This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Marouni, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Sela, S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Marouni, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Sela, S.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infection and Immunity, October 2003, p. 5633-5639, Vol. 71, No. 10
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.10.5633-5639.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The luxS Gene of Streptococcus pyogenes Regulates Expression of Genes That Affect Internalization by Epithelial Cells

Mehran J. Marouni1 and Shlomo Sela2*

Department of Human Microbiology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, and,1 Department of Food Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Beth-Dagan, Israel2

Received 9 December 2002/ Returned for modification 28 April 2003/ Accepted 14 July 2003

The gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes was recently reported to possess a homologue of the luxS gene that is responsible for the production of autoinducer 2, which participates in quorum sensing of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. To test the effect of LuxS on streptococcal internalization, a LuxS mutant was constructed in strain SP268, an invasive M3 serotype. Functional analysis of the mutant revealed that it was internalized by HEp-2 cells with higher efficiency than the wild type (wt). Several genes, including hasA (hyaluronic acid synthesis), speB (streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B), and csrR (capsule synthesis regulator), a part of a two-component regulatory system, are known to affect the internalization of strain SP268 (J. Jadoun, O. Eyal, and S. Sela, Infect. Immun. 70:462-469, 2002). Therefore, the expression of these genes in the mutant and in the wt was examined. LuxS mutation significantly reduced the mRNA level of speB and increased the mRNA level of emm3. No substantial effect was observed on transcription of hasA and csrR. Yet less hyaluronic acid capsule was expressed in the mutant. Further analysis revealed that luxS is under the regulation of the two-component global regulator CsrR. Our results indicate that LuxS activity in strain SP268 plays an important role in the expression of virulence factors associated with epithelial cell internalization.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dept. of Food Sciences, ARO, The Volcani Center, P.O.B. 6, Beth-Dagan 50250, Israel. Phone: 972-3-9683750. Fax: 972-3-9683750. E-mail: shlomos{at}volcani.agri.gov.il.

Editor: V. J. DiRita

Infection and Immunity, October 2003, p. 5633-5639, Vol. 71, No. 10
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.10.5633-5639.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Corcionivoschi, N., Clyne, M., Lyons, A., Elmi, A., Gundogdu, O., Wren, B. W., Dorrell, N., Karlyshev, A. V., Bourke, B. (2009). Campylobacter jejuni Cocultured with Epithelial Cells Reduces Surface Capsular Polysaccharide Expression. Infect. Immun. 77: 1959-1967 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Zhang, M., Sun, K., Sun, L. (2008). Regulation of autoinducer 2 production and luxS expression in a pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda strain. Microbiology 154: 2060-2069 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Choi, J., Shin, D., Ryu, S. (2007). Implication of Quorum Sensing in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Virulence: the luxS Gene Is Necessary for Expression of Genes in Pathogenicity Island 1. Infect. Immun. 75: 4885-4890 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sela, S., Frank, S., Belausov, E., Pinto, R. (2006). A Mutation in the luxS Gene Influences Listeria monocytogenes Biofilm Formation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 5653-5658 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lombardia, E., Rovetto, A. J., Arabolaza, A. L., Grau, R. R. (2006). A LuxS-Dependent Cell-to-Cell Language Regulates Social Behavior and Development in Bacillus subtilis.. J. Bacteriol. 188: 4442-4452 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Parveen, N., Cornell, K. A., Bono, J. L., Chamberland, C., Rosa, P., Leong, J. M. (2006). Bgp, a Secreted Glycosaminoglycan-Binding Protein of Borrelia burgdorferi Strain N40, Displays Nucleosidase Activity and Is Not Essential for Infection of Immunodeficient Mice.. Infect. Immun. 74: 3016-3020 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Romao, S., Memmi, G., Oggioni, M. R., Trombe, M.-C. (2006). LuxS impacts on LytA-dependent autolysis and on competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Microbiology 152: 333-341 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sperandio, B., Polard, P., Ehrlich, D. S., Renault, P., Guedon, E. (2005). Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism and Its Control in Lactococcus lactis IL1403. J. Bacteriol. 187: 3762-3778 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»