sarA negatively regulates Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation by modulating expression of 1 MDa extracellular matrix binding protein and autolysis‐dependent release of eDNA |
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Authors: | Martin Christner Constanze Heinze Michael Busch Gefion Franke Moritz Hentschke Sara Bayard Dühring Henning Büttner Marta Kotasinska Victoria Wischnewski Gesche Kroll Friedrich Buck Soeren Molin Michael Otto Holger Rohde |
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Institution: | 1. Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Centre Hamburg‐Eppendorf, , 20246 Hamburg, Germany;2. Center for Systems Microbiology, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, , 2800 Lyngby, Denmark;3. Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Centre Hamburg‐Eppendorf, , 20246 Hamburg, Germany;4. Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, The National Institutes of Health, , Bethesda, MD, 20892 USA |
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Abstract: | Biofilm formation is essential for Staphylococcus epidermidis pathogenicity in implant‐associated infections. Nonetheless, large proportions of invasive Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates fail to form a biofilm in vitro. We here tested the hypothesis that this apparent paradox is related to the existence of superimposed regulatory systems suppressing a multicellular biofilm life style in vitro. Transposon mutagenesis of clinical significant but biofilm‐negative S. epidermidis 1585 was used to isolate a biofilm positive mutant carrying a Tn917 insertion in sarA, chief regulator of staphylococcal virulence. Genetic analysis revealed that inactivation of sarA induced biofilm formation via overexpression of the giant 1 MDa extracellular matrix binding protein (Embp), serving as an intercellular adhesin. In addition to Embp, increased extracellular DNA (eDNA) release significantly contributed to biofilm formation in mutant 1585ΔsarA. Increased eDNA amounts indirectly resulted from upregulation of metalloprotease SepA, leading to boosted processing of autolysin AtlE, in turn inducing augmented autolysis and release of eDNA. Hence, this study identifies sarA as a negative regulator of Embp‐ and eDNA‐dependent biofilm formation. Given the importance of SarA as a positive regulator of polysaccharide mediated cell aggregation, the regulator enables S. epidermidis to switch between mechanisms of biofilm formation, ensuring S. epidermidis adaptation to hostile environments. |
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