Deletion of the L-Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene in Leads to a Loss of SpeB Activity and a Hypovirulent Phenotype.

uses lactic acid fermentation for the generation of ATP. Here, we analyzed the impact of a deletion of the L-lactate dehydrogenase gene on the virulence of M49. While the deletion does not cause a general growth deficiency in laboratory media, the growth in human blood and plasma is significantly hampered.