Résumé
Objective To study the function of gene 0955 in Streptococcus suis type 2 98HAH33. Methods Growth condition of wild-type, mutant and complemented strains of Streptococcus suis type 2 98HAH33 was compared at different stages. Differences in adhesion ability to host cells and anti-phagocyto-sis among these strains were compared by using bacterial adhesion test and analyzing their survival rates in blood. Mouse and piglet models were used to evaluate their virulence. Results The growth of the mutant and the complemented strains was slightly slower than that of the wild type strains in logarithmic growth phase, but no significant difference was found in plateau phase. Bacterial adhesion test showed that gene 0955 might encode a new adhesion factor of Streptococcus suis type 2 98HAH33. Blood bactericidal test sug-gested that gene 0955 was not associated with anti-phygocytosis. Animal experiments showed that gene 0955 might be a novel virulence gene of Streptococcus suis type 2 98HAH33. Conclusion Gene 0955 might en-code a novel adhesion factor and virulence factor of Streptococcus suis type 2 98HAH33.