Signaling by a Conserved Quorum Sensing Pathway Contributes to Growth Ex Vivo and Oropharyngeal Colonization of Human Pathogen Group A Streptococcus.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial virulence factor production is a highly coordinated process. The temporal pattern of bacterial gene expression varies in different host anatomic sites to overcome niche-specific challenges. The human pathogen group A streptococcus (GAS) produces a potent secreted protease, SpeB, that is crucial for pathogenesis. Recently, we discovered that a quorum sensing pathway comprised of a leaderless short peptide, SpeB-inducing peptide (SIP), and a cytosolic global regulator, RopB, controls speB expression in concert with bacterial population density. The SIP signaling pathway is active in vivo and contributes significantly to GAS invasive infections. In the current study, we investigated the role of the SIP signaling pathway in GAS-host interactions during oropharyngeal colonization. The

SUBMITTER: Makthal N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5913841 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature