Detection and mutation of a luxS-encoded autoinducer in Proteus mirabilis.
Quorum sensing regulates the expression of virulence factors in a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria. This study has shown that Proteus mirabilis harbours a homologue of luxS, a gene required for the synthesis of the quorum sensing autoinducer 2 (AI-2). AI-2 activity is expressed during and is correlated with the initiation of swarming migration on agar surfaces. The P. mirabilis luxS locus was cloned and a LuxS(-) strain constructed by allelic-exchange mutagenesis. While lacking AI-2 activity, a null mutation in luxS, however, did not affect swimming or swarming motility, swarmer cell differentiation, or virulence in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection.
Schneider
Rachel
R
Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA1.
Lockatell
C Virginia
CV
University of Maryland School of Medicine2 and Research Service3, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Johnson
David
D
University of Maryland School of Medicine2 and Research Service3, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Belas
Robert
R
Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA1.
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; D005260:Female; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006714:Homoserine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007783:Lactones; C091088:N-octanoylhomoserine lactone; D006714:Homoserine; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; C117753:LuxS protein, Bacteria