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Redox‐responsive regulation of denitrification genes in Brucella
Author(s) -
Roop II R. Martin,
Caswell Clayton C.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.08096.x
Subject(s) - brucella , biology , intracellular , gene , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , brucella abortus , regulator , genetics , virology , brucellosis
Summary Brucella strains encounter oxygen deprivation during their intracellular replication in host cells, and the capacity of these bacteria to utilize NO 3 as an alternative electron acceptor for respiration plays an important role in their successful adaption to their intracellular niche. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology , Carrica et al (2012). report that NtrY and NtrX comprise a redox‐responsive two‐component regulator in Brucella abortus 2308 that responds to decreasing levels of O 2 and induces the expression of this strain's denitrification genes. Thus, NtrYX joins the increasing number of genetic regulators that contribute to the metabolic versatility required for the virulence of Brucella strains in their mammalian hosts.