The VirR/VirS regulatory cascade affects transcription of plasmid-encoded putative virulence genes in Clostridium perfringens strain 13

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2003 May 16;222(1):137-41. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1097(03)00255-6.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Clostridium perfringens / genetics*
  • Clostridium perfringens / metabolism
  • Clostridium perfringens / pathogenicity
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmids
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • cpb2 protein, Clostridium perfringens
  • mry protein, Streptococcus pyogenes