Deletion of D-Lactate Dehydrogenase A in Neisseria meningitidis Promotes Biofilm Formation Through Increased Autolysis and Extracellular DNA Release.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium that asymptomatically colonizes the human nasopharyngeal mucosa. Pilus-mediated initial adherence of N. meningitidis to the epithelial mucosa is followed by the formation of three-dimensional aggregates, called microcolonies. Dispersal from microcolonies contributes to the transmission of N. meningitidis across the epithelial mucosa. We have recently discovered that environmental concentrations of host cell-derived lactate influences N. meningitidis microcolony dispersal. Here, we examined the ability of N. meningitidis mutants deficient in lactate metabolism to form biofilms. A lactate dehydrogenease A (ldhA) mutant had an increased level of biofilm formation. Deletion of ldhA increased the N. meningitidis cell surface hydrophobicity and

SUBMITTER: Sigurlasdottir S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6411758 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature