded by SEQ ID NO:33 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 19B.

TABLE 19B
Encoded VIR10 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 34)
MTPVLWRLLRTYRWRLAAAMGLQALAGLCSLLPWMLLAWLAEPLARGQAQPALLALVLLAVLAWL
GCQALAAHLAHRVDADLCNDLRLRLLAHLQRLPLDWFGRQGPDGVARLVEQDVRALHQLIAHAPN
DLSNLLVVPLVALLWLAWLHPWLLLFCLLPLVLAAAGFLLLRSARYRDLVLRRNAALERLSADYG
EFAHNLLLARQYPGAGIQQGAEASAAAFGEAFGAWVKRVGHLAALVYVQLSTPWLLAWVLLGALA
LDALGVPLALGQACAFLLLLRALAAPVQALGHGGDALLGARAAAERLQQVFDQAPLAEGRSTREP
VDGAVALHGLGHAYEGVEVLADIDLELEDGSLVALVGPSGSGKSTLLHLLARYMDAQRGELEVGG
LALKDMPDAVRHRHIALVGQQAAALEISLADNIALFRPDADLQEIRQAARDACLDERIMALPRGY
DSVPGRDLQLSGGELQRLALARALLSPASLLLLDEPTSALDPQTARQVLRNLRERGGGRTRVIVA
HRLAEVSDADLILVLVAGRLVERGEHAALLAADGAYARLWREQNGAEVAA

The role of VIR17 in virulence was confirmed using phage to retransduce this mutation into the wild-type PT894 strain where attenuated virulence was again observed in the Dictyostelium growth assay compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

MUT18

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT18) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding the putative ATP-binding component of ABC transporter, pchI (PA4222). This gene encodes the VIR18 nucleic acid (SEQ ID NO:35) shown in Table 20A.

TABLE 20A
VIR18 Nucleotide Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 35)
ATGACCCTGTTCGAACGAATGCGTGCGCTGCCCGAAGACTGCCGTGCCGCGTTGCGCCGGGCGAGCG
CCTGGGCGGTCCTGGCGGCGCTGCTGGACGCCGCTTGCGGCGTATTGCTGGTGCCGTTGGTCGAGGC
CTGGTTCGCCGAAGGCGCGTTGCCCTGGCGCTGGGTCGCCGCGTTGCTCGGCTTGAGCCTGGCGCAG
GCGCTGTTGCAGTACCTGGCCCTGCGTCGCGGTTTCGCCGCCGGCGGCTCGCTGGCGGCTGGACTGG
TGCGCAGCCTGGTGGCGCGCTTGCCGCGCCTGGCGCCGCCGGCGCTGCGCCGGGTCGCGCCGGCCGA
AGGCCTGCTGCGCGGCCCGGTGATGCAGGCGATGGGCATTCCGGCGCACCTGCTGGGGCCGCTGATC
GCCGCGTTGGTGACGCCGCTCGGGGTGATCCTCGGGCTGTTCCTGATCGACCCGTCCATCGCCCTCG
GCCTGCTCCTTGCTGGTGCCTTCCTCGCCGCGCTGTTGCGCTGGAGCGGGCGGCGCAATCTGGCGGC
GGAGGATGCCCGGCTGGCCGCCGAGCGCGACGCCGCACGGCAGTTGCAGGCGTTCGCCGAACGCCAG
CCACTGCTGCGCGCGGCGCAGCGCGAAAGCGTCGCCCGCCAGGGGCTGGAAGAGGCCTTGCGCAGTC
TCCACCGCAGCACCCTGGATCTGTTGCGGCGCAGCCTGCCCAGCGGCCTCGGCTTCGCCCTGGCGGT
GCAGGCGGCGTTCGCCTTCGCCCTGCTCGGCGGCGCCTGGGCGGTGGAGCGGCAATGGCTGGACCGC
GCTCGGCTGGTGGCCGTGCTGGTGCTGCTGGTGCGCTTCATCGAGCCGCTGGCCCAGCTCACCCATC
TCGACCAGGCGTTGCGCGGCGCCTGGCAGGCGCTGGATACCCTGCTGCGGGTTTTCGCCCTGGCTCC
GCTGCGCAGCCCCGAGCCGGGCGAGCGGCCGCACGACGCCAGCCTGGCGGCCGAGGCCGTGGAATTG
CGCCTGGAAGATGGCCGCGCCTTGCTCGAGGACATTTCCCTGAGGCTGGAGCCGGGTTCGCTGAACG
TCCTCGTCGGACCCTCCGGGGCCGGCAAGAGCAGCCTGCTGGCGCTGCTCGGGCGGCTCTACGACGT
CGATGCCGGGCGTGTCCTGCTGGGTGGCGTGGATATCCGCCGGTTGAGCGAAACGACCCTCGCCGCC
AGTCGTAACCTGGTGTTCCAGGACAACGGCCTGTTCCGCGGCAGCGTTGCCTGGAACCTGCGCATGG
CGCGAGCGGACGCCGATCTCGAAGCGCTGCGCGAGGCGGCGCGGGCGGTTGGCCTGCTGGAAGAGAT
CGAGGCCTGGCCGCAGGGCTGGGACAGCGACGTCGGTCCCGGCGGCGCGCTGCTGTCCGGCGGCCAG
CGGCAACGCCTGTGCCTGGCTCGCGGGCTGCTCTCGACGGCGCCGTTGCTGCTGCTCGACGAGCCCA
CCGCCAGCCTCGACGCCGCCAGCGAGGCGCAGGTGCTGCGCAGCCTGCTCGGGTTGCGCGGCCGGCG
CACCCTGCTGGTAGTGACCCACCGCCCGGCGCTGGCGCGTCAGGCCGACCAGGTACTGCTGCTGGAG
GAGGGGCGCCTGCGCCTCACCGGACTTCACGCCGATCTGCTCGTCCGGGACGACTGGTATGCCGGTT
TCGTCGGGCTGGCGGGCGAGGAAAGTTCCGCGACGGTCGTGGATCGATAG

The VIR18 protein (SEQ ID NO:36) encoded by SEQ ID NO:37 is presented using the one-letter amino acid code in Table 20B.

TABLE 20B
Encoded VIR18 protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 36)
MTLFERMRALPEDCRAALRRASAWAVLAALLDAACGVLLVPLVEAWFAEGALPWRWVAALLGLSL
AQALLQYLALRRGFAAGGSLAAGLVRSLVARLPRLAPPALRRVAPAEGLLRGPVMQAMGIPAHLL
GPLIAALVTPLGVILGLFLIDPSIALGLLLAGAFLAALLRWSGRRNLAAEDARLAAERDAARQLQ
AFAERQPLLRAAQRESVARQGLEEALRSLHRSTLDLLRRSLPSGLGFALAVQAAFAFALLGGAWA
VERQWLDGARLVAVLVLLVRFIEPLAQLTHLDQALRGAWQALDTLLRVFALAPLRSPEPGERPHD
ASLAAEAVELRLEDGRALLEDISLRLEPGSLNVLVGPSGAGKSSLLALLGRLYDVDAGRVLLGGV
DIRRLSETTLAASRNLVFQDNGLFRGSVAWNLRMARADADLEALREAARAVGLLEEIEAWPQGWD
SDVGPGGALLSGGQRQRLCLARGLLSTAPLLLLDEPTASLDAASEAQVLRSLLGLRGRRTLLVVT
HRPALARQADQVLLLEEGRLRLSGLHADLLVRDDWYAGFVGLAGEESSATVVDR

The role of VIR18 in virulence was confirmed using phage to retransduce this mutation into the wild-type PT894 strain where attenuated virulence was again observed in the Dictyostelium growth assay compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

MUT19

A Pseudomonas bacterial mutant (MUT19) was made by transposon insertion in a P. aeruginosa wild-type strain PT894. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as a gene cluster encoding the P. aeruginosa serotype 09 putative O-antigen biosynthesis pathway (VIR19). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR19 gene in MUT19 is shown in Table 21.

TABLE 21
MUT19 Transposon insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 37)
CTCTTTCAGCCGCACGCGGCGCACCTCGTGTGTGATCAGTGAGTGGTTTGCAACTGCGGGTCAAG
GATCTGGATTTCCCTCACANGTNCGATCATCGTGCGGGAGGGCAAGGGCTCCAAGGATCGGGCCT
TGATGTTACCCGAGAGCTTGGCACCCAGCCTGCGCGAGCAGGGNNAATTGATCCGGTGGATGACC
TTTTGAATGACCTTTAATAGATTATATTACTAATTAATTGGGGACCCTANAGGTCCCCTTTTTTA
TTTTAAAAATTTTTTCACAAAACGGTTTATTTNCATAAAGCTTGCTCAATCAATCACCNTATCCN
CGGGAATTCGGCCTAGGCGGCCAGATCTGATCAAGAGACAGACCTCCAGCTTTGCATCCGGAGCG
ACCACACGAGCGAGGTCAGTCACTTTCATCGAAGGAATTTTCTTGACATAGATCTCACCACCTTC
CATGTCCTCAAAGGCATGCCACACTAACTCGACGCCCTCCTCCAAAGAAATCATGAACCGGGTCA
TCCGCTCATCAGTGATAGGCAAGACGCCCTTGTCCTTG

The role of this cluster in virulence was confirmed using phage to retransduce this mutation into the wild-type PT894 strain where attenuated virulence was again observed in the Dictyostelium growth assay compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

B. Attenuated Klebsiella Mutants

MUT20

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT20) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding a hypothetical transcriptional regulator in met G-dld intergenic region (VIR20). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR20 gene in MUT20 is shown in Table 22.

TABLE 22
MUT20 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 38)
ACGCAGGATATCTTCTTCATCAAATTGTCGATGCCCGCCTTCGCTACGCTGCGGTTTCAGTAGACCG
TAACGACGCTGCCAGGCGCGCAGTGTGACCGGATTGATTCCGCAACGTTCGGCGACTTCACCGATAC
TGTAAAACGCCATAGCAGCCTCACATCAACCTGATACCTTAATACCTAAACTAACGAATTCAGGCAT
CCTGTACAACTCTATTTTCTTGTACAGATAAAGATATCAGGTTGCGGCTCACAGCGCCCGGGAAAAA
AGATGAAAAAATGTTTAGCTGATTTCGCGGTGGTTCATTTTTTCTCCGGCCATGCGACGGCGGGTAG
GCCCCCCAGGCGCGCGCTGGCGAACAAATTGCCCTGAAACTGTGAAATACCGGCTGATTCCAGCCAC
ATCCACTCTTCAGCACGCTCAACGCCGACGGCTGAGACCGCAATCTCCAGAGAAGTACAGCATTTGA
TAATCGCCTG

MUT21

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT21) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding •-cystathionase (VIR21). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR21 gene in MUT21 is shown in Table 23.

TABLE 23
MUT21 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 39)
GACCATGTGCTGATGACCAATACCGCCTATGAGCCAAGCCAGGACTTTTGTACCAAAATTCTCGCCA
AACTCGGCGTCACCACCAGCTGGTTCGATCCCTTAATCGGCGCCGATATCGCCCGTCTGGTTCGCCC
TGAGACCCGCGTGGTGTTCCTCGAATCGCCCGGCTCGATCACCATGGAAGTGCACGATGTGCCGGCG
ATAGTCGCCGCCGTGCGTCAGGTCGCCCCGGAAGCGATTATCATGATCGATAACACCTGGGCGGCGG
GGATCCTGTTTAAAGCCCTGGATTTTGGCATTGATATTTCCATTCAGGCAGGCACCAAATACCTGAT
CGGCCATTCCGACGCCATGGTGGGCACCGCGGTGGCGAACGCGCGCTGCTGGCCGCAGCTGCGTGAA
AATGCCTACCTGATGGGGCAAATGCTGGACGCCGATACTGCCTATATGACCAGCCGCGGCCTGCGAA
CCCTGGGCGTGCGCCTGCGTCAGCATCATGAAAGCAGCCTGCGCATC

MUT22

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT22) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as ribosome binding factor A (VIR22). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR22 gene in MUT22 is shown in Table 24.

TABLE 24
MUT22 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 40)
CTTTTGGCCCCTTTTTTGTCTTTATTCTGGAGAACTTATTATGGCGAAAGAATTTGGTCGCCCGCAG
CGTGTGGCCCAGGAGATGCAAAAAGAGATTGCCATCATCCTGCAGCGTGAAATTAAAGATCCGCGTC
TGGGCATGATGACCACCGTTTCCGGTGTGGAAATGTCCCGTGACCTGGCCTATGCCAAGGTGTATGT
CACCTTCCTTAACGACAAAGATGAAGCCGCGGTGAAAGCGGGCATCAAAGCGCTGCAGGAAGCTTCT
GGCTTTATCCGCTCTCTGCTGGGGAAAGCGATGCGTCTGCGCATCGTACCGGAACTGACTTTCTTCT
ACGACAACTCACTGGTGGAAGGGATGCGTATGTCCAACCTGG

MUT23

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT23) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding aspartokinase/homoserine dehydrogenase (VIR23). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR23 gene in MUT23 is shown in Table 25.

TABLE 25
MUT23 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 41)
GCCCAGCCCGCTTTCCCGCTTGCCCAGTTAAAAGCCTTCGTGGAGCAGGAATTTGCTCAGATTAAGC
ATGTTCTGCACGGCATCAGCCTGCTGGGTCAGTGCCCGGACAGCGTCAATGCCGCGCTGATCTGCCG
CGGCGAAAAGCTCTCCATCGCCATCATGGCGGGTCTGCTGGAAGCCCGTGGACACAAAGTCAGTGTC
ATTAACCCGGTCGAAAAACTGCTCGCCGTGGGTCACTATCTGGAATCCACCGTCGATATCGCCGAAT
CCACCCGCCGCATTGCCGCCAGCCAGATCCCGGCAGACCATATGATCCTGATGGCCGGGTTTACCGC
CGGCAATGAGAAAGGCGAGCTGGTGGTGCTGGGGCGTAACGGCTCCGACTACTCGGCTGCGGTACTG
GCCGCCTGCCTGCGCGCTGACTGCTGCGAAATCTGGACCGATGTCGACGGAGTGTACACCTGCGATC
CGCGTCAGGTGCCGGATGCGCGCCTGCTGAAATCGATGTCTTATCAGGAGGCGATGGAGCTCTCCTA
CTTTGGCGCGAAAGTGCTGCACCCGCGCACCATTGCCCCTATCGCCCAGTTCCAAATCCCATGCCTG
ATTAAAAATACCGGCAACCCCC

MUT24

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT24) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding cystathione •-synthetase (VIR24). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR24 gene in MUT24 is shown in Table 26.

TABLE 26
MUT24 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 42)
GGCGCAGCGTCTGCTCGTCACCGTCAAGCTCGAAGCTTAACATTGCGCCAAAACCTTTTTGCTGACG
CGCCGCAATTTCATGCCCCTGGTTTTCCGGCAGCGATGGATGATACAGCTTTTTCACCAGCGGCTGG
GTTTTCAGATACTCAACGATCGCCAGGGCATTTCGCTGCGCCACTTCCATCCGTGGAGACAGCGTCC
GCAGCCCGCGCAACAGCAGATAGCTGTCGAAGGCGCTGCCGGTGACGCCAATATTATTCGCCCACCA
TGCCAGTTCGGTGACAGTTGCCGGATCTTTGGCAATCACCACCCCGGCCACCACATCGGAGTGACCA
TTGAGGTATTTGGTACAGGA

MUT25

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT25) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine synthase (VIR25). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR25 gene in MUT25 is shown in Table 27.

TABLE 27
MUT25 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 43)
GTTGCGTCCCAGGCGCGTAAACGCATCCTGCAGGTAGTCAATTTCGTCGTCGGCCAGCGCCAGACCC
AGACGGAGGTTGGCGTCAATCAGCGCCTGACGCCCTTCGCCCAGCAGGTCGACGCTGGTGACCGGCG
TCGGCTGATGGTGAGCGAACAGCTTCTCGCCCGCTTCCAGCTCGTCGAAGACGCTCTCCATCATGCG
GTCATGCAGCTCCGCCGCCACCGCGGCCCACTGCGCTTCGGTCAGGGTTGAGGCTTCAACGTAATAC
GCCACGCCGCGCTCAAGACGCACAACCTGCGCCAGACCGCAGTTGTGAGCGATATCGGTAGCTTTAG
AAGACCAGGGAGAGATGGTGCCAGGGCGAGGGGTCACGAGCAGTAATTTACCGGTCGGGGTATGGCT
GCTTAAGCTCGGGCCATACTGAAGCAGTCGCGCCAGGCGCTCGCGATCGTCAGCGCTCAGCGGGCCG
TTCAGATCGGCAAAATGAATATATTCGGCAT

MUT26

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT26) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding homoserine transsuccinylase (VIR26). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR26 gene in MUT26 is shown in Table 28.

TABLE 28
MUT26 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 44)
GTATTGGCATCGTACTCCTGGGCTGGCCGGTGACAAAGGCGATGCGCTTATCTTTGCTGGCGAACAA
ATACGCATCGCCCTCTTCCGTCTCCGCGAGGATCTCGAGATCGGTATAGTCGCGAATAAGTCCGGCC
GGAAAATCAGCATAGCGTGAGTGCGGGGCCAGGAAAGAGTCGTCGAAACCGCGGGTCAGTAAGGCGT
GCGGATGAAGAATATGGTGTTCATAGACGCCGGAAATCTTTTCGGCGCGGGTCTGCTTGGGAATGCC
GTACAGAATGTTCAGCGCGGCCTGAACCGCCCAACAGACGAACAGCGTCGAAGTGACGTGATCCTTG
GCCCACTCCAGCACCTGTTTGATCTGCGGCCAGTAAGCAACATCGTTAAACTCAACCAGGCCTAAAG
GAGCGCCGGTAACAATCAGGCCGTCAAAGTTCTGATC

MUT27

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT27) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase (VIR27). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR27 gene in MUT27 is shown in Table 29.

TABLE 29
MUT27 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 45)
GAGGTTCATATGTCCGTACTCGATCTAAACGCGCTTAATGCATTGCCGAAAGTGGAACGCATTCTGG
CACTCGCGGAAACCAACGCCCAACTGGAAAAGCTTGACGCCGAAGGGCGTGTGGCGTGGGCGCTGGA
AAATCTGCCGGGAAACTATGTGCTGTCGTCGAGCTTTGGCATTCAGGCGGCGGTAAGTTTGCATCTG
GTGAATCAGATCCGCCCGGACATTCCGGTGATCCTCACCGATACCGGCTACCTGTTCCCGGAAACCT
ATCAGTTTATTGACGAGCTGACGGACAAG

MUT28

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT28) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding Sfi protein (VIR28). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR28 gene in MUT28 is shown in Table 30.

TABLE 30
MUT28 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 46)
TGTTAAAGCGTGCGTTCTACAGCCTGTTAGTCCTGCTCGGCCTGCTGCTGTTGACCGTGCTGGGCCT
TGACCGCTGGATGAGCTGGAAAACCGCGCCCTATATCTATGATGAACTGCAGGACCTGCCCTACCGT
CAGGTCGGTGTGGTGCTGGGCACCGCCAAATATTACCGCACCGGCGTCATCAATCAGTATTACCGTT
ACCGCATCCAGGGTGCGCTGAACGCCTACAACAGCGGCAAGGTCAACTATCTCCTGCTGAGCGGCGA
TAATGCTCTGCAAAGCTACAATGAACCGATGACCATGCGTCGGGACCTGATTAAAGGCGGCGTCGAT
CCCGCGGATATCGTACTGGACTATGCCGGTTTCCGTACCCTCGACTCGATCGTCCGTACCCGGAAAG
TGTTCGACACCAACGACTTCATTATCATCACCCAGCGCTTCCACTGCGAACGGGCGCTGTTTATCGC
CCTGCATATGGGGATCCAGGCCCAGTGCTACGC

MUT29

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT29) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding transcriptional activator protein LysR (VIR29). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR29 gene in MUT29 is shown in Table 31.

TABLE 31
MUT29 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 47)
CGCTGAACCTCCTCAAACAAACGCAGGCCCTGCACCTGTCGGCTGCAGGCGACCAGCGTGGATCCGC
TCAAACAGCTGCAGGCCGAGCACCTTCTCAAAGCGCGCCAGCTCGCGGCTGACCGTGGGTTGCGAGG
TGTGCAGCATCCGCGCCGCTTCGGTCAGGTTGCCGGTGGTCATCACCGCGTGAAAGATTTCGATATG
ACGCAAATTGACGGCTGGCATGCGGTCTCCGTGAGGCTCGGCTGGAACCATATCATTTTTGCATAGA
GTCGCGATAAAACGATATTTTTTATTCGTCTGTCACTGTGGCGTAATCAGAAAAAACAGCGACCAAC
ACACGCACTGCACCGGAGTTCTTATGCCACACTCGCTTTACGCCACCGATACTGACCTGACCGCGGA
CAACCTGCTGCGCCTGCCGGCGGAATTTGGCTGCCCGGTCTGGGTCTATGATGCGCAGATTATTCGC
CGCCAGATAGCCCAGCTCAGCCAGTTTCGAC

MUT30

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT30) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding TrpD (VIR30). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR30 gene in MUT30 is shown in Table 32.

TABLE 32
MUT30 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 48)
GGCTTCCACCCAAATCGCTTTGTCGGCAACGATTTTTGCTAAAACGGCTTTGCATTCTTTACCCTCT
TGCCCGCTAAGTGTCGGTCACTCTGTCATAGGCCGCGCGCTGCTGCAGCACATCCAGTACCTGCTGA
GCGTTAGCTTTCAGATCTTCATGCCCGTGTAAACGCATCAATATGGCGACGTTGGCGGCGACGGCGG
CTTCGTGAGCGGCTTCACCTTTACCTTG

MUT31

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT31) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase (VIR31). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR31 gene in MUT31 is shown in Table 33.

TABLE 33
MUT31 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 49)
TGGCTCAACGCTGCTCAGTGGTGCGAGGTGTCACTTTGGTGATCACATCGGCGTTGTCTGCACAGTG
AAATCAGATCCAGCGCCGCGTCCGGTTTTACGCACGTAGTCCGGATTGTGGGTGCCTTTCTTAACGA
TATTCAGCCACGGCCCTTCGAGATGCAGGCCCAGCGCCTGGTTCGGATGTTTTTGCAGATATTCGCG
CATCACGCGCACGCCTTGCTTCATCAGATCGTCGCTGGAGGTAATCAGCGTCGGCAGGAAGCTGGTG
CAGCCTGAGCGTTCGTTGGCCTTCTGCATGATCTCCAGCGTTTCGACAGTGACCGCCTCTGGGCTGT
CGTTAAACTGCACGCCGCCGCAGCCGTTGAGCTGGACGTCGATAAAACCGGGGGCGATTATTGCGCC
GTTGACTGAGCGCTGCTCGATGTCAGACGGCAAATCTGCCAGCGGACAAAGACGTTCGATAAAG

MUT32

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT32) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding WaaQ (VIR32; Regué et al. J. Bacteriol. 183(12): 3564-73, 2001). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR32 gene in MUT32 is shown in Table 34.

TABLE 34
MUT32 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 50)
TTAAGCACCATATCGTACCGCTGCTGGCGCAGCGTCTGAATGAGCTGCCATTGCATCTTCAGCTGAT
ACCTTTTTCCCTGGCTTTTTCCAGCGGCGATCGAGACCATAAATATGGTGGATATCGGGGTTGGCTG
CGAGCATATCCCGGGTCTCTTCATACAACAGGACATCCACGCTGGCGGCGGGGTACTGCTGTTTCAG
CGCGTGAATAAGCGGCGTGATCAGCAGCATGTCGCCATGATGGCGCAGCTTAATGACCAGGATCCGC
GCCGGGTTCAACGGGCCGCGGGAGAGGGTTTCAGGCGTCATACTCTGTTCTTCATCCAGGATAAGGG
TTCCGATTCTAGGGGATCAGACAGATTGAGAGAAGCGTTGTATTGCTCTACCATGACCCGATACGTA
TGGCCTGAGGACGTTTTCGTGCACAATCCCGCAATTTTCTCATCACGAT

MUT33

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT33) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding 2-isopropylmalate synthase (VIR33). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR33 gene in MUT33 is shown in Table 35.

TABLE 35
MUT33 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 51)
CACTCAGGCTTGCCTGTAACGCTTGTTCGCCATCACGTAAGGTCGTATCGAAAATAATGACTTGCTG
GCTCATGGTTTGGATCCTTAGTCTGTGTCCTGGCGCCTTGTTGACGAGCATAAAAAAACCCGCGCCA
AGGCGCGGGTTTTATAGTCTTGCTGGAAGATGACTTAACGCTGAACGTCGCCCAACAGCCTACCGAG
CAAATGGCATGCGTTTAGTAGTAGTAGGCTGGTGATACGAGCGGTGCGAATCATTGCGTCAAACTCC
AGATGAAATCGTTATGCTTTTAGAGTTACTGGATAGCCGTTTTAAAGTCAACCCCTGGCATGGAAAA
AGCGTTTTGGGCTGACTAAATGAATTAGCAAAATGTGCTGATGTAAGCCCCATTTTGCCGAAGATCC
TATTTTGGACCGAAGGCGGTTTATCCCCAATTTGTTTCATTTGAAAAA

MUT34

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT34) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding histidinol dehydrogenase (VIR34). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR34 gene in MUT34 is shown in Table 36.

TABLE 36
MUT34 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 52)
CGCTGAACCGCTATCCGGAGCCGCAGCCGAAGTGCCGTGATTGAGAGCTACGCCCGCTACGCCGAGG
TCAAACCGGAGCAGGTGCTGGTCAGCCGCGGCGCCGACGAAGGCATCGAGCTGCTGATCCGCGCCTT
CTGTGAGCCCGGCGAAGACGCGGTGCTCTACTGCCCGCCGACCTACGGCATGTACAGCGTCAGCGCC
GAGACCATCGGCGTCGAGTGCCGCACCGTGCCGACGCTGGCCAGCTGGCAGCTCGACCTGCCGGGCA
TCGAAGCGCGGCTGGACGGCGTGAAGGTGGTGTTTGTCTGCAGCCCGAACAACCCGACCGGGCAGAT
TATCGACCCGCAGTCGATGCGCGACCTGCTGGAGATGACCCGCGGCAAAGCCATCGTGGTGGCCGAC
GAAGCCTATATTGAATTCTGCCCGCAGGCGACGCTCGCCGGCTGGCTCAGCGACTATCCGCACCTGG
TGGTGCTGCGCACGCTGTCCAAAGCCTTCGCCCTCGCCGGCCTGCGCTGCGGCTTCACCCTCGCCAA
CGCCGAGGTGATTAACGTGCTGCTGAAAGTGATCGCCCC

MUT35

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT35) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding UDP-galactopyranose mutase (VIR35; Clarke et al., J. Bacteriol., 177: 5411-18, 1995). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR35 gene in MUT35 is shown in Table 37.

TABLE 37
MUT35 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 53)
CGTATATTTCATCGTACAGAAACCGTAAACACAGGCATTGGCTGATTTTCAGTGAGTGAATTTAAAT
AGACTTCTGCCGTTTTCAATGCTTCGGCGATGGTCACATCCATATCAAGGTAACGGTAGGTTCCAAG
ACGACCGACAAAAGTGATGTTGGTTTCATTCTCGGCCAATGACAAATATTTTTCAAGAAGAGCCATT
TCTCCCATCTGGCGAATAGGATAGTAAGGAATATCATTTTCTTCACAAGCACGGCTATACTCTTTAT
AACAAACAGAGCCGTCGTGTTGTTCCCAGGGAGAAAAATATTTATGTTCAGTGATGCGAGTATAGGG
CACATCCACAGAACAGTAGTTCATCACTGCGCATCCCTGG

MUT36

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT36) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the scene encoding O-antigen export system permease protein rfba (VIR36; Bronner et al., Mol. Microbiol., 14: 505-19, 1994). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR36 gene in MUT36 is shown in Table 38.

TABLE 38
MUT36 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 54)
GTACGCCGATTTTATATGCGTCTGATATGATTCCGGAAAAATTTAGCTGGATAATTACCTACAATCC
GCTAGCGAGTATGATTCTTAGTTGGCGTGATTTATTCATGAATGGGACTCTTAATTTTGAGTATATT
TCTATACTCTATTTTACGGGAATTATTTTGACGGTTGTCGGTTTGTCTATTTTCAATAAATTAAAAT
ATCGATTTGCAGAGATCTAAAAGTGCGCTATAAGAGCAGCATGCTAGGCTATTTATGGTCAGTAGCA
AATCCATTGCTTTTTGCCATGATTTACTATTTTATATTTAAGCTGGTAATGAGAGTACAAATTCCAA
ATTATACAGTTTTCCTCATTACCGGCTTGTTTCCGTGGCAATGGTTTGCCAGTTCGGCCACTAAC

MUT37

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT37) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding uridyltransferase (VIR37). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR37 gene in MUT37 is shown in Table 39.

TABLE 39
MUT37 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 55)
CGAGCCACCCACTGTAGCGTATGGATATCGCGCAAGCCGCCGGGGCTGCTTTTCACGTCCGGCTCGA
GGTTATAGCTGGTGCCATGATAGCGCTGATGACGGACGTTCTGCTCTTCGACCTTGGCGGCGAAGAA
CTTTTCCGATGGCCAGAAGCCGTCGCTAAAAATATGTTTTTGCAGTTCAAGGAACAGCGCGACGTCG
CCGATCAGCAGGCGCGATTCGATTAAGTTGGTGGCAACGGTCAGATCCGAGAGACCTTCCAGCAGGC
ACTCTTCGAGGGTGCGTACGCTGTGGCCCACCTCCAGCTTGACGTCCCACAGCAGGGTGAGCAGTTC
GCCGACTTTTTGCGCCTGGTCGTCCGGCAGTTTTTTACGACTGAGGATCAGCAGATCGACGTCTGAG
AGCGGGTGCAG

MUT38

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT38) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding pyridoxine phosphate biosynthetic protein PdxJ-PdxA (VIR38). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR38 gene in MUT38 is shown in Table 40.

TABLE 40
MUT38 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 56)
CTTAACCCGCACGCTGGCGAAGGCGGCCATATGGGAACAGAAGAGATAGACACCATCATTCCGGTGC
TGGAAGAGATGCGCGCAAAGGGGATGAACCTCAGCGGTCCGCTGCCGGCAGACACTCTCTTTCAGCC
GAAATATCTTGATCATGCCGATGCGGTACTCGCGATGTACCACGATCAGGGCCTGCCCGTGCTAAAA
TACCAGGGCTTTGGCCGCCGCGTGAACATTACGCTCGGTTTACCTTTTATTCGTACCTCCGTCGACC
ACGGCACCGCACTGGAATTAGCGGGCCAGGGAAAAGCGGACGTCGGCAGTTTTATCACGGCGCTTAA
TCTCGCCATCAAAATGATTGTTAATACCCAATGAATAATCGAGTCCATCAGGGCCATTTAGCCCGCA
AACGCTTCGGGCAGAACTTCCTCAACGATCAGTTTGTGATCGACAGCATCGTCTCGGCGATTAACCC
GCAGAAAGGCCAGGCGATCGTTGAAATCGGC

MUT39

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT39) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding triose phosphate isomerase (VIR39). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR39 gene in MUT39 is shown in Table 41.

TABLE 41
MUT39 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 57)
GGGTCTGACCCCGGTTCTGTGCATCGGTGAAACCGAAGCCGAAAACGAAGCGGGCAAAACGGAAGAA
GTTTGCGCACGTCAGATCGACGCCGTGCTGAAAACCCAGGGCGCTGCCGCTTTCGAAGGCGTGGTTA
TCGCTTACGAACCAGTATGGGCTATCGGTACCGGCAAATCAGCGACCCCGGCTCAGGCGCAGGCGGT
GCACAAATTCATCCGTGACCACATTGCTAAAGCTGACGCCAAAATCGCTGAGCAAGTGATCATCCAG
TACGGCGGTTCCGTTAACGCTGGCAACGCCGCAGAGCTGTTCACCCAGCCGGACATCGACGGCGCGC
TGGTTGGCGGCGCCTCCCTGAAAGCTGACGCTTTCGCGGTGATCGTTAAAGCAGCAGAAGCAGCGAA
AAAAGCGTAATTCGCTTTTCCCGGTGGCGACACGCGACCGGGTTGACTGACAAAACGTGGGAGCCCG
GCCT

MUT40

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT40) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding aldehyde dehydrogenase (VIR40). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR40 gene in MUT40 is shown in Table 42.

TABLE 42
MUT40 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 58)
GGTGGCGCACCCTGGCGTCGTTTGTGTAGAAATTATGAATATTAATACCAGGAAAATTCCTAATTTT
TGTGTACGCTCTGACGAGCGCACAATAAAACAAGACGAATTTTTGAACAATTGTCTTTAAATTTGTT
AATTGAATTGATCTGTTGTTGTTTAAAGGTATTTGAATTTCTTTTGTATAGATATGTAAATTAACAT
TGAAAAGCCATTTCAAAAATTAAATATATGGCGAACATAGCTATTAACTTATAGTTAACATCTTCCC
GGGTTGCCTTTTGATACTTCGGGTAATATATTTATTTCGCACATCAAAATAACTCTTTTTTCTTCTG
TTTGTTATTCATGGCCATCTATTGGCGAAATAAGGCAGAGTAGAGGGGGATGTGCCTAATATCCTGC
GGAAGGAACGCAATGTACATTTACAGGGAGGAGCTGACGAGCCGTTTCGCGATAGCTTTAG

MUT41

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT41) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding galacosyl transferase (VIR41; Clarke et al., J. Bacteriol., 177: 5411-18, 1995). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR41 gene in MUT41 is shown in Table 43.

TABLE 43
MUT41 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 59)
TTGGTGGTGTGCTCGCGAAGAAATTTAATCTGCCGGTCATCGTAAGTTTTGTTGGGCTTGGAAGAGT
ATTTTCTTCTGACAGCATGCCTTTAAAATTATTGCGGCAGTTTACTATTGCTGCATATAAATATATT
GCCAGTAATAAGCGCTGTATATTTATGTTTGAACATGACCGCGACAGAAAAAAACTGGCTAAGTTGG
TTGGACTCGAAGAACAACAGACTATTGTTATTGATGGTGCAGGCATTAATCCAGAGATATACAAATA
TTCTCTTGAACAGGATCACGATGTCCCTGTTGTATTGTTTGCCAGCCGTATGTTGTGGAGTAAAGGA
CTGGGCGACTTAATTGAAGCGAAGAAAATATTACGCAGTAAGAATATTCACTTTACTTTGAATGTTG
CTGGAATTCTGGTCGAAAATGATAAAGATGCAATTTCCCTTCAGGGTCATTGAAAATTGGCATCAGC
AAGGATTAATTAACTGGTTAGGTCGTTCGAATAATGTTTGCGATCTTATTGAGCAAT

MUT42

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT42) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding siroheme synthetase (VIR42; Kolko et al., J. Bacteriol., 183: 328-35, 2001). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR42 gene in MUT42 is shown in Table 44.

TABLE 44
MUT42 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 60)
TTACTTGCCCCTTTTTGCCGAACTGAAACAAAGGCCCGTGCTGGTGATCGGCGGCGGCGAGATTGCT
GAACGTAAGATCAAGTTCCTGCTGCGCGCCCAGGCGCAGGTGCAGGTGGTCGCTGAAACGCTGTCAC
CGGCGCTGGCCGATCTGGCTGCGCGCCAGGCACTCAGCTGGCGGGCGACGGCATTCAGCGACTCGCT
GGTGGATGATGTCTTTCTGGTGATTGCGGCCACCGAGGATGAGGCGCTTAACCAGCGGGTGTTTGCG
GCAGCTAACGCGCGCTACCGGTTGGTCAACGTGGTGGATAACCAGGCGCTGTGCTCGTTTGTTTTCC
CTTCTATCGTCGACCGTTCGCCGCTGCTGGTGGCGATCTCCTCCAGCGGTAAAGCGCCGGTGTTGTC
GCGCATTCTGCGTGAAAAAATCGAAGCGCTGCTGCCGACGAATCTCGGTCGGCTGGCGCAATCAGCA
AGCT

MUT43

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT43) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding 7,8-dihydro-6-hydroxymethylpterin-pyrophosphokinase (VIR43). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR43 gene in MUT43 is shown in Table 45.

TABLE 45
MUT43 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 61)
AGCAGGGCAATGGTGGTCGGTTTCATAACATTTCCTGATGATGAAAGTCATATTAACCGCCATTCTA
ACAGCAGCATTCAGAGGGGCAATGATTTTGGGCAACCGATTACGACGATCGCCGCAAATGCTAAAAA
AGGGAGAGGGGATTACCAGCTGGCGGGCTTTTCCGCGCCGAGATTATCCAGCACGGCGCGCAGCGCC
AGGCCGTCAGGAAAGTGAAGGTCCGGGGCGATCTCGAACAGCGGCCAGAGCATAAAGCCGCGGTTTT
TCATATCGTAGTGCGGAACGGTCAGGCGCTCGCTGTTAATGACAGCATCGCCAAACAGCATGATATC
GAGGTCCAGCGTGCGCGGCCCCCAGCGTTCGGCTTTGCGCACTCGCCCCTGCTGCAGTTCGATGCGC
TGAGTATGATCGAGCAGCGTCTCGGGGGGCAGGGCGGTTTCCAGCGCAA

MUT44

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT44) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (VIR44). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR44 gene in MUT44 is shown in Table 46.

TABLE 46
MUT44 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 62)
GGCTTAACGCCAGCTATGTCAACGCTGCGGTTATGCGGATTTTTCATGCCTCTGCGGCTAACAGAAA
AAAGCCTTATGATAGCTATACTAATGGGGCTTTTTACTCCGTTTTGACCCGATTCCTGACCGGCGTC
AGGGTCAAGTCACAAAAATCATCACAATTTTCCGTCACCGGCGCTACAATCGACCGAAGTCACAATC
TCAAATCAGAAGAGTATTGCTAATGAAAAACATCAACCCAACGCAGACCTCTGCCTGGCAGGCATTA
CAGAAACACTTCGACGAAATGAAAGATGTCACTATCAGCGAGCTTTTCGCCAAAGATAGCGACCGTT
TTTCTAAATTTTCCGCGACGTTCGACGATCTGATGCTGGTGGACTTCTCCAAAAACCGCATCACTGA
AGAGACGCTGGCTAAACTGCAGGATCTGGCGAAAGAGACTGACCTGGCGGGCGCTATCAAGTCGATG
TTCTCAGGTGAGAAGATCAACCGCACCGAAGACCGCGCGGTACTGCACGTCGCGCT

MUT45

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT45) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding DNA methylase (VIR45). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR45 gene in MUT45 is shown in Table 47.

