Abstract
Osmotic stress was found to induce biofilm formation in a Staphylococcus aureus mucosal isolate. Inactivation of a global regulator of the bacterial stress response, the alternative transcription factor sigma(B), resulted in a biofilm-negative phenotype and loss of salt-induced biofilm production. Complementation of the mutant strain with an expression plasmid encoding sigma(B) completely restored the wild-type phenotype. The combined data suggest a critical role of sigma(B) in S. aureus biofilm regulation under environmental stress conditions.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
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Bacterial Proteins / physiology
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Biofilms / growth & development*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
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Mucous Membrane / microbiology
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Mutagenesis, Insertional
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N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases / genetics*
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Sigma Factor / genetics
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Sigma Factor / metabolism*
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Sigma Factor / physiology
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Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
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Staphylococcus aureus / physiology*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Transcription Factors / physiology
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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SigB protein, Bacteria
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Sigma Factor
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Transcription Factors
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N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases
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N-acetyllactosaminide beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase