Colonization dynamics of <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> are determined by polymorphisms in the BlpAB transporter.

ABSTRACT: Colonization of the human airways, the first step in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), is the determining factor in the ecological spread of the bacterium. Since co-colonization by multiple strains is common, within-host bacterial competition contributes to the success of Spn strains. Competition both between and within strains is mediated by bacteriocin gene clusters, notably the quorum sensing-regulated bacteriocin-like peptide (blp) locus. A key component of this system is the BlpAB transporter that exports pheromones and bacteriocins expressed by the blp locus. However, ~75% of Spn strains lack a functional BlpAB transporter and instead rely on the paralogous ComAB transporter for this export, raising questions about the evolu

SUBMITTER: Aggarwal SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12150690 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature