Effects of quorum sensing on flaA transcription and autoagglutination in Campylobacter jejuni.
Some bacteria can communicate with other species of bacteria by means of autoinducer-2 (AI-2)-mediated quorum sensing. In this study, we demonstrated that AI-2-mediated quorum sensing influences the transcription of flaA, the major flagellin gene in Campylobacter jejuni. A null mutation of luxS in C. jejuni strain 81116 reduced flaA transcription (approximately 43% that of the wild-type) and induced a reduction in motility. However, the luxS mutant had the same level of total flagellin protein as the wild-type. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the flagellar structure was preserved in the luxS mutant. The agglutination capability was reduced in the mutant strain, implying that quorum sensing might be involved in the formation of surface structures of C. jejuni. These observations suggest that AI-2-mediated quorum sensing may play a role in regulation of motility and surface properties in C. jejuni.
Jeon
Byeonghwa
B
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
Itoh
Kikuji
K
Misawa
Naoaki
N
Ryu
Sangryeol
S
D000371:Agglutination; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology*; D005408:Flagellin / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005408:Flagellin; C067138:flaA protein, bacteria; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; C117753:LuxS protein, Bacteria