The expression of the flagellum of Legionella pneumophila is modulated by different environmental factors

Legionella pneumophila, the aetiologic agent of legionnaires' disease, cont ains a single, monopolar flagellum which is composed of one major subunit, the FlaA protein. Expression studies using a reporter gene fusion of the fl aA promoter with the luxAB gene revealed that the flaA expression is not on ly temperature regulated but is also influenced by the growth phase, the vi scosity and the osmolarity of the medium, and by amino acids. (C) 1999 Fede ration of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.