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- Title
The Role of Cadaverine Synthesis on Pneumococcal Capsule and Protein Expression.
- Authors
Nakamya, Mary F.; Ayoola, Moses B.; Park, Seongbin; Shack, Leslie A.; Swiatlo, Edwin; Nanduri, Bindu
- Abstract
Invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a commensal in the nasopharynx, pose significant risk to human health. Limited serotype coverage by the available polysaccharide-based conjugate vaccines coupled with increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance complicates therapeutic strategies. Bacterial physiology and metabolism that allows pathogens to adapt to the host are a promising avenue for the discovery of novel therapeutics. Intracellular polyamine concentrations are tightly regulated by biosynthesis, transport and degradation. We previously reported that deletion of cadA, a gene that encodes for lysine decarboxylase, an enzyme that catalyzes cadaverine synthesis results in an attenuated phenotype. Here, we report the impact of cadA deletion on pneumococcal capsule and protein expression. Our data show that genes for polyamine biosynthesis and transport are downregulated in DcadA. Immunoblot assays show reduced capsule in DcadA. Reduced capsule synthesis could be due to reduced transcription and availability of precursors for synthesis. The capsule is the predominant virulence factor in pneumococci and is critical for evading opsonophagocytosis and its loss in DcadA could explain the reported attenuation in vivo. Results from this study show that capsule synthesis in pneumococci is regulated by polyamine metabolism, which can be targeted for developing novel therapies.
- Subjects
PNEUMOCOCCAL pneumonia; NASOPHARYNX diseases; BACTERIAL capsules; PROTEIN expression; POLYSACCHARIDES; BACTERIAL metabolism; DISEASE progression; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Medical Sciences, 2018, Vol 6, Issue 1, p8
- ISSN
2076-3271
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/medsci6010008