CsrRS regulates group B Streptococcus virulence gene expression in response to environmental pH: a new perspective on vaccine development.

ABSTRACT: To identify factors involved in the response of group B streptococci (GBS) to environmental pH, we performed a comparative global gene expression analysis of GBS at acidic and neutral pHs. We found that the transcription of 317 genes was increased at pH 5.5 relative to that at pH 7.0, while 61 genes were downregulated. The global response to acid stress included the differential expression of genes involved in transport, metabolism, stress response, and virulence. Known vaccine candidates, such as BibA and pilus components, were also regulated by pH. We observed that many of the genes involved in the GBS response to pH are known to be controlled by the CsrRS two-component system. Comparison of the regulon of wild-type strain 2603 V/R with that of a csrRS deletion mutant strain revealed tha

SUBMITTER: Santi I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2725634 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature