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Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Visualization of Twitching Motility and Characterization of the Role of the PilG in Xylella fastidiosa
Published on: April 8, 2016
Heterogeneous expression of Pil3 pilus is critical for Streptococcus gallolyticus translocation across polarized
Mariana Martins1, Laurence du Merle1, Patrick Trieu-Cuot1
1Department of Microbiology, Biology of Gram-positive Pathogens Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) ERL, 6002, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Streptococcus gallolyticus is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for septicemia and endocarditis. We report that S. gallolyticus UCN34 adheres and crosses epithelial monolayers in a Pil3 dependent manner. Confocal images revealed a paracellular passage. Both the Δpil3 mutant and the Pil3+ overexpressing variant were unable to cross Caco-2 and T84 barriers. However, combining live Δpil3 mutant with fixed Pil3+ variant in a 9:1 ratio allowed efficient translocation of the Δpil3 mutant. These results demonstrate that heterogeneous expression of Pil3 plays a key role for UCN34 translocation across the intestinal barrier. Through this skilful strategy, S. gallolyticus probably evade host immune responses.
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