TABLE 47
MUT45 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 63)
TGCTTCATCCGCATCTCCTTGAAATTTATTTGGTCTTAGGCGGACGGTAGAGCGCTAATAGCTCGTC
CACCTTTTTACGCGTACCACCGTTGCTGCTGATGCTGCGCCGCACCTTCACAATATGCGTTTCTGCC
GCGTTTTTATACCATTCCTGCGTCAGCGGCGTGCGGTGGTTGGAAATCAGCACCGGGATGCGCTTTT
TCATCAGCGATTCCGCCTTTTGCGCCAGCAGTACCTGTTGTTCCAGGTTGAAACTGTTGGTGTGGTA
GGCGGTAAAGTTCGCCGTCGCCGTTAGCGGCGCATAGGGCGGATCGCAATACACCACTGTGCGGCTA
TCCGCACGTTGCATGCACTCTTCGTAAGATTCGCAGTAAAACTCGGCGTTTTGCGCCTTCTCGGCGA
AATGATAGAGCTCAGCTTCGGGGAAATAGGGCTTTTTATAACGGCCAAACGGCACATTGAACTCGCC
GCGCAG

MUT46

A Klebsiella bacterial mutant (MUT46) was made by transposon insertion in a Klebsiella sp. wild-type strain. In the Dictyostelium growth assay, the mutated microorganism was less virulent compared to an isogenic bacterial strain. The nucleotide sequence immediately following the transposon insertion was cloned and identified as the gene encoding a putative inner membrane protein (VIR46). The insertion site nucleic acid sequence identifying the VIR46 gene in MUT46 is shown in Table 48.

TABLE 48
MUT46 Transposon Insertion Site (SEQ ID NO: 64)
TGTCAATGCGCAATTTGGTTAAATATGTCGGTATTGGCCTGCTGGTGATGGGGCTTGCCGCCTGCGA
TAACAGCGATTCAAAAGCGCCAACCGTTGGCGCAGCAGCGGAGAGCAATGCCAGCGGCCAGGCAATC
AGCCTGCTGGATGGCAAGCTGAGCTTCACCCTGCCTGCGGGCATGGCCGACCAGAGCGGCAAACTGG
GTACCCAGGCGAACAATATGCACGTCTACTCTGACGCTACCGGCCAGAAAGCGGTCATCGTCATCGT
CGGCGACAGCACCAATGA

IV. Suitable Target Pathogens

Other Pseudomonas sp. and Klebsiella sp. and many other microbes, including gram-negative bacterial strains, are likely to include virulence genes encoding VIRX-related peptides or proteins having amino acid sequence identity or similarity to those identified herein. Suitable bacterial pathogens may include, but are not limited to, Pneumococci sp., Klebsiella, sp., Pseudomonas, e.g., P. aeruginosa, Salmonella, e.g., Salmonella typhimurium, Legionella, e.g., Legionella pneumophilia, Escherichia, e.g., Escherichia coli, Listeria, e.g., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci sp., Vibrio, e.g., Vibrio cholerae. Pathogenic mycobacteria of the present invention may include e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pathogenic fungi of the present invention may include, e.g., Candida albicans. Pathogenic unicellular eukaryotic organisms of the present invention may include, e.g., Leishmania donovani.

Having identified VIRX genes according to the invention, it is possible to use the gene sequence to search for related genes or peptides in other microorganisms. This may be carried out by searching in existing databases, e.g., EMBL or GenBank. The levels of identity between gene sequences and levels of identity or similarity between, amino acid sequences can be calculated using known methods. In relation to the present invention, publicly available computer based methods for determining identity and similarity include the BLASTP, BLASTN and FASTA (Atschul et al., J. Molec. Biol., 1990; 215:403-410), the BLASTX program available from NCBI, and the Gap program from Genetics Computer Group, Madison Wis.

Preferably, the peptides that may be useful in the various aspects of the invention have greater than a 40% similarity with the peptides identified herein. More preferably, the peptides have greater than 60% sequence similarity. Most preferably, the peptides have greater than 80% sequence similarity, e.g., 95% similarity. With regard to the polynucleotide sequences identified herein, related polynucleotides that may be useful in the various aspects of the invention may have greater than 40% identity with the sequences identified herein. More preferably, the polynucleotide sequences have greater than 60% sequence identity. Most preferably, the polynucleotide sequences have greater than 80% sequence identity, e.g., 95% identity.

In addition to related molecules from other microorganisms, the invention encompasses modifications made to the peptides and polynucleotides identified herein which do not significantly alter the biological function. It will be apparent to the artisan that the degeneracy of the genetic code can result in polynucleotides with minor base changes from those specified herein, but which nevertheless encode the same peptides. Complementary polynucleotides are also within the invention. Conservative replacements at the amino acid level are also envisaged, i.e., different acidic or basic amino acids may be substituted without substantial loss of function.

It is recognized in the art that highly refined mechanisms that regulate transcription have evolved and are present in bacteria. Most bacterial genes are organized into operons, which are groups of genes coding for related proteins. Operons can either be repressed or induced thus regulating those genes. An operon consists of an operator, promoter, regulator, and structural genes. The regulator gene codes for a repressor protein that binds to the operator, obstructing the promoter (thus, transcription) of the structural genes. The regulator does not have to be adjacent to other genes in the operon. If the repressor protein is removed, transcription may occur.

Transposon mutagenesis usually inactivates the gene in which the transposon is inserted, as well as any gene downstream in the same operon. If the VIRX gene is a structural gene in an operon, inactivation of the MAX gene disrupts the expression of other structural genes in the same operon and positioned downstream of the inactivated VIRX gene. For example, an insertion in pchE gene also inactivates pchF, pchG, pchH, and pchI genes because they all reside within the pchEFGHI operon and are downstream of the inactivated pchE gene. Accordingly, the present invention includes attenuation of virulence due to alteration of a VIRX gene residing in an operon as well as alterations to nucleic acid yielding loss of expression of structural genes located in the same operon and located downstream of the VIRX gene. In one embodiment, the present invention is an alteration inactivating the first gene of an operon carrying a VIRX gene of the invention. The alteration of nucleic acids of VIRX genes and VIRX-containing operons may be insertional inactivation or gene deletion. It is preferred that the alteration of nucleic acids of VIRX genes and VIRX-containing operons be insertional inactivation.

The present invention also provides for a bacterial strain comprising an operon encoding a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4. VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46, wherein the bacterial strain includes a mutation that reduces expression of the VIRX gene relative to an isogenic bacterial strain lacking the mutation. In one embodiment, the mutation reduces inhibition of Dictyostelium amoeba growth when compared to the growth of Dictyostelium amoeba in the presence of an isogenic bacterial strain lacking the mutation. In another embodiment, the attenuated bacterial strain has more than one mutation of an operon containing a VIRX gene when compared to an isogenic bacterial strain.

V. VIRX Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides Can Be Used to Identify Antimicrobial Drugs

A. Screening

In a separate embodiment, the VIRX genes, or their polynucleotide or polypeptide products disclosed herein is used in screening assays for the identification of potential antimicrobial drugs. Routine screening assays are known to those skilled in the art, and can be adapted using the VIRX products of the invention in the appropriate way. For example, the products of the invention can be used as the target for a potential drug, with the ability of the drug to inactivate or bind to the tar-get indicating its potential antimicrobial activity. In the methods of the present invention, one or more test compounds may be present or produced in the assay mixture. Preferably one compound is present, or produced, in the assay mixture.

B. Character of Antimicrobial Candidate Compositions

VIRX nucleic acids and polypeptides may be used to identify drugs or therapeutics in a candidate composition useful in the prevention or treatment of pathogen-associated disease or infection. A candidate composition can include one or more molecules for analysis in a screening assay and can be a synthetic or semi-synthetic molecules. Such molecules include inorganic as well as organic chemical molecules. The molecules may be less than about 500 Daltons or more than 500 Daltons. The molecules may be naturally occurring. Naturally occurring molecules may include, e.g., saccharides, lipids, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, or combinations thereof, e.g., aminoglycosides, glycolipids, lipopolysaccharides, or macrolides. Proteins may be immunoglobulins, e.g., polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. Nucleic acids may be DNA or RNA, e.g., small interfering RNA (siRNA). The precise source of the molecule is not critical to the method of the present invention. The molecule might be derived from e.g., synthetic compounds libraries that are commercially available, e.g., Sigma-Aldrich (Milwaukee, Wis.), or libraries of natural occurring molecules in the form of bacterial, fungal, plant, and animal extracts such as those available from Xenova (Slough, UK). The synthetic (or semi-synthetic) or natural occurring molecules might be modified using standard chemical, physical, or biochemical methods known in the art.

VI. VIRX Nucleic Acids and Polypeptides Can Be Used to Detect the Degree of Virulence of Pathogens

A diagnostic test can assist physicians in determining the type of disease and appropriate associated therapy. As such, a separate embodiment of this invention provides for the use of VIRX genes or their polynucleotides or nucleic acid products as virulence markers for detecting the presence of a pathogen, a pathogen-associated disease, or the virulence of a pathogen. There are many diagnostic assay approaches known to the artisan. Generally, the diagnostic method used would comprise the steps of (a) obtaining a sample from a potentially diseased subject or a diseased subject; (b) measuring the level of at least one polypeptide or polynucleotide virulence marker in the sample; and (c) comparing the amount of the virulence marker in the sample of step (a) to the amount of the virulence marker present in a control sample from a second subject known not to have the presence of the pathogen, where an alteration in the expression level of the virulence marker in the first subject as compared to the control sample indicates the presence of a pathogen, a pathogen-associated disease, or the virulence of a pathogen. Preferably, the subject is a mammal. More preferred is that the subject is a human. The person of skill will recognize that diagnostic tests may be performed in an array-type format wherein, e.g., the presence of two or more VIRX genes or gene products indicate the presence of a pathogen, a pathogen-associated disease, or the virulence of a pathogen.

VII. Attenuated Organisms of the Present Invention Can Be Used in Vaccine Preparation

In another embodiment, the invention provides for the use of the attenuated organisms described herein in vaccine preparation. The preparation of vaccines based on attenuated microorganisms is known to those skilled in the art. Vaccine compositions can be formulated with suitable carriers or adjuvants, e.g., alum, as necessary or desired, to provide effective immunization against infection. The preparation of vaccine formulations will be apparent to the artisan. The attenuated microorganisms may be prepared with a mutation that disrupts the expression of any of the VIRX genes identified herein. The artisan will be aware of methods for disrupting expression of particular VIRX genes. Techniques that may be used include, but are not limited to, insertional inactivation, or gene deletion techniques. Attenuated microorganisms according to the invention may also comprise additional mutations in other genes, for example in a second gene identified herein or in a separate gene required for growth of the microorganism, e.g., an Aro mutation. Attenuated microorganisms may also be used as carrier systems for the delivery of heterologous antigens, therapeutic proteins or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). In this embodiment, the attenuated microorganisms are used to deliver a heterologous antigen, protein or nucleic acid to a particular site in vivo. Introduction of a heterologous antigen, peptide or nucleic acid into an attenuated microorganism can be carried out by conventional techniques, including the use of recombinant constructs, e.g., vectors, which comprise polynucleotides that express the heterologous antigen or therapeutic protein, and also include suitable promoter sequences. Alternatively, the gene that encodes the heterologous antigen or protein may be incorporated into the genome of the organism and the endogenous promoters used to control expression. In the vaccines of the present invention, the pharmaceutically effective dosage of the mutants of the present invention to be administered may vary depending on the age, weight and sex of the subject, and the mode of administration. The subject can be, e.g., a human, a non-human primate (such as an ape, gorilla, or chimpanzee), cow, horse, pig, sheep, dog, cat, or rodent (including mouse or rat).

VIII. Definitions

As used herein, each of the following terms has the meaning associated with it in this section.

The term “pathogen,” as used herein, is intended to include an agent that causes disease, especially a living microorganism such as a bacterium or fungus. The terms “agent” and “factor” are used interchangeably herein to describe pathogens or toxins useful in the methods of the present invention. Pathogens may include any bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi and unicellular eukaryotic organism, including wild types and mutants thereof, which causes disease or brings about damage or harm to a host organism. Pathogens may also be a poisonous substance, e.g., toxin, which is produced by living cells or organisms and is capable of causing disease when introduced to a host.

The term, “pathogenic,” as used herein, is defined as an agent's ability to cause disease, damage or harm to a host organism.

The term, “attenuated,” as used herein, means an organism made less virulent relative to an isogenic pathogenic organism.

The term, “virulence,” as used herein, is a measure of the degree of pathogenicity of an agent to a host organism. Virulence is usually expressed as the dose of an agent or cell number of a pathogen that will elicit a pathological response in the host organism within a given time period. “Reducing the virulence” as used herein is defined as the ability of a compound to attenuate, diminish, decrease, suppress, or arrest the development of, or the progression of disease, damage or harm to a host organism mediated by a pathogen.

The term, “host organism,” as used herein, is intended to include any living organism. Preferably the host organism is a eukaryote, e.g., vertebrate. More preferably the host organism is a mammal. It is most preferred that the host organism be a human.

The term, “mutant,” as used herein, an organism carrying a specific mutation of a gene that is expressed in the organism's phenotype.

The term, “mutation,” as used herein, is an alteration of one or more nucleic acids of a polynucleotide sequence encoding a gene. A mutation may include the insertion of additional nucleic acids to a polynucleotide sequence encoding a gene, e.g., insertional inactivation of a gene. Alternatively, a mutation may include, but is not limited to, deletion of one or more nulceic acids of a polynucleotide sequence encoding a gene.

The term, “operon,” as used herein, is a unit of bacterial gene expression and regulation comprising several genes usually with complementary functions. Typically an operon includes nucleic acid and control elements in the nucleic acid that may be recognized by regulators of gene products. Insertion in a gene in an operon interferes with the function of this gene and of other genes located downstream or upstream in the operon. It is understood herein that the function attributed to a gene refers to its function and/or that of any gene located downstream or upstream in the same operon.

The term, “pharmaceutically effective dosage,” as used herein, means that amount necessary at least partly to attain the desired effect, or to delay the onset of, inhibit the progression of, or halt altogether, the onset or progression of the particular condition being treated.

The terms “similarity” and “identity” are known in the art. The use of the term “identity” refers to a sequence comparison based on identical matches between correspondingly identical positions in the sequences being compared. The term “similarity” refers to a comparison between amino acid sequences, and takes into account not only identical amino acids in corresponding positions, but also functionally similar amino acids in corresponding positions. Thus similarity between polypeptide sequences indicates functional similarity, in addition to sequence similarity.

EQUIVALENTS

From the foregoing detailed description of the specific embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent that bacterial genes have been identified and assigned a new role in virulence. Further, these genes and their products are useful in the identification of antimicrobial agents, the diagnosis of pathogen-associated disease or infection as well as the preparation of vaccines. Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done by way of example for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the appended claims that follow. In particular, it is contemplated by the inventor that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For instance, the choice of the particular pathogen, or combination of pathogens selected for assay or vaccination, the test conditions used in diagnostic assays utilizing the pathogens of this invention, or the method of mutagenesis used to derive the attenuated mutants is believed to be a matter of routine for a person of ordinary skill in the art with knowledge of the embodiments described herein.

EXAMPLES

This Example is provided for the purpose of illustration only and the invention should in no way be construed as being limited to these Example, but rather should be construed to encompass any and all variations which become evident as a result of the teaching provided.

Example 1

Strains and Culture Conditions Used to Screen for Attenuated Viurlence in Test Bacterial Mutants

The D. discoideum wild-type strain DH1-10 used in these studies is a subclone of DH1 (Cornillon et al., J. Biol. Chem., 275(44):34287-92, 2000). Cells were grown at 21° C. in HL5 medium (14.3 g/l peptone (Oxoid), 7.15 g/l yeast extract, 18 g/l maltose, 0.64 g/l Na₂HPO₄.2H₂O, 0.49 g/l KH₂PO₄, pH 6.7) (Cornillon et al., J. Cell. Sci., 107 (Pt 10):2691-704, 1994) and subcultured twice a week.

Bacteria were grown overnight at 37° C. on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar. Single colonies were inoculated into 5 ml PB (2% (wt/vol) peptone, 0.3% (wt/vol) MgCl₂.6H₂O, 1% (wt/vol) K₂SO₄) (Essar et al., J. Bacteriol., 172(2):884-900,1990) in a 50 ml flask and grown at 37° C. for 8 hr prior to use. The growth of various strains was tested in rich medium (PB) by measuring the optical density (600 nm) of a culture at different times after inoculation and was found to be comparable for all strains used. Under these conditions, similar OD_600s were obtained for each strain and the induction of quorum sensing was maximal. Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were determined in Mueller-Hinton broth by the microdilution method (Thornsberry et al., NCCLS, 3: 48-56, 1983). Mutations yielding reduced virulence were identified where the growth of the Dictyostelium test host organism exposed to the mutant pathogen was greater than the Dictyostelium test host organism exposed to wild-type pathogen. Specific genetic mutations in pathogens displaying reduced virulence were identified and characterized by techniques well know in the art.

Claims

1. An attenuated bacterial mutant derived from a pathogenic bacterial strain, wherein said attenuated mutant has: (i) a mutation of a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14. VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46; and (ii) reduced inhibition of Dictyostelium amoeba growth when compared to the growth observed in the presence of an isogenic bacterial strain.

2. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 1, wherein said mutation is insertional inactivation or a gene deletion.

3. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 1, wherein said mutant is a gram-negative bacteria.

4. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 3, wherein said attenuated gram-negative bacterial mutant is a Pseudomonas species.

5. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 4, wherein said Pseudomonas species is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

6. An attenuated Pseudomonas mutant of claim 5, wherein said attenuated Pseudomonas mutant is selected from the group consisting of: MUT1; MUT2; MUT3; MUT4; MUT5; MUT6; MUT7; MUT8; MUT9; MUT10; MUT11; MUT12; MUT13; MUT14; MUT15; MUT16; MUT17; MUT18; and MUT19.

7. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 3, wherein said gram-negative bacterial mutant is a Klebsiella species.

8. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 7, wherein said Klebsiella species is Klebsiella pneumoniae.

9. An attenuated Klebsiella mutant of claim 8, wherein said attenuated Klebsiella mutant is selected from the group consisting of: MUT20; MUT21; MUT22; MUT23; MUT24; MUT25; MUT26; MUT27; MUT28; MUT29; MUT30; MUT31; MUT32; MUT33; MUT34; MUT35; MUT36; MUT37; MUT38; MUT39; MUT40; MUT41; MUT42; MUT43; MUT44; MUT45; and MUT46.

10. A method for identifying an antimicrobial drug, said method comprising: (a) contacting a candidate composition with at least one polypeptide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45 and VIR46; and (b) comparing the biological activity of said polypeptide in the presence and absence of said candidate composition, wherein alteration of the biological activity of said polypeptide indicates that said candidate composition is an antimicrobial drug.

11. A method of claim 10, wherein said candidate composition contains at least two molecules.

12. A method of claim 10, wherein said candidate composition contains at least one-molecule less than about 500 Daltons.

13. A method of claim 10, wherein said candidate composition contains at least one molecule greater than about 500 Daltons.

14. A method of claim 10, wherein said candidate composition contains at least one molecule selected from a group consisting of a polypeptide, polysaccharide, lipid, nucleic acid, or combination thereof.

15. A composition of claim 14, wherein said polypeptide is an immunoglobulin.

16. A method for identifying an antimicrobial drug, said method comprising: (a) contacting at a candidate composition with at least one polynucleotide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46; and (b) comparing the expression of said polynucleotide in the presence and absence of said candidate composition, wherein alteration of the expression of said nucleotide indicates that said candidate composition is an antimicrobial drug.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein said candidate composition contains at least two molecules.

18. A method of claim 16, wherein said candidate composition contains at least one molecule less than about 500 Daltons.

19. A method of claim 16, wherein said candidate composition contains at least one molecule greater than about 500 Daltons.

20. A method of claim 16, wherein said candidate composition contains at least one molecule selected from a group consisting of a polypeptide, polysaccharide, lipid, nucleic acid, or combination thereof.

21. A composition of claim 20, wherein said nucleic acid is a ribonucleic acid.

22. A nucleic acid of claim 21, wherein said nucleic acid is a small interfering ribonucleic acid.

23. A method for determining the degree of virulence of a pathogen in a subject, said method comprising: (a) measuring the level of expression of at least one polypeptide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR43, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46, in a sample from the first subject; and (b) comparing the amount of said polypeptide in said sample of step (a) to the amount of said polypeptide present in a control sample from a second subject known not to have the presence of said pathogen, wherein an alteration in the expression level of said polypeptide in said first subject as compared to said control sample indicates the degree of virulence of said pathogen.

24. A method of claim 23, wherein said subject is a mammal.

25. A mammalian subject of claim 24, wherein said mammalian subject is a human.

26. A method for determining the degree of virulence of a pathogen in a subject, said method comprising: (a) measuring the level of expression of at least one polynucleotide encoded by a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46, in a sample from the first subject; and (b) comparing the amount of said polynucleotide in said sample of step (a) to the amount of said polynucleotide present in a control sample from a second subject known not to have the presence of said pathogen, wherein an alteration in the expression level of said polynucleotide in said first subject as compared to said control sample indicates the degree of virulence of said pathogen.

27. A method of claim 26, wherein said subject is a mammal.

28. A mammalian subject of claim 27, wherein said mammalian subject is a human.

29. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 1, wherein said mutant encodes and expresses a foreign antigen.

30. An attenuated bacterial mutant of claim 1, wherein said mutant contains a plasmid which encodes and expresses, in a eukaryotic cell, a foreign antigen.

31. A vaccine against a disease caused by a pathogenic microorganism comprising: (a) a pharmaceutically effective dosage of one or more of the attenuated bacterial mutants of claim 1 and; (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.

32. An attenuated bacterial mutant derived from a pathogenic bacterial strain, wherein said attenuated mutant has: (i) a mutation of a gene selected from the group consisting of pchE, pchF, pchG, pchH, and pchI; and (ii) reduced inhibition of Dictyostelium amoeba growth when compared to the growth observed in the presence of an isogenic bacterial strain.

33. A bacterial strain comprising an operon encoding a gene selected from the group consisting of VIR1, VIR2, VIR3, VIR4, VIR5, VIR6, VIR7, VIR8, VIR9, VIR10, VIR11, VIR12, VIR13, VIR14, VIR15, VIR16, VIR17, VIR18, VIR19, VIR20, VIR21, VIR22, VIR23, VIR24, VIR25, VIR26, VIR27, VIR28, VIR29, VIR30, VIR31, VIR32, VIR33, VIR34, VIR35, VIR36, VIR37, VIR38, VIR39, VIR40, VIR41, VIR42, VIR44, VIR45, and VIR46, wherein said bacterial strain includes a mutation that reduces expression of said gene relative to an isogenic bacterial strain lacking said mutation.

34. A bacterial strain of claim 33, wherein said mutation reduces inhibition of Dictyostelium amoeba growth when compared to the growth of Dictyostelium amoeba in the presence of an isogenic bacterial strain lacking said mutation.