Intercellular communication in Helicobacter pylori: luxS is essential for the production of an extracellular signaling molecule.

ABSTRACT: Individual bacteria of numerous species can communicate and coordinate their actions via the production, release, and detection of extracellular signaling molecules. In this study, we used the Vibrio harveyi luminescence bioassay to determine whether Helicobacter pylori produces such a factor. Cell-free conditioned media from H. pylori strains 60190 and 26695 each induced >100-fold-greater luminescence in V. harveyi than did sterile culture medium. The H. pylori signaling molecule had a molecular mass of <10 kDa, and its activity was unaffected by heating to 80 degrees C for 5 min or protease treatment. The genome sequence of H. pylori 26695 does not contain any gene predicted to encode an acyl homoserine lactone synthase but does contain an orthologue of luxS, which is required for produc

SUBMITTER: Forsyth MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC97560 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature