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Protease-induced multicell formation in Staphylococcus haemolyticus
K Yabu1, Y Nishiyama, T Ochiai
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
Abstract:
Multicellular cells were efficiently induced in Staphylococcus haemolyticus by the addition of protease to exponentially growing cultures at 30 C. Electron microscopy revealed the formation of tetrad-shaped multicells that were septated but not separated from each other. Incubation of the multicells with extract from the cells grown without protease resulted in a fourfold increase in the number of colony-forming units as compared with the untreated control. An electrophoretic analysis showed that protease caused a loss of cell wall-lytic activity of the cell, which possibly led to the formation of multicells through cessation of cross wall separation.
Insights
Protease addition to Staphylococcus haemolyticus cultures induced multicellular tetrads by inhibiting cell wall separation. These multicells showed increased colony-forming units, suggesting potential applications in bacterial cultivation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Bacterial Genetics
Background:
- Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a common human commensal and opportunistic pathogen.
- Bacterial cell division and separation are critical processes influencing colony formation and biofilm development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of protease on the multicellularity of Staphylococcus haemolyticus.
- To elucidate the mechanism underlying protease-induced multicellular formation.
Main Methods:
- Induction of multicellularity using protease in exponentially growing cultures.
- Electron microscopy for visualizing cell morphology.
- Electrophoretic analysis to assess cell wall-lytic activity.
Main Results:
- Protease treatment efficiently induced tetrad-shaped multicellular structures in Staphylococcus haemolyticus.
- Multicells were septated but remained attached.
- A fourfold increase in colony-forming units was observed when multicells were incubated with specific extracts.
- Protease treatment led to a loss of cell wall-lytic activity.
Conclusions:
- Protease inhibits cross-wall separation, leading to the formation of Staphylococcus haemolyticus multicells.
- The observed increase in colony-forming units suggests potential for enhanced bacterial cultivation using this method.