The Enterococcus faecalis fsr two-component system controls biofilm development through production of gelatinase.
Bacterial growth as a biofilm on solid surfaces is strongly associated with the development of human infections. Biofilms on native heart valves (infective endocarditis) is a life-threatening disease as a consequence of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials in such a state. Enterococci have emerged as a cause of endocarditis and nosocomial infections despite being normal commensals of the gastrointestinal and female genital tracts. We examined the role of two-component signal transduction systems in biofilm formation by the Enterococcus faecalis V583 clinical isolate and identified the fsr regulatory locus as the sole two-component system affecting this unique mode of bacterial growth. Insertion mutations in the fsr operon affected biofilm formation on two distinct abiotic surfaces. Inactivation of the fsr-controlled gene gelE encoding the zinc-metalloprotease gelatinase was found to prevent biofilm formation, suggesting that this enzyme may present a unique target for therapeutic intervention in enterococcal endocarditis.
Division of Cellular Biology, Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Lynn E
LE
Hancock
Marta
M
Perego
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D023061:Gene Order; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D000071677:Histidine Kinase; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D009876:Operon; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C409032:FsrB protein, Enterococcus; D011494:Protein Kinases; D000071677:Histidine Kinase; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D018093:Gelatinases