A spontaneous mutation in kdsD, a biosynthesis gene for 3 Deoxy-D-manno-Octulosonic Acid, occurred in a ciprofloxacin resistant strain of Francisella tularensis and caused a high level of attenuation in murine models of tularemia
Fig 6
The CipR and kdsD::ltrBL1 mutant strains of F. tularensis were attenuated in BALB/c mice by intranasal and intradermal challenge.
Groups of BALB/c mice (n = 10) were challenged and survival monitored following infection by intranasal or intradermal injections using the wild-type Schu S4 strain, CipR mutant, kdsD::ltrBL1 mutant, and the complemented kdsD mutant strain, as indicated. The calculated LD50 values from these experiments are included in Table 6.