
pmid: 27524648
(p)ppGpp-mediated stringent response is one of the main adaption mechanism in bacteria, and the ability to adapt to environment is linked to the pathogenesis of bacterial pathogens. In the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis, there are two (p)ppGpp synthetases, RelA and RelQ. To investigate the regulatory functions of (p)ppGpp/(p)ppGpp synthetases on the pathogenesis of S. suis, the phenotypes of the [(p)ppGpp(0)] mutant ΔrelAΔrelQ and its parental strain were compared. Light and electron microscopy observation showed that the mutant strain had a longer chain-length than its parental strain. Disruption of relA and relQ led to decreased adhesive and invasive ability to HEp-2 cells, and increased sensitivity to the blood killing and phagocytosis. Mouse infection experiments showed that the mutant strain was attenuated and easier to be cleaned up in vivo. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that the expressions of virulence related genes involving in morphology and virulence were down-regulated in the mutant strain. Our study demonstrated that the (p)ppGpp synthetases or (p)ppGpp can regulate the pathogenesis of this important zoonotic pathogen.
Blood Bactericidal Activity, Microscopy, Microbial Viability, Streptococcus suis, Virulence, Gene Expression Profiling, Epithelial Cells, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Bacterial Adhesion, Endocytosis, Cell Line, Ligases, Disease Models, Animal, Mice, Phagocytosis, Streptococcal Infections, Animals, Humans, Gene Deletion
Blood Bactericidal Activity, Microscopy, Microbial Viability, Streptococcus suis, Virulence, Gene Expression Profiling, Epithelial Cells, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Bacterial Adhesion, Endocytosis, Cell Line, Ligases, Disease Models, Animal, Mice, Phagocytosis, Streptococcal Infections, Animals, Humans, Gene Deletion
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 19 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
