NOTES The Enterococcus faecalis fsrB Gene, a Key Component of the fsr Quorum-Sensing System, Is Associated with Virulence in the Rabbit Endophthalmitis Model (2002)
BibTeX
@MISC{Mylonakis02notesthe,
author = {Eleftherios Mylonakis and Michael Engelbert and Xiang Qin and Costi D. Sifri and Barbara E. Murray and Frederick M. Ausubel and Michael S. Gilmore and Stephen B. Calderwood},
title = {NOTES The Enterococcus faecalis fsrB Gene, a Key Component of the fsr Quorum-Sensing System, Is Associated with Virulence in the Rabbit Endophthalmitis Model},
year = {2002}
}
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Abstract
We used a rabbit endophthalmitis model to explore the role of fsrB, a gene required for the function of the fsr quorum-sensing system of Enterococcus faecalis, in pathogenicity. A nonpolar deletion mutant of fsrB had significantly reduced virulence compared to wild type. Complementation of mutation restored virulence. These data corroborate the role of fsrB in E. faecalis pathogenesis and suggest that the rabbit endophthalmitis model can be used to study the in vivo role of quorum sensing. Enterococci are gram-positive bacteria that are normal inhabitants of the alimentary tract of humans and other animals. They have been recognized as a cause of infective endocarditis (16) and are among the most common pathogens found in hospital-acquired infections, including vision-threatening endophthalmitis (3, 6, 9). The mechanisms of pathogenesis of enterococcal infections are not yet well understood (8), and the development of multidrug resistance in enterococci has made some enterococcal infections difficult or impossible to treat (14, 15).
Keyphrases
rabbit endophthalmitis model fsr quorum-sensing system enterococcus faecalis fsrb gene key component enterococcal infection normal inhabitant hospital-acquired infection multidrug resistance enterococcus faecalis vivo role common pathogen quorum sensing faecalis pathogenesis vision-threatening endophthalmitis nonpolar deletion mutant infective endocarditis alimentary tract gram-positive bacteria
