Antibodies against the fibrinogen binding protein (Fbe) of Staphylococcus epidermidis significantly increased macrophage phagocytosis. Antibodies against autolysin E were opsonic but to a lesser extent. Antibodies against a novel, putatively surface-located antigen were unable to enhance phagocytosis. The severity of systemic infection of mice with S. epidermidis was reduced if the bacteria wer...

Programmed cell death (PCD) in bacteria plays an important role in developmental processes, such as lysis of the mother cell during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis and lysis of vegetative cells in fruiting body formation of Myxococcus xanthus. The signal transduction pathway leading to autolysis of the mother cell includes the terminal sporulation sigma factor Esigma(K), which induces the synt...

BACKGROUND Lactobacillus plantarum is commonly used in industrial fermentation processes. Selected strains are also marketed as probiotics for their health beneficial effects. Although the functional role of peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes is increasingly documented to be important for a range of bacterial processes and host-microbe interactions, little is known about their functional roles in ...

Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis is directed by regulatory proteins and RNAs. We report the case of an RNA attenuating virulence and host uptake, possibly to sustain commensalism. A S. aureus sRNA, SprC (srn_3610), reduced virulence and bacterial loads in a mouse infection model. S. aureus deleted for sprC became more virulent and increased bacterial dissemination in colonized animals. Conver...