Untersuchungen zum Argininstoffwechsel bei Mycobacterium bovis ...

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points out that the enzymes ArcB and ArcC are as well present in M. bovis BCG and
M. tuberculosis.
It was shown by the in vivo experiments that the ∆arcA-mutant of M. bovis BCG was
attenuated in immunocompetent BALB/c-mice. Therefore, the arginine deiminase
seems to play a role for persistence in mice.
With regards to the long term objective of the development of a new vaccine, a
∆narG ∆arcA M. tuberculosis double mutant was generated. As expected, it showed
neither arginine deiminase activity nor nitrate reductase activity. Whether the
attenuation in vivo is amplified by the double mutation has to be subject of further
experiments.