Query: NC_004342:756942 Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai str. 56601 chromosome I, Lineage: Leptospira interrogans; Leptospira; Leptospiraceae; Spirochaetales; Spirochaetes; Bacteria General Information: Pathogenic strain. Causative agent of leptospirosis. This organism is the causative agent of leptospirosis, a tropical zoonosis transmitted by direct contact with the urine of infected animals. This motile and obligately aerobic organism grows optimally at 28-30 C. Many serovars are adapted for specific mammalian reservoir hosts, which harbor the organisms in their renal tubules and shed them in their urine. Because of the large spectrum of animal species that serve as reservoirs, leptospirosis is considered to be the world's most widespread zoonotic disease.
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General Information: This organism was isolated from the blood of wild rats and from fleas obtained from wild rats. Transmission of these organisms is often through an insect vector. Once in a host, this intracellular pathogen is internalized by an actin-dependent mechanism, and primarily targets endothelial cells, although other cells can be infected. The proliferation of the vascular endothelium (bacillary angiomatosis) is characterisitic of Bartonella infection and results in multiplication of the bacterium's host cells. Infected macrophages are stimulated to release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 1 beta, both of which promote angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are also stimulated to grow and divide by direct contact with bacterial cells. In addition, programmed cell death (apoptosis) of endothelial cells is inhibited, combatting a common mechanism eukaryotic cells use to deal with bacterial infection. Other pathogenicity factors include pili and outer membrane adhesins for attachment to host cells. This organism is genetically related to Bartonella elizabethae which was isolated from a case of endocarditis in a human.