1887

Abstract

is an opportunistic bacterium whose infections often involve the formation of a biofilm on implanted biomaterials. In , the exopolysaccharide facilitating bacterial adherence in a biofilm is polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA), whose synthesis requires the enzymes encoded within the intercellular adhesin operon (). , the formation of biofilms is enhanced by conditions that repress tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity, such as growth in a medium containing glucose. In many Gram-positive bacteria, repression of TCA cycle genes in response to glucose is accomplished by catabolite control protein A (CcpA). CcpA is a member of the GalR–LacI repressor family that mediates carbon catabolite repression, leading us to hypothesize that catabolite control of biofilm formation is indirectly regulated by CcpA-dependent repression of the TCA cycle. To test this hypothesis, deletion mutants were constructed in strain 1457 and 1457- and the effects on TCA cycle activity, biofilm formation and virulence were assessed. As anticipated, deletion of derepressed TCA cycle activity and inhibited biofilm formation; however, deletion had only a modest effect on transcription. Surprisingly, deletion of in strain 1457-, a strain whose TCA cycle is inactive and where transcription is derepressed, strongly inhibited transcription. These observations demonstrate that CcpA is a positive effector of biofilm formation and transcription and a repressor of TCA cycle activity.

Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Hatch Act
  • Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • National Institutes of Health (Award AI087668)
  • University of Nebraska’s Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Award BI 1350/1-1)
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2011-12-01
2024-11-04
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