biostudies-literatureMinhas VSwiss National Science FoundationEuropean Research CouncilDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftHelmut Horten Stiftunge3001990https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9910801biostudies-literatureUnknown21(1)Competence development in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae controls several features such as genetic transformation, biofilm formation, and virulence. Competent bacteria produce so-called "fratricins" such as CbpD that kill noncompetent siblings by cleaving peptidoglycan (PGN). CbpD is a choline-binding protein (CBP) that binds to phosphorylcholine residues found on wall and lipoteichoic acids (WTA and LTA) that together with PGN are major constituents of the pneumococcal cell wall. Competent pneumococci are protected against fratricide by producing the immunity protein ComM. How competence and fratricide contribute to virulence is unknown. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPRi-seq screen, we show that genes involved in teichoic acid (TA) biosynthesis are essential during competencePLoS biologyCompetence remodels the pneumococcal cell wall exposing key surface virulence factors that mediate increased host adherence.PMC9910801771534-PneumoCaTChERHA 3125/5-2198903GI 979/1-2771534310030_200792,310030_192517, 40AR40_185533, 51NF40_180541PP00P3_198903Costa CHavarstein LSSynefiaridou DBaldry MStraume DSirard JCGisch NLiu XDomenech APerez CCebrero GVeening JWBrendel MMinhas VHammerschmidt SfalseCompetence remodels the pneumococcal cell wall exposing key surface virulence factors that mediate increased host adherence.Competence development in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae controls several features such as genetic transformation, biofilm formation, and virulence. Competent bacteria produce so-called "fratricins" such as CbpD that kill noncompetent siblings by cleaving peptidoglycan (PGN). CbpD is a choline-binding protein (CBP) that binds to phosphorylcholine residues found on wall and lipoteichoic acids (WTA and LTA) that together with PGN are major constituents of the pneumococcal cell wall. Competent pneumococci are protected against fratricide by producing the immunity protein ComM. How competence and fratricide contribute to virulence is unknown. Here, using a genome-wide CRISPRi-seq screen, we show that genes involved in teichoic acid (TA) biosynthesis are essential during competence2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-05-18T11:38:49.588Z2025-04-06T18:40:29.183ZS-EPMC99108013671634010.1371/journal.pbio.3001990