title: The transcription of the neuD gene is stronger in serotype III group B streptococci strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid than in strains isolated from vagina.
abstract: Group B streptococci (GBS) are a major cause of neonatal meningitis, and sialic acid is a determinant of the development of meningitis. The transcription level of the neuD gene, used as a marker of neu gene expression and capsular production, was significantly higher in serotype III GBS strains isolated from meningitis than from vaginal carriage. This was irrespective both of the phylogenetic position of strains and of the presence of a thymine at position 264 in the neuD gene. Differences in neuD gene transcription may explain in part why particular isolates among the GBS strains colonizing the vagina can cause meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Equipe "Bactéries et risque materno-foetal", UMR1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, UFR Médecine - Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France; Equipe "Bactéries et risque materno-foetal", UMR 1282 ISP, INRA, Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pailhories
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quentin
authors.forename: Marie-Frédérique
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lartigue
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012703:Serotyping; D013045:Species Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D059467:Transcriptome; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000123:Acetyltransferases
keywords: cerebrospinal fluid; group B streptococcus; neu D gene; transcription