Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking
11:33

Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking

Published on: December 17, 2013

Involvement of peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerases in Enterococcus faecalis virulence

Fany Reffuveille1, Nathalie Connil, Maurizio Sanguinetti

  • 1USC INRA 2017, Microbiologie de l'Environnement, EA956, Université de Caen, Caen, France.

Infection and Immunity
|February 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Three peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) were identified in Enterococcus faecalis. Two surface-exposed PPIases, EF0685 and EF1534, are crucial for virulence and resistance to environmental stressors.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Enzymology

Background:

  • Peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) are critical enzymes facilitating protein folding.
  • Enterococcus faecalis is a significant opportunistic pathogen.
  • Understanding bacterial virulence factors is key to developing new therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize PPIases in Enterococcus faecalis V583.
  • To investigate the role of identified PPIases in bacterial virulence and stress response.
  • To explore the potential of PPIases as targets for antimicrobial development.

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequence analysis of Enterococcus faecalis V583 to identify PPIase genes.
  • Gene knockout studies (Δef0685, Δef1534) to assess mutant phenotypes.
  • Phenotypic analysis of wild-type and mutant strains under various stress conditions (NaCl, oxidative stress, manganese concentration, antibiotics).

Main Results:

  • Three PPIase genes were identified in E. faecalis V583.
  • The intracellular PPIase (ef2898) did not appear essential for virulence or stress response.
  • Surface-exposed PPIases (EF0685 and EF1534) were vital for virulence and resistance to NaCl, oxidative stress, high manganese, ampicillin, and quinolones.

Conclusions:

  • The parvulin family rotamase EF0685 and cyclophilin family member EF1534 are important virulence factors in E. faecalis.
  • These surface-exposed PPIases contribute to bacterial survival under various environmental stresses.
  • Targeting these PPIases could represent a novel approach to combat E. faecalis infections.

More Related Videos

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues07:10

A Fluorescence-based Method to Study Bacterial Gene Regulation in Infected Tissues

Published on: February 19, 2019

Overexpression and Purification of Human Cis-prenyltransferase in Escherichia coli07:35

Overexpression and Purification of Human Cis-prenyltransferase in Escherichia coli

Published on: August 3, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion01:26

Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion

Bacterial protein secretion involves translocation systems to ensure proteins reach their designated locations, including the plasma membrane, periplasm, outer membrane, or the external environment. These translocation systems are vital for bacterial physiology, supporting processes like membrane assembly, enzymatic activity in the periplasm, and interactions with the external environment. The division of labor between Sec and Tat pathways ensures efficiency in handling proteins with diverse...
Peptidoglycan Synthesis01:28

Peptidoglycan Synthesis

Structure of PeptidoglycanPeptidoglycan is a vital structural component of the bacterial cell wall, providing mechanical strength and shape to the cell. It consists of repeating units of two sugars—N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)—linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These sugar chains are cross-linked by short peptide chains, forming a mesh-like polymer that surrounds the bacterial plasma membrane.Cytoplasmic Phase – Precursor SynthesisPeptidoglycan biosynthesis begins in...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems01:17

Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems

Gram-negative bacteria utilize sophisticated protein secretion systems to transport proteins across their double-membrane envelope into the extracellular environment or host cells. Based on their mechanism of action, these systems are classified into one-step and two-step pathways.One-Step Secretion Systems (Types I, III, IV, and VI)One-step secretion systems bypass the periplasm entirely, forming a continuous channel that spans both the inner and outer membranes:Type I Secretion System (T1SS):...