Role of sortase-assembled Ebp pili in <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> adhesion to iron oxides and its impact on extracellular electron transfer.

ABSTRACT: Enterococcus faecalis sortase-assembled endocarditis and biofilm-associated pili (Ebp) are virulence factors implicated in enterococcal biofilm-associated infections and gastrointestinal colonization. We previously showed that E. faecalis biofilm metabolism is influenced by extracellular electron transfer (EET) under iron-rich conditions, raising the question of whether Ebp pili also play a role in EET. Here, we report a novel role of Ebp pili in E. faecalis adhesion to the iron oxides magnetite, goethite, and hematite, where the EbpA tip adhesin contributes to this interaction. Adhesion by Ebp pili is conditionally important for EET to iron oxides, as pilus mutants are attenuated in EET under non-static growth conditions. In alignment with the established role of EET

SUBMITTER: Ho FK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11878085 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature