SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM INVA EXPRESSION PROBED WITH A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TO THE C-TERMINAL PEPTIDE OF INVA

The Salmonella typhimurium InvA protein is a component of a sec-indepe ndent secretion apparatus necessary for full virulence of the bacteria . We generated a monoclonal antibody to the C-terminal portion of the InvA protein that recognized proteins in S, typhimurium and weakly in Y, enterocolitica, but not in several other species of bacteria, inclu ding S. flexneri. S. typhimurium grown without agitation produced rela tively constant amounts of membrane InvA throughout the growth cycle, whereas bacteria grown with agitation had a sharp increase in the amou nt of membrane InvA al late exponential phase. Levels of InvA present in Salmonella membranes tinder some growth conditions do not appear to correlate with levels of invasion under the same conditions.