scholarly journals Effect of Hydroxyurea on Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus lysodeikticus: Thickening of the Cell Wall

1973 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Feiner ◽  
J. E. Coward ◽  
H. S. Rosenkranz
1990 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 2757-2760 ◽  
Author(s):  
C C Patrick ◽  
M R Plaunt ◽  
S M Sweet ◽  
G S Patrick

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (5) ◽  
pp. 1453-1464 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Gabriela Bowden ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Jenny Singvall ◽  
Yi Xu ◽  
Sharon J. Peacock ◽  
...  

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a ubiquitous human skin commensal that has emerged as a major cause of foreign-body infections. Eleven genes encoding putative cell-wall-anchored proteins were identified by computer analysis of the publicly available S. epidermidis unfinished genomic sequence. Four genes encode previously described proteins (Aap, Bhp, SdrF and SdrG), while the remaining seven have not been characterized. Analysis of primary sequences of the Staphylococcus epidermidis surface (Ses) proteins indicates that they have a structural organization similar to the previously described cell-wall-anchored proteins from S. aureus and other Gram-positive cocci. However, not all of the Ses proteins are direct homologues of the S. aureus proteins. Secondary and tertiary structure predictions suggest that most of the Ses proteins are composed of several contiguous subdomains, and that the majority of these predicted subdomains are folded into β-rich structures. PCR analysis indicates that certain genes may be found more frequently in disease isolates compared to strains isolated from healthy skin. Patients recovering from S. epidermidis infections had higher antibody titres against some Ses proteins, implying that these proteins are expressed during human infection. Western blot analyses of early-logarithmic and late-stationary in vitro cultures suggest that different regulatory mechanisms control the expression of the Ses proteins.


mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Srishtee Arora ◽  
Xiqi Li ◽  
Andrew Hillhouse ◽  
Kranti Konganti ◽  
Sara V. Little ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus epidermidis is a leading cause of nosocomial infections in patients with a compromised immune system and/or an implanted medical device. Seventy to 90% of S. epidermidis clinical isolates are methicillin resistant and carry the mecA gene, present in a mobile genetic element (MGE) called the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element. Along with the presence of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes, MGEs can also contain genes encoding secreted or cell wall-anchored virulence factors. In our earlier studies of S. epidermidis clinical isolates, we discovered S. epidermidis surface protein J (SesJ), a prototype of a recently discovered subfamily of the microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecule (MSCRAMM) group. MSCRAMMs are major virulence factors of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we report that the sesJ gene is always accompanied by two glycosyltransferase genes, gtfA and gtfB, and is present in two MGEs, called the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and the staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) element. The presence of the sesJ gene was associated with the left-hand direct repeat DR_B or DR_E. When inserted via DR_E, the sesJ gene was encoded in the SCC element. When inserted via DR_B, the sesJ gene was accompanied by the genes for the type 1 restriction modification system and was encoded in the ACME. Additionally, the SCC element and ACME carry different isoforms of the SesJ protein. To date, the genes encoding MSCRAMMs have been seen to be located in the bacterial core genome. Here, we report the presence of an MSCRAMM in an MGE in S. epidermidis clinical isolates. IMPORTANCE S. epidermidis is an opportunistic bacterium that has established itself as a successful nosocomial pathogen. The modern era of novel therapeutics and medical devices has extended the longevity of human life, but at the same time, we also witness the evolution of pathogens to adapt to newly available niches in the host. Increasing antibiotic resistance among pathogens provides an example of such pathogen adaptation. With limited opportunities to modify the core genome, most of the adaptation occurs by acquiring new genes, such as virulence factors and antibiotic resistance determinants present in MGEs. In this study, we describe that the sesJ gene, encoding a recently discovered cell wall-anchored protein in S. epidermidis, is present in both ACME and the SCC element. The presence of virulence factors in MGEs can influence the virulence potential of a specific strain. Therefore, it is critical to study the virulence factors found in MGEs in emerging pathogenic bacteria or strains to understand the mechanisms used by these bacteria to cause infections.


1969 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-334
Author(s):  
M. P. Hatton

Preferential cell wall synthesis in Micrococcus lysodeikticus, as determined by an increase in the dry weight of the cell wall, took place in a medium containing DL-glutamic acid, DL-alanine, L-lysine, glycine, magnesium ions, glucose and phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. Cell wall synthesis could not be completely dissociated from protein synthesis in the 'cell wall' medium. The cell wall synthesized in the defined medium accounted for 40–56% of the total dry weight increase of the cells. Chloramphenicol had no effect on cell wall synthesis. Incorporation of uracil and guanine in the medium did not result in any increase in the amount of cell wall synthesized. DL-Glutamic acid alone, or a mixture of the three amino acids DL-alanine, L-lysine, and glycine, were capable of replacing the four amino acids present in the complete medium, but under these conditions the total dry weight of cell wall synthesized was only 75% of that produced in the complete medium. There was no reduction in cell wall synthesis when L-glutamic acid replaced DL-glutamic acid, L-alanine replaced DL-alanine, or sucrose replaced glucose in the cell wall medium. Deprivation of magnesium ions produced the greatest decrease in wall synthesis; this was the most important single factor involved in cell wall synthesis which was studied in the present investigation. There was no observable change in the chemical composition of the cell wall synthesized in the 'wall' medium when compared to that synthesized by cells grown in a complex medium.


2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muriel Hello ◽  
Nathalie Caroff ◽  
Cédric Jacqueline ◽  
Jocelyne Caillon ◽  
Gilles Potel ◽  
...  

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