Variation of Antigen 43 self-association modulates bacterial compacting within aggregates and biofilms.

ABSTRACT: The formation of aggregates and biofilms enhances bacterial colonisation and infection progression by affording protection from antibiotics and host immune factors. Despite these advantages there is a trade-off, whereby bacterial dissemination is reduced. As such, biofilm development needs to be controlled to suit adaptation to different environments. Here we investigate members from one of largest groups of bacterial adhesins, the autotransporters, for their critical role in the assembly of bacterial aggregates and biofilms. We describe the structural and functional characterisation of autotransporter Ag43 variants from different Escherichia coli pathotypes. We show that specific interactions between amino acids on the contacting interfaces of adjacent Ag43 proteins drives a common mode o

SUBMITTER: Vo JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8993888 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature