Faculty Collaboration Database

Sortase-Dependent Proteins Promote Gastrointestinal Colonization by Enterococci. Infect Immun 2019 Mar;87(5)

Date

02/26/2019

Pubmed ID

30804098

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6479037

DOI

10.1128/IAI.00853-18

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85065021405 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   11 Citations

Abstract

The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is inhabited by a dense microbial community of symbionts. Enterococci are among the earliest members of this community and remain core members of the GIT microbiota throughout life. Enterococci have also recently emerged as opportunistic pathogens and major causes of nosocomial infections. Although recognized as a prerequisite for infection, colonization of the GIT by enterococci remains poorly understood. One way that bacteria adapt to dynamic ecosystems like the GIT is through the use of their surface proteins to sense and interact with components of their immediate environment. In Gram-positive bacteria, a subset of surface proteins relies on an enzyme called sortase for covalent attachment to the cell wall. Here, we show that the housekeeping sortase A (SrtA) enzyme promotes intestinal colonization by enterococci. Furthermore, we show that the enzymatic activity of SrtA is key to the ability of Enterococcus faecalis to bind mucin (a major component of the GIT mucus). We also report the GIT colonization phenotypes of E. faecalis mutants lacking selected sortase-dependent proteins (SDPs). Further examination of the mucin binding ability of these mutants suggests that adhesion to mucin contributes to intestinal colonization by E. faecalis.

Author List

Banla LI, Pickrum AM, Hayward M, Kristich CJ, Salzman NH

Authors

Christopher J. Kristich PhD Professor in the Microbiology and Immunology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Nita H. Salzman MD, PhD Director, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aminoacyltransferases
Animals
Bacterial Proteins
Cell Wall
Cysteine Endopeptidases
Disease Models, Animal
Enterococcus
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL