Motility-activating mutations upstream of flhDC reduce acid shock survival of Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Many neutralophilic bacterial species try to evade acid stress with an escape strategy, which is reflected in the increased expression of genes coding for flagellar components. Extremely acid-tolerant bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, survive the strong acid stress, e.g., in the stomach of vertebrates. Recently, we were able to show that the induction of motility genes in E. coli is strictly dependent on the degree of acid stress, i.e., they are induced under mild acid stress but not under severe acid stress. However, it was not known to what extent fine-tuned expression of motility genes is related to fitness and the ability to survive periods of acid shock. In this study, we demonstrate that the expression of FlhDC, the master regulator of flagellation, is inversely corre

SUBMITTER: Schumacher K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11237407 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature