Gene expression profiles in group G streptococci under various stress conditions

ABSTRACT: Background: Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE), similar to Lancefield group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), causes invasive diseases such as life-threatening streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). Despite their similar genome sequences, SDSE lacks several important virulence factors of GAS, suggesting that SDSE has specific disease-causing systems. Using microarray analysis, we analyzed SDSE for specific transcriptional regulatory systems involved in stress responses, such as the LytSR/LrgAB system, and their transcriptional profiles under stress conditions. Methods: Transcriptional profiling was performed using microarrays to test the effects of eight antibiotics and five growth conditions. These findings were compared with those obtained during intraperitoneal infection in mice. Results: Genes encoding LrgAB, which modulates the murein hydrolase activity of CidAB and inhibits autolysis in Staphylococcus aureus, were upregulated by exposure to antibacterial agents, phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and stationary phase conditions and during intraperitoneal infection in mice. Starvation and anaerobic conditions stimulated the expression of the streptolysin S operon and polysaccharide lyases in SDSE. Catabolite-responsive elements (cre) were present in the promoter regions of these genes, suggesting that carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is involved in regulating SDSE virulence factors. Comparative genome analysis showed the presence in SDSE of the LytSR/LrgAB system and an additional sigma factor (SDEG_0623), both of which were absent from the GAS genome. Conclusions: These results suggest that the LytSR/LrgAB and CCR play important roles in bacterial resistance to stress microenvironments. Microarray data also indicated that starvation and low oxygen tension partly mimic the microenvironment present during invasive diseases.

ORGANISM(S): Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis GGS_124

PROVIDER: GSE50213 | GEO | 2016/12/31

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA217304

REPOSITORIES: GEO