Identification of genes involved in Na/K ratio-independent growth of Melissococcus plutonius.

深埋双球菌（Melissococcus plutonius）是一种挑剔的蜜蜂病原体，在培养基中添加KH2PO4才能培养出世界上分离到的典型的深埋双球菌菌株。相比之下，仅在日本分离的非典型菌株不表现出生长对钾的需求。利用基因组序列和新开发的载体，我们发现编码Na^+/H^+反转运蛋白和阳离子转运ATPase的基因突变参与了典型的plutonius菌株生长的钾需求。

Melissococcus plutonius is a fastidious honeybee pathogen, and the addition of KH2PO4 to culture medium is required for the growth of typical M. plutonius strains isolated in the world. In contrast, atypical strains isolated only in Japan do not show potassium requirement for the growth. Using genome sequences and a newly developed vector, we showed that mutations in genes encoding Na^+/H^+ antiporter and cation-transporting ATPase are involved in the potassium requirement for the growth of typical M. plutonius strains.