Understanding the Streptococcus mutans Cid/Lrg System through CidB Function.

ABSTRACT: The Streptococcus mutans lrgAB and cidAB operons have been previously described as a potential model system to dissect the complexity of biofilm development and virulence of S. mutans Herein, we have attempted to further characterize the Cid/Lrg system by focusing on CidB, which has been shown to be critical for the ability of S. mutans to survive and persist in a nonpreferred oxygen-enriched condition. We have found that the expression level of cidB is critical to oxidative stress tolerance of S. mutans, most likely by impacting lrg expression. Intriguingly, the impaired aerobic growth phenotype of the cidB mutant could be restored by the additional loss of either CidA or LrgA. Growth-dependent expression of cid and lrg was demonstrated to be tightly under the control of both CcpA and the

SUBMITTER: Ahn SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5068163 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature