Oxygen Regulates Invasiveness and Virulence of Group B Streptococcus

Oxygen regulates invasiveness and virulence of group B streptococcus.

The facultative anaerobe group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic pathogen of pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly. Although several virulence factors have been identified, environmental factors that regulate the pathogenicity of GBS have not been well characterized. Using the dynamic in vitro attachment and invasion system (DIVAS), we examined the effect of oxygen on the ability of...

Investigation of Betahemolytic Streptococcus Group B in Natural Vaginal Flora

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CsrRS regulates group B Streptococcus virulence gene expression in response to environmental pH: a new perspective on vaccine development.

To identify factors involved in the response of group B streptococci (GBS) to environmental pH, we performed a comparative global gene expression analysis of GBS at acidic and neutral pHs. We found that the transcription of 317 genes was increased at pH 5.5 relative to that at pH 7.0, while 61 genes were downregulated. The global response to acid stress included the differential expression of g...

O-Acetylation of sialic acid on Group B Streptococcus inhibits neutrophil suppression and virulence.

GBS (Group B Streptococcus) requires capsular Sia (sialic acid) for virulence and partially modifies this sugar by O-acetylation. In the present paper we describe serotype-specific patterns of GBS Sia O-acetylation that can be manipulated by genetic and biochemical means. In vitro and in vivo assays demonstrate that this subtle modification attenuates GBS Sia-mediated neutrophil suppression and...

The Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Iranian Pregnant Women and Its Subsequent Outcome