Contact-dependent inhibition: bacterial brakes and secret handshakes.
Interbacterial communication can be mediated by soluble secreted factors and direct cell-cell contact. Recently, Aoki et al. identified a new contact-dependent communication pathway by which strains of uropathogenic Escherichia coli can inhibit the growth of other microbes within a mixed population. Two novel gene products--CdiA and CdiB, which seem to be members of a two-partner secretion family with homologs in many pathogens--mediate this contact-dependent inhibition (CDI). A third gene product, CdiI, provides immunity to CDI, as does expression of either P or S pili. The interplay between CDI and immunity factors could directly affect the course of an infection and modulate both the dispersion and the chronic persistence of bacterial pathogens within the host.
Slechta
E Susan
ES
Pathology Department, Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132-2501, USA.
Mulvey
Matthew A
MA
D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
C503242:CdiA protein, E coli; C513104:CdiB protein, E coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins