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Role of the manganese efflux system mntE for signalling and pathogenesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Jason W Rosch1, Geli Gao, Granger Ridout

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, St Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. Jason.Rosch@stjude.org

Molecular Microbiology
|February 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Streptococcus pneumoniae uses a novel manganese efflux system (mntE) to maintain virulence. Disrupting this system increases manganese sensitivity and reduces disease severity, suggesting it as a potential antimicrobial target.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Bacterial metal ion homeostasis is crucial for pathogenesis.
  • Manganese acquisition is vital for bacterial virulence.
  • Manganese efflux systems in bacteria remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize a manganese efflux system in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • To investigate the role of manganese export in bacterial virulence and host-pathogen interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of a cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) protein (Sp1552) functioning in manganese export.
  • Gene designation as mntE and creation of a mutant strain.
  • Assessment of manganese sensitivity, oxidative stress resistance, and virulence in a murine infection model.

Main Results:

  • The mntE mutant exhibited high sensitivity to manganese stress.
  • The mutant showed increased resistance to oxidative stress and enhanced production of H(2)O(2) and pili.
  • Reduced virulence of the mntE mutant in a murine model of infection was observed, indicating manganese export's role in pathogenesis.
  • Differential transcriptional responses to extracellular and intracellular manganese accumulation were noted.

Conclusions:

  • Manganese efflux via mntE is essential for Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence and invasive disease.
  • The identified manganese export system represents a potential novel antimicrobial target for therapeutic development.

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