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Interspecies signaling affects virulence related morphological characteristics of Streptococcus pyogenes M3

Rajashri Banerji1, Sunil D Saroj1

  • 1Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis Knowledge Village, Lavale, Pune 412115, Maharashtra, India.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|June 22, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Gram-negative bacteria signals, specifically N-(3-Oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (Oxo-C12), enhance Streptococcus pyogenes M3 strain

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Streptococcus pyogenes is a human-specific pathogen colonizing the respiratory tract.
  • Host colonization factors, especially inter-bacterial signaling, remain poorly understood.
  • Bacterial adherence to host cells is a critical initial step for colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) from Gram-negative bacteria on S. pyogenes M3 adhesion.
  • To determine how Oxo-C12 influences S. pyogenes M3's physical and genetic characteristics related to virulence.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of S. pyogenes M3 with N-(3-Oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (Oxo-C12).
  • Assessment of changes in cell size and hydrophobicity.
  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) to analyze gene expression (sagA, hasA).
  • Microscopic observation of morphological changes and evaluation of adherence and biofilm formation.

Main Results:

  • Oxo-C12 increased S. pyogenes M3 cell size and hydrophobicity.
  • Oxo-C12 negatively affected the expression of sagA and hasA genes.
  • Morphological alterations induced by Oxo-C12 promoted epithelial cell adherence and abiotic surface biofilm formation.

Conclusions:

  • Oxo-C12, a signal from Gram-negative bacteria, promotes S. pyogenes M3 virulence.
  • This inter-species signaling enhances pathogen adherence and biofilm formation, crucial for colonization.
Keywords:
Oxo-C12adhesionbiofilm formationgene expressionmorphologyvirulence

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