Inactivation of Genes Encoding MutL and MutS Proteins Influences Adhesion and Biofilm Formation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an etiological agent of gonorrhea, which remains a global health problem. This bacterium possesses MutL and MutS DNA repair proteins encoded by mutL and mutS genes, whose inactivation causes a mutator phenotype. We have demonstrated the differential gene expression in N. gonorrhoeae mutL and mutS mutants using DNA microarrays. A subset of differentially expressed genes encodes proteins that can influence adhesion and biofilm formation. Compared to the wild-type strain, N. gonorrhoeae mutL and mutS mutants formed denser biofilms with increased biofilm-associated biomass on the abiotic surface. The N. gonorrhoeae mutS::km, but not the mutL mutant, was also more adherent and invasive to human epithelial ce

SUBMITTER: Placzkiewicz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6955733 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature