Lack of the delta subunit of RNA polymerase increases virulence related traits of Streptococcus mutans.
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Authors
Xue, XiaoliSztajer, Helena
Buddruhs, Nora
Petersen, Jörn
Rohde, Manfred
Talay, Susanne R
Wagner-Döbler, Irene
Issue Date
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The delta subunit of the RNA polymerase, RpoE, maintains the transcriptional specificity in gram-positive bacteria. Lack of RpoE results in massive changes in the transcriptome of the human dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans. In this study, we analyzed traits of the ΔrpoE mutant which are important for biofilm formation and interaction with oral microorganisms and human cells and performed a global phenotypic analysis of its physiological functions. The ΔrpoE mutant showed higher self-aggregation compared to the wild type and coaggregated with other oral bacteria and Candida albicans. It formed a biofilm with a different matrix structure and an altered surface attachment. The amount of the cell surface antigens I/II SpaP and the glucosyltransferase GtfB was reduced. The ΔrpoE mutant displayed significantly stronger adhesion to human extracellular matrix components, especially to fibronectin, than the wild type. Its adhesion to human epithelial cells HEp-2 was reduced, probably due to the highly aggregated cell mass. The analysis of 1248 physiological traits using phenotype microarrays showed that the ΔrpoE mutant metabolized a wider spectrum of carbon sources than the wild type and had acquired resistance to antibiotics and inhibitory compounds with various modes of action. The reduced antigenicity, increased aggregation, adherence to fibronection, broader substrate spectrum and increased resistance to antibiotics of the ΔrpoE mutant reveal the physiological potential of S. mutans and show that some of its virulence related traits are increased.Citation
Lack of the delta subunit of RNA polymerase increases virulence related traits of Streptococcus mutans. 2011, 6 (5):e20075 PLoS ONEAffiliation
Research Group Microbial Communication, Division of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany.Journal
PloS onePubMed ID
21625504Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
1932-6203ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1371/journal.pone.0020075
Scopus Count
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