SdrC induces staphylococcal biofilm formation through a homophilic interaction.

ABSTRACT: The molecular pathogenesis of many Staphylococcus aureus infections involves growth of bacteria as biofilm. In addition to polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) and extracellular DNA, surface proteins appear to mediate the transition of bacteria from planktonic growth to sessile lifestyle as well as biofilm growth, and can enable these processes even in the absence of PIA expression. However, the molecular mechanisms by which surface proteins contribute to biofilm formation are incompletely understood. Here we demonstrate that self-association of the serine-aspartate repeat protein SdrC promotes both bacterial adherence to surfaces and biofilm formation. However, this homophilic interaction is not required for the attachment of bacteria to abiotic surfaces. We identified the subdomain

SUBMITTER: Barbu EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5718044 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature