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Manganese-dependent regulation of the endocarditis-associated virulence factor EfaA of Enterococcus faecalis

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Nicholas JakubovicsORCiD

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Abstract

There is increasing recognition of the emerging role of manganese regulation and acquisition in some pathogenic bacteria. Expression of the Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis-associated virulence factor EfaA is induced by growth in serum. It is demonstrated here that expression of the efaCBA operon encoding a putative ABC-type transporter is regulated by Mn(2+). Transcription of efaCBA and EfaA production were repressed in Mn(2+)-supplemented medium. A Mn(2+)-responsive transcriptional regulator, EfaR, sharing 27 % identity with the Corynebacterium diphtheriae diphtheria toxin repressor (DtxR), was identified. In the presence of Mn(2+), EfaR protein bound in vitro to the efaC promoter region. Analysis of the E. faecalis V583 genome revealed ten additional putative EfaR-binding sites, suggesting that manganese availability could have a broader regulatory role in infection. The results identify a new Mn(2+)-sensing regulator in enterococci that regulates the expression of a virulence factor implicated in enterococcal endocarditis.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Jakubovics NS; Low YL; Flatman JC; Jenkinson HF; Smith AW

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Medical Microbiology

Year: 2003

Volume: 52

Issue: 2

Pages: 113-119

ISSN (print): 0022-2615

ISSN (electronic): 1473-5644

Publisher: Society for General Microbiology

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.05039-0

DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.05039-0

Notes: Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England

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