AI-2 quorum sensing-induced galactose metabolism activation in Streptococcus suis enhances capsular polysaccharide-associated virulence.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria utilize intercellular communication to orchestrate essential cellular processes, adapt to environmental changes, develop antibiotic tolerance, and enhance virulence. This communication, known as quorum sensing (QS), is mediated by the exchange of small signalling molecules called autoinducers. AI-2 QS, regulated by the metabolic enzyme LuxS (S-ribosylhomocysteine lyase), acts as a universal intercellular communication mechanism across gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and is crucial for diverse bacterial processes. In this study, we demonstrated that in Streptococcus suis (S. suis), a notable zoonotic pathogen, AI-2 QS enhances galactose utilization, upregulates the Leloir pathway for capsular polysaccharide (CPS) precursor production, and boosts CPS synthesis, leading to i

SUBMITTER: Gao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11184709 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature