PUBLICATION

Patterns of virulence gene expression differ between biofilm and tissue communities of Streptococcus pyogenes

Authors
Cho, K.H., and Caparon, M.G.
ID
ZDB-PUB-050907-9
Date
2005
Source
Molecular Microbiology   57(6): 1545-1556 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Caparon, Michael
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins/genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins/metabolism*
  • Biofilms/growth & development*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Ecosystem
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Soft Tissue Infections/microbiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections/physiopathology*
  • Streptococcal Infections/microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections/physiopathology*
  • Streptococcus pyogenes/genetics
  • Streptococcus pyogenes/growth & development
  • Streptococcus pyogenes/pathogenicity*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Virulence
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
16135223 Full text @ Mol. Microbiol.
Abstract
The ability of Streptococcus pyogenes to form biofilm-like bacterial communities during infection of soft tissue has suggested that the capacity to produce biofilm may be important for pathogenesis. To examine this relationship, a panel of mutants was evaluated for their ability to form biofilm on abiotic surfaces in several assays. Several established virulence factors were crucial for biofilm formation, including the M protein, required for initial cell-surface interactions, and the hyaluronic acid capsule, required for subsequent maturation into a three-dimensional structure. Mutants lacking the transcription regulators Mga and CovR (CsrR) also failed to form biofilm. Comparison of transcriptional profiles revealed differential regulation of approximately 25% of the genome upon adaptation to biofilm. During infection of zebrafish, several virulence factors (notably cysteine protease and streptokinase) were regulated in a biofilm-like manner. However, the overall profile of virulence factor expression indicated that tissue communities have a pattern of gene expression different from biofilm. Taken together, these data show that while biofilm and tissue communities have many characteristics in common, that biofilm reproduces only a subset of the myriad cues used by tissue communities for regulation of virulence.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping