Naip5^Lgn1-s

A/J mice are susceptible to infection by Legionella pneumophilia. This susceptibility is heritable and is caused by a polymorphism in the Naip5 gene. Expression of BAC clones containing the Naip5 gene from resistant strains (C57BL/6J and 129X1/SvJ) in A/J mice rendered transgenic mice resistant to infection (J:81887, J:129300). In addition, Western blot experiments demonstrated that the NAIP5 protein is not expressed in A/J macrophages, while robust expression is seen in macrophages from resistant strains such as C57BL/6J. Sequence polymorphisms in this gene between susceptible and resistant strains were identified that may account for the difference in phenotype. In addition, morpholino antisense inhibition of NAIP5 activity in mouse macrophages from resistant mice resulted in an increase in permissiveness of Legionella replication (J:129300). (J:81887, J:129300)