SarZ Is a Key Regulator of Biofilm Formation and Virulence in Staphylococcus epidermidis

Biofilm-associated infection due to Staphylococcus epidermidis the leading nosocomial pathogen, is a major problem for the public health system, but the regulation of this important phenotype is not completely understood. Using a highly discriminatory screening procedure for genes that influence bio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2008-05, Vol.197 (9), p.1254-1262
Main Authors: Wang, Li, Li, Min, Dong, Dandan, Bach, Thanh-Huy L., Sturdevant, Daniel E., Vuong, Cuong, Otto, Michael, Gao, Qian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacteria
Bacterial Adhesion - genetics
Bacterial Adhesion - physiology
Bacteriology
Biofilms
Biofilms - growth & development
Biological and medical sciences
Central venous catheterization
DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
DNA-Binding Proteins - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene expression regulation
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Genes
Infections
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Regulator genes
Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus epidermidis - genetics
Staphylococcus epidermidis - pathogenicity
Staphylococcus epidermidis - physiology
Transcription, Genetic - physiology
Transposons
Virulence
Virulence - genetics
Virulence - physiology
Virulence Factors - physiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Biofilm-associated infection due to Staphylococcus epidermidis the leading nosocomial pathogen, is a major problem for the public health system, but the regulation of this important phenotype is not completely understood. Using a highly discriminatory screening procedure for genes that influence biofilm formation, we identified the transcriptional regulator SarZ as a novel important determinant of biofilm formation and biofilm-associated infection, on the basis of the significant impact of sarZ on the transcription of the biosynthetic operon for biofilm exopolysaccharide. In addition, sarZ influenced the expression of a series of virulence genes, including genes that influence the expression of lipases and proteases, resistance to an important human antimicrobial peptide, and hemolysis. Our study indicates that the SarZ regulator has a key role in maintaining the typical S. epidermidis phenotype, which is characterized by pronounced biofilm formation and immune evasion, a likely reason for the success of S. epidermidis as a colonizing organism and pathogen in chronic, biofilm-associated infection
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/586714