Open AccessThe VirR/VirS regulatory cascade affects transcription of plasmid‐encoded putative virulence genes in Clostridium perfringens strain 13
Author(s) -
Ohtani Kaori,
Kawsar Hameem I.,
Okumura Kayo,
Hayashi Hideo,
Shimizu Tohru
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00255-6
Subject(s) - clostridium perfringens , virulence , gene , plasmid , biology , bacterial adhesin , regulator gene , genetics , transcription (linguistics) , strain (injury) , microbiology and biotechnology , regulation of gene expression , bacteria , linguistics , philosophy , anatomy
We analyzed the transcriptional regulation of the putative virulence genes encoded on the plasmid pCP13 from Clostridium perfringens strain 13. The transcription of the beta2‐toxin ( cpb2 ) and possible collagen adhesin ( cna ) genes were regulated in both a positive and negative manner, respectively, by the two‐component VirR/VirS system. The secondary regulator of the VirR/VirS system, VR‐RNA, also affects the expression of both of these genes in the same fashion as the VirR/VirS system. This indicates that the global regulatory cascade of the VirR/VirS system controls the expression of virulence genes located on the plasmid, as well as those found chromosomally in C. perfringens strain 13.