Induction of a quorum sensing pathway by environmental signals enhances group A streptococcal resistance to lysozyme.

ABSTRACT: The human-restricted pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus, GAS) is responsible for wide-ranging pathologies at numerous sites in the body but has the proclivity to proliferate in individuals asymptomatically. The ability to survive in diverse tissues is undoubtedly benefited by sensory pathways that recognize environmental cues corresponding to stress and nutrient availability and thereby trigger adaptive responses. We investigated the impact that environmental signals contribute to cell-to-cell chemical communication [quorum sensing (QS)] by monitoring activity of the Rgg2/Rgg3 and SHP-pheromone system in GAS. We identified metal limitation and the alternate carbon source mannose as two environmental indicators likely to be encountered by GAS in the host that significant

SUBMITTER: Chang JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4674269 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature