Positive autoregulation of mrkHI by the cyclic di-GMP-dependent MrkH protein in the biofilm regulatory circuit of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important cause of nosocomial infections, primarily through the formation of surface-associated biofilms to promote microbial colonization on host tissues. Expression of type 3 fimbriae by K. pneumoniae facilitates surface adherence, a process strongly activated by the cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP)-dependent transcriptional activator MrkH. In this study, we demonstrated the critical importance of MrkH in facilitating K. pneumoniae attachment on a variety of medically relevant materials and demonstrated the mechanism by which bacteria activate expression of type 3 fimbriae to colonize these materials. Sequence analysis revealed a putative MrkH recognition DNA sequence ("MrkH box"; TATCAA) located in the regulatory region of the mrkHI operon. Mutatio

SUBMITTER: Tan JW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4403657 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature