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The SaeRS two-component system regulates virulence gene expression in group B Streptococcus during invasive infection.

Francesco CoppolinoGiuseppe Valerio De GaetanoCosme ClaverieOdile SismeiroHugo VaretRachel LegendreAngelica PellegriniAlessia BerbigliaLuca TavellaGermana LentiniAgata FamàGiulia BarbieriGiampiero PietrocolaGiuseppe TetiArnaud FironConcetta Beninati
Published in: mBio (2024)
(or GBS) is a normal inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal and genital tracts that can also cause deadly infections in newborns and elderly people. The transition from a harmless commensal to a dangerous pathogen relies on the timely expression of bacterial molecules necessary for causing disease. In this study, we characterize the two-component system SaeRS as a key regulator of such virulence factors. Our analysis reveals a specialized regulatory system that is activated only during infection to dynamically adjust the production of two virulence factors involved in interactions with host cells. Overall, our findings highlight the critical role of SaeRS in GBS infections and suggest that targeting this system may be useful for developing new antibacterial drugs.
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