In Bacillus subtilis, the response regulator DegU and its cognate kinase, DegS, constitute a two-component system that regulates many cellular processes, including exoprotease production and genetic competence. Phosphorylated DegU (DegU-P) activates its own promoter and is degraded by the ClpCP protease. We observed induction of degU by glucose in sporulation medium. This was abolished in two m...

Carbon catabolic repression (CR) by the catabolite control protein CcpA has been analyzed in Staphylococcus xylosus. Genes encoding components needed to utilize lactose, sucrose, and maltose were found to be repressed by CcpA. In addition, the ccpA gene is under negative autogenous control. Among several tested sugars, glucose caused strongest CcpA-dependent repression. Glucose can enter S. xyl...

Many bacteria regulate the expression of virulence factors via carbon catabolite responsive elements. In Gram-positive bacteria, the predominant mediator of carbon catabolite repression is the catabolite control protein A (CcpA). Hyperglycemia is a widespread disorder that predisposes individuals to an array of symptoms and an increased risk of infections. In hyperglycemic individuals, the bact...

Recent work has shown that in Bacillus subtilis catabolite repression of several operons is mediated by a mechanism dependent on DNA-binding protein CcpA complexed to a seryl-phosphorylated derivative of HPr [HPr(Ser-P)], the small phosphocarrier protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate-sugar phosphotransferase system. In this study, it was found that a transposon insertional mutation resulted in the...

Lactate Dehydrogenase 1 (Ldh1) is a key enzyme involved in Staphylococcus aureus NO·-resistance. Full ldh1-induction requires the presence of glucose, and mutants lacking the Carbon-Catabolite Protein (CcpA) exhibit decreased ldh1 transcription and diminished Ldh1 activity. The redox-regulator Rex represses ldh1 directly by binding to Rex-sites within the ldh1 promoter (P(ldh1)). In the absence...

Production of H(2)O(2) follows a growth phase-dependent pattern that mimics that of many virulence factors of Streptococcus pyogenes. To gain greater insight into mechanisms coupling virulence factor expression to growth phase, we investigated the molecular basis for H(2)O(2) generation and its regulation. Deletion of the gene encoding lactate oxidase (lctO) or culture in the presence of glucos...

Pulmonary Aspergillus infections are caused by the ubiquitous fungus mold when spores found in compost, dust, and plant material inhaled. Manifestation of disease is represented a delicate balance between host pathogen interactions, making infection more commonly observed immunocompromised individuals. Chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (CCPA) subtype Aspergillosis associated with history...

Previously, we have reported that the coronary reactive hyperemic response was reduced in adenosine A2A receptor-null (A2AAR?/?) mice, and it reversed by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor. However, is unknown aortic vascular response, therefore, hypothesized A2AAR-gene deletion mice affects adenosine-induced increase sEH A1 receptor (A1AR) activities. A2AAR?/? showed an sEH, AI AR CYP45...

Transcriptional regulatory networks are fundamental to how microbes alter gene expression in response to environmental stimuli, thereby playing a critical role in bacterial pathogenesis. However, understanding how bacterial transcriptional regulatory networks function during host-pathogen interaction is limited. Recent studies in group A Streptococcus (GAS) suggested that the transcriptional re...