Expression of the lux genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae modulates pilus expression and virulence.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 29342160.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0189426 and PMC identifier 5771582.
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Abstract
Bioluminescence has been harnessed for use in bacterial reporter systems and for in vivo imaging of infection in animal models. Strain Xen35, a bioluminescent derivative of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 4 strain TIGR4 was previously constructed for use for in vivo imaging of infections in animal models. We have shown that strain Xen35 is less virulent than its parent TIGR4 and that this is associated with the expression of the genes for bioluminescence. The expression of the luxA-E genes in the pneumococcus reduces virulence and down regulates the expression of the pneumococcal pilus.
Medical subject headings
- Fimbriae, Bacterial
- Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
- Genes, Bacterial
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Virulence