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The cyclic di‐ GMP phosphodiesterase gene R v1357c / BCG 1419c affects BCG Pellicle production and In Vivo maintenance
Author(s) -
FloresValdez Mario Alberto,
de Jesús AcevesSánchez Michel,
PedrozaRoldán César,
VegaDomínguez Perla Jazmín,
PradoMontes de Oca Ernesto,
BravoMadrigal Jorge,
Laval Françoise,
Daffé Mamadou,
Koestler Ben,
Waters Christopher M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.1353
Subject(s) - in vivo , cyclic gmp , phosphodiesterase , gene , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , genetics , enzyme
Bacteria living in a surface‐attached community that contains a heterogeneous population, coated with an extracellular matrix, and showing drug tolerance (biofilms) are often linked to chronic infections. In mycobacteria, the pellicle mode of growth has been equated to an in vitro biofilm and meets several of the criteria mentioned above, while tuberculosis infection presents a chronic (latent) phase of infection. As mycobacteria lack most genes required to control biofilm production by other microorganisms, we deleted or expressed from the hsp60 strong promoter the only known c‐di‐GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) gene in Mycobacterium bovis BCG. We found changes in pellicle production, cellular protein profiles, lipid production, resistance to nitrosative stress and maintenance in lungs and spleens of immunocompetent BALB/mice. Our results show that pellicle production and capacity to remain within the host are linked in BCG. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(2):129–138, 2015