<i>gltB</i> encoding glutamate synthase is involved in persister and biofilm formation and virulence in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.

ABSTRACT: Glutamate metabolism plays a pivotal role in linking the tricarboxylic acid cycle, arginine biosynthesis, and purine metabolism, and these pathways have been shown to be involved in persister formation. However, the relationship among glutamate metabolism, bacterial antibiotic tolerance, and virulence remains unclear. In this study, gltB, which encodes the large subunit of glutamate synthase in Staphylococcus aureus, was knocked out. The ∆gltB mutant in the stationary phase showed less tolerance to antibiotics and was killed completely after exposure to lethal doses of ampicillin and norfloxacin after 11 and 6 days, respectively, while the parent strain still had abundant viable bacteria. The gltB complemented strain restored antibiotic tolerance. Interestingly,

SUBMITTER: Wen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12403659 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature