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PMID: 10899841 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Genetic characterization of a Streptococcus mutans LraI family operon and role in virulence.

Infection and immunity ·Vol. 68 ·No. 8 ·2000-08-00 ·Pages 4441-51

Kitten T, Munro CL, Michalek SM, Macrina FL

Abstract

Proteins belonging to the LraI (for "lipoprotein receptor antigen") family function as adhesins in several streptococci, as a virulence factor for endocarditis in at least one of these species, and potentially as metal transporters in many bacteria. We have identified and characterized the chromosomal locus containing the LraI family gene (designated sloC) from Streptococcus mutans, an agent of dental caries and endocarditis in humans. Northern blot analysis indicated that sloC is cotranscribed with three other genes. As with other LraI operons, the sloA and sloB genes apparently encode components of an ATP-binding cassette transport system. The product of the fourth gene, sloR, has homology to the metal-dependent regulator from Corynebacterium diphtheriae, DtxR. A potential binding site for SloR was identified upstream from the sloABCR operon and was conserved upstream from LraI operons in several other streptococci. Potential SloR homologs were identified in the unfinished genomic sequences from two of these, S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes. Mutagenesis of sloC in S. mutans resulted in apparent loss of expression of the entire operon as assessed by Northern blot analysis. The sloC mutant was indistinguishable from its wild-type parent in a gnotobiotic rat model of caries but was significantly less virulent in a rat model of endocarditis. Virulence for endocarditis was restored by correction of the sloC mutation but not by provision of the sloC gene in trans, suggesting that virulence requires the expression of other genes in the sloC operon.

MeSH Terms
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence Cloning, Molecular Dental Caries/microbiology Genes, Bacterial Genes, Regulator Genetic Complementation Test Germ-Free Life Molecular Sequence Data Operon Rats Sequence Analysis, DNA Sequence Homology, Amino Acid Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid Streptococcus mutans/genetics,pathogenicity Virulence/genetics
Chemicals
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters Adhesins, Bacterial
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Kitten T
Philips Institute of Oral & Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA. tkitten@hsc.vcu.edu
Munro C L
Michalek S M
Macrina F L
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Article Info
Journal
Infection and immunity
Abbr.
Infect Immun
ISSN
0019-9567
DOI
10.1128/IAI.68.8.4441-4451.2000
Email
tkitten@hsc.vcu.edu
Published
2000-08-00
Pages
4441-51
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0246127
PMCID
PMC98344
Subset
IM
Grants
NIDCR NIH HHS · DE08182 · United States
NIDCR NIH HHS · DE04224 · United States
NIDCR NIH HHS · R01 DE009081 · United States
NIDCR NIH HHS · R01 DE008182 · United States
NIDCR NIH HHS · DE09081 · United States
Databases
GENBANK
AF232688
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1128/IAI.68.8.4441-4451.2000 PMC Full Text View journal details
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