Multiple functional domains of Enterococcus faecalis aggregation substance Asc10 contribute to endocarditis virulence.

ABSTRACT: Aggregation substance proteins encoded by sex pheromone plasmids increase the virulence of Enterococcus faecalis in experimental pathogenesis models, including infectious endocarditis models. These large surface proteins may contain multiple functional domains involved in various interactions with other bacterial cells and with the mammalian host. Aggregation substance Asc10, encoded by plasmid pCF10, is induced during growth in the mammalian bloodstream, and pCF10 carriage gives E. faecalis a significant selective advantage in this environment. We employed a rabbit model to investigate the role of various functional domains of Asc10 in endocarditis. The data suggested that the bacterial load of the infected tissue was the best indicator of virulence. Isogenic strains carrying either no pl

SUBMITTER: Chuang ON 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2612263 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature