Genomic plasticity of pathogenic Escherichia coli mediates d-serine tolerance via multiple adaptive mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: The molecular environment of the host can have profound effects on the behavior of resident bacterial species. We recently established how the sensing and response of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to d-serine (d-Ser) resulted in down-regulation of type 3 secretion system-dependent colonization, thereby avoiding unfavorable environments abundant in this toxic metabolite. However, this model ignores a key determinant of the success of bacterial pathogens, adaptive evolution. In this study, we have explored the adaptation of EHEC to d-Ser and its consequences for pathogenesis. We rapidly isolated multiple, independent, EHEC mutants whose growth was no longer compromised in the presence of d-Ser. Through a combination of whole-genome sequencing and transcriptomics, we showed

SUBMITTER: O'Boyle N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7486766 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